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Presented at AGR-722 (Practical)Presented at AGR-722 (Practical)

Agronomy-definition Agronomy-definition and Scope. Principles of and Scope. Principles of

Crop ProductionCrop Production

March 14, 2014March 14, 2014

ByBy

Hafiz Muhammad Zakriya AlviHafiz Muhammad Zakriya Alvi

2003-ag-16462003-ag-1646

An Introduction to AgronomyAn Introduction to AgronomyTwo Greek wordsTwo Greek wordsagros “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 of Technically it is “science and economics of

crop production by management of farm crop production by management of farm land”land”

Branch of agriculture science which dealsBranch of agriculture science which deals with principles and practices of field crop with principles and practices of field crop

production and management of soil for production and management of soil for higher productivity.higher productivity.

Importance of AgronomyImportance of Agronomy

Among all the branches of agriculture, agronomy occupies a pivotal position and is Among all the branches of agriculture, agronomy occupies a pivotal position and is regarded as the mother branch or primary branch.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 includes science, 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.

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

Scope of AgronomyScope of Agronomy

2-Teaching 2-Teaching 3-Agricultural Extension3-Agricultural Extension

technology transfertechnology transferto carry messages of modern agriculture to to carry messages of modern agriculture to

farmer communityfarmer communitysugar mills,sugar mills,fertilizer and pesticide firms and banks fertilizer and pesticide firms and banks

employ 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

Scope of AgronomyScope of Agronomyo 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 extension cotton inspectors in agri extension departmentdepartment

Principles of crop productionPrinciples of crop productionTimely 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 optimum Proper time of sowing seed in proper wattar to have optimum plant density.plant density.

Timely application of proper fertilizer in right amount and Timely application of proper fertilizer in right amount and proper proportion keeping in view soil and climatic conditions.proper 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.

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 soil should be prepared

according according to crop requirementto crop requirement wheat and oilseed crop need wheat and oilseed crop need

shallow depthshallow depth cotton, maize need greater depthcotton, maize need greater depth

Principles of crop productionPrinciples of crop production

deep ploughing help water deep ploughing help water conservationconservation

land should be well levelled in land should be well levelled in saline areassaline areas

proper drainage in water logged proper drainage in water logged areasareas

2-Good quality seed of high yielding varieties.2-Good quality seed of high yielding varieties. approved variety seedapproved variety seed seed with more genetic potentialseed with more genetic potential seed treatmentsseed treatments use adequate seed rates to obtain use adequate seed rates to obtain

proper plant populationproper plant population germination and purity %agegermination and purity %age moisture content in soil before moisture content in soil before

sowingsowing

Principles of crop Principles of crop productionproduction

3-Proper time of sowing seed in proper wattar to 3-Proper time of sowing seed in proper wattar to have optimum plant densityhave optimum plant density..

timely sowing- high yieldtimely sowing- high yield soil should be neither too dry soil should be neither too dry

neither too wet at time of sowingneither too wet at time of sowing oilseed crops should be sown in oilseed crops should be sown in

more wattar than other crops.more wattar than other crops. adequate plant population-high adequate plant population-high

yieldyield

4-Timely application of proper 4-Timely application of proper fertilizer in right amount and proper fertilizer in right amount and proper proportion keeping in view soil and proportion keeping in view soil and climatic conditionclimatic condition

a big gap exist between a big gap exist between potential potential yield and yield at farm levelyield and yield at farm level

Application at right timeApplication at right time

Use of fertilizer according to Use of fertilizer according to prevailing conditionprevailing condition

5- Timely application of irrigation water 5- 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 of recommended dose of

insecticidesinsecticides should use disease resistant should use disease resistant

varietiesvarieties

7-Post harvest technology7-Post harvest technology

20% yield loss due to improper 20% yield loss due to improper handlinghandling

to avoid grain shattering, proper to avoid grain shattering, proper time of harvest is important for time of harvest is important for wheat, sorghum and bajrawheat, sorghum and bajra

in maize delayed harvesting, in maize delayed harvesting, grains in the cobs start grains in the cobs start germinating if rain can occurgerminating if rain can occur

THANK YOUTHANK YOU