SYLLABUS FOR COMBINED TECHNICAL EXAMINATION

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

PAPER-I
1. Basic Agriculture:
(a) History of Agriculture: Evaluation of present day agriculture as an art and
science from primitive methods-development of scientific agriculture in India-
Green Revolution.
(b) Crop Ecology: Climate and rainfall-Monsoon climate-Southwest and
Northeast monsoons-their behaviour and causes, draught and floods- causes
and effects; weather forecasting and meteorological services to farmers.
Parameters affecting crop plants like temperature, humidity, sunshine hours,
coldwaves, storm, wind, hails etc. hydrologic cycle and its importance to plant
life. Broad agricultural regions of India on the basis of climate, crops and
livestock and vegetation. Efficient cropping zones of India with special
reference to Northeast India.
2. Agronomy:
(a) Agronomy: Definition-scope of agronomy-classification of crop plants
concepts in organic farming and sustainable agriculture.
(b) Crop-production: Broad classification of crops with reference to origin, history,
distribution, soil and climate requirements, varieties, cultivation practices,
seed production and agronomic improvement of the following.
(i) Cereals: Rice, maize, sorghum, wheat, bajra and millets.
(ii) Pulses: Blackgram, Greengram, Bengalgram, Horsegram, Lentil, Peas,
Pigeon pea, Cow-pea etc. The importance of legumes in crop rotation.
(iii) Oilseeds: Soyabean, Rape & Mustard, Sunflower, Groundnut, Safflower,
Niger, Castor, Linseed etc.
(iv)Commercial & Fiber Crop: Sugarcane, cotton, jute, mesta, tobacco, chilies,
onion, garlic etc.
(v) Spices and Condiments: Pepper, mustard, cardamom, ginger, turmeric,
cinnamon, glove, coriander etc.
(vi) Medicinal & Aromatic Plants: Difference between aromatic and medicinal
plants-cultivation of some important plants in general such as poppy,
cinchona, solanum sop, lemon grass, citronella, geranium, rose and tuberose.
(c) Cropping System/Pattern: Definition-factors involved in preparation of
cropping schemes for different agro-climatic regions in India-types of
cropping system-shifting cultivation, merits and demerits-crop rotation-
principles of crop rotation-types of crop rotation generally followed in India
and the state-factors affecting crop rotation-Role of legumes in crop rotation.
Mono-culture vs mixed cropping-merits and demerits with examples.
Integrated farming system-why integration of different enterprises is more
economical than single enterprises farming co-operative farming and Agro-
forestry-irrigated farming vs Rainfall farming-their merits and demerits.

(d) Dry farming and Water Management: Definition-soil and climate conditions in
dry farming area-soil mulch, water use efficiency (WUE) with various
agronomic practices under dry farming conditions. Importance of water

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 management in crop production-sources of water-methods to have rain water
and water from rivers.
Suitability of soils and water quality for irrigation-water requirement for
different crops and how to avoid water losses. Importance of drainage in
irrigated farms for sustained farming-ill effects to undrained soils. Irrigation-
time, depth, methods and systems of irrigation-explain the merits and demerits
of these systems. Irrigation practices for important crops. Water lifting devices
types and use.

(e) Seed production: Definition of seed qualities of good seed-external

conditions required for germination-dormancy in seeds-cause of dormancy-
seed treatment methods. Classification of seeds-breeders foundation seed-
major causes of storage problem and precautions for domestic, commercial
and other advanced techniques to prevent the incidence of storage pest in seed
godowns.

(f) Weeds & Weed Management: Definition-its beneficial and harmful effect-
classification of weed-crop-weed competition and factors effecting weed
competition. Methods of weed control integrated weed management-
herbicides-classification of herbicides-mode of action selectively of
herbicides. Herbicide application equipments-pre post emergent weed control
in field crops, vegetable crops and in cropping systems.

3. Soil Science, Soil Conservation and Management:

(a) Soil Science: Definition and concept of soil-composition of soil profile-its
affect on crop plants. How the soil holds water and its usage by plants-field
capacity-wilting point-premeability. Soil organic matter-humus formation. C-
Nratio and its significance to plants. Soil PH and limiting-“Lime makes father
rich but the son poor” explain.
(b) Soil conservation: Why do we require to conserve our soil?-Types of soil
conservation measures adopted-Role of trees/forest in conservation of water
and soil. Soil conservation problem-practices followed in India and the State.
Watershed-definition-components of watershed-conservation land treatments
adopted-alternate land use system like agro-forestry, agro-horticulture etc. A
brief note on conservation farming in India.
(c) Soil Erosion: Concept and factors affecting soil erosion-types of erosion-water
erosion, sheet erosion, channel erosion, and wind erosion. Techniques to
control soil erosion-vegetative methods of erosion control-mechanical method
of erosion control-strip cropping-contour strip cropping-terracing and its
classification, terrace systems of the state-Gullies and control measures-Run-
off and control measures.
(d) Manures and Fertilizers: manures; composition and conservation of manures-
its application. Compost-industrial waste-city waste-disposal and use of other
farm waste as manure. Fertilizers-what is a fertilizer? Types of fertilizers-
straight-compound-liquid-mixed fertilizer, their use and relative efficiency in
relation to crop plants. Factors affecting fertilizer use and placement of
fertilizer in crop plants. Liming and other soil amendments-when to apply
lime. Essential nutrients-macro-micro nutrient and secondary compound.
Importance of Bio-fertilizers in sustainable agriculture. What are green

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 manures? Its purpose and effects on subsequent crop yields crops used for
green manures.

