WBPSC Assistant Director of Agriculture (ADA) Recruitment details 2023 by Agrimly

Public Service Commission, West Bengal 

161A, S. P. Mukherjee Road, Kolkata-700026 

Source link: www.agrimly.com or www.wbpsc.gov.in

ANNOUNCEMENT

It is hereby announced for the information of candidates who have applied for the posts of WB Assistant Director of Agriculture (ADA) in Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, West Bengal in response to Advertisement no. 05/2023, that there will be a recruitment test for the above said posts. The Commission has decided as under:

WBPSC Assistant Director of Agriculture (ADA) details 2023 : Agrimly platform live -offline coaching classes, Notes and Test series available  

Starting Date of Application Form : 25th July 2023

Last Date of Application Form : 17th August 2023

Total Post : 122

Exam Date : Notified Soon

Assistant Director of Agriculture (ADA) Scheme/Pattern of Recruitment Test:

1. The question paper of the recruitment test will be 100 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) based on the syllabus enclosed, and the same will be in English language only.

2. Maximum Marks: 100.

3. Duration of Paper: Two Hours. 

4. All Questions carry equal marks.

5. For each wrong answer, one-third (0.33) mark shall be deducted.

6. If a question is not attempted, circle the corresponding bubble below # in the OMR Sheet, failing which one-third (0.33) marks shall be deducted.

7. The candidates to the extent of posts advertised will be shortlisted for interview. 

8. No candidate shall be called for the interview/ viva-voce unless he/she obtains at least 40% qualifying marks in the recruitment test for unreserved category and 38% marks for all reserved category. 

9. The Syllabus of above said posts is available on the Commission's website

Agrimly platform live -offline coaching classes, Notes and Test series available  

Note: The Recruitment test will be conducted on ........

Place: Kolkata.

Date: 20.07.2023

    Secretary

West Bengal  Public Service Commission  Mukherjee Road, Kolkata

Download Agrimly app.  

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).