Principles of Agronomy by T. Yellamanda Reddy & G.H. Sankara Reddy (Author) Book

Book

Principles of Agronomy

by T. Yellamanda Reddy & G.H. Sankara Reddy (Author)

1. INTRODUCTION

Agriculture and Agronomy : Definitions, Basic Principles; History of Agriculture : Ancient Period, Important Events in History of Agriculture, Centres of Origin of Agriculture, Development of Agriculture in India, Middle Ages; Agriculture as Science : Scientific Agriculture, Branches of Agriculture; Agronomy : Principles of Agronomy, Major Events in Agronomy; Relation of Agronomy to Other Sciences; Scope of Agronomy; Role of Agronomist; References.



2. CLIMATE

Definitions, Atmosphere-Structure of Atmosphere; Weather Elements—Solar Radiation, Temperature, Atmospheric Pressure, Wind, Humidity, Evaporation, Rainfall, type of rainfall, amount, season of occurrence, intensity, distribution, effective rainfall, rainfall in different regions, El-Nino, Clouds; Hydrologic Cycle; Monsoon; Enhancing Precipitation, Condensation, Fog Water Collection, Seasons; Abnormalities in Weather-Floods, Droughts, Other Abnormalities, Cyclones; Weather Forecasting--Weather Forecasting Organisations, Essentials of Weather Forecasting, Forecasting Information, Types of Weather Forecasting, Method of Forecasting; Weather Modifications--Artificial Rain Making, Reduction in Wind Velocity, Protection Against Frost Damage, Heat Trapping; Classification of Climate; Agroclimatic Zones of India; Agro ecosystems of India; Climate Change, Sources of Evidence, Greenhouse Gasses, Emission Scenarios, General Circulation Models, Global Warming Potential, Impact, Mitigation, Adaptation, Coping Mechanisms, Public Opinion, References.

3. INFLUENCE OF CLIMATE ON CROPS

Solar Radiation-Photosynthetic Effect, Photoperiodic Effect, Other Effects, Utilization of Solar Energy; Temperature--Cardinal Temperatures, Cool Season Crops, Warm Season Crops, Influence of Temperature on Growth, Growing Degree-Days, Photothermal Units, Extreme Temperature; Rainfall--Rainfall Climatology; Relative humidity-Water Relations, Leaf Growth, Photosynthesis, Pollination, Pests, Grain Yield; Wind; References.

4. GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF CROPS

Growth and Physiological Processes Photosynthesis, Respiration, Net Photosynthesis, Translocation of Assimilates, Growth : Morphological Aspects

Germination, Emergence, Root Growth, Inflorescence, Seed and Fruit Growth; Development Developmental Stages; Physiological Growth Components; Factors Influencing Growth and Development; Plant Growth Substances; Growth Expressions; Analysis of Growth, Development and Yield-Growth Analysis, Developmental Analyses, Yield Analysis; References.

5. SOIL ENVIRONMENT AND ITS MODIFICATION

Soil Formation; Rocks and Minerals, Weathering, Factors Influencing Soil Formation, Soil-forming Processes, Soil Development, Soil profile; Physical Environment—Soil Texture, Soil Structure, Soil Water, Soil Temperature, Soil Air, Pore Space, Other Properties; Chemical Environment-Soil pH, Clay Minerals, Cation Exchange Capacity, Anion Exchange Capacity, Humus, Organic Carbon, Buffering Capacity, Soil Solution, Nutrients; Soil Biological EnvironmentClassification of Soil Organisms, Influence on Soil Environment, Transformation of Nutrients, Degradation of Toxic Chemicals, Modification of Biological Environment; Land Degradation, Environment of Submerged Soils—Physical

Environment, Chemical Environment, Biological Environment; References.

6. TILLAGE

Characteristics of Good Tilth; Objectives of Tillage; Influence of Tillage on Soil Physical Properties; Types of Tillage—Preparatory Cultivation, After Cultivation; Tillage Implements-Primary Tillage Implements, Secondary Tillage Implements, Implements for Layout of Seedbed, Implements for Sowing, Implements for Intercultivation; Modern Concepts of Tillage-Minimum tillage, Zero Tillage,

Stubble Mulch Tillage; Puddling; References.

7. SEEDS AND SOWING

Methods of Propagation; Seeds Selection of Seed, Cultivar, Categories of Cultivars, Seed Production, Quality of Seed; Vegetative Propagation; Micropropagation-Types of Regeneration, Techniques of Micropropagation; Sowing-Time of Sowing, Depth of Sowing, Method of Establishing Crops, Types of Sowing, Seed Treatment; References.

8. PLANT POPULATION

Yield of Individual Plants and Community; Plant Population and Growth; Plant Population and Yield; Biological and Economic Yield, Optimum Plant Population; Optimum Plant Population and Environment; Planting Pattern; Gap Filling and

Resowing; Seed Rate; References.

