New Syllabus of ARS Agronomy

Unit-1: Current Trends in Agronomy (ARS Agronomy)

• Agro-physiological basis of variation in yield (ARS Agronomy)
• Globalization of agriculture and WTO (ARS Agronomy)
• Precision farming (ARS Agronomy)
• Protected agriculture (ARS Agronomy)
• Contract farming (ARS Agronomy)
• Organic farming (ARS Agronomy)
• Conservation agriculture (ARS Agronomy)
• Soil-less cultivation (ARS Agronomy)
• Aeroponics (ARS Agronomy)
• Hydroponics (ARS Agronomy)
• Vertical farming and terrace farming (ARS Agronomy)
• Use of GIS (ARS Agronomy)
• GPS (ARS Agronomy)
• Remote sensing and robotics for crop management in modern agriculture (ARS Agronomy)
• Use of blockchain and big data analysis (ARS Agronomy)
• Mechanization in crop cultivation systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Global warming and crop productivity (ARS Agronomy)
• GM crops (ARS Agronomy)
• GM seed production technology (ARS Agronomy)
• Seed certification (ARS Agronomy)
• Seed multiplication (ARS Agronomy)
• Hybrid seed production etc. (ARS Agronomy)
• Concepts of system agriculture (ARS Agronomy)
• Holistic approach of farming systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Artificial intelligence - concept and application (ARS Agronomy).

Unit-2: Recent Trends in Crop Growth and Productivity (ARS Agronomy)

• Geo-ecological zones of India (ARS Agronomy)
• Crop growth analysis in relation to environment (ARS Agronomy)
• Capacity and intensity factors of plant growth (ARS Agronomy)
• Factors influencing vegetative (thermophase) and reproductive (photophase) of plants/crops (ARS Agronomy)
• Quantitative agro-biological principles and inverse yield nitrogen law (ARS Agronomy)
• Mitscherlich's yield equation, its interpretation and applicability (ARS Agronomy)
• Baule unit (ARS Agronomy)
• Optimization of plant density and planting geometry in relation to different resources (ARS Agronomy)
• Concept of ideal plant type and crop modeling for desired crop yield (ARS Agronomy)
• Strategies for maximizing solar energy utilization (ARS Agronomy)
• Leaf area - interception of solar radiation and crop growth (ARS Agronomy)
• Photosynthesis: the photosynthetic apparatus, factors essential for photosynthesis (ARS Agronomy)
• Difference in photosynthetic rates among and within species (ARS Agronomy)
• Solar radiation concept and agro-techniques for harvesting solar radiation (ARS Agronomy)
• Growth analysis: CGR, RGR, NAR, LAI, LAD, LAR - concept, relevance, critical values (ARS Agronomy)
• Validity and limitations in interpreting crop growth and development (ARS Agronomy)
• Growth curves: sigmoid, polynomial and asymptotic (ARS Agronomy)
• Root systems, root-shoot relationship (ARS Agronomy)
• Yield and environmental stress (ARS Agronomy)
• Use of growth hormones and regulators for better adaptation in stressed conditions (ARS Agronomy)
• Heat unit concept of crop maturity: concept and types of heat units (ARS Agronomy)
• Concept of plant ideotypes: crop physiological and new ideotypes (ARS Agronomy)
• Characteristics of ideotype for wheat, rice, maize, etc. (ARS Agronomy).

Unit-3: Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management (ARS Agronomy)

• Factors affecting soil fertility and productivity (ARS Agronomy)
• Problems of supply and availability of nutrients (ARS Agronomy)
• Relation between nutrient supply and crop growth (ARS Agronomy)
• Criteria of essentiality of nutrients (ARS Agronomy)
• Essential plant nutrients and their functions (ARS Agronomy)
• Nutrient deficiency symptoms (ARS Agronomy)
• Transformation and dynamics of major plant nutrients (ARS Agronomy)
• Commercial fertilizers (ARS Agronomy)
• Composition, relative fertilizer value, and cost (ARS Agronomy)
• Crop response to different nutrients (ARS Agronomy)
• Residual effects and fertilizer use efficiency (ARS Agronomy)
• Agronomic, chemical, and physiological fertilizer mixtures and grades (ARS Agronomy)
• Nano-fertilizer materials (ARS Agronomy)
• Methods of increasing fertilizer use efficiency (ARS Agronomy)
• Nutrient interactions (ARS Agronomy)
• Time and methods of manures and fertilizers application (ARS Agronomy)
• Different approaches of fertilizers/nutrients recommendations in crops and cropping systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Nutrient management sensors/gadgets (ARS Agronomy)
• Foliar application and its concept (ARS Agronomy)
• Relative performance of organic and inorganic nutrients (ARS Agronomy)
• Economics of fertilizer use (ARS Agronomy)
• Use of vermicompost and residue wastes in crops (ARS Agronomy)
• Integrated nutrient management (ARS Agronomy).

