B. Sc. Agriculture

B.Sc. (Ag)

Biochemistry and Biotechnology

  1. Biochemistry
  2. Principles of Biotechnology
  3. Applied Plant Biotechnology

Crop Science

  1. Introductory Agriculture
  2. Field Crops – I
  3. Principles of Agronomy
  4. Principles of Agronomy and Agricultural Heritage
  5. Principles of Genetics
  6. Crop Physiology
  7. Principles of Seed Technology
  8. Farming Systems and Sustainable Agriculture
  9. Rainfed Agriculture
  10. Introductory Nematology
  11. Plant Pathogens and Principles of Plant Pathology
  12. Field Crop Diseases and Management
  13. Weed Management

Agricultural Economics and Marketing

  1. Principles of Agricultural Economics
  2. Production Economics and Farm Management
  3. Farm-Business Management and Project Appraisal
  4. Agricultural Finance and Co-Operation
  5. Agricultural Finance, Banking and Co-Operation
  6. Agricultural Marketing, Trade and Prices
  7. Protected Cultivation and Post-harvest Technologies

Agricultural Engg

  1. Farm Power, Machinery and Renewable Energy
  2. Post Harvest Technology

Entomology

  1. Insect Ecology, Integrated Pest Management and Beneficial Insects.
  2. Insect Morphology and Systematics
  3. Crop Pests and Management -I
  4. Crop Pests and Management -II

Fisheries

  1. Pisciculture

Agricultural Extension

  1. Dimensions of Agricultural Extension
  2. Fundamental of Rural Sociology and Edu. Psychology
  3. Extension Methodologies for Transfer of Technology
  4. Entrepreneurship Development and  Communication Skills

Forestry

  1. Environmental and Forestry Science

Horticulture

  1. Breeding of Field and Horticultural Crops
  2. Production Technology of Fruit Crops Management
  3. Production Technology of Vegetables and Flowers
  4. Spices, Aromatic, Medicinal and Plantation Crops
  5. Diseases of Horticultural Crops and Their Management

Natural Resource Management

  1. Agricultural Meteorology
  2. Fundamentals of Soil Science
  3. Fundamentals of Soil and Water  Conservation Engineering
  4. Soil Chemistry, Fertility and Nutrient Management
  5. Agricultural Microbiology
  6. Manures, Fertilizers and Agro-Chemicals
  7. Water Management
  8. Organic Farming

Statistics and Computer application

  1. Statistical Methods
  2. Introduction to Computer Applications

Animal Husbandry

  1. Livestock Production and Management

BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

  1.  BIOCHEMISTRY

Biochemistry –Introduction and importance . Plant Cell: Structure, cell components and biochemical function . Bio-molecules – introduction andapplications: Amino acids, peptides and proteins –Plant proteins and their quality. Enzymes –Factors affecting the activity, classification,Immobilistion and other industrial applications. Lipids– Deffination, classification, properties and their industrial application in soaps,detergents, paints, Varnishes, lubricants, adhesives, plastics, nylon, Bio-diesel, Biodegradable plastics etc. Carbohydrates; Deffination, classification, properties. Nucleotides and Nucleic acids. Metabolic energy and its generation – Metabolism – Basic concepts, Glycolysis, Citric acid Cycle, Pentose phosphate pathway, oxidative phosphorylation, Fatty acid oxidation. General reactions of amino acid degradation. Biosynthesis –carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins. and Nucleic acids. Introduction of Terpenoids, Alkaloids, Phenolics and their applications in food and pharmaceutical industries.

  1. PRINCIPLES OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

Concepts of Plant Biotechnology: History of Plant Tissue Culture and Plant Genetic Engineering; Scope and importance in Crop Improvement: Totipotency and Morphogenesis, Nutritional requirements of in-vitrocultures; Techniques of In-vitro cultures, Micro propagation, Anther culture, Pollen culture, Ovule culture, Embryo culture, Test tube fertilization, Endosperm culture, Factors affecting above in-vitro culture; Applications and Achievements; Somaclonal variation, Types, Reasons: Somatic embryogenesis and synthetic seed production technology;

Protoplast isolation, Culture, Manipulation and Fusion; Products of somatic hybrids and cybrids, Applications in crop improvement. Genetic engineering; Restriction enzymes; Vectors for gene transfer – Gene cloning – Direct and indirect method of gene transfer – Transgenic plants and their applications. Blotting techniques – DNA finger printing – DNA based markers – RFLP, AFLP, RAPD, SSR and DNA Probes – Mapping QTL –Future prospects. MAS, and its application in crop improvement.

CROP SCIENCE

  1. INTRODUCTORY AGRICULTURE

Art, Science and business of crop production, Basic elements of crop production. History of Agricultural development; Ancient Indian Agriculture in Civilization Era, Chronological Agricultural Technology development in India. Different agricultural related revolutions in India (green, yellow, blue, white, silver etc). Present and past basic statistical data of area, production, productivity, fertilizer consumption, livestock, irrigation in India and Chhattisgarh. Cropping system and soil groups formed in different parts of the country as defined by ICAR. Innovation in agriculture: definition and concept; hitech agriculture, precision farming, sustainable agriculture, contract farming, crop modeling, GIS and Remote sensing technology. Women in Agriculture: multifaceted roles and tasks, work stress factors, nutritional and rural life standards, role in house hold design making, drudgery reduction for farm women, women friendly agricultural technology, empowerment of women, group dynamics for farm women and rural women.

  1. FIELD CROPS

Origin, geographic distribution, economic importance, soil and climatic requirement, varieties, cultural practices and yield of kharif crops, Cereals –rice, maize, sorghum, pearl millet and minor millets; Pulses : pigeonpea, mungbean and urdbean; Oilseeds: soybean, groundnut, sesame, niger and castor; Fibre crops: cotton, jute and sunhemp; and Forage crops: sorghum, maize, cowpea, cluster bean and napier.

Origin, geographical distribution, economic importance, soil and climatic requirements, varieties, cultural practices and yield of rabi crops; Cereals: wheat, barley; Pulses: chickpea, lentil, peas, french bean, lathyrus; Oilseeds: rapeseed and mustard, sunflower, safflower and linseed; Sugar crops: sugarcane and sugarbeet, Medicinal and aromatic crops such as mentha, lemon grass, citronella, palma rosa, isabgol and safed musli; Commercial crops: potato and tobacco, Forage crops: berseem, lucerne and oat.

  1. PRINCIPLES OF AGRONOMY

Agronomy – Definition, scope and importance, its relationship with other sciences, historical sketch of agronomy. Agro-climatic zones of India and Chhattisgarh State. National and International Agricultural Research Organizations in India. Classification of Crops. Factors affecting crop production. Essential plant nutrients their role in crop growth. Manures and fertilizers- classification and nutrient content.Tillage- objectives, classification and function of tillage implements. Crop stand establishment seed bed preparation and seeding methods. Planting geometry and its effect on growth and yield. Cropping system- different types of cropping system: intercropping, mixed cropping, intensive cropping, relay cropping, Alley cropping etc., definition and advantages with examples. Crop Rotation objectives types and advantage. Harvesting and post harvest operation.

  1. PRINCIPLES OF AGRONOMY AND AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE

Agriculture – Definition – Importance and scope - Branches of agriculture - Evolution of man and agriculture – Development of scientific agriculture - National and International Agricultural Research Institutes.Indian agriculture - Indian economy – National income – per capita income –Agricultural income in GDP - Women in agriculture and empowerment. History of agricultural development in the world and India. Agriculture heritage –Agriculture in ancient India. Stages of agriculture development - Era of civilization- Importance of Neolithic Civilization. Chronology of Agricultural technology development in India. Kautilya’s Arthasasthra - Sangam literature - rainfall prediction – ITK .  

