Semester 1

Theory Lecture schedule

1. Agriculture scope- Importance of agriculture and agricultural resources available in India;

Agriculture as an art, science and business- Branches of agriculture and their relationships.

2. Origin of agriculture- Hearths of domestication- Crop voyage in India and world; Columbian

exchange

3. Agriculture systems in the world: hunting and gathering- shifting cultivation, settled agriculture,

plantation agriculture, Mediterranean agriculture, homestead agriculture, truck gardening, large-

scale grain farming, recessional farming, pastoral nomadism, livestock ranching, commercial

livestock fattening, commercial dairying, etc.

4. Introduction to Indian agricultural heritage- Ancient agricultural practices

5. Relevance of heritage to present day agriculture- Past and present status of agriculture and

farmers in society-

6. Journey of Indian agriculture and its development from past to modern era - Plant production and

protection through indigenous traditional knowledge;

7. Chronology of agricultural technology development in modern India- Natural calamities and

famines

8. Second world war and its effects on food production-Grow More Food Campaign and its effects.

9. Green revolution-Genesis-Basic elements-Criticisms- Lifeboat ethics and carrying Capacity

10. Crops and their significance- major classification systems

11. National agriculture setup in India; ICAR institutes and SAUs

12. International Agricultural Research- CGAIAR and other International Institutions

13. Current scenario of Indian agriculture- Food security- Area and production of major crops-

14. Indian agricultural concerns and future prospects.

15. Introduction to gender perspectives in agriculture - gender concepts- gender

in social institutions- society and patriarchy - multiple roles of women- practical and strategic

gender needs.

16. Women in agriculture-Gender roles and division of labour- women’s access and control on farm

resources - gender issues and gender impacts in agriculture - multifaceted roles and tasks of

farm women- gender, poverty and livelihoods

17. Gender equity and strategies for rural women’s empowerment - farm women inclusive

institutions and development programmes- women farmers, farm workers, farm entrepreneurs -

women’s collectives and self- help groups

18. Women friendly agricultural technologies and enterprises-farm mechanization and women-

occupational health hazards- drudgery reduction for farm women- ergonomical approaches-

technological options

Practical
Listening Comprehension: Listening to short talks lectures, speeches (scientific, commercial and general
in nature). Oral Communication: Phonetics, stress and intonation, Conversation practice. Conversation:
rate of speech, clarity of voice, speaking and Listening, politeness &Reading skills: reading dialogues,
rapid reading, intensive reading, improving reading skills. Mock Interviews: testing initiative, team spirit,
leadership, intellectual ability. Group Discussions.

Theory

1. Meaning, definition and scope of agronomy- divisions of agronomy- Relationship with other

disciplines

2. Classification of crops based on the intensity of cultivation, uses, ontogeny/ life span, growth

habit, and climatic response and/or habitat- Agronomic classification of crops

3. Botanical classification- Category of cultivars- classification based on special purpose

4. Growth, definition - factors affecting growth - Crop yield contributing characters biological and

economic yield- harvest index

5. Crop density - plant population and yield –optimum plant population- planting geometry and its

effect on growth and yield.

6. Seed – definition - characteristics of good quality seed

7. Methods of sowing/planting- direct seeding: broadcasting, dibbling and drilling, transplanting-

8. Tillage- definition- objectives – types of tillage- conservation tillage

9 -10. Tillage implements-ploughs, harrows, cultivators, hoes and special purpose implements

11. Tilth - characteristics of good tilth

12-13. Crop nutrition - Soil productivity and fertility-– classification of nutrients – functions and

deficiency symptoms of major and secondary nutrients

14. Manures and fertilizers – classification - organic manures

15. Fertilizers and fertilizer use- Management of fertilizers - Integrated Nutrient Management

16. Biological nitrogen fixation - biofertilizers-

17. Plant ideotypes – concept, definition, ideotypes of rice for different growing conditions

18. Crop rotation – principles - definition – importance of break crops – advantages – practices

19-20. Weeds-introduction, definition- characteristics of weeds- harmful and beneficial effects-

uses

21-22. Classification of weeds –– propagation and dissemination

23-25. Crop weed association- crop weed competition- critical period of weed competition-