Unit-4: Water and Irrigation Management (ARS Agronomy)

• Global water resources (ARS Agronomy)
• Water resources of India (ARS Agronomy)
• Irrigation projects during pre and post-independence period and their significance in crop production (ARS Agronomy)
• Field water cycle, water movement in soil and plants (ARS Agronomy)
• Soil-water-plant relationships (ARS Agronomy)
• SPAC (Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum) (ARS Agronomy)
• Soil and plant water potential (ARS Agronomy)
• Water absorption by plants (ARS Agronomy)
• Crop water stress – water deficits and crop growth (ARS Agronomy)
• Plant response to water stress (ARS Agronomy)
• Crop plant adaptation to moisture stress condition (ARS Agronomy)
• Irrigation needs (ARS Agronomy)
• Meteorological, soil, agronomic, and plant factors affecting irrigation need (ARS Agronomy)
• Water deficits and crop growth (ARS Agronomy)
• Water movement in soil under saturated and unsaturated conditions (ARS Agronomy)
• Poiseulle's and Darcy's law (ARS Agronomy)
• General equation of saturated and unsaturated flow of water in soil (ARS Agronomy)
• Runoff and infiltration reciprocity (ARS Agronomy)
• Evaporation, transpiration, and evapotranspiration (ARS Agronomy)
• Significance of transpiration (ARS Agronomy)
• Energy utilization in transpiration (ARS Agronomy)
• Water requirement of crop plants (ARS Agronomy)
• Water/irrigation needs (ARS Agronomy)
• Water use efficiency (ARS Agronomy)
• Management practices for improving water use efficiency of crops (ARS Agronomy)
• Factors affecting evapotranspiration (ARS Agronomy)
• Control of evapotranspiration by mulching and use of anti-transparent (ARS Agronomy)
• Interaction between irrigation and fertilizers (ARS Agronomy)
• Fertilizer use in relation to irrigation (ARS Agronomy)
• Water availability in relation to nutrient availability (ARS Agronomy)
• Scheduling, depth, and methods of irrigation (ARS Agronomy)
• Micro irrigation systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Deficit irrigation (ARS Agronomy)
• Fertigation (ARS Agronomy)
• Management of water in controlled environments and polyhouses (ARS Agronomy)
• Application of irrigation water (ARS Agronomy)
• Conveyance and distribution system (ARS Agronomy)
• Various irrigation efficiencies (ARS Agronomy)
• Agronomic considerations in the design and operation of irrigation projects (ARS Agronomy)
• Field water budget (water gain and loss at crop root zone) (ARS Agronomy)
• Characteristics of irrigation and farming systems affecting irrigation management (ARS Agronomy)
• Automated irrigation systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Strategies of using limited water supply (ARS Agronomy)
• Water harvesting, rainwater management, and its utilization for crop production (ARS Agronomy)
• Hydroponics (ARS Agronomy)
• Water management of crops under climate change scenario (ARS Agronomy)
• Optimizing the use of given irrigation supplies (ARS Agronomy)
• Land suitability for irrigation (ARS Agronomy)
• Water quality (ARS Agronomy)
• Land irrigability classification (ARS Agronomy)
• Integrated water management in command areas (ARS Agronomy)
• Institution of water management in commands (ARS Agronomy)
• Farmer's participation in command areas (ARS Agronomy)
• Irrigation legislation (ARS Agronomy)
• Economic analysis of irrigation and crop planning for optimum use of irrigation water in command areas (ARS Agronomy)
• Use of models for water management (ARS Agronomy).