Agronomy – definition – meaning and scope. Agro-climatic zones of India – Agro ecological zones of India. Crops and major soils - Classification – Economic and agricultural importance in India. Factors affecting crop production – climatic – edaphic - biotic- physiographic and  socio economic factors. Tillage – Definition – objectives – types of tillage - modern concepts of tillage –main field preparation

Seeds - Seed rate - Sowing methods - Germination - Crop stand establishment -Planting geometry Role of manures and fertilizers in crop production – agronomic interventions for enhancing FUE - Inter cultivation - Thinning - Gap filling and other intercultural operations. Irrigation - Time and methods - Modern techniques of irrigation - Drainage and its  importance. Planting Geometry and its Effect on Growth and Yield

Cropping pattern and cropping system - Intensive cropping- Sustainable agriculture –Organic / eco-friendly agriculture - Dry farming - Concepts and principlesAgro-climatic zones of India .Agro meteorology. Weather and climate, micro-climateWeather elements and their influence on different crops.Monsoon.Clouds.Weather aberrations.Weather forecasting. Weather modification -Artificial rain making and cloud seeding. Remote sensing

  1. PRINCIPLES OF GENETICS

Mendel‟s laws of inheritance and exceptions to the laws; Types of gene action, Multiple alleles, Pleiotropism, Penetrance and expressivity; Quantitative traits, Qualitative traits and differences between them; Multiple factor hypothesis; Cytoplasmic inheritance, it‟s characteristic features and difference between chromosomal and cytoplasmic inheritance; Mutation and it‟s characteristic features; Methods of inducing mutations and C l B technique. Gene expression and differential gene activation; Lac operon and Fine structure of Gene; Ultra structure of cell and cell organelles and their functions; Study of chromosome structure, morphology, number and types, Karyotype and Idiogram; Mitosis and meiosis, their significance and differences between them; DNA and it‟s structure, function, types, modes of replication and repair. RNA and its structure, function and types; Transcription, Translation, Genetic code and outline of protein synthesis; Crossing over and factors affecting it; Mechanism of crossing over and Cytological proof of crossing over; Linkage, Types of linkage and estimation of linkage; Numerical chromosomal aberrations (Polyploidy) and evolution of different crop species like Cotton, Wheat, Tobacco, Triticale and Brassicas; Structural chromosomal aberrations.

Classification of plants, Botanical description, Floral biology, Emasculation and Pollination techniques in cereals, millets, pulses, oil seeds, fibers, plantation crops etc. Aims and objectives of Plant Breeding; Modes of reproduction, Sexual, Asexual, Apomixis and their classification; Significance in plant breeding; Modes of pollination, genetic consequences, differences between self and cross pollinated crops; Methods of breeding –introduction and acclimatization. Selection, Mass selection Johannson‟s pure line theory, genetic basis, pure line selection; Hybridization, Aims and objectives, types of hybridization; Methods of handling of segregating generations, pedigree method, bulk method, back cross method and various modified methods; Incompatibility and male sterility and their utilization in crop improvement; Heterosis, inbreeding depression, various theories of Heterosis, exploitation of hybrid vigour development of inbred lines, single cross and double cross hybrids; Population improvement programmes, recurrent selection, synthetics and composites; Methods of breeding for vegetatively propagated crops; Clonal selection; Mutation breeding; Ploidy breeding; Wide hybridization, significance in crop improvement.

  1. CROP PHYSIOLOGY

Introduction, Importance in Agriculture. Seed Physiology, Seed structures, Morphological, physiological and biochemical changes during seed development, Physiological maturity – Morphological and physiological changes associated with physiological maturity in crop, Harvestable maturity, Seed viability and vigour, Factors affecting seed viability and vigour. Methods of testing seed viability and vigour, Germination, Utilization of seed reserves during seed germination, Morphological, physiological and biochemical changes during seed germination, Factors affecting seed germination. Growth and Development, Definition, Determinate and Indeterminate growth, Monocarpic and Polycarpic species with examples. Measurement of growth, Growth analysis Growth characteristics, Definitions and mathematical formulae. Crop Water Relations, Physiological importance of water to plants, Water potential and its components, measurement of water status in plants. Transpiration, significance, Transpiration in relation to crop productivity, Water Use Efficiency, WUE in C3, C4 and CAM plants, Factors affecting WUE. Photosynthesis, Energy synthesis, Significance of C3, C4 and CAM pathway, Relationship of Photosynthesis and crop productivity, Translocation of assimilates, Phloem loading, apoplastic and symplastic transport of assimilates, Source and sink concept, Photorespiration, Factors affecting Photosynthesis and productivity, Methods of measuring photosynthesis, Photosynthetic efficiency, Dry matter partitioning, Harvest index of crops. Respiration and its significance, Brief account of Growth respiration and maintenance respiration, Alternate respiration – Salt respiration – wound respiration – measurement of respiration. Nutriophysiology – Definition – Mengel‟s classification of plant nutrients –Physiology of nutrient uptake – Functions of plant nutrients – Deficience and toxicity symptoms of plant nutrients – Foliar nutrition – Hydroponics. Introduction of Photoperiodism and Vernalisation in relation to crop productivity – Photoperiodism Plant Growth Regulators – Occurrence –Biosynthesis – Mode of action of Auxins, Gibberellins, Cytokinins, ABA,Ethylene. Novel plant growth regulators, Commercial application of plant growth regulators in agriculture. Senescence and abscission – Definition –Classification – Theories of mechanism and control of senescence –Physiological and biochemical changes and their significance. Post Harvest Physiology – Seed dormancy – Definition – types of seed dormancy –Advantages and disadvantages of seed dormancy – Causes and remedial measures for breaking seed dormancy, Optimum conditions of seed storage – Factors influencing seed storage (ISTA standards). Fruit ripening –Metamorphic changes – Climateric and non-climateric fruits – Hormonal regulation of fruit ripening (with ethrel, CCC, Polaris, paclobuterozole ).

  1. PRINCIPLES OF SEED TECHNOLOGY

Introduction & Importance of Seed Production, Seed policy, Seed demand forecasting and planning for certified, foundation and breeder seed production, Deterioration of crop varieties, Factors affecting deterioration and their control; Maintenance of genetic purity during seed production, Seed quality; Definition, Characters of good quality seed, Different classes of seed, Production of nucleus & breeder‟s seed, Maintenance and multiplication of pre-release and newly released varieties in self and cross-pollinated crops; Seed Production, Foundation and certified seed production in maize (varieties, hybrids, synthetics and composites); rice (varieties & hybrids); cotton and sunflower (varieties and hybrids); tomato, brinjal (varieties and hybrids), chillies and bhendi (varieties and hybrids) onion, bottle gourd and ridge gourd /Sponge gourd varieties and hybrids); Seed certification, phases of certification, procedure for seed certification, field inspection and field counts etc.; Seed Act and Seed Act enforcement, Central Seed Committee, Central Seed Certification Board, State Seed Certification Agency, Central and State Seed Testing Laboratories; Duties and powers of seed inspectors, offences and penalties; Seed control order: Seed Control Order 1983, Seed Act 2000 and other issues related to seed quality regulation. Intellectual Property Rights, Patenting, WTO, Plant Breeders Rights, Varietal Identification through Grow–Out Test and Electrophoresis; Seed Drying: Forced air seed drying, principle, properties of air and their effect on seed drying, moisture equilibrium between seed and air, Heated air drying, building requirements, types of air distribution systems for seed drying, selection of crop dryers and systems of heated air drying, recommended temperature and depth of the seeds, management of seed drying, Planning and layout of seed processing plant; Establishment of seed processing plant. Seed processing: air screen machine and its working principle, different upgrading equipments and their use, Establishing a seed testing laboratory. Seed testing procedures for quality assessment, Seed treatment, Importance of seed treatment, types of seed treatment, equipment used for seed treatment (Slurry and Mist–O–matic treater), Seed packing and seed storage, stages of seed storage, factors affecting seed longevity during storage and conditions required for good storage, General principles of seed storage, constructional features for good seed warehouse, measures for pest and disease control, temperature control, Seed marketing, marketing structure, marketing organization, sales generation activities, promotional media, pricing policy; Factors affecting seed marketing.