26. Concepts of weed prevention, eradication, and control.

27-28. Weed control methods – physical, cultural, biological, chemical, allelopathy

29-30. Introduction to herbicides: advantages and limitation of herbicides- Herbicide usage in

India- classification

31. Herbicide formulations- methods of application- adjuvants and their use in herbicides

32-33. Introduction to selectivity of herbicides – fate of herbicides in the plant and soil;

34. Herbicide resistance – history, importance and implications

35-36. Integrated weed management in rice

Practical schedule

1. Visit to crop museum and identification of crops and seeds

2. Study of tillage implements

3. Different methods of sowing and effect of sowing depth on germination and seedling vigour

4. Identification of manures and fertilizers

5. Fertilizer recommendation and calculations

6. Methods of fertilizer applications- broadcasting, placement, foliar application and fertigation

7. Computation of seed rate, plant population

8. Yield contributing characters and yield estimation of crops

9. Seed testing – germination test, viability test.

10. Techniques of weed collection and preservation

11-13. Identification of weeds in crops

14-15. Herbicide formulation and identification- Herbicide label information

16. Study of herbicide application equipment and calibration

17. Computation of herbicide doses

18. Field practice of spraying herbicides and recording observations

Theory Lecture schedule
1-2 Pre and Post Mendelian concepts of heredity, Mendelism
3 Chromosomal theory of inheritance- cell cycle and cell division -mitosis and meiosis
4-6 Dominance relationships and gene interactions with examples
7-8 Multiple alleles and blood group genetics, pleiotropism, penetrance, expressivity
and pseudo alleles
9-10 Morphology, number and types of chromosomes- special chromosomes-Karyotype
and Ideogram
11-14 Structural and numerical changes in chromosome and their implications
Use of haploids, di haploids and doubled haploids in Genetics
15-17 Nature, structure & replication of genetic material
18-20 Transcription and translation, genetic code, outline of protein synthesis,
21 Gene concept; Gene structure, function and regulation, Lac and Trp operons
22-24 Linkage and its estimation, crossing over mechanisms, chromosome mapping
25-26 Sex determination and sex linkage, sex limited and sex influenced traits
27-30 Mutation - characteristic features, classification, methods of inducing mutations,
ClB technique, mutagenic agents and induction of mutation
31-32 Qualitative & quantitative traits, polygenes and continuous variations, multiple
factor hypothesis
33- 34 Cytoplasmic inheritance
35- 36 Genetic disorders

Practical schedule
1 Study of microscope
2 Preparation and use of fixatives and stains for light microscopy
3-4 Preparation of micro slides and identification of various stages of mitosis
5-6 Preparation of micro slides and identification of various stages of meiosis
7 Probability and Chi-square analysis
8 Monohybrid ratio and its modifications
9 Dihybrid ratio and its modifications
10 Trihybrid ratio
11-13 Gene interactions – Epistatic genes, Supplementary genes, Duplicate genes
and Complementary genes, Additive and Inhibitory genes
14 -15 Determination of linkage- Two point test cross
16 Determination of linkage- Three point test cross
17 Study on sex linked inheritance in Drosophila
18 Study of models on DNA & RNA structures

Theory Lecture Schedule
1-2 Horticulture - definition, importance, division and classification of horticultural crops.
Importance of horticulture in India and Kerala.
3 Commercial orchards, garden and plantations - selection of site for perennial horticultural
crops - climate, soil, socio economic factors.
4 Orchard planning, layout, planting systems - management practices- methods, intercropping,
mixed cropping etc.
5 Tree forms and functions - Training and pruning in horticultural crops- principles and
methods, techniques of training and pruning, fruit thinning.
6 Phases of growth and development, vegetative reproductive balance. Flowering in plants
- bearing habit and its classification- factors associated with flowering and fruit set.
7 Fruit set and development - structure and process concerned with setting. Fruit drop - factors
affecting and control measures - unfruitfulness- internal and external factors.
8 Seedlessness in horticultural crops; significance and induction.
9 Bioregulators- Natural and synthetic regulators - Role of bioregulators in horticultural crops -
preparation and methods of application.
10 Plant propagation-definition and basic concepts- types of propagation- advantages and
disadvantages, media, containers, potting, repotting pre-planting treatments.

