AGRO 101 FUNDAMENTALS OF AGRONOMY 3(2+1)

THEORY
Lec No.1 Agronomy- Definition, meaning and scope - Art, science and business of
crop production – Agronomy in relation with other disciplines of
Agricultural Sciences.
Lec No.2 Agro-climatic zones of India and Andhra Pradesh.
Lec No.3 Crops – Classification of crops - Field crops- Cereals, Millets, Pulses, Oil seeds,
Commercial crops - Scientific names - Economic importance.
Lec No.4 Tillage and tilth - Objectives of tillage- Characteristics of ideal seed bed- Effect
of tillage on soil properties
Lec No.5 Types of tillage, advantages and disadvantages-Factors affecting tillage and
seed bed preparation - After cultivation- Puddling.
Lec No.6 Modern concepts of tillage - Minimum tillage, zero tillage, strip tillage,
conservation tillage and their advantages and limitations.
Lec No.7 Seeds and sowing – Variety- Characteristics of good quality seed, Seed
treatment - Agronomic significance of seed purity and quality
Lec No.8 Methods of sowing– Broadcasting, drilling, dibbling and transplanting
Lec No.9 Crop stand establishment - Factors affecting crop stand establishment
Lec No.10 Growth and development of crops – Definition - Meaning and factors affecting
growth and development
Lec No.11 Crop density and geometry- Planting geometry- Optimum plant density and
planting pattern. Plant population – Competition - Types of competition -
Inter and intra plant competition. Effect of plant population on growth and
yield.
Lec No.12 Cropping pattern, Cropping system- Crop rotation - Principles of crop rotation
– Mono cropping and its disadvantages - Types of cropping systems -
Mixed cropping, intercropping, multiple cropping, relay and multi
storied cropping.
Lec No.13 Cropping systems- Factors affecting cropping systems - major cropping
patterns and systems in India and Andhra Pradesh.
Lec No.14 Soil fertility and soil productivity - Soil organic matter and its importance -
Loss of soil fertility and its maintenance.
Lec No.15 Crop Nutrition - Definition of essential nutrients - Criteria of essentiality,
functional elements - Classification of essential nutrients - Role of macro
and micro nutrients.
Lec No.16 Manures and fertilizers - Source of nutrients - Organic manures and
bio-fertilizers, their classification and characteristics - Role of organic manures
in crop production.
Lec No.17 Inorganic fertilizers – classification - Methods of fertilizer application -
Integrated nutrient management (INM)- Components and advantages of INM
- Nutrient use efficiency.
Lec No.18 Green manures - Role in crop production – Definition, objectives of green
manuring - Desirable characteristics of green manure crops, advantages and
limitations of green manures.

Lec No.19 Dry farming, dryland farming and rainfed farming - Problems of crop
production in dry areas - Length of crop growing period
Lec No.20 Soil and moisture conservation - Water harvesting techniques (in-situ and ex-
situ) - Watershed - definition – Objectives.
Lec No.21 Irrigation- Importance and objectives of irrigation - Water resources of the
World, India and Andhra Pradesh
Lec No.22 Soil moisture constants- FC, PWP and hygroscopic coefficient- Kinds of water-
gravitational water, capillary water and hygroscopic water - Crop water
requirement – Moisture sensitive stages.
Lec No.23 Methods of Irrigation – Surface methods - Micro irrigation –Drip and sprinkler
methods - Advantages and limitations.
Lec No.24 Weed- Definition – Importance - Harmful and beneficial effects of weeds-
Classification of weeds.
Lec No.25 Crop weed competition – Critical period for crop weed competition –
Allelopathy- meaning and its importance in weed management.
Lec No.26 Weed management principles - Prevention, control and eradication
Lec No.27 Weed Management - physical, mechanical, cultural, chemical and biological
methods - Integrated weed management (IWM).
Lec No.28 Herbicides – Definition - Classification of herbicides based on selectivity, time
and method of application- Advantages and limitations of herbicides.
Lec No.29 Sustainable crop production – Definition – Importance - Principles
and practices - Natural resources and conservation.
Lec No.30 Harvesting and threshing of crops - Maturity symptoms of major crops (Rice,
Maize, Redgram, Blackgram, Bengalgram, Groundnut, Sunflower, Sesame and
Sugarcane)
Lec No.31 Methods of harvesting - threshing and winnowing, drying and post harvest
storage of grains -Harvest index and BC ratio.
Lec No.32 Weather- Climate- Differences between weather and climate - Different
weather parameters -Weather forecasting- Types of Weather forecasting
Practical

Lec No. 1 Visit to College farm and study of major crops and varieties

Lec No. 2 Identification of crops, seeds and fertilizers

Lec No. 3 Study of Primary tillage implements

Lec No. 4 Study of Secondary tillage implements

Lec No.5 Study of seeding equipment and inter cultivation implements

Lec No.6 Practice of ploughing and puddling

Lec No.7 Seed germination and viability test

Lec No.8 Calculation of Plant Population and Seed rate

Lec No.9 Calculation of fertilizer requirement

Lec No.10 Study of yield attributes in different crops

Lec No.11 Estimation of yield in different crops

Lec No.12 Practice on method of application of manures and fertilizers

Lec No.13 Study of micro irrigation methods

Lec No.14 Identification of maturity symptoms of different crops

Lec No.15 Identification of weeds in field crops and other habitats

Lec No.16 Herbicide label information, computation of herbicide doses and precautionary
measures while using herbicides