History, concept, role and aim of Seed Technology. Seed –Definition, Types, Characteristics of good seed. Difference between seed and grain.Seed development programme – Basis of seed programme, Types of seed programme, National seed programme. Role of following agencies in the development of India seed Industry – National Seed Corporation, State Farm Corporation, Tarai Development Corporation.  Structure of flower. Microsporangium, microsporogenesis and development of male gametophyte. Megasporangium, megasporogenesis and development of female gametophyte (polygonum type). Pollination.  Fertilization and Apomixis. Development of Embryo, Endosperm and Fruit.

  1. FARMING SYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Farming system- definition, principles advantages and components. Factors affecting farming system. Farming system model for rainfed and irrigated situations. Crop diversification- definition, scope and advantages. Sustainable agriculture- Introduction, definition, goal and current concepts, factors affecting sustainable agriculture. Judging the agricultural sustainability by ecological, economical and social means. Land, water and crop production related problems and its management for sustainable agriculture. Problems and technologies developed for High External Input Agricultural (HEIA) and Low External Input Agriculture (LEIA) areas in India.

  1. RAINFED AGRICULTURE

Rainfed farming : Definition, importance and Charactersitics. Dry farming : Definition, importance and extent. Factors affecting crop production under rainfed and dry farming areas – Climatic factor, Soil Factors, Plant factors and management factors.Management of rainfed and dryland farming – Water management, Soil management, Crop management, Efficient crop and verities for the region, Organic and bio fertilizer management and Social management. Important cropping system.

Technology for dryland farming – Agronomical methods of water conservation, Tilage, Mulching, contouring, Trenching and pitting, Terracing, Waterways, Farm ponds Crop planning based on storage moisture capacity of the soils and moisture availability period land use capability classification. Moisture conservation practices to increase infiltration and reduce water losses and runoff, Runoff collection and its effective utilization for crops and cropping systems. Contingent plans for aberrant weather conditions, moisture stress, drought, excess moisture etc.

  1. INTRODUCTORY NEMATOLOGY

Introduction: History of phytonematology. Economic importance. General characteristics of plant pathogenic nematodes. Nematode general morphology and biology. Classification of nematodes upto family level with emphasis on groups containing economically important genera. Classification of nematodes by habitat. Identification of economically important plant nematodes upto generic level with the help of keys and description. Symptoms caused by nematodes with examples. Study of White tip of paddy, ear cockle of wheat, root knot of tomato & brinjal .Interaction between plant parasitic nematodes and disease causing fungi, bacteria and viruses. Different methods of nematode management. Cultural methods (crop rotation, fallowing, soil amendments, other land management techniques), physical methods (soil solarisation, hot water treatment) Biological methods, Chemical methods (fumigants, non fumigants). Resistant varieties. IDM.

  1. PLANT PATHOGENS AND PRINCIPLES OF PLANT PATHOLOGY

Introduction, Important plant pathogenic organisms, different groups, fungi, bacteria, fastidious vesicular bacteria, phytoplasmas, spiroplasmas, viruses, viriods, algae, protozoa and phanerogamic parasites with examples of diseases caused by them. General Characters of fungi, Definition of fungus, somatic structures, types of fungal thalli, fungal tissues, modifications of thallus, reproduction in fungi (asexual and sexual). Nomenclature, Binomial system of nomenclature, rules of nomenclature. Classification of fungi and bacteria. Key to divisions and sub-divisions. Introduction: Definition and objectives of Plant Pathology. History of Plant Pathology. Terms and concepts in Plant Pathology. Survival and Dispersal of Plant Pathogens. Phenomenon of infection – pre-penetration, penetration and post penetration. Pathogenesis. Defense mechanism in plants– Structural and Bio-chemical (pre and post-infection). Plant disease epidemiology. Plant Disease Forecasting – Remote sensing – General principles of plant diseases management –Importance, general Principles – Avoidance, exclusion, protection – Plant Quarantine and Inspection – Quarantine Rules and Regulations. Cultural methods – Rouging, eradication of alternate and collateral hosts, crop rotation, manure and fertilizer management, mixed cropping, sanitation, hot weather ploughing, soil amendments, time of sowing, seed rate and plant density, irrigation and drainage. Role andmechanisms of biological control and PGPR. Physical Methods – Heat and Chemical methods – Methods of application of fungicides. Host plant resistance. Integrated plant disease management (IDM) – Concept, advantages and importance.

  1. FIELD CROP DISEASES AND MANAGEMENT

Economic importance, symptoms, cause, epidemiology and disease cycle and integrated management of diseases of rice (blast, brown spot, sheath blight bacterial blight), sorghum(smuts), bajra (green ear, ergot), maize (leaf blight) wheat (rusts, loose smut karnal bunt), sugarcane (red rot, whip smut), turmeric (leaf spot), tobacco (mosaic), groundnut (leaf spot, rust, bud necrosis), sesamum (phyllody), sunflower (head rot, alternaria blight) mustard (white rust, leaf spot) linseed (powdery mildew, rust wilt), cotton (angular leaf spot, wilt) redgram( wilt, sterility mosaic), bengalgram (wilt collar rot, root rot), blackgram (powdery mildew, mosaic), greengram (powdery mildew, yellow mosaic, leaf spot) pea (rust, powdery mildew), and soybean (bacterial pustule, yellow mosaic budnecrosis).

  1. WEED MANAGEMENT

Weeds: Introduction, harmful and beneficial effects, classification, propagation and dissemination; Weed biology and ecology, crop weed association, crop weed competition and allelopathy (crop weed interference). Concepts of weed prevention, control and eradication; Methods of weed control: physical, cultural, chemical and biological methods. Integrated weed management; Herbicides: advantages and limitation of herbicide usage in India, Herbicide classification, formulations, methods of application; Introduction to Adjuvants and their use in herbicides; herbicide absorption, movement/translocation in soil and plants. Mode of action and mechanism of action of herbicides- definition and differences. Introduction to selectivity of herbicides; Compatibility of herbicides with other agro chemicals; Weed management in major field and horticultural crops, shift of weed flora in cropping systems, aquatic and problematic weeds and their control. Indices of weeds and weed management.

AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND MARKETING

  1. PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS

Economics: Meaning, Definition, Subject matter, Divisions of Economics, Importance of Economics; Agricultural Economics: Meaning, Definition; Basic Concepts: Goods, Service, Utility, Value, Price, Wealth, Welfare. Wants: Meaning, Characteristics, Classifications of Wants, Importance. Theory of consumption: Law of Diminishing Marginal utility, Meaning, Definition, Assumption, Limitations, Importance. Consumer‟s surplus: Meaning, Definition, Importance. Demand: Meaning, Definition, Kinds of Demand, Demand schedule, Demand Curve, Law of Demand, Extension and Contraction Vs Increase and Decrease in Demand. Elasticity of Demand: Types of Elasticity of Demand, Degrees of price elasticity of Demand, Methods of Measuring Elasticity, Factors influencing elasticity of Demand, Importance of Elasticity of Demand. Welfare Economics: Meaning, Pareto‟s optimality. National Income: Concepts, Measurement. Public Finance: Meaning, Principles. Public Resource: Meaning, Services Tax, Meaning, Classification of Taxes: Cannons of Taxation, Public expenditure: Meaning, Principles. Inflation: Meaning, Definition, Kinds of inflation.

  1. PRODUCTION ECONOMICS AND FARM MANAGEMENT

Production Economics: Meaning, Definition, Nature and Scope of Agricultural Production Economics. Basic concepts and terms. Concepts of Production. Production Functions: Meaning, Definition, Types. Laws of returns: Increasing, Constant and decreasing. Factor Product Relationship. Determination of optimum input and output. Factor relationship. Product relationship. Types of enterprise relationships. Returns to scale: Meaning, Definition, Importance. Farm Management. Economic principles applied to the Organisations of farm business. Types and systems of farming. Farm planning and budgeting. Risk and uncertainty. Farm budgeting. Linear programming: Assumptions, Advantages and Limitations of Linear programming.Practical: Computation of cost concepts; Methods of computation of depreciation; Analysis of Net worth statement; Farm inventory analysis; Preparation of farm plans and budgets; Types of farm records and accounts; Preparation of profit and loss account; Break, Even analysis; Economics analysis of different crop and livestock enterprises; Application of Farm Management Principles.

