RAS PRE Syllabus- Agriculture (Code No. 01)

RAS PRE SYLLABUS


Agriculture (Code No. 01)

1. Agriculture, its importance in national economy; factors determining agro-ecological zone and geographic distributions of crop plants.

2. Important crops of India, cultural practices for cereal, pulses, oilseed, fibre, sugar and tuber crops and the scientific basis for their crop rotation; multiple and relay cropping, intercropping, and mixed cropping.

3. Soil genesis, Soil as a medium of plant growth and its composition, Mineral and organic constituents of the soil and their role in crop production; chemical, physical and microbiological properties of the soils; soil colloids; essential plant nutrients, their functions, occurrence and cycling in soils. Problem soils and their reclamation. Principles of soil fertility and its evaluation for judicious fertilizer use. Organic manures and bio-fertilizers; straight, complex and mixed fertilizers, their manufacture and mode of action in soil.

4. Principles of plant physiology with reference to plant nutrition, absorption, translocation and metabolism of nutrients. Diagnosis of nutrient deficiencies and their amelioration. Photosynthesis and respiration, growth and development auxins and hormones in plant growth.

5. Elements of Genetics and plant breeding as applied to improvement of crops; development of plant hybrids and composites, important varieties, hybrids and composites of major crops.

6. Important fruit and vegetable crops of India, the package of practices and their scientific basis, crop rotations, intercropping, and companion crops, role of fruits and vegetables in human nutrition; post harvest handling and processing of fruits and vegetables.

7. Serious pests and diseases affecting major crops. Principles of pest control, integrated control of pests and diseases; proper use and maintenance of plant protection equipments.

8. Principles of economics as applied to agriculture.

9. Farm planning and resource management for optimum production.

10. Farming systems and their role in regional economies

11. Philosophy, objectives, scope and principles of extension. Extension organisation at the State, District and Block levels-their structure, functions and responsibilities. Methods of communication, role of Farm organisations in extension service.