2. Presented at AGR-722 (Practical)Presented at AGR-722 (Practical)
Agronomy-definitionAgronomy-definition
and Scope. Principles ofand Scope. Principles of
Crop ProductionCrop Production
March 14, 2014March 14, 2014
ByBy
Hafiz Muhammad Zakriya AlviHafiz Muhammad Zakriya Alvi
Phd 1Phd 1stst
sem.sem.
3. An Introduction to AgronomyAn Introduction to Agronomy
Two Greek wordsTwo Greek words
agros “field” and nomos “to manage”agros “field” and nomos “to manage”
““Art of managing field”Art of managing field”
Technically it is “science and economics ofTechnically it is “science and economics of
crop production by management of farmcrop production by management of farm
land”land”
Branch of agriculture science which dealsBranch of agriculture science which deals
with principles and practices of field cropwith principles and practices of field crop
production and management of soil forproduction and management of soil for
higher productivity.higher productivity.
4. Importance of AgronomyImportance of Agronomy
Among all the branches of agriculture, agronomy occupies a pivotal positionAmong all the branches of agriculture, agronomy occupies a pivotal position
and is regarded as the mother branch or primary branch.and is regarded as the mother branch or primary branch.
Agronomy has three clear branches namely,Agronomy has three clear branches namely,
(i)(i) Crop Science,Crop Science,
((ii)ii) Soil Science,Soil Science,
((iii) Environmental Science (iii) Environmental Science (deals only with applied aspects.deals only with applied aspects.
((i.e.,) Soil-Crop-Environmental relationship.)i.e.,) Soil-Crop-Environmental relationship.)
Agronomy is a synthesis of several disciplines like cropAgronomy is a synthesis of several disciplines like crop
science, which includesscience, which includes
plant breeding,plant breeding,
crop physiology and biochemistry etccrop physiology and biochemistry etc
soil science, which includes soil fertilizers, manures etc., andsoil science, which includes soil fertilizers, manures etc., and
environmental science which includes meteorology and crop ecology.environmental science which includes meteorology and crop ecology.
5. Scope of agronomyScope of agronomy
1-Research1-Research
• test new varieties by Agronomisttest new varieties by Agronomist
• related water management researchrelated water management research
• soil conservation and reclamationsoil conservation and reclamation
• seed productionseed production
Opportunities of this type of work lie with,Opportunities of this type of work lie with,
• Agricultural colleges and universitiesAgricultural colleges and universities
• Research organizations like PARC, AARI.Research organizations like PARC, AARI.
• Soil conservation,Soil conservation,
• Water management Deptt.Water management Deptt.
• private sectorprivate sector
6. Scope of AgronomyScope of Agronomy
2-Teaching2-Teaching
3-Agricultural Extension3-Agricultural Extension
technology transfertechnology transfer
to carry messages of modern agriculture toto carry messages of modern agriculture to
farmer communityfarmer community
sugar mills,sugar mills,
fertilizer and pesticide firms and banks employfertilizer and pesticide firms and banks employ
agronomist in their service departmentsagronomist in their service departments
4-Management4-Management
Managers of Govt and private farmsManagers of Govt and private farms
At management posts of sugar millsAt management posts of sugar mills
Fertilizers and pesticidesFertilizers and pesticides
7. Scope of AgronomyScope of Agronomy
o SalesSales
sales and distribution of fertilizerssales and distribution of fertilizers
insecticides and herbicidesinsecticides and herbicides
seeds.seeds.
o Law EnforcementLaw Enforcement
enforcement of stateenforcement of state
federal seeds lawsfederal seeds laws
seed certification officersseed certification officers
cotton inspectors in agri extensioncotton inspectors in agri extension
departmentdepartment
8. Principles of crop productionPrinciples of crop production
Timely and well preparation of land.Timely and well preparation of land.
Good quality seed of high yielding varieties.Good quality seed of high yielding varieties.
Proper time of sowing seed in proper wattar to have optimumProper time of sowing seed in proper wattar to have optimum
plant density.plant density.
Timely application of proper fertilizer in right amount and properTimely application of proper fertilizer in right amount and proper
proportion keeping in view soil and climatic conditions.proportion keeping in view soil and climatic conditions.
Timely application of irrigation water in right amount.Timely application of irrigation water in right amount.
Insects, diseases and weed control.Insects, diseases and weed control.
Post harvest technology.Post harvest technology.
9. Principles of crop productionPrinciples of crop production
1-1-Timely and well preparation of land.Timely and well preparation of land.
pre- requisite to get high yieldpre- requisite to get high yield
must know sowing timemust know sowing time
rice –wheatrice –wheat
soil should be prepared accordingsoil should be prepared according
to crop requirementto crop requirement
wheat and oilseed crop needwheat and oilseed crop need
shallow depthshallow depth
cotton, maize need greater depthcotton, maize need greater depth
10. Principles of crop productionPrinciples of crop production
deep ploughing help waterdeep ploughing help water
conservationconservation
land should be well levelled inland should be well levelled in
saline areassaline areas
proper drainage in water loggedproper drainage in water logged
areasareas
11. 2-Good quality seed of high yielding2-Good quality seed of high yielding
varieties.varieties.
approved variety seedapproved variety seed
seed with more genetic potentialseed with more genetic potential
seed treatmentsseed treatments
use adequate seed rates to obtainuse adequate seed rates to obtain
proper plant populationproper plant population
germination and purity %agegermination and purity %age
moisture content in soil beforemoisture content in soil before
sowingsowing
12. Principles of cropPrinciples of crop
productionproduction
3-Proper time of sowing seed in proper3-Proper time of sowing seed in proper
wattar to have optimum plant densitywattar to have optimum plant density..
timely sowing- high yieldtimely sowing- high yield
soil should be neither too drysoil should be neither too dry
neither too wet at time of sowingneither too wet at time of sowing
oilseed crops should be sown inoilseed crops should be sown in
more wattar than other crops.more wattar than other crops.
adequate plant population-highadequate plant population-high
yieldyield
13. 4-Timely application of proper4-Timely application of proper
fertilizer in right amount and properfertilizer in right amount and proper
proportion keeping in view soil andproportion keeping in view soil and
climatic conditionclimatic condition
a big gap exist between potentiala big gap exist between potential
yield and yield at farm levelyield and yield at farm level
Application at right timeApplication at right time
Use of fertilizer according toUse of fertilizer according to
prevailing conditionprevailing condition
14. 5- Timely application of irrigation water5- Timely application of irrigation water
in right amountin right amount
irrigate when irrigation is neededirrigate when irrigation is needed
6- Insects, diseases and weed control6- Insects, diseases and weed control
recommended dose ofrecommended dose of
insecticidesinsecticides
should use disease resistantshould use disease resistant
varietiesvarieties
15. 7-Post harvest technology7-Post harvest technology
20% yield loss due to improper20% yield loss due to improper
handlinghandling
to avoid grain shattering, properto avoid grain shattering, proper
time of harvest is important fortime of harvest is important for
wheat, sorghum and bajrawheat, sorghum and bajra
in maize delayed harvesting,in maize delayed harvesting,
grains in the cobs startgrains in the cobs start
germinating if rain can occurgerminating if rain can occur