Introduction to Farm Management, Farm management decision making process - Production, operational, strategic, administrative and marketing management decisions. Basic concepts in farm management. Production, types of resources, choice indicators, costs, revenue, profit, total, average & marginal concepts. Factor - Product relationship - Production function - definition & types - linear, quadratic & Cobb- Douglas functions - Impact of technology.  Law of diminishing returns - 3 regions of production Cost concepts & interrelations - Optimum level of input use and optimum production Economies of scale - external and internal economies and diseconomies - Returns to scale - Economies of size Factor - Factor relationship - Principle of substitution - isoquant, isoclines Expansion path, ridgeline and least cost combination of inputs Product - Product relationship - types. Production possibility curve, iso revenue line and optimum combination of outputs Equi-marginal returns and Opportunity cost - comparative advantage Concepts of Risk and uncertainty - types of uncertainty in agriculture -managerial decisions to reduce risks in production process Management of Important Farm Resources Farm Financial Analysis - Balance sheet - Income statement - Cash flow analysis - Ratio analysis Farm Investment Analysis - Time comparison principles - Discounted and undiscounted measures.  Farm planning and control - Elements of planning, objectives, steps and formulation of farm plans - Farm level management information systems. Farm Budgeting ? partial, enterprise and complete budgeting

  1. FARM-BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND PROJECT APPRAISAL

Agribusiness: Meaning, Definition, Structure of Agribusiness, (Input, Farm, Product Sectors). Importance of Agribusiness in the Indian Economy, Agricultural Policy. Agribusiness Management, Distinctive features, Importance of Good Management, Definitions of Management. Management Functions, Planning, Meaning, Definition, Types of Plans (Purpose or Mission, Goals or Objectives, Strategies, Polices, Procedures, rules, programmes, Budget) characteristics of sound plan, Steps in planning, Organisation, Staffing, Directing, Motivation, Ordering, Leading, Supervision, Communication, control. Capital Management. Financial Management of Agribusiness: Importance of Financial Statements, Balance sheet, Profit and Loss Statement, Analysis of Financial statements. Agro-based Industries: Importance and Need, Classification of Industries, Types of Agro-based Industries, Institutional arrangement Procedure to set up agro-based industries, Constraints in establishing agrobased industries. Marketing Management: Meaning, Definitions, Marketing Mix, 4Ps of Marketing. Mix, Market segmentation, Methods of Market, Product life cycle. Pricing policy, Meaning, pricing method. Prices at various stages of Marketing. Project, definitions, project cycle, Identification, Formulation, Appraisal, Implementation, Monitoring and evaluation, Appraisal and Evaluation techniques, NPW, BCR, IRR, N/K ratio, sensitivity analysis, characteristics of agricultural projects: preparation of project reports for various activities in agriculture and allied sectors: Dairying, poultry, fisheries, agro-industries etc.

  1. AGRICULTURAL FINANCE, BANKING AND CO-OPERATION

 

  • Agricultural Finance: Nature and Scope
  • Time Value of Money
  • Agricultural Credit - Meaning, Definition, Need and Classification
  • Credit Analysis
  • History of Financing Agriculture in India
  • Commercial Banks
  • Regional Rural Banks
  • Higher Financing Institutions
  • Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation of India
  • Crop Insurance
  • Agricultural Cooperation-Philosophy and Principles
  • Reorganisation of Cooperative Credit Structure in Andhra Pradesh and Single Window System
  • Successful Cooperative Systems in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab

 

  1. AGRICULTURAL MARKETING, TRADE AND PRICES

Agricultural Marketing: Concepts and Definition, Scope and subject matter, Market and Marketing: Meaning, Definitions, Components of a market, Classification. Market structure, Conduct, performance. Marketing structure, Market functionaries or agencies, Producer‟s surplus: Meaning, Types of producers surplus, marketable surplus. Marketed surplus, importance, Factors affecting Marketable surplus. Marketing channels: Meaning, Definition, Channels for different products. Market integration, Meaning, Definition, Types of Market Integration. Marketing efficiency: Meaning, Definition, Marketing costs, Margins and price spread, Factors affecting the cost of marketing, Reasons for higher marketing costs of farm

commodities, Ways of reducing marketing costs. Theories of International Trade: Domestic Trade, Free trade, International Trade, GATT, WTO, Implications of AOA. Market access, Domestic support, Export subsidies, EXIM-Policy & Ministerial conferences. Cooperative Marketing. State Trading. Ware Housing Corporation; Central and State, Objectives, Functions, Advantages. Food Corporation of India: Objectives and Functions. Quality Control, Agricultural Products, AGMARK. Price Characteristics of agricultural product process, Meaning, Need for Agricultural Price Policy. Risk in Marketing: Meaning and importance, Types of Risk in Marketing. Speculations and Hedging, Futures trading, Contract farming.

  1. PROTECTED CULTIVATION AND POST HARVEST TECHNOLOGY

Green house technology, Introduction, Types of Green Houses; Plant response to Green house environment, Planning and design of greenhouses, Design criteria of greenhouse for cooling and heating purposes. Green house equipment, materials of construction for traditional and low cost green houses. Irrigation systems used in greenhouses, Typical applications, passive solar green house, hot air green house heating systems, green house drying. Cost estimation and economic analysis. Choice of crops for cultivation under greenhouses, problems / constraints of greenhouse cultivation and future strategies. Growing media, soil culture, type of soil required, drainage, flooding and leaching, soil pasteurization in peat moss and mixtures, rock wool and other inert media, nutrient film technique (NFT) / hydroponics. Threshing, threshers for different crops, parts, terminology, care and maintenance. Winnowing, manual and power operated winnowers, care and maintenance. Groundnut decorticators, hand operated and power operated decorticators, principles of working, care and maintenance. Maize shellers & castor shellers. Drying, grain drying, types of drying, types of dryers. Storage, grain storage, types of storage structures. Fruits and vegetables cleaning, machinery for cleaning of fruits and vegetables, care and maintenance. Grading, methods of grading, equipment for grading of fruits and vegetables, care and maintenance. Size reduction. equipment for size reduction care and maintenance. Evaporation, Principle, types of evaporators, quality standards – FAQ, ASTA, FPO, FDA.

AGRICULTURAL ENGG

  1. FARM POWER, MACHINERY & RENEWABLE ENERGY

Farm power in India: sources, I.C engines, working principles, two stroke and four stroke engines, I.C. engine terminology, different systems of I.C. engine. Tractors, Types, Selection of tractor and cost of tractor power. Tillage implements: Primary and Secondary tillage implements, Implements for intercultural operations, seed drills, paddy transplanters, plant protection equipment and harvesting equipment; Equipment for land development and soil conservation. Energy sources, Introduction, Classification, Energy from Biomass, Types of biogas plants, constructional details, Biogas production and its utilization, Agricultural wastes, Principles of combustion, pyrolysis and gasification, Types of gasifiers. Solar energy, Solar flat plate and focussing plate collectors, Solar air heaters, Solar space heating and cooling, Solar energy applications / Solar energy gadgets, Solar cookers, Solar water heating systems, solar grain dryers, Solar photo voltaic systems, solar lantern, Solar street lights, solar fencing, Solar pumping systems. Wind energy, Types of wind mills, Constructional details & application of wind mills. Liquid Bio fuels, Bio diesel and Ethanol from agricultural produce, its production & uses.