Unit-5: Recent Trends in Weed Management (ARS Agronomy)

• Weed biology, ecology, and classification (ARS Agronomy)
• Crop-weed competition, interference, and allelopathy (ARS Agronomy)
• Weed shift in different ecosystems - causes and effects (ARS Agronomy)
• Principles and methods of weed control (ARS Agronomy)
• Weed control indices (ARS Agronomy)
• Weed management in major crops and cropping systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Alien, invasive, and parasitic weeds and their management (ARS Agronomy)
• Migration, introduction, and adaptation of weeds (ARS Agronomy)
• Invasive weeds - biology and management (ARS Agronomy)
• Mechanisms of weed invasion and influencing factors (ARS Agronomy)
• Herbicides: introduction, history, and classification (ARS Agronomy)
• Herbicide structure-activity relationship (ARS Agronomy)
• Factors affecting herbicide efficiency (ARS Agronomy)
• Herbicide absorption, translocation, metabolism, and mode of action (ARS Agronomy)
• Herbicide activity, selectivity, and factors affecting them (ARS Agronomy)
• Herbicide formulations, mixtures, rotation, and application techniques (ARS Agronomy)
• Herbicide compatibility (ARS Agronomy)
• Climatic factors and phytotoxicity of herbicides (ARS Agronomy)
• Transformation and fate of herbicides in plants and soil (ARS Agronomy)
• Residue management of herbicides (ARS Agronomy)
• Primary and secondary metabolites, adjuvants (ARS Agronomy)
• Trends in new herbicide products and molecules (ARS Agronomy)
• Herbicide resistance in weeds and management (ARS Agronomy)
• Antidotes and crop protection (ARS Agronomy)
• Compatibility of herbicides with other pesticides (ARS Agronomy)
• Development of transgenic herbicide-tolerant crops (ARS Agronomy)
• Herbicide development and registration procedures (ARS Agronomy)
• Relationship of herbicides with tillage, fertilizer, irrigation, and cropping system (ARS Agronomy)
• Bioherbicides, allelochemicals, and non-chemical weed management methods (ARS Agronomy)
• Recent advances in weed management (ARS Agronomy)
• Use of robotics, drones, and aeroplanes in weed management (ARS Agronomy)
• Weed problems in organic production systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Integrated weed management for inorganic and organic production systems (ARS Agronomy).

Unit-6: Conservation Agriculture (ARS Agronomy)

• Conservation agriculture (CA): principles, prospects, and importance (ARS Agronomy)
• Advantages and disadvantages of conservation agriculture (ARS Agronomy)
• Conventional and conservation agriculture systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Sustainability concerns in conservation agriculture (ARS Agronomy)
• Concept and historical background of conservation agriculture (ARS Agronomy)
• Global experiences and present status of conservation agriculture in India (ARS Agronomy)
• Relationship between resource conservation technology (RCT) and CA (ARS Agronomy)
• Relationship between conservation tillage and CA (ARS Agronomy)
• Modern concept of tillage and its management in conservation agriculture (ARS Agronomy)
• Nutrient management in conservation agriculture (ARS Agronomy)
• Water management in conservation agriculture (ARS Agronomy)
• Weed dynamics and management in conservation agriculture (ARS Agronomy)
• Energy use in conservation agriculture (ARS Agronomy)
• Resource and input-use efficiency in conservation agriculture (ARS Agronomy)
• Insect pest and disease dynamics and management in conservation agriculture (ARS Agronomy)
• Farm machinery in conservation agriculture (ARS Agronomy)
• Crop residue management in conservation agriculture (ARS Agronomy)
• Cover crop management in conservation agriculture (ARS Agronomy)
• Carbon sequestration in conservation agriculture (ARS Agronomy)
• Soil health in conservation agriculture (ARS Agronomy)
• Climate change adaptation and mitigation potential of CA (ARS Agronomy)
• CA in agroforestry systems and rainfed/dryland regions (ARS Agronomy)
• Economic considerations and adoption of CA (ARS Agronomy)
• Constraints and future of agriculture under CA (ARS Agronomy)
• Policy issues related to conservation agriculture (ARS Agronomy).

Unit-7: Cropping Systems and Sustainable Agriculture (ARS Agronomy)

• Major cropping systems in irrigated, rainfed/dryland, and semi-arid/arid environments (ARS Agronomy)
• Approximate acreage of major cropping systems in India (ARS Agronomy)
• Resource capture and use efficiency in cropping systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Soil and water management in cropping systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Assessment of land use in cropping systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Concept of sustainability in cropping systems and farming systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Scope and objectives of sustainable cropping systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Production potential under monoculture, multiple cropping, alley cropping, sequential cropping, and intercropping (ARS Agronomy)
• Principles of intercropping and mixed cropping systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Yield advantages in intercropping systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Mechanisms and factors influencing yield advantage in intercropping (ARS Agronomy)
• Above and below-ground interactions and allelopathic effects in intercropping (ARS Agronomy)
• Cropping patterns, alternate land use, and crop diversification (ARS Agronomy)
• Multi-storied cropping and yield stability in intercropping (ARS Agronomy)
• Role of non-monetary inputs and low-cost technologies (ARS Agronomy)
• Research needs for sustainable agriculture (ARS Agronomy)
• Crop diversification for sustainability (ARS Agronomy)
• Role of organic matter in soil fertility maintenance (ARS Agronomy)
• Crop residue management in cropping systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Fertilizer use efficiency and concepts in intensive cropping systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Advanced nutritional tools for big data analysis and interpretation (ARS Agronomy)
• Plant ideotypes for drylands (ARS Agronomy)
• Plant growth regulators and their role in sustainability (ARS Agronomy).

