Rainfed Agriculture and Watershed Management (B.Sc Agriculture)

Dryland farming problems, moisture conservation, contingency crop planning and watershed management.

6 MonthsDuration 5Chapters24Topics

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Syllabus · पाठ्यक्रम

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01Unit 1: Rainfed Agriculture - Concept, Problems and Prospects 5 topics

Dry farming, dryland and rainfed farming
Extent and importance of rainfed areas
Problems of rainfed agriculture
Rainfall characteristics and length of growing period
Prospects and research institutes (CRIDA)

02Unit 2: Drought and Crop Adaptation 4 topics

Types of drought
Effect of water stress on crops
Drought escape, avoidance and tolerance
Anti-transpirants and other crop management practices

03Unit 3: Soil and Moisture Conservation 5 topics

In-situ moisture conservation: ridges and furrows, BBF, compartmental bunding
Mulching and tillage
Water harvesting and farm ponds
Runoff estimation
Life-saving irrigation

04Unit 4: Crop Planning and Contingency Measures 4 topics

Crop and variety selection for rainfed areas
Intercropping and cropping systems
Contingency crop planning for delayed monsoon
Mid-season corrections for dry spells

05Unit 5: Watershed Management 6 topics

Concept and objectives of watershed
Principles and ridge-to-valley approach
Components: soil, water, crop, livestock and people
Gully control and check dams
USLE and soil loss
Watershed programmes in India

About

You will be able to

Explain rainfed and dryland agriculture, their problems and prospects in India
Explain types of drought and the mechanisms of drought resistance in crops
Choose in-situ and ex-situ soil and moisture conservation measures for rainfed fields
Prepare contingency crop plans and mid-season corrections for aberrant weather
Explain the concept, principles and components of watershed management
Calculate runoff volume for water harvesting structures

Who it is for

B.Sc (Hons.) Agriculture students of Semester 6 (ICAR 5th Deans' Committee syllabus)
Students of agriculture colleges affiliated to UP state universities and agricultural universities
Students preparing for ICAR-JRF (agronomy) and agriculture officer exams

What you need

Fundamentals of Agronomy and Agro-meteorology (earlier semesters)

Questions

Which syllabus does this course follow?

The course follows the ICAR 5th Deans' Committee B.Sc (Hons.) Agriculture syllabus used by UP agricultural universities (CSAUAT Kanpur, ANDUAT Ayodhya, SVPUAT Meerut, BUAT Banda) and agriculture colleges of UP state universities. Where your own university syllabus differs, the centre follows your university syllabus.

Is this relevant to UP?

Yes. Bundelkhand and Vindhyan areas of UP are largely rainfed, and examples from these areas are used.

Are numericals asked?

Yes. Runoff volume and USLE based questions are practised.

Do you give tests?

Yes. Unit tests and a full syllabus test are given.