  1. POST HARVEST TECHNOLOGY

Importance of post harvest technology in horticultural crops. Maturity indices, harvesting and post harvest handling of fruits and vegetables. Maturity and ripening process. Factors affecting ripening of fruits, and vegetables. Pre harvest factors affecting quality on post harvest shelf life of fruits and vegetables. Factors responsible for detioration of harvested fruits and vegetables. Chemicals used for hastening and delaying ripening of fruits and vegetables. Methods of storage – precooling, prestorage treatments, low temperature storage, controlled atmospheric storage, hypobaric storage, irradiation and low cost storage structures. Various methods of packing, packaging materials and transport. Packing technology for export. Fabrication of types of containers, cushioning material, vacuum packing, poly shrink packing, specific packing for export of mango, banana, grapes kinnow, sweet orange, and mandarin etc. Importance and scope of fruit and vegetable preservation in India. Principles of preservation by heat, low temperature, chemicals and fermentation. Unit layout – selection of site and precautions for hygienic conditions of the unit. Preservation through canning, bottling, freezing, dehydration, drying, ultraviolet and ionizing radiations. Preparation of jams, jellies, marmalades, candies, crystallized and glazed fruits, preserves, chutneys, pickles, ketchup, sauce, puree, syrups, juices, squashes and cordials Spoilage of canned products, biochemical, enzymatic and microbial spoilage. Preservatives, Colours permitted and prohibited in India.

ENTOMOLOGY

  1. INSECT ECOLOGY, INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT & BENEFICIAL INSECTS.

Insect Ecology: Introduction, Environment and its components. Effect of abiotic factors- temperature, moisture, humidity, rainfall light, atmospheric pressure and air currents. Effect of biotic factors- food competition, natural and environmental resistance and Concept of Balance of life in nature, biotic potential and environmental resistance and causes for out break of pests in agro-ecosystem. Pest surveillance and pest forecasting. Categories of pests. IPM; Introduction, importance, concept, principles and tools of

IPM – Host plant resistance, Cultural, Mechanical, Physical, Legislative, Biological (parasites, predators & transgenic plant pathogens such as bacteria, fungi and viruses), methods of control. Chemical control –importance, hazards and limitations. Classification of insecticides, toxicity of insecticides and formulations of insecticides. Study of important insecticides. Botanical insecticides – neem based products, Cyclodiens, Organophosphates, Carbamates, Synthetic pyrethroids, Novel insecticides,

Pheromones, Nicotinyl insecticides, Chitin synthesis inhibitors, Phenyl pyrazoles, Avermectins, Macrocyclic lactones, Oxadiazimes, Thiourea derivaties, pyridine azomethines, pyrroles etc. Nematicides, Rodenticides, Acaricides and fumigants. Recent methods of pest control. Practices, scope and limitations of IPM. Insecticides Act 1968 – Important provisions. Application techniques of spray fluids. Phytotoxicity of insecticides.

Symptoms of poisoning, first aid and antidotes. Beneficial insects: parasites and predators used in pest control and their mass multiplication techniques.

Important groups of microorganisms, bacteria, viruses and fungi used in pest control and their mass multiplication techniques. Important species of pollinators, weed killers and scavengers -their importance. Non insect pests – mites, nematodes, rodents and birds. Vermiculture

  1. INSECT MORPHOLOGY AND SYSTEMATICS

History of Entomology in India. Factors for insect abundance. Classification of phylum Arhropoda upto classes. Relationship of class Insecta with other classes of Arthropoda. Morphology: Structure and functions of insect cuticle and moulting. Body segmentation. Structure of Head, thorax and abdomen.  Structure and modifications of insect antennae, mouth parts and  legs. Wing venation, modifications and wing coupling apparatus. Structure male and female genitalia. Sensory organs. Metamorphosis and diapause in insects. Types of larvae and pupae. Structure and functions of digestive, circulatory, excretory, respiratory, nervous, secretory (Endocrine) and reproductive system in insect. Types of reproduction in insects.

Systematics: Taxonomy-importance, history and development and binomial nomenclature. Definitions of Biotype, Sub-species, Species, Genus, Family and Order. Classification of class Insecta  -- Acrididae, Dictyoptera- Mantidae, Odonata, Isoptera- Termitidae, Thysanoptera- Thripidae, Hemiptera- Pentatomidae, Coreidae, Reduviidae, Pyrrhocoridae, Cicadellidae, Delphacidae, Aphididae, Coccidae, Aleurodidae, Neuroptera- Chrysopidae Lepidoptera- Noctuidae, Sphingidae, Pyralidae, Gelechiidae, Arctiidae,Coleoptera-Coccinellidae, Chrysomelidae, Cerambycidae, Curculionidae, Bruchidae, Scarabaeidae, Hymenoptera- Tenthridinidae, Apidae, Trichogrammatidae, Ichneumonida, Braconidae, Diptera- Cecidomyiidae, Trypetidae, Tachinidae, Agromyzidae.

  1. CROP PESTS AND MANAGEMENT

Distribution, biology, nature and symptoms of damage and management strategies of following crop pests :

Cereals : Rice - Gall midge, Stem borer, Leaf and plant hoppers, Leaf folder, Case worm, Army worm, Swarming caterpillar, Gundhi bug.

Wheat : Stem borer, Termites.

Sorghum & Maize :-Stem borer, Sorghum shoot fly.

Pulses : Urid, Moong :- Pea pod borer, Red hairy caterpillar

Soybean :- Girdle beetle, Stem fly, Hairy caterpillars.

Pigeonpea :- Pod borer, Pod fly, Plume moth, Pod bug.

Gram : Pod borer, Cut worm.

Pea : Aphid, Pod borer

Lathyrus: Thrips

Oilseeds: Groundnut :- Aphid, Leaf miner, White grub, Red hairy caterpillar.

Sesamum : Gall fly, Hawk moth, Leaf webber & pod borer

Castor : Castor semi looper, Capsule borer, Tussock hairy caterpillar.

Linseed :- Bud fly, Linseed caterpillar, Thrips, Jassids.

Safflower : Aphid, Bud fly.

Sun flower & Niger :Bihar hairy caterpillar.

Mustard : Aphid, Sawfly, Painted bug.

Fibre crop : Cotton : Boll worms, Jassid, Red cotton bug, White fly, Aphids.

Sunnhemp : Sunnhemp hairy caterpillar

Mesta : Spiral borer of Mesta.

Cash crops : Sugarcane : Top shoot borer, stem borer, sugarcane leaf hopper, whitefly, Mealy bug, Termite

Vegetables :- Okhra :- Shoot and fruit borer, Jassid, Whitefly.

Brinjal : Shoot and fruit borer, Stem borer, Mite.

Chilly : Thrips, Fruit borer.

Sweet potato : Sweet potato weevil.

Moringa : Blossom midge, Bud worm.

Cucurbitaceous Red pumpkin beetle, Fruit fly, Vine Vegetables : borer.

Potato : Tuber moth, Aphid, Cut worm

Ginger : Shoot borer, Fly maggot, Rhizome scale.

Cruciferous: Cabbage semi looper, Diamond back moth, Leaf webber, Cabbage borer

Tomato : Fruit borer, Leaf miner, Stem borer

Onion & Garlic :Thrips, Tobacco caterpillar, Onion fly.

Coriander : Aphid, White fly, Flower stink bug.

Fruits : Banana : Rhizome weevil, Stem borer

Gauva : Bark borer, Oriental fruit fly.

Pomegranate : Anar butterfly, Fruit fly.

Cashew : Tea mosquito bug, cashew stem and root borer.

Sapota : Leaf webber, Fruit fly

Mango: Inflorescence midge, Mango shoot, gall psylla, Mango hopper, Mealy bug, Stone weevil, Stem borer

Citrus : Lemon butter fly Citrus psylla, Fruit sucking moth, Whitefly, Leaf miner.

Papaya : Fruit fly, Aphid, White fly, Mite.

Ber : Ber fruit fly

Litchi : Litchi bug, Leaf roller, White fly, Black hussain fly, Mite

Tamarind : Fruit borers, Mealy bug, Scale insect.