11 Propagation by seed - seed germination - dormancy and presowing treatments of seeds, seed
viability and quality seed testing.
12 Asexual propagation - propagation by apomictic embryos, bud sports, chimeras. Plant
modifications suitable for vegetative method of propagation - propagation by cuttings, t ypes of
cuttings, factors affecting rooting of cuttings.
13 Propagation by layering - advantages, disadvantages - types of layering.
14 Propagation by grafting - advantages and disadvantages - methods of grafting - development of
graft unions, separation and after care. Stock-scion relationship - Graft incompatibility - factors
affecting incompatibility.
15 Propagation by budding, advantages and disadvantages, methods of budding - A comparative
study between grafting and budding.
16 Micropropagation of horticultural plants – definition, principles, methods – advantages
and disadvantages - field of application in horticultural crops.
17 Plant propagating structures-.greenhouse, glasshouse, hot bed, cold frame, lath house, net
house, mist chamber, classification of nursery plants.
18 Nursery - site selection, layout - components of a nursery – production unit, sales unit, display
area, management and maintenance, propagation unit - close planted progeny orchards.
Practicals
1. Familiarization with horticultural crops- fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants, plantation crops, spices,
medicinal and aromatic plants
2. Planting systems and layout of perennial horticultural crops
3. Planting and aftercare of perennial horticultural crops
4. Tools and implements used in horticulture
5. Training and pruning of horticultural plants
6. Bearing habits of perennial horticultural crops
7. Growth regulators in horticulture
8. Propagation of plants through seeds, protray seedling production
9. Potting and repotting and familiarization with media
10. Propagation of plants through specialized structures
11. Propagation of plants through cutting
12. Propagation of plants through layering
13. Propagation of plants through grafting
14. Propagation of plants through budding
15. Visit to the plant tissue culture laboratory
16. Familiarization with components of nurseries– handling, display and sales of plants – cultural
practices . Registers to be maintained in a commercial nursery.
17. Studies on preparation of designs and estimates for establishment of plant propagation unit, plant
growing structures and tissue culture unit.
18. Visit to different types of nurseries.

TheoryLecture Schedule

1. Review of biochemistry introduction – Biomolecules general groups – Importance –

Characterization of biomolecules-techniques.

2. Carbohydrates –classification –properties and general reactions.

3. Important sugars structure –properties and stereochemistry-polysaccharides-storage and structural

chemistry.

4. Amino acids and Proteins –classification, significance-general reactions-biological functions.

5. Peptides-Plant Proteins –Quality function.

6. Enzymes-chemistry, Nomenclature –classification-functions-properties-mechanism of action.

7. Enzyme Kinetics.

8. Enzymes-Factors affecting activity, immobilization and industrial application.

9. Vitamins-Definition, classification, source-biochemical function.

10. Fat and water soluble vitamins-structure and function.

11. Lipids-chemistry-classification, properties

12. Fatty acids –Classification-reaction

13. Physical and chemical tests-Fat constants-Oil quality.

14. Simple and complex Lipids and their significance in living system.

15. Metabolism of Carbohydrates –Anaerobic and Aerobic Cycles-biosynthesis of Carbohydrates.

16. Metabolism of Lipids-Oxidation of odd and even number Fatty acids-Biosynthesis of Fatty Acids

and Protein.

17. Integration of carbohydrates, Lipid and Protein metabolism.

18. Secondary Metabolites-Classification, Properties, uses and applications –Alkaloids-

Classification, structure, properties and significance.