Unit-8: Dryland Farming and Watershed Management (ARS Agronomy)

• Concept and characteristics of dryland farming (ARS Agronomy)
• Dryland farming versus rainfed farming (ARS Agronomy)
• Significance and dimensions of dryland farming in Indian agriculture (ARS Agronomy)
• Soil properties and rainfall characteristics in dryland areas (ARS Agronomy)
• Constraints limiting crop production in dryland areas (ARS Agronomy)
• Types of drought and physiological principles of dryland crop production (ARS Agronomy)
• Constraints and remedial measures for dryland crop production (ARS Agronomy)
• Environmental characterization for water availability (ARS Agronomy)
• Crop planning for erratic and aberrant weather conditions (ARS Agronomy)
• Stress physiology and resistance to drought (ARS Agronomy)
• Adaptation and management strategies for crop productivity under drought (ARS Agronomy)
• Preparation of appropriate crop plans for dryland areas (ARS Agronomy)
• Tillage, tilth, cultivation frequency, and depth in dryland farming (ARS Agronomy)
• Soil moisture conservation techniques and practices (ARS Agronomy)
• Use of mulches for soil moisture conservation (ARS Agronomy)
• Anti-transpirants for drought management (ARS Agronomy)
• Soil and crop management techniques in dryland farming (ARS Agronomy)
• Seeding techniques and efficient fertilizer use in dryland farming (ARS Agronomy)
• Concept of watershed resource management (ARS Agronomy)
• Objectives, concepts, and components of watershed management (ARS Agronomy)
• Steps in the implementation of watershed management (ARS Agronomy)
• Development of cropping systems for watershed areas (ARS Agronomy)
• Drainage methods and considerations in watershed management (ARS Agronomy)
• Land use capability classification (ARS Agronomy)
• Alternate land use systems in watersheds (ARS Agronomy)
• Agroforestry in watershed management (ARS Agronomy)
• Ley farming and its management (ARS Agronomy)
• Rehabilitation of abandoned jhum lands (ARS Agronomy)
• Measures to prevent soil erosion in watersheds (ARS Agronomy).

Unit-9: Integrated Farming Systems and Sustainable Agriculture (ARS Agronomy)

• Integrated farming systems: scope and importance (ARS Agronomy)
• Classification of integrated farming systems based on enterprises and land situations (ARS Agronomy)
• Integrated farming systems under rainfed and irrigated conditions (ARS Agronomy)
• Farming systems based on rotation, intensity, commercialization, water supply, and enterprises (ARS Agronomy)
• Concept of sustainability in integrated farming systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Sustainability parameters and indicators in integrated farming systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Efficient integrated farming systems based on economic viability and natural resources (ARS Agronomy)
• Production potential of different components in integrated farming systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Interaction and mechanism of different production factors in integrated farming systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Stability of integrated farming systems based on research and long-term information (ARS Agronomy)
• Eco-physiological approaches to intercropping in integrated farming systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Integration of components and adaptability in different farming systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Agroforestry systems in integrated farming (ARS Agronomy)
• Evaluation of different integrated farming system models (ARS Agronomy)
• Simulation models for intercropping in integrated farming (ARS Agronomy)
• Soil nutrient management in intercropping systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Formation of different integrated farming system models (ARS Agronomy)
• Recycling of organic waste in integrated farming systems (ARS Agronomy)
• New concepts and approaches in farming systems and organic farming (ARS Agronomy)
• Alternate land use systems in integrated farming (ARS Agronomy)
• Value addition, waste recycling, and mitigation of greenhouse gases (ARS Agronomy)
• Use of indigenous technical knowledge in integrated farming systems (ARS Agronomy).