Stored grain pests : Pulse beetle, Rice weevil, Grain moth, Red rust flour beetle, Khapra beetle, Lesser grain borer-their biology, damage, preventive and curative methods of control.

FISHERIES

  1. PISCICULTURE

    • Status and scope of Fisheries in India.
    • Basic morphological features of fish
    • Systematics of cultivable fishes
    • Pond ecosystem, oxygen balance, optimum physico chemical parameters for fish culture, cultivable species, stocking density & living space.
    • Design & construction of fish farm
    • Induced breeding in fishes
    • Carp Nursery & rearing management.
    • Composite fish culture: pond preparation, eradication of weeds & predatory fishes
    • Composite fish culture: liming, manuring, seed stocking, feed management and harvesting.
    • Integrated fish farming
    • Freshwater prawn farming
    • Major fish diseases and their control
    • Preliminary idea of Capture Fisheries resources and management in India

AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION

  1. DIMENSIONS OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION

Education – Meaning, Definition, Types – Formal, Informal and Non-formal education and their Characteristics. Extension Education and Agricultural Extension – Meaning, Definition, Concepts, Objectives and Principles. Rural development – Meaning, Definition, Concepts, Objectives, Importance and Problems in rural development. Developmental programmes of pre-independence era – Sriniketan, Marthandam, Gurgaon experiment and Gandhian constructive proprogramme. Development programmes of Post independence era, Firka Development, Etawah – Pilot project and Nilokheri Experiment. Community Development Programme –Meaning, Definition, Concepts, Philosophy, Principles, Objectives, Differences between Community Development and Extension Education, National Extension service. Panchayat Raj system – Meaning of Democratic – Decentralization and Panchayat Raj, Three tiers of Panchayat Raj system, Powers, Functions and Organizational setup. Agricultural Development Programmes with reference to year of start, objectives & sailent features – Intensive Agricultural District Programme (IADP), High Yielding Varieties Programme (HYVP), Institution Village Linkage Programme (IVLP), Watershed Development Programme (WDP), National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP), ATMA, ATIC. Social Justice and Poverty alleviation programmes – Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP), Swarna Jayanthi Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY), Prime Minsiter Employment Yojana (CMEY). New trends in extension, privatization. Women Development programmes – Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA), Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK), Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and Mahila Samriddi Yojana (MSY). Reorganized extension system (T&V System)–Salient features, Fort night Meetings, Monthly workshops, Linkages, Merits and Demerits, Emergence of Broad Based Extension ( BBE ).

  1. FUNDAMENTAL OF RURAL SOCIOLOGY AND EDU. PSYCHOLOGY

Extension Education and Agricultural Extension – Meaning, Definition, Scope and Importance.

  1. Sociology and Rural Sociology, Meaning, Definition, Scope, Importance of Rural Sociology in Agricultural Extension and Interrelationship between Rural Sociology & Agricultural Extension. Indian Rural Society, Important characteristics, Differences and Relationship between Rural and Urban societies.
  2. Social Groups – Meaning, Definition, Classification, Factors considered in formation and organization of groups, Motivation in group formation and Role of Social groups in Agricultural Extension.
  3. Social Stratification – Meaning, Definition, Functions, Basis for stratification, Forms of Social stratification –Characteristics and – Differences between Class & Caste System.
  4. Cultural concepts – Culture, Customs, Folkways, Mores, Taboos, Rituals and Traditions – Meaning, Definition and their Role in Agricultural Extension. S
  5. ocial Values and Attitudes – Meaning, Definition, Types and Role of Social Values and Attitudes in Agricultural Extension.
  6. Social Institutions –Meaning, Definition, Major institutions in Rural society, Functions and their Role in Agricultural Extension.
  7. Social Organizations – Meaning, Definition, Types of organizations and Role of Social organizations in Agricultural Extension.
  8. Social Control – Meaning, Definition, Need of social control and Means of Social control. Social change – Meaning, Definition, Nature of Social change, Dimensions of social change and factors of social change.
  9. Leadership – Meaning, Definition, Classification, Roles of a leader, Different methods of Selection of Professional and Lay leaders.
  10. Training of Leaders – Meaning, Definition, Methods of training, Advantages and Limitations in use of local leaders in Agricultural Extension.
  11. Psychology and Educational Psychology – Meaning, Definition, Scope and Importance of Educational Psychology in Agricultural Extension.
  12. Intelligence – Meaning, Definition, Types, Factors affecting intelligence and Importance of intelligence in Agricultural Extension.
  13. Personality – Meaning, Definition, Types, Factors influencing the Personality and Role of personality in Agricultural Extension. Teaching –
  14. Learning process – Meaning and Definition of Teaching, Learning, Learning experience and Learning situation, Elements of learning situation and its characteristics. Principles of learning and their implication for teaching.

  1. EXTENSION METHODOLOGIES FOR TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY

Communication – Meaning, Definition, Models, Elements and their haracteristics, Types and Barriers in communication. Extension Programme Planning – Meaning, Definitions of Planning, Programme, Project, Importance, Principles and Steps in Programme Development Process, Monitoring and Evaluation of Extension Programmes. Extension Teaching methods – Meaning, Definition, Functions and Classification. Individual contact methods – Farm and Home visit, Result Demonstration, Field trials – Meaning, Objectives, Steps, Merits and Demerits. Group contact methods – Group discussion, Method demonstration, Field Trips –Meaning, Objectives, Steps, Merits and Demerits. Small group discussion techniques – Lecture, Symposium, Panel, Debate, Forum, Buzz group, Workshop, Brain Storming, Seminar and Conference. Mass contact Methods – Campaign, Exhibition, Kisan Mela, Radio & Television –Meaning, Importance, Steps, Merits & Demerits. Factors influencing in selection of Extension Teaching Methods and Combination (Media Mix) of Teaching methods. Innovative Information sources – Internet, Cyber Cafes, Video and Tele conferences, Kisan call centers, Consultancy clinics. Agricultural Journalism – Meaning, Scope and Importance, Sources of news, Types, Merits and Limitations. Diffusion and Adoption of Innovations – Meaning, Definition, Models of adoption Process, Innovation – Decision Process – Elements, Adopter categories and their characteristics, Factors influencing adoption process. Capacity building of Extension Personnel and Farmers – Meaning, Definition, Types of training, Training to farmers, farm women and Rural youth – FTC and KVK.

  1. ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Entrepreneurship Development: Assessing overall business environment in the Indian economy. Overview of Indian social, political and economic systems and their implications for decision making by individual entrepreneurs. Globalisation and the emerging business / entrepreneurial environment. Concept of entrepreneurship; entrepreneurial and managerial characteristics; managing an enterprise; motivation and entrepreneurship development; importance of planning, monitoring, evaluation and follow up; managing competition; entrepreneurship development programs; SWOT analysis, Generation, incubation and commercialization of ideas and innovations. Government schemes and incentives for promotion of entrepreneurship. overnment policy on Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs) / SSIs. Export and Import Policies relevant to agriculture sector. Venture capital. Contract farming and joint ventures, public-private partnerships. Overview of agri inputs industry. Characteristics of Indian agricultural processing and export industry. Social Responsibility of Business. Communication Skills: Structural and functional grammar;meaning and process of communication, verbal and non-verbal communication; listening and note taking, writing skills, oral presentation skills; field diary and lab record; indexing, footnote and bibliographic procedures. Reading and comprehension of general and technical articles, précis writing, summarizing, abstracting; individual and group presentations, impromptu presentation, public speaking; Group discussion. Organizing seminars and conferences.