Practical Schedule

1. Qualitative tests for Carbohydrates.

3. Mono and Disaccharides- Tests.

4. Polysaccharides-Qualitative Tests.

5. Estimation of Reducing and Non reducing sugars 

6. Estimation of Starch.

7. Qualitative Test of Proteins and Amino acids –Precipitation reactions

9. Estimation of  Proteins by colorimetry.

10. Extraction of oil.

11. Fat constants.

12. Qualitative Tests for oils.

13. Chromatographic techniques of separation of Biomolecules.

14.  TLC.

15. Estimation  by GLC.

TheoryLecture Schedule

1. Soil – definition – earth -origin -earth crust, composition, pedological and edaphological approach

2. Rocks – different kinds of rocks, formation and classification

3. Soil forming minerals – primary, secondary, accessory minerals - classification

4. Weathering of rocks and minerals- types of weathering, factors affecting weathering

5. Soil formation – factors and processes of soil formation, soil development

6. Profile development and differentiation, horizons, factors influencing the profile development

7. Podzolization and laterization

8. Soil physical properties – soil texture, importance of soil texture, textural classification of soils

9. Particle size analysis -Stokes law – limitations and assumptions

10. Different methods of particle size analysis and textural group identification.

11. Soil structure – definition, classification

12. Aggregation of soil particles – factors controlling them

13. Soil consistency - Soil crusting

14. Particle density – bulk density and porosity – their importance on soil fertility, factors affecting them

and manipulation

15. Soil compaction -Soil air – importance – composition – comparison with atmospheric air, factors

affecting the composition of soil air – dynamics – importance

16. Soil temperature, heat flow- amount – and equations - factors controlling the soil temperature- Soil

colour

17. Soil classification, need for classification, comparison of different systems of classification

18. Soil taxonomy and its characteristics

19. Soil survey-importance, objectives- different types -Land capability classification

20. Soils of India – Geological formation and soils of Kerala – characterization

21. Soil water-forms of soil water, energy concepts- retention dynamics and availability.

22. Soil moisture constants – Movement of soil water- saturated unsaturated

23. Infiltration – percolation - permeability – drainage – capillary movement.

24. Methods for determination of soil moisture

25. Soil colloids, properties of colloids, different kinds of colloids, role of colloids in soil fertility -

flocculation, de-flocculation, conditions favoring flocculation and de-flocculation

26. Layer silicate clays – their genesis and source of charge.

27. Clay minerals- amorphous material – organic colloids- clay humus complexes -source of charges-

Adsorption of ions

28. CEC – its importance – CEC and nutrient availability

29. AEC – Factors influencing ion exchange and its significance

30. pH Concept, soil acidity reason for soil acidity, reserve acidity, active acidity - liming

31. Saline soils, reasons for salinity, characterization of saline soils, reclamation of saline soils

32. Saline alkali soils and non-saline alkali soils – characterization, amendments and reclamation

33. Soil organic matter – composition - properties - decomposability, influence on soil properties.

34. Humus fractions of soil Organic matter – carbon cycle - Transformation of organic matter – C:N

ratio

35. Soil biology - soil organisms- their beneficial and harmful roles

36. Role of organic matter in maintaining the physical and chemical properties of soils

– importance in plant nutrition.