Unit-10: Soil Conservation and Watershed Management (ARS Agronomy)

• Soil conservation and its methods (ARS Agronomy)
• Soil erosion: nature, extent, types, and factors affecting erosion (ARS Agronomy)
• Agronomic measures for soil conservation (ARS Agronomy)
• Mechanical measures for soil conservation (ARS Agronomy)
• Role of grasses and pastures in soil conservation (ARS Agronomy)
• Wind breaks and shelter belts for soil conservation (ARS Agronomy)
• Concept and objectives of watershed management (ARS Agronomy)
• Components and steps in watershed management (ARS Agronomy)
• Cropping systems for watershed areas (ARS Agronomy)
• Drainage methods and considerations in watershed management (ARS Agronomy)
• Land use capability classification (ARS Agronomy)
• Alternate land use systems in watersheds (ARS Agronomy)
• Agroforestry and ley farming in watershed management (ARS Agronomy)
• Rehabilitation of abandoned jhum lands (ARS Agronomy)
• Measures to prevent soil erosion in watersheds (ARS Agronomy).

Unit-11: Principles and Practices of Organic Farming (ARS Agronomy)

• Land, soil, and water management (ARS Agronomy)
• Role of conservation tillage (ARS Agronomy)
• Shelter zones, hedges, and pasture management (ARS Agronomy)
• Agro-forestry (ARS Agronomy)
• Organic farming: water use efficiency (ARS Agronomy)
• Soil fertility, nutrient recycling (ARS Agronomy)
• Organic residues (ARS Agronomy)
• Organic manures (ARS Agronomy)
• Composting (ARS Agronomy)
• Soil biota and decomposition of organic residues (ARS Agronomy)
• Methods for enrichment of crop residues with minerals, micronutrients, and fortification (ARS Agronomy)
• Earthworms and vermicompost (ARS Agronomy)
• Green manures (ARS Agronomy)
• Bio-fertilizers and biogas technology (ARS Agronomy)
• Preparation and use of farmyard manure, compost, green manures, vermicompost, biofertilizers, and other organic concentrates (ARS Agronomy)
• Recycling of organic wastes and residue management (ARS Agronomy)
• Organic farming systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Weed, insect pest, and disease management (ARS Agronomy)
• Biological agents and pheromones (ARS Agronomy)
• Bio-pesticides/botanicals for pest management (ARS Agronomy)
• Indigenous practices and their importance in plant protection (ARS Agronomy)
• Marketing and export potential of organic products (ARS Agronomy)
• Quality standards, inspection, certification, labeling, and accreditation procedures (ARS Agronomy)
• Organic farming and national economy (ARS Agronomy)
• Socio-economic impacts (ARS Agronomy)
• Organic farming ITKs (ARS Agronomy)
• Carbon and energy budgeting (ARS Agronomy).

Unit-12: Stress Crop Production (ARS Agronomy)

• Stress and strain terminology (ARS Agronomy)
• Causes and mechanisms of stresses in plants (ARS Agronomy)
• Reactive oxygen species (ROS), scavenger enzymes, hormone/growth regulators actions (ARS Agronomy)
• Mechanisms of drought tolerance (ARS Agronomy)
• Drought tolerance traits and their measurements (ARS Agronomy)
• Response of crops to acidity, salinity, sodicity, excess water, and nutrient imbalances (ARS Agronomy)
• Low-temperature stress: freezing injury and resistance in plants, chilling injury and resistance in plants (ARS Agronomy)
• Practical ways to overcome the effect of low-temperature stress (ARS Agronomy)
• High-temperature or heat stress: heat injury and resistance in plants (ARS Agronomy)
• Practical ways to overcome the effect of heat stress (ARS Agronomy)
• Water deficit stress: water deficit injury and resistance (ARS Agronomy)
• Practical ways to overcome the effect of water deficit stress (ARS Agronomy)
• Excess water or flooding stress: excess water stress injury and resistance (ARS Agronomy)
• Practical ways to overcome excess water stress (ARS Agronomy)
• Salt stress: salt stress injury and resistance in plants (ARS Agronomy)
• Practical ways to overcome the effect of salt stress (ARS Agronomy)
• Mechanical impedance of soil and its impact on plant growth (ARS Agronomy)
• Measures to overcome soil mechanical impedance (ARS Agronomy)
• Environmental pollution: air, soil, and water pollution (ARS Agronomy)
• Effects of environmental pollution on crop growth and quality of produce (ARS Agronomy)
• Ways and means to prevent environmental pollution (ARS Agronomy).