FORESTRY

  1. ENVIRONMENTAL AND FORESTRY SCIENCE

Scope and importance of environmental studies. Natural resources: Renewable and renewable resources. Ecosystems: Definition, concept, structure and functions. Producers, consumers and decomposers of an ecosystem. Energy flow in the ecosystem. Types of ecosystems. Bio-diversity: Definition, classification, threats to biodiversity and its conservation, Environmental pollution: Causes, effects and control of air, water, soil, thermal, noise and marine pollution. Disaster management. Floods, earthquakes, cyclones and land slides. Social issues and the environment, unsustainable to sustainable development. The Environment Protections Act, The Air Act, The water Act, The Wildlife Protection. Act and Forest Conservation Act. Woman and child welfare, HIV/AIDS and Role of information technology on environment and human health. Definition of forest & forestry, Branches of forestry and their relationships, Objectives and scope of silviculture, Locality factors, Forest types of India, Natural and Artificial regeneration, Establishment Forest Nurseries, Types of forest nurseries, Preparation of nursery stock, Plantation techniques, Afforestation of problematic site – Saline & alkaline soils, Desert areas, Coastal sands and Ravine lands. Road side, Railway and Farm forestry plantations; Tending, Definition of silvicultural systems, objectives and classification of silvucultural systems, clear felling, shelter wood and selection systems.

HORTICULTURE

  1. BREEDING OF FIELD & HORTICULTURAL CROPS

Breeding objectives and important concepts of breeding self pollinated,  cross pollinated and vegetatively propagated crops; Hardy-Weinberg Law; Study in respect of origin, distribution of species, wild relatives and forms, Cereals, (rice, wheat, maize, millets, sorghum, bajra, ragi); Pulses (redgram, greengram / blackgram, soybean); Oilseeds (Groundnut, sesame, sunflower, safflower, castor, mustard) etc. Fibers (Cotton, kenaf, roselle, jute) etc. Major breeding procedures for development of hybrids / varieties of various crops; Plant Genetic Resources, their conservation and utilization in crop improvement; Ideotype concept in crop improvement; Breeding for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, Variability in pathogens and pests; Mechanisms of resistance in plant to pathogens and pest; Genetic basis of adaptability to unfavourable environments; Definition of biometrics, assessment of variability i.e., additive, dominance and epistasis and their differentiation; Genotype x Environment interaction and influence on yield/performance. IPR and its related issues. Vegetables (Tomato, bhindi, chilli, cucumbers); Flowers crops (Chrysanthemum, rose, galardia, gerbera & marigold); Fruit crops (aonla, guava, mango, custard apple, banana, papaya); Major breeding procedures for development of hybrids / varieties of various crops.

  1. PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY OF FRUIT CROPS

Definition and importance of horticulture. Divisions of horticulture. Climatic zones of horticulture crops. Area and production of different fruit crops. Selection of site, fencing, and wind break, planting systems, high density planting, planning and establishment. Propagation methods and use of rootstocks. Methods of training and pruning. Use of growth regulators in fruit production. Package of practices for the cultivation of major fruits –mango, banana, citrus, grape, guava, sapota, apple, litchi. Papaya, Minor fruits – pineapple, annonaceous fruits, pomegranate, ber, fig, phalsa, jack, pear, plum, peaches and cherry.

  1. PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY OF VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS

Importance of Olericulture, vegetable gardens, vegetable classification. Origin, area, production, varieties, package of practices for fruit vegetables –, tomato, brinjal, chillies, and okra; Cucurbitaceous vegetables cucumber, ridge gourd, ash gourd, snake gourd, bottle gourd, bitter gourd and melons, Cole crops – cabbage, cauliflower and knol-khol. Bulb crops –onion and garlic. Beans and peas – French beans, cluster beans, dolichos beans, peas and cowpea. Tuber crops – potato, sweet potato, tapioca,colocasia, yams; Root crops – carrot, radish, turnip and beet root; Leafy vegetables – amaranthus, palak, gogu; Perennial vegetables – drumstick, coccinia and curry leaf. Importance of ornamental gardens. Planning of ornamental gardens. Types and styles of ornamental gardens. Use of trees, shrubs, climbers, palms, houseplants and seasonal flowers in the gardens. Package of practices for rose, jasmine, chrysanthemum, crossandra, marigold and tuberose.

  1. SPICES, AROMATIC, MEDICINAL AND PLANTATION CROPS

Importance and cultivation technology of Spices – ginger, turmeric, pepper, cardamom, coriander, cumin, fenugreek; Aromatic crops – lemon grass, citronella, palmarose, vetiver, geranium, dawana; Plantation crops –coconut, arecanut, betelvine, cashew, cocoa, coffee, oilpalm; Medicinal plants – diascoria, rauvolfia, opium, ocimum, perwinkle, aloe, guggul, belladonna, nuxvomica, Solanum khasiamum , aonla, senna, plantago, stevia,coleus and Acorus.

  1. DISEASES OF HORTICULTURAL CROPS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT

Economic Importance, symptoms, cause, disease cycle and integrated management of diseases of: citrus (canker, gummosis, citrus decline) mango (malformation, anthracnose powdery mildew), banana (bunchy top, panama wilt, moko disease), grapevine (powdery mildew, downy mildew), papaya (leaf curl, mosaic, stem rot), guava (wilt), apple (scab, fire blight), chilli (anthracnose, leaf curl), brinjal (blight, wilt, little leaf), zinger (rhizome rot), colocasia (phytopthora blight), bhendi (yellow vein mosaic, leaf spot), coriander (stem gall), potato (early blight, late blight, mosaic) crucifers, (club root, black rot), cucurbits( powdery mildew, downy mildew), tomato (early blight, late blight,leaf curl, wilts), beans (yellow mosaic, anthracnose), (onion purple blotch), coconut (bud rot, stem bleeding), betelvine (phytopthora blight), coffee (rust), tea (blister blight), rose (die back, podery mildew), chrysanthemum (root rot , bacterial blight)

NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

  1. AGRICULTURAL METEOROLOGY

Agricultural Meteorology: Definition, Scope and practical utility. Study of atmosphere, its composition and properties. Weather and climate, micro climate, weather elements and their impact on agriculture, earth's atmosphere, composition and structure, solar radiation, nature and properties, solar constant and energy balance, Atmospheric temperature, factors affecting horizontal and vertical distribution of temperature variations and global warming. Air pressure variations; Wind: factors affecting it. Cyclone and anti cyclones, general circulation, atmospheric humidity, vapour pressure and saturation vapour pressure. Process of condensation, formation of dew, fog, mist, snow, rain and hail. Formation and classification of clouds, Introduction to monsoon, Basics, types and importance of weather forecasting. Weather hazards. Agro-climatic classification and requirement of crops- Rice, Soybean, Maize, Sorghum, Sugarcane, Groundnut, Cotton, Wheat and Vegetables. Climatic water balance-Water balance equation its application in agriculture, Agroclimatic indices-Aridity, humidity and moisture index and index of moisture adequacy.

  1. FUNDAMENTALS TO SOIL SCIENCE

Soil: Pedological and edaphological concepts, Origin of the earth, Earth‟s crust; Composition: Rocks and minerals Weathering, Soil formation factors and processes Components of soils; Soil profile, Soil physical properties, Soil texture, Particle size distribution system, Soil structure classification and its significance, Soil aggregates, Soil consistency and its types, Bulk density and particle density of soils & porosity, their significance in agriculture, Soil Colour,– definition, its significance, value, hue and chroma, use of Munsell colour chart. Elementary knowledge of soil classification soil orders and characteristics of soils of Chhattisgarh, land capability classification, ; Soil water, forms, hygroscopic, capillary and gravitational, soil moisture constants- hygroscopic coefficient, wilting point, field capacity, moisture equivalent, maximum water holding capacity, PF scale, energy concepts, Soil moisture measurement methods, saturated and unsaturated water movement Elementary idea of Infiltration, percolation, permeability, Drainage, runoff and its role in crop production, Soil temperature, Soil air, and its role on plant growth; Soil colloids, Properties, nature, types and significance; Layer silicate clays, and sources of charges, Ion exchange, CEC & AEC Factors influencing ion exchange and its Significance. Soil organic matter, sources of soil organic matter, Decomposition of organic matter, formation of Humus, Fractionation of organic matter, Carbon cycle, C: N ratio. Soil biology, Biomass, Soil organisms and their beneficial and harmful roles.

