Unit-1: Agrometeorology, Genetics and Plant Breeding, Biochemistry and Microbiology

• Agrometeorology

  • Elements of Weather: rainfall
  • weather forecasting

• Genetics & Plant Breeding

  • Cell and its structure
  • Organisation of the genetic materials in chromosomes
  • Mendel’s laws of inheritancet
  • Quantitative inheritance
  • Monogenic and polygenic inheritance
  • Role of Genetics in Plant breeding
  • Plant Biotechnology - definition and scope in

• Biochemistry

  • pH and buffers.
  • Classification and nomenclature of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, and enzymes.

• Microbiology

  • Microbial cell structure.
  • Micro-organisms: Algae
  • Role of micro-organisms in respiration, fermentation, and organic matter decomposition.

Unit-2: Livestock Production

• Scope and Importance

  • (a) Importance of livestock in agriculture and industry
  • (b) Important breeds: Indian and exotic

• Care and Management

  • (a) Systems of cattle and poultry housing.
  • (b) Principles of feeding
  • (c) Management of calves, bullocks, pregnant and milch animals, chicks, cockerels, layers, and poultry.
  • (e) Signs of sick animals, symptoms of common diseases in cattle
  • (f) Prevention and control of diseases like Rinderpest, black quarter, foot and mouth, mastitis, haemorrhagic septicaemia, coccidiosis, Fowl pox, and Ranikhet disease.

• Artificial Insemination

  • Reproductive organs, collection, dilution, preservation of semen, and artificial insemination.
  • Role of artificial insemination in cattle improvement.
  • Livestock Products: Processing and marketing of milk and milk products.

Unit-3: Crop Production

• Introduction

  • (a) Targets and achievements in foodgrain production in India, sustainable crop production
  • (b) Classification of field crops: cereals

• Soil, Soil Fertility, Fertilizers, and Manures

  • (a) Soil properties: pH, texture, structure, organisms, tilth, fertility, health.
  • (b) Essential plant nutrients, functions, deficiency symptoms.
  • (c) Soil types of India and their characteristics.
  • (d) Organic manure, common fertilizers, biofertilizers, integrated nutrient management system.

• Irrigation and Drainage

  • (a) Sources of irrigation: rain, canals, tanks, rivers, wells, tubewells.
  • (b) Scheduling of irrigation based on growth stages, soil moisture, weather.
  • (c) Water requirement of crops.
  • (d) Methods of irrigation and drainage.
  • (e) Watershed management.

• Weed Control

  • Principles of weed control.
  • Methods: cultural, mechanical, chemical, biological, integrated weed management.

• Crops

  • Seedbed preparation, seed treatment
  • Fertilizer application: dose, method, timing.
  • Irrigation, intercultural operations, weed control.
  • Pests and diseases: bacteria, fungi, viruses, nematodes, integrated pest management.
  • Harvesting, threshing, post-harvest technology:

Unit-4: Horticulture

• (a) Importance of Fruits and vegetables in the human diet, Crop diversification & processing industry.
• (b) Orchard- location and layout, ornamental gardening, and kitchen garden.
• (c) Planting systems, training from frost and sunburn.
• (d) Trees, shrubs, climbers and examples. propagation by seed, cutting
• (e) Cultivation practices, processing, and marketing of
  • (i) Fruits - mango, papaya, banana, guava, citrus, grapes.
  • (ii) Vegetables - radish, carrot, potato, onion, cauliflower, brinjal, tomato, spinach, and cabbage.
  • (iii) Flowers - gladiolus, canna, chrysanthemums, roses and marigold.
• (f) Principles and methods of fruit and vegetable preservation.
• (g) Preparation of jellies, jams