Practical Schedule

1. Determination of particle density, Determination of bulk density and porosity

2. Aggregate analysis

3. Soil moisture determination by different methods

4. Determination of Soil moisture constants - Field capacity, PWP

5. Soil strength - Modulus of rupture, Determination of water holing capacity

6. Particle size analysis of soils

7. Particle size analysis of soils textural identification

8. Measurement of soil temperature variations

9. Brief introduction to Analytical chemistry, Basic concepts and calculations

10. Familiarization of Various titrimetric analysis

11. Collection and preparation of soil samples

12. Determination of Organic C

13. Determination of soil pH, and electrical conductivity of soil

14. Hypothetical soil profile and examination of soil profile.

15. Total elemental analysis -Determination of total N

16. Determination of total P, K

17. Determination of CEC of soils

18. Identification of rocks and minerals

TheoryLecture Schedule
1. Plant Pathology – introduction – importance of plant diseases
2. History of Plant Pathology- International and National importance.
3-4 Causes of plant diseases, Terms and concepts in Plant Pathology– bacteria, fungi, viruses, viroids,
phytoplasmas, fastidious vascular bacteria, parasites, pathogens, biotrophs, hemibiotrophs,
necrotrophs.
5-6 Pathogenicity, pathogenesis, disease triangle, disease tetrahedron, virulence, infection, inoculum,
invasion, colonisation, inoculum potential, symptoms, incubation period.
7-8 Disease cycle, disease syndrome, monocyclic diseases, polycyclic diseases, alternate host,
collateral host. Predisposition, physiological race, biotype, symbiosis, mutualism, antagonism
9-10 Defence mechanism in plants
11-12 Pathogenesis- enzymes, toxins and growth regulators in plant disease development
13-14 Types of parasitism and variability in plant pathogens
15-17 Survival and dispersal of plant pathogens
18-19 General characters of fungi, classification of fungi, methods of reproduction
20. General characters, taxonomy, somatic structures, reproduction, life cycle and plant pathological
significance of the Division Myxomycota – Plasmodiophora, Spongospora.
21. General characters, taxonomy, somatic structures, reproduction, life cycle and plant pathological
significance of S.D.MastigomycotinaSynchytrium&Physoderma.
22. General characters, taxonomy, somatic structures, reproduction, life cycle and plant pathological
significance of Pythium&Phytophthora
23. General characters, taxonomy, somatic structures, reproduction, life cycle and plant pathological
significance of Albugo, Sclerophthora, Peronosclerospora, Peronospora&Plasmopara.
24. General characters, taxonomy, somatic structures, reproduction, life cycle and plant pathological
significance of S.D.Zygomycotina. Rhizopusand Mucor.
25. General characters, taxonomy, somatic structures, reproduction, life cycle and plant pathological
significance of S.D. Ascomycotina – Taphrina&yeasts
26. General characters, taxonomy, somatic structures, reproduction, life cycle and plant pathological
significance of Erysiphe, Aspergillus, Penicillium
27. General characters, taxonomy, somatic structures, reproduction, life cycle and plant pathological
significance of Claviceps, Chaetomium, Ascobolus, Sclerotinia.
28. General characters, taxonomy, somatic structures, reproduction, life cycle and plant pathological
significance of S.D.Basidiomycotina. - Puccinia, Melampsora,Uromyces.
29. General characters, taxonomy, somatic structures, reproduction, life cycle and plant pathological
significance of Ustilago, Tilletia, Neovossia, SphacelothecaTolyposporium.
30. General characters, taxonomy, somatic structures, reproduction, life cycle and plant pathological
significance of S.D. Deuteromycotina - Colletotricum, Alternaria, Cercospora, Pestalotia,
Botryodiplodiaand Diplodia.
31. General characters, taxonomy, somatic structures, reproduction, life cycle and plant pathological
significance of Corticium, Fusarium, Helminthosporium, Pyricularia, Sclerotium,Rhizoctonia

Phyllosticta, Phoma, Trichoderma and Verticillium.
32. Morphological Characters and classification of phytopathogenic bacteria.
33. Symptoms of bacterial diseases, mode of entry, reproduction and spread.
34. Virus – definition nature, properties, classification, virus – vector relationships.
35. Common symptoms of virus, viroid and phytoplasmal diseases of crops.
36. Characters of algal and phanerogamic plant parasites – symptoms.
Practical Schedule
1. Common symptoms of plant diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, virus and phytoplasmal diseases
2. Common laboratory equipments and techniques
3. Collection and preservation of plant disease specimen
4. Isolation of plant pathogens and pathogenicity testing
5. Transmission studies for viral disease symptom expression.
6. Microscopic slide culture, common media and mountants used in mycology.
7. Staining and identification of plant pathogenic bacteria
8. Study of characters , symptoms, host parasite relationships and systematic position of fungi belonging
to Division Myxomycota.
9. Study of characters,symptoms, host parasite relationships and systematic position of fungi belonging
to S.D.MastigomycotinaPythium &Phytophthora.
10. Study of characters, symptoms, host parasite relationships and systematic position of fungi belonging
to White Rust – Albugo
11. Study of characters, symptoms, host parasite relationships and systematic position of fungi belonging
to Downy mildews – Plasmopara&Peronospora
12. Study of characters ,symptoms, host parasite relationships and systematic position of fungi belonging
to SD- ZygomycotinaRhizopus
13. Study of characters ,symptoms, host parasite relationships and systematic position of fungi belonging
to SD -Ascomycotina. Aspergillus Penicillum Saccharomyces & Taphrina
14. Study of characters , symptoms, host parasite relationships and systematic position of fungi belonging
to Powdery mildew fungi
15. Study of characters , symptoms, host parasite relationships and systematic position of fungi belonging
to Rust Fungi
16. Study of characters , symptoms, host parasite relationships and systematic position of fungi belonging
to Smut fungi
17. Study of characters , cultivation practices and systematic position of edible macrofungi
18. Study of characters , symptoms, host parasite relationships and systematic position of fungi belonging
to SD- .Deuteromycotina
19. Study of phanerogamic plant parasites