  1. FUNDAMENTALS OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION ENGINEERING

Surveying: survey equipment, chain survey, cross staff survey, plotting procedure, calculations of area of regular and irregular fields. Levelling –levelling equipment, terminology, methods of calculation of reduced levels, types of levelling, contouring. Irrigation, classification of projects, flow irrigation and lift irrigation. Water source, Water lifting devices – pumps (shallow and deep well), capacity, power calculations. Irrigation water measurement – weirs, flumes and orifices and methods of water measurement and instruments. Water conveyance systems, open channel and underground pipeline. Irrigation methods – drip and sprinkle irrigation systems. Soil and water conservation – soil erosion, types and engineering control measures.

  1. SOIL CHEMISTRY, FERTILITY AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

Soil as a source of plant nutrients. Essential and beneficial elements, criteria of essentiality, forms of nutrients in soil , mechanisms of nutrient transport to plants, factors affecting nutrient availability to plants. Measures to overcome deficiencies and toxicities. Problem soils – acid, salt affected and calcareous soils, characteristics, nutrient availabilities. Reclamation –mechanical, chemical and biological methods. Fertilizer and insecticides and their effect on soil water and air. Irrigations water – Quality of irrigation water and its appraisal. Indian standards for water quality. Use of saline water for agriculture. Soil fertility – Different approaches for soil fertility and productivity evaluation. Methods, Soil testing – Chemical methods. critical levels of ifferent nutrients in soil. Plant analysis – DRIS methods, critical levels in plants. Rapid tissue tests. Indicator plants. Biological method of soil fertility evaluation. Soil test based fertilizer recommendations to crops and calculation of nutrient through different fertiliers . Factors influencing nutrient use efficiency (NUE) in respect of N, P, K. Source,method and scheduling of nutrients (macro & micro) for different soils and crops grown under rainfed and irrigated conditions.

  1. AGRICULTURAL MICROBIOLOGY

History of Microbiology: Spontaneous generation theory, Role of microbes in fermentation, Applied areas of Microbiology, Metabolism in bacteria: ATP generation, chemoautotrophy, photo autotrophy, respiration, fermentation. Soil Microbiology: Microbial groups in soil, microbial transformations of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur, Biological nitrogen fixation. Microflora of rhizosphere and phyllosphere, microbes in composting. Microbiology of water. Beneficial microorganisms in Agriculture: Biofertilizer (Bacterial, Cyanobacterial and Fungal), Microbial insecticides, Microbial agents for control of plant diseases, Biodegradation, Biogas production, Biodegradable plastics, Plant – Microbe interactions.

  1. MANURES, FERTILIZERS AND AGRO-CHEMICALS

Introduction – Raw materials – Manures – Bulky and concentrated – FYM, Composts – Different methods of composting, Vermicomosting, Green manures, Oil cakes, Sewage and sludge – Biogas plant slurry, Plant and animal refuges. Fertilizers – classifications nitrogenous, phosphatic & potassic fertilizers. Manufacturing processes and properties of ammonium sulphate, urea, calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate nitrate, single super phosphate, enriched super phosphate, diammonium phosphate, ammonium poly phosphate, murriate of potash and sulphate of potash and complex fertilizers their fate and reactions in the soil, Secondary and micronutrients fertilizers, Amendments. Fertilizer Control Order, Fertilizer storage; Biofertilizers and their advantage, Organic chemistry as prelude to agro chemicals, Diverse types of agrochemicals, Botanical insecticides (Neem), Pyrethrum, Synthetic pyrethroids. Synthetic organic insecticides, Major classes, Properties and uses of some important insecticides under each class. Herbicides – Major classes – Properties and uses of 2, 4-D, atrazine, glyphosate, butachlor benthiocarb; Fungicides –Major classes – Properties and uses of carbendazim, carboxin, captan, tridemorph and copper oxychloride – Insecticides Act, Plant growth regulators.

  1. WATER MANAGEMENT

Irrigation- definition and objectives, water resources and irrigation development in India and Chhattisgarh; Soil plant water relationships (concept and basic terms); Methods of soil moisture estimation, evapotranspiration and crop water requirement; effective rainfall, scheduling of irrigation; Methods of irrigation: surface, subsurface, sprinkler and drip irrigation; measurement of irrigation water, Irrigation efficiency and water use efficiency, conjunctive use of water, irrigation water quality and its management. Water requirements of different crops. Watershed management- definition and concept. Drainage- importance and methods.

  1. ORGANIC FARMING

Introduction, concept basic principles, definition relevance in present context; Organic production requirements. Role of organic farming for sustainable agricultural production. Crop management in organic farming. Choice of crop varieties, conversion period, diversified crops, contamination control, organic seed, crop rotation, residue management for animals, organic manures, vermi-composting, green manuring, recycling of organic residues, biofertilizers, Indigenous technology for nutrient management. Soil improvement and amendments. Diseases and pest management use of biocontrol agents, biopesticides pheromones, trap crops, bird perches. Weed management- cultural, mechanical and biological. National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), National standards and norms for organic certification. National and International organic certification agencies, quality consideration, group certification, inspection, certification process, processing and handling, labelling, marketing, exports, organic logo.

STATISTICS AND COMPUTER APPLICATION

  1. INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

Introduction to Computers, Anatomy of Computers, Input and Output Devices; Units of Memory, Hardware, Software and Classification of Computers; Personal Computers,Types of Processors, booting of Computer, warm and cold booting, Computer Viruses, Worms and Vaccines Operating System- Disk Operating System (DOS)and WINDOWS: Some fundamental DOS Commands, FORMAT, DIR, COPY, PATH, LABEL, VOL, MD, CD and DELTREE, Rules for naming files in DOS and Types of files.

WINDOWS: GUL, Desktop and its elements, WINDOWS Explorer, working with files and folders; setting time and date, starting and shutting down of WINDOW. Anatomy of a WINDOW, Title Bar, Minimum, Maximum and Close Buttons, Scroll Bars, Menus and Tool Bars

Application –MSWORD: Word, processing and units of document, features of word-processing packages. Creating, Editing, Formatting and Saving a document in MSWORD

MSEXCEL: Electronic Spreadsheets, concept, packages. Creating, Editingand saving a spreadsheet with MSEXCEL; Use of in-built Statistical and other functions and writing expressions; Use of Date Analysis Tools, Correlation and Regression, t-test for two-sample and ANOVA with oneway Classification, Creating Graphs MS Power Point: Features of Power Point Package. MSACCESS: Concept of Database, Units of database, creating database; Principles of Programming: Flow Charts and Algorithms, illustration through examples.

Internet: World Wide Web (WWW), Concepts, Web Browsing and Electronic Mail.

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

  1. LIVE-STOCK PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT

    • Importance of Livestock in Indian Economy.
    • Important Exotic and Indian breeds of Cattle, Buffalo, Goat, Sheep and Swine.
    • Housing for different categories of Livestock.Objectives, Advantages, Selection of site, Different systems of housing with space requirement.
    • Care and Management of newborn calves, growing heifers, Cows at/after parturition.
    • Feeding for different categories of livestock.Feed and fodders for animals, Principles of feeding, Different types of ration, Feeding of calves, growing heifers and dairy cows.
    • Selection and Breeding of livestock.Different systems of breeding, Factors affecting fertility in livestock, Artificial Insemination, Definition, Objectives, Techniques, Advantages of A.I.
    • Milking of Cow.Different type of milking, Measures for clean milk production, Factors affecting milk yield and its composition, Milk Secretion, Milk Let- down.
    • Disease control measures, Management of Infectious and Contagious diseases of livestock and Preventive measures.
    • Cost of production of milk, Economical units of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and swine.
    • Poultry Production.Important Indian and foreign breeds of poultry, Different systems of housing and Breeding, Management of chick, Grower and Layer birds, Incubation and hatching, Management of incubator during incubation, Diseases of poultry, vaccination schedule.