Distribution of cereals and millets- differences between cereals and millets. Botany and growth phases- climate and soil requirement- land preparation- seeds and sowing – varieties – fertilizer management- irrigation- weed control- value addition and marketing of rice-wheat-maize-sorghum-barley and oats -other millets-cassava-sweet potato - potato-yams-aroids-coleus-other minor tuber crops-pulses- cowpea-green gram - horse gram- - black gram-red gram- chick pea- soybean and other pulses-oil seeds - ground nut- sesamum-sunflower-other oilseed crops and National and International Organizations

Mode of reproduction and pollination in crop plants. Self-incompatibility and male sterility. Plant introduction agencies in India and purpose of introduction- varieties developed- merits and demerits. Breeding techniques for self-pollinated crops – selection- pureline theory- varieties developed- merits and demerits. Hybridization – techniques- consequences- wide hybridization- varieties developed. Mass selection and pureline selection- varieties developed- merits and demerits. Pedigree selection- bulk method - varieties developed- merits and demerits. Back cross method- single seed decent – varieties developed- merits and demerits. Breeding techniques for cross pollinated crops- heterosis and inbreeding depression. Population improvement. Hybrids and synthetics - varieties developed- merits and demerits. Breeding techniques for clonally propagated crops- varieties developed- merits and demerits. Breeding for resistance and quality. Mutation breeding in crop improvement- varieties developed .Polyploidy breeding in crop improvement- varieties developed. Modern techniques in plant breeding – biotechnology. Bioinformatics.

Insect Damage symptoms- - Life stages and management of insect and non-insect pests of Cereals (rice- wheat- sorghum-maize and minor millets). Plantation crops (coconut- areca nut- oil Palm- cashew). Fruits (mango- sapota- guava- jack- banana- grapes - dates -pineapple- citrus)

Symptoms- etiology and control measures of the following crop diseases - Diseases of rice and wheat- millets- maize- sorgum- bajra- Diseases of vegetables - solanaceous crops- cucurbits- bhindi- cool season vegetables- leafy vegetables- diseases of cowpea and pulses- diseases of sesamum- sunflower- sugarcane- tobacco and diseases of tuber crops.

Agricultural implements- historic development- simple machines. Different types of hand tools and manual soil working implements. Tillage- primary tillage implements- MB plough-disc plough- subsoiler- chisel plough. Secondary tillage implements – cultivators- harrows- bund former and furrower- definitions- field capacity- draft- field efficiency .Rotavator- puddlers -earth drills and terracer blade. Sowing methods-implements and machines for seed and fertilizer drilling- seeding and planting of seeds. Transplanting implements and machines- principle of operation of rice transplanter- mat nursery preparation. Different types of rice transplanting machines. Weeding implements for garden land and rice-rotary weeders-brush cutter-slasher.Principle of operation of hydraulic and pneumatic sprayers. Power sprayers and blowers. Reaping, threshing and winnowing machines. Combine harvester .Straw harvesting-balers-chaff cutters and other latest machines on paddy cultivation. Unit operations in post- harvest processing of rice- cleaning, grading- parboiling- drying and storage. Milling of paddy- products and by product utilization of paddy.Calculation of cost of operation of machines- Breakeven analysis.

Important vegetable crops- production- productivity and distribution- nutritive value of vegetables- economic importance and scope of vegetable crops in Kerala. Classification of vegetables-types of classification–botanical-cultural classification-classification based on parts used – classification based on duration. Care and management-irrigation requirements of vegetables - surface irrigation- sprinkler irrigation- drip irrigation- fertigation etc. Types of vegetable gardens- nutrition garden- vegetable forcing- hydroponics- aeroponics-river bed system- terrace garden etc. Vegetable gardens for seed production. Vegetable nursery-seed and seedlings production- transplanting- care and management of vegetable nursery. Plant protection- special precautions in vegetables-methods of control- organic management etc. Export of vegetables Varieties- cultivation- problems and prospects of solanaceous vegetables. Varieties- cultivation- problems and prospects of cucurbitaceous vegetables- leguminous vegetables-leafy vegetables and bhindi - perennial vegetables- cool season vegetables-under exploited vegetables. Organic cultivation of vegetables. Hybrid seed production in vegetables. Protected cultivation of vegetables.

Soil erosion-definition- nature and extent of erosion- types of erosion-splash- sheet - rill- gully and landslides. Soil and water conservation-agronomic measures. Mechanical measures of soil conservation. Water harvesting techniques. Sustainable Agriculture-concept and themes- environmental health- profitability - strategies for realizing sustainable agriculture- low and high input agriculture. Alternate agricultural systems-biodynamic farming-natural farming- permaculture- organic farming and other systems. Organic farming- tools and practices-planned crop rotation- green manures and cover crops- multiple cropping. Importance of organic matter – types of organic manures-Green manuring and crop residue management- Organic recycling and waste management. Organic systems-models for wetlands- dry lands and homesteads. Organic farming accreditation and certification agencies. Precision farming and other innovative methods. Farm management- principles and practices- crop calendar- farm plan preparation. Farm records and maintenance. Labour management. Experimental designs-principles -analysis of variance. Completely Randomized Design - Randomized Block Design. Factorial RBD and Split Plot.

Soil as a source of plant nutrients. Arnon’s criteria of essentiality and essential and beneficial elements. Forms of nutrients in soil-mechanisms of nutrient transport to plants-factors affecting nutrient availability to plants. Metabolic function s of nutrients. Deficiency and toxicity of nutrients and their correction. Soil fertility evaluation-different approaches for soil fertility evaluation. Soil testing- Chemical methods-critical levels of nutrients in soil. Plant analysis-critical levels of nutrients in plants. Biological methods of fertility analysis. Chemical fertilizers-straight, complex and mixed fertilizers-trace element fertilizers. Organic manures-bulky and concentrated. Bio-fertilizers-group of bio-fertilizers. Integrated nutrient management-Integrated plant nutrient management system. Nutrient cycles in soil- C, N, P, S. Organic farming-concepts and components. Irrigation water-quality of irrigation water- Indian standards of water quality

  A south india tour willbe conducted for 15 days duration after the second semester during the semester break. The students will visit various institutions in the South India

·       National and International level institutions related to Agriculture- Horticulture- Forestry and other allied fields,

·       Major agro-based industries- commercial farms

·       Research stations in various agro-climatic regions of the country.

Ø  The students will gain first-hand knowledge about different agro climatic zones- crops grown- cultivation practice- socio-cultural and economic setting of the farming communities.

Ø  Students will maintain a tour dairy to record their observations at the places of visit.

Ø   A tour report has to be submitted after the tour.