Unit

Topic

No. of Lectures/Hrs (45)

1

General account about the microbes used as biofertilizer – Rhizobium – isolation, identification, mass multiplication, carrier based inoculants, Actinorrhizal symbiosis.

(4 Lectures)

5

2

Azospirillum: isolation and mass multiplication – carrier-based inoculant, associative effect of different microorganisms. Azotobacter: crop response to Azotobacter inoculum, maintenance and mass multiplication. (8 Lectures)

5

3

Cyanobacteria (blue green algae), Azolla and Anabaena azollae association, nitrogen fixation, factors affecting growth, blue green algae and Azolla in rice cultivation.

(4 Lectures)

5

4

Mycorrhizal association, types of mycorrhizal association, taxonomy, occurrence and distribution, phosphorus nutrition, growth and yield – colonization of VAM – isolation and inoculum production of VAM, and its influence on growth and yield of crop plants.

(8 Lectures)

5

5

Organic farming – Green manuring and organic fertilizers, Recycling of biodegradable municipal, agricultural and Industrial wastes – biocompost making methods, types and method of vermicomposting – field Application.

(6 Lectures)

5

6

Nursery: definition, objectives and scope and building up of infrastructure for nursery, planning and seasonal activities - Planting - direct seeding and transplants. Seed: Structure and types - Seed dormancy; causes and methods of breaking dormancy-Seed storage: Seed banks, factors affecting seed viability, genetic erosion – Seed production technology - seed testing and certification

5

7

Vegetative propagation: air-layering, cutting, selection of cutting, collecting season, treatment of cutting, rooting medium and planting of cuttings - Hardening of plants – green house - mist chamber, shed root, shade house and glass house

5

8

Gardening: definition, objectives and scope - different types of gardening-landscape and home gardening - parks and its components - plant materials and design-computer applications in landscaping - Gardening operations: soil laying, manuring, watering, management of pests and diseases and harvesting.

5

9

Sowing/raising of seeds and seedlings - Transplanting of seedlings - Study of cultivation of different vegetables: cabbage, brinjal, lady’s finger, onion, garlic, tomatoes, and carrots - Storage and marketing procedures. National and state institutes related to the activity.

5