(e) Soil Management: The different management practices that can adopt to
improve crop growth and soil condition-types of soil in India and the State-
Alkaline-saline-acidic soils and their management and reclamation. Soil
fertility and productivity-how to improve the soil fertility. The importance of
humus and compost.
4. Agricultural Engineering: Tillage and its objective-different types of tillage-
intertillage and intertillage implements-types of machinery used for landshapping,
tillage, seeding, fertilizer applicator, intercultivation, weed control, harvesting and
post harvest operations.

5. Agricultural Economics: Application of basis economic theories to agriculture such

as principle of diminishing returns, principle of opportunity costs (equal-marginal
return principle), and principles in combining enterprises-independent, competitive,
supplementary and complementary enterprises.
(a) Agricultural Marketing and Storage: Definition of Agricultural marketing.
Types of agricultural markets. Marketing functionaries (agencies) involved in
marketing of agricultural produce. “ The nature of some of the agricultural
products, e.g. their bulk form and perishability and their seasonal availability
further add to the complexity of agricultural marketing”-Elaborate. Regulation
of markets. Agricultural produce markets Act,-How this Act came about and
how far the Act has helped the producer? The mode of implementing the Act.
Importance of standardization and grading of produce for internal trade and
export. Consumer production through different measures such as grading
under ‘AGMARK’ for marketing of quality products. Co-operative
marketing-merits and demerits. State level co-operative and National co-
operative marketing bodies eg; NAFED (National Agricultural Co-operative
Marketing Federation). Other activities of marketing handled by co-operative
societies-co-operative export of Agricultural produce, co-operative cold stores.
Market extension, marketing intelligence and marketing research and
investigation.
(b) Farm Management: Definition, nature and scope of farm management. “Farm
management is a branch of economics which deals with agricultural
production economics”-Explain. Resources for farm management-land,
labour, capital and management. What are the goals of a farm manager?
Criteria for selection/buying a farm. Planning and budgeting-farming of farm
plan/budget-steps in budgeting with different choices/alternatives (eg. Crop,
livestock, building and labour use etc). Farm manager has to face many risks
and uncertainties such as price change, yield uncertainty of new methods of
production and change of Government policy etc. precautions to be taken
adjust to uncertainty in farm management.
(c) Farm Credit/Finance: Decisions to use credit, peculiar features of farm
finances-differences between financing agriculture and financing other sectors.
Types of loans. Bankers are reluctant to finance the agricultural sector-why?
Agencies involved in financing agricultural projects.
Commercialization of Agriculture in India and in the North-eastern region.

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 (d) Farm Business Analysis: Principles of single and double entry book-keeping,
journal, ledger, cashbook, profit and loss recount, balance sheet. Measures of
farm efficiency.

6. Agricultural Extension Education: Difference between formal education and

extension education. Objective of extension education. Principles of extension
education. Extension teaching methods-classifications. Programme planning in
extension education-process (steps) of programme planning, role of extension
education in agricultural development. Use of PRA (Participatory Rural
Appraisal) in extension education. Importance of Training as a means of
extension education in agricultural development.

PAPER-II

1. Horticulture Development:
Definition and Scope of Horticulture: Branches of horticulture, importance in the
context of the State. Important horticultural crops of the sate-fruit crops: vegetable
crops and ornamental crops and package of practices of important horticultural crops
including plantation crops, commercial, floriculture, medicinal and aromatic plants.

2. Agricultural Botany and Plant Breeding: Different branches of plant science-such as

genetics, cytology, bacteriology, biometry, taxonomy, plant physiology, plant
pathology, micro-biology, ecology and plant breeding-importance of their study and
relationship among themselves. The role of plant explores and breeders and botanical
gardens in the propagation of economic plants in the old and new world. Vaviliv’s
center of origin of crop plants-primary and secondary center. Darwin’s theory of
natural selection. Mendel’s law of heredity chromosomes as bearers of heredity. Cell
definition-types of cell division-mitosis-meiosis-comparasion of meiosis and mitosis.

Nature and scope of plant breeding, mode of reproduction in relation to

breeding methods, what are the different methods of crops improvement?
Introduction-selection-hybridization. Difference between self and cross pollinated
crops with few examples. Define mutation-different kinds of mutation-its nature-its
advantage and disadvantage, application to conventional breeding methods. In vitro
techniques in crop improvement and prospects. Tissue culture-protoplast culture etc.