9. MINERAL NUTRITION, MANURES AND FERTILISERS

Mineral Nutrition—Essential Elements, Criteria of Essentiality, Classification of Essential Elements, Nutrient Availability, Absorption of Nutrients, Translocation, Assimilation, Functions of Nutrients in the Plant, Deficiency Symptoms, Toxicity Symptoms; Manures-Bulky Organic Manures, Concentrated Organic Manures, Amendments; Fertilisers--Classification of Fertilisers, Nitrogenous Fertilisers, Phosphatic Fertilisers, Potassic Fertilisers, Calcium, Magnesium and Sulphur Fertilisers, Micronutrients; Fertiliser Dose-Calculation of Fertiliser Dose; Method

of Fertiliser Application Factors Influencing Method of Fertiliser Application, Different Methods; Time of Application-Crop Uptake, Soil Properties and Nature of Fertilisers, Utilization of Carbohydrates, Basal Application, Split Application; Biofertilisers—Saprophytes, Symbiotic Bacteria, Free Living Organisms; Integrated Nutrient Management; References.

10. IRRIGATION

Water Resources of the World—Water Resources of India; Water in the SoilPlant-Atmosphere System-Water Movement in the Soil, Water Uptake, Translocation, Evapotranspiration, Soil Water; Water Requirement of Crops Factors Influencing ET, ET and Crop Yield, Estimation of ET, Irrigation Requirement; Scheduling Irrigation-Soil Moisture Depletion Approach, Climatological Approach, Combination Approach, Critical Stage Approach, Simple Techniques for Irrigation Scheduling; Measurement of Irrigation Water; Methods of Irrigation, Subsurface Irrigation, Sprinkler Irrigation, Micro Irrigation; Irrigation Water Control Devices; Irrigation Efficiency; Water-use Efficiency ---Factors affecting WUE; Suitability of Water for Irrigation—Quality of Irrigation Water, Quality of Water of Different sources, Irrigation with Poor Quality Water;

Drainage-Excess Moisture, Agricultural Drainage; References.

11. SOIL CONSERVATION

Soil Erosion-Water Erosion, Factors Influencing Water Erosion, Soil Loss Equation, Losses due to Erosion, Extent of Erosion; Soil Conservation-Erosion Preventing Measures; Wind Erosion-Mechanisms of Wind Erosion, Factors Influencing Wind Erosion, Effectiveness of Soil Conservation Measures, Losses due to Wind Erosion, Estimating Soil Loss due to Wind Erosion, Wind Erosion Control; Wave Erosion; Watershed Management, Wasteland Management; References.

12. DRYLAND AGRICULTURE

Introduction—Definitions, Progress of Research, Drought, Drought or Moisture Stress-Development of Moisture Stress, Effects of Moisture Suess, Crop Adaptations, Drought Evaluation; Breeding for Drought Resistance; Moisture Conservation : Soil Moisture Storage, Reduction of ET Losses, Mulches, Soil Conditions, Tillage, Water Harvesting, Methods of Water harvesting, Soil Resources and their Utilization; Reducing ET Losses-Mulches, Antiranspirants, Wind-brakes and Shelter belts, Weed Control; Contingent Cropping, Drought Management Practices; Watershed Management; References.

13. WEED MANAGEMENT

Concept of Weed; Weed Problems; Classification of weeds; Weed Growth Stages; Crop-Weed Competition; Critical Period of Weed Competition; Factors Influencing Critical Period of Weed Competition; Establishment of Weeds; Weed Control Methods—Cultural Methods of Weed Control, Physical Methods of Weed Control, Biological Weed Control; Chemical Weed Control-Classification of Herbicides, Herbicides Formulations, Mode of Action of Herbicides, Selectivity of Herbicides, Methods of Application, Dosage of Herbicides, Time of application of Herbicides, Effect of Herbicides on Crops, Fate of Herbicides in Soil, Herbicide

Combinations, Interaction with other Agro-Chemicals; Intergrated Weed Management; References.

14. AGRONOMIC METHODS OF PEST MANAGEMENT

Influence of Climate on Pest Occurrence, Tillage, Variety, Time of Sowing, Seed Treatment, Intercropping, Trap Crop, Border Crop, Water Management, Nutrient Management, Removal Crop Residues, Removal of Alternate Hosts, Diseases, References.

15. CROPPING SYSTEMS

Systems Approach; Farming Systems, Cropping System; Companion Cropping; Crop Rotations; Efficient Cropping Systems, Interactions between different Component Crops; Assessment of Yield Advantage; Assessment of Land-use; Economic Evaluation; Management of Cropping Systems; References.

16. HARVESTING AND STORAGE

Harvesting; Threshing and Winnowing; Drying: Storage; Processing; References.

17. QUALITY OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE

Nutritional Quality, Marketing Quality, Seed Quality, Management Practices for Produce Quality, Management of Toxins, Processing, References.

18. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Definitions; Differences between Modern and Sustainable Agriculture; Problems of Modern Agriculture; Management Practices; Advantages and Disadvantages; Integrated Intensive Farming Systems (IIFS) --Components of IIFS; References.

19. PRECISION AGRICULTURE
Introduction, Definitions, Barriers in Adoption, Evolution, Advantages, Principles of Precision Agriculture, Understanding the Variability, Identification of Important Soil Properties, Delineation of Management Zones, Practices of Precision Agriculture: Variable Rate Tillage Practices, Nutrient Management, Water Management, Weed Management, Insect Pest Management, Disease Management, References.