NON GRADIAL COURSE

Lecture Schedule
1 & 2 Values and Human values- meaning and importance in the field of agriculture and daily
life. Definitions related to ethics and human values-mores, norms, folkways, beliefs,
trust, perseverance, accuracy and discernment-agriculture and human values.
3 Self- self explorations, its content and process, Natural acceptance and experiential
validation.
4 & 5 Understanding happiness and prosperity- a critical analysis of different philosophers.
An appraisal of the current scenario
6 Morals and ethics- meaning definition and concepts, difference between morals and
ethics. Moral dilemma versus moral autonomy
7 Values- meaning types of values- evolution of human values; value based education-its
meaning and importance in personal development. Mahatma Gandhi’s seven sins of the
world.
8 Virtues- meaning, definition and types. Civic virtues as indispensable for a self-
governing administration- category of virtues
9 Plagiarism- meaning, definition, concepts and ways of plagiarism in research and
publishing. Methods to prevent plagiarism.
10 Means to live peacefully, in the world. Factors that promote living, with internal and
external peace.
11 Basic human aspiration, list of wants, basic requirements for fulfillment of human
aspirations.
12 Challenges in the work place- character- meaning and types- ethics and character,
education and character; ways of building character in the work place.
Employer-employee reasons for unethical behaviours: resource scarcity, opportunity,
13 Attitude- Types of inquiries, in solving ethical problems- normative inquiry, conceptual
inquiry, and factual or descriptive inquiry.
14 Competence in professional ethics: ability to utilize the professional competence for
universalising human norms.
15 & 16 Competence in professional ethics: Ability to identify the scope and characteristics of
people friendly and eco-friendly production systems, technologies and management
models- with special reference to agriculture and allied activities
17 & 18 Ethics in communication- public relations- publishing- advertising and propaganda.

TheoryLecture schedule
1. Introduction to Meteorology and Agricultural Meteorology - Scope and importance of
Agricultural Meteorology
2. Composition of Atmosphere - Role of greenhouse gases in global cooling and warming
3. Concept of weather and climate - Micro-meso-macro and phytoclimates
4. Electromagnetic Spectrum - Nature and properties of solar radiation – shortwave radiation
and long wave radiation - Radiation balance
5. Response of plants to solar radiation and photosynthetically active radiation
6. Thermal structure of atmosphere - vertical profiles - factors affecting surface air temperature
7. Spatial and temporal variations in surface air temperature - soil temperature and its variations
8. Atmospheric pressure and its variation with height - Global distribution of pressure and wind
9. Atmospheric humidity - saturation and actual vapour pressure - relative humidity and dew
point temperature
10. Cloud classification and measurements - cloud seeding
11. Indian monsoons - southwest monsoon — northeast monsoon - monsoon variability across

Kerala and India
12. Rainfall and its mechanisms — forms and types of rainfall — Rainfall over India and Kerala
13. Agricultural seasons — Importance of weather forecasting in Agriculture – weather service
to farmers
14. Crop weather diagrams and calendars — crop weather relationships - Role of weather on
insect pest and diseases
15. Weather and climate related natural disasters - risk and management
16. Weather modification
17. Climate change and global warming
18. Introduction to Remote Sensing

Practical schedule
1. Types of Agricultural Meteorological Stations
2. Selection of site and layout of agrometeorological stations
3. Meteorological and Agrometeorological Stations
4. Installation and exposure of meteorological instruments
5. Measurement of Air temperature
6. Installation of soil thermometers and measurement and recording of soil temperature
7. Measurement of Relative humidity and vapour pressure
8. Dew point temperature and dew fall
9. Identification and measurement of clouds
10. Measurement of wind speed and direction
11. Measurement of rainfall
12. Measurement of open pan evaporation
13. Sunshine Recorder and measurement of sunshine
14. Automatic Weather Station
15. Recording of weather data — tabulation-Processing and presentation Meteorological data
16. Recording of weather data — tabulation— Processing and presentation Meteorological data
17. Preparation of crop weather calendars
18. Preparation of crop weather calendars