3. Improved Seed: Definition and prerequisites of an improved variety-its production-

multiplication-distribution-maintenance and testing. How is a variety named and
released? What do the term ‘seed certification’ mean? Role of gene bank in
preserving the cermplasms.

State the contributions or functions of the following persons/agencies in brief:

(a) i. Darwin (1834-1914)
ii. Gregory Mendel (1822-1884)
iii. Dr. William Roxburgh (The father of Indian Botany)
iv. T.S. Venkataraman (Sugarcane)
v. Dr. K. Ramiah (rice)
vi. Dr. Choudhary Ram Bhan Singh (Wheat)
vii Dr. B.P. Pal (wheat)
viii. Dr. M.S. Swaminathan (Mutation breeder)

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 ix. Dr. M.S. Randhawa
x. Dr. W. Carey.
(b) i. I.A.R.I (Indian Agricultural Research Institute)
ii. NBPGR (National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources)
iii. Botanical Survey of India.
iv. Forest Research Institute, Dehradun.
4. Plant Physiology: Definition-its importance, Role of mineral nutrients in plant
metabolism, what are essential elements? Major and minor nutrients-its functions in
plant. Nutrient deficiencies-toxicities and remedies in major crop plant.

5. Growth and Development: Growth regulators-inhalators-definitions and their role-

Auxins-Gibberllings Cytokinig-acid-ethylene-its functions and site of synthesis. What
is photoperiodism-and its relationship in flowering-mechanism and long day plants-
verbalization and flowering-Jane the substances regulation flowering. Development of
fruit-growth and ripening-seed and bud dormancy-causes and remedies and its use in
technology. Importance of photosynthesis-respiration process in crop improvement
programme.

6. Plant Protection/Pathology:
(a) Disease-definition-nature and causes-diagnosis of disease in major crop plants-
avenues of penetration-reproduction and dissemination. Types of disease-seed-borne-
soil borne-and airborne disease. General account of some important diseases due to
fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, angiospermic parasites (eg: striga and loranthus
(SPP), and non-paracitic agents affecting cereals, pulses and oilseeds with reference
to symptomatology, epidemiology and management practices.

(b) Nematology: Diagnosis-symptoms and pathological effects of nematode injury to

important crop plants in general-economic importance of plant parasitic nematodes.
Principles of nematodes management with an integrated approach.
(c) Microbiology: Types of micro-organisms-bacteria-fungi-elgae-protozoa and
viruses-definitions and their importance in natural plant processes. Procaryotes and
Eucaryotes-their functions. Effects of environmental factors on growth and activity of
micro-organisms.
(d) Classification of chemicals-fungicides, bacteriacides, nematicides and their
methods of application in control of diseases. Systematic and contact chemicals-
antibiotics nature and uses.

7. Entomology: Mode of feeding of insect pest on plants and nature of damage of some
important cereals, pulses and oilseeds. Insecticides formulations, solid and liquid
formulations. Study of non-insecticides chemicals-chemosterilants, antifeedants,
attractants, repellants, chitininhibitors, growth regulators and harmone analogues. Role
microbes-pedators, paracites, parasitoids and other natural enemies in biological control.
Insect residues-problems of residues in relation to environment and human safety. Pest
control measures-physical-mechanical-cultural-biological and concept of integrated pest
management (IPM).

Insecticides formulations-classification and mode of action-arsenicals-fluorine

compounds, dinitrophenol, chlorinated hydrocarbons chlorinated terpenes,
organophosphamates, carbonates, fumigants, insecticides of plant and animal origin
and non-insecticides chemical insecticides application equipments-dusters and

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 sprayers-manual and power operated. Important pest of crops in the state and their
control storage posts and their control. Precautions in the use of insecticides.
8. Short notes On:
(a) N.S.C. (National SEED Corporation), F.C.I. (Food corporation of India), N.C.D.C.
(Natonal Cooperative Development Corporation), NABARD (National Bank for
Agriculture and Rural Development), K.V.K. (Krishi Vigyan Kendra), I.C.A.R.
(Indian Coulcil of Agricultural Research), I.R.D.P. ( Integrated Rural Development
Programme), I.C.R.I.S.A.T. (Integrated Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid
Tropics), T.T.C. (Trainers Training Centre), I.R.R.I. (International Rice Research
Institute).
(b) Organic farming, sustainable agriculture, eco-farming, agriculture, I.N.M.
(Integrated Nutrient Management), I.P.M. (Integrated Pest Management), Integrated
farming system, balanced fertilizers, biotechnology, watershed management, global
warming or greenhouse effect, wasteland management, gene bank, T&V system,
agriculture, Rhizobial culture, Tissue culture, Genetic Engineering, Rainfed farming.
(c) Important books and authors on agricultural fields/subjects and contribution of
some significant workers/scientist, administrators to development of agriculture in
India.

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