Unit-13: Agronomy of Major Cereal/Pulse/Oilseed/Fibre/Sugar Crops (ARS Agronomy)

• Origin, history, area, and production of major crops (ARS Agronomy)
• Classification and improved varieties (ARS Agronomy)
• Adaptability, climate, soil, and water requirements (ARS Agronomy)
• Cultural practices, nutrition, and quality components (ARS Agronomy)
• Handling and processing of the produce for maximum production (ARS Agronomy)
• Phenological studies at different growth stages of crops (ARS Agronomy)
• Estimation of crop yield based on yield attributes (ARS Agronomy)
• Formulation of cropping schemes for various farm sizes and calculation of cropping and rotational intensities (ARS Agronomy)
• Working out growth indices (CGR, RGR, NAR, LAI, LAD, LAR, LWR, SLA, SLW, etc.) (ARS Agronomy)
• Assessment of land use and yield advantage (ARS Agronomy)
• Determination of the cost of cultivation and harvest index of different crops (ARS Agronomy).

Unit-14: Agronomy of Fodder and Forage Crops (ARS Agronomy)

• Adaptation, distribution, and varietal improvement of important fodder crops (ARS Agronomy)
• Agro-techniques and quality aspects of fodder crops (ARS Agronomy)
• Anti-quality factors in fodder crops (ARS Agronomy)
• Year-round fodder production and management (ARS Agronomy)
• Preservation and utilization of forage and pasture crops (ARS Agronomy)
• Principles and methods of hay and silage making (ARS Agronomy)
• Chemical and biochemical changes, nutrient losses, and factors affecting the quality of hay and silage (ARS Agronomy)
• Improving nutrition through physical and chemical enrichments and biological methods (ARS Agronomy)
• Value addition of poor-quality fodder (ARS Agronomy)
• Fodder production through hydroponics (ARS Agronomy)
• Azolla cultivation (ARS Agronomy)
• Economics of forage cultivation (ARS Agronomy)
• Uses and seed production techniques of important fodder crops (ARS Agronomy).

Unit-15: Agronomy of Medicinal, Aromatic, and Underutilized Crops (ARS Agronomy)

• Importance of medicinal and aromatic plants (ARS Agronomy)
• Classification and uses of medicinal and aromatic plants (ARS Agronomy)
• Climate and soil requirements (ARS Agronomy)
• Cultural practices and yield of aromatic plants (ARS Agronomy)
• Underutilized crops and their yield (ARS Agronomy)
• Post-harvest handling, processing, grading, packing, and storage (ARS Agronomy)
• Value addition and quality standards in herbal products (ARS Agronomy)
• Methods of analysis of essential oil and other chemicals in medicinal and aromatic plants (ARS Agronomy).

Unit-16: Agrostology and Agro-forestry (ARS Agronomy)

• Definition and importance of agrostology (ARS Agronomy)
• Principles of grassland ecology (ARS Agronomy)
• Grass cover of India (ARS Agronomy)
• Problems and management of grasslands (ARS Agronomy)
• Importance, classification, and research needs of pastures (ARS Agronomy)
• Pasture establishment and improvement (ARS Agronomy)
• Common pasture grasses (ARS Agronomy)
• Definition and importance of agro-forestry (ARS Agronomy)
• Agro-forestry systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Crop production technology in agro-forestry and agrostology system (ARS Agronomy)
• Silvi-pastoral system and its meaning for wasteland development (ARS Agronomy)
• Selection of species and planting methods in agro-forestry systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Irrigation and manuring in agro-forestry systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Associative influence in agro-forestry systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Lopping and coppicing in agro-forestry systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Social acceptability and economic viability of agro-forestry systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Carbon and nutrient cycling and sequestration in different agro-forestry systems (ARS Agronomy)
• Climate change adaptation and mitigation potentials of agro-forestry systems (ARS Agronomy).

Unit-17: Agricultural Statistics (ARS Agronomy)

• Frequency distribution, standard error, and deviation (ARS Agronomy)
• Coefficient of variation (ARS Agronomy)
• Correlation and regression analyses (ARS Agronomy)
• Tests of significance (t test, F test, chi-square test) (ARS Agronomy)
• Data transformation and missing plot techniques (ARS Agronomy)
• Design of experiments and their basic principles (ARS Agronomy)
• Different experimental designs (completely randomized, randomized block, split plot, strip plot, factorial) (ARS Agronomy)
• Efficiency of designs (ARS Agronomy)
• Methods of statistical analysis for cropping systems, intercropping, and pooled analysis (ARS Agronomy)
• Contrast analysis and interpretation of tabular data (ARS Agronomy).