TNPSC(TAMIL NADU PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION)EXAM:PAPER-MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

POST GRADUATE DEGREE STANDARD

UNIT I Weather and crop production - Agro-ecological zones and geographical distribution of crop plants in Tamill Nadu. Cropping systems - different types and their importance in food production- Package of practices followed for major crops and cropping systems in Tamil Nadu.
UNIT II Water Management - Integrated water management - common area management-Different efficiencies in irrigation management-Irrigation management under constraints of irrigation water. Weed management-Important weeds and their distribution in Tamill Nadu-Integrated weed management.
UNIT III Tillage and Dry land agriculture - Tillage Management under wet and dry land agriculture water harvesting techniques - Technologies for increasing agricultural production in rainfed agriculture. Agroforestry-Waste land development - Problems and Prospects in Tamilnadu - Farm forestry Agroforestry Social forestry, Natural forestry.
UNIT IV Soil types of Tamilnadu and their important Physico-chemical properties and their management-problem soils - management-soil fertility management Integrated Nutrient management.
UNIT V Seed production in Vegetatively propogated crops - Seed processing - Dormancy Seed treatment - Seed pelleting - Seed Certification Certified seed production -Seed Act, New seed policy-seed storage-seed industry-Management of Physiological disorders in crop plants.
UNIT VI Germplasm-crop genetic resources-Mass selection-Hybridization and selection Mutation breeding-Production technologies for ornamentals, vegetables,fruits, spices,Plantation crops,indoor and Medicinal plants - Role of growth regulators in vegetables and fruit production.
UNIT VII Pest - Definition - categories of pests-pest control - natural, artificial-pest management IPM - IPM for important pests and nematodes - Role of parasites, predators,pathogens (NPV,Bt,Fungus) in IPM - store grain pest management.
UNIT VIII Disease - Surveillance - Assessment and forecasting integrated disease management for important plants - Role of antogonistic organisms. Biotechnological approaches in disease Management.
UNIT IX Farming systems-Integrated farming systems Farm planning and budgeting. Farm business management - farm management-principles and decision making Management of resources - land, labour,capital and machinery. Farm financial management - Agricultural marketing management - world trade concept economic liberalisation - GATT.
UNIT X Use of modern agricultural information systems - Transfer of technology - importance in agricultural development - Principles of farm journalism - participatory technology development - Role of women in agriculture.
PAPER -II
ORGANIC AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE
UNIT IGreen revolution in India - After effects - Definitions of Natural Farming, Traditional farming - Their concepts and scope - Natural Farming - Institutions- their activities and role.
UNIT IIEnvironmental problems in developing countries - conflict between technology and environmental protection.
UNIT III Pesticides consumption and hazards - emerging trends in their use.
UNIT IV Role of biopesticides - Botanicals, Microbials, Pheromones, Parasitoids and predators in IPM.
UNIT V Role of biofertilizers in IPM.
UNIT VI Organic farming - concept and relevance in the present day agriculture - problems andremedies - Encouragement and dissemination for effective practicing of organic farming.
UNIT VII Production and marketing of important biocontrol agents - Egg, larval and pupal parasitoids, Predators and Pathogens (NPV, BT, Fungus) - Antagonistic fungi (Trichoderma).
UNIT VIII Production and marketing of important biofertilizers -production of mushrooms.
UNIT IX Production Technology for important flower crops - vegetables and tree crops -Landscaping, Ornamental gardening - Biotechnology - Transgenic plants.
UNIT X Agriculture and Sericulture.