A brief Knowledge of Agricultural Ecology.

1. Agricultural Ecology
AN INTRODUCTION TO AGRO ECOLOGY

2. What is Ecology?
“Ecology in a broad sense is the study of
Ecosystems.”
- Mishra(1970)
“The Scientific study of the interactions of
the organisms with their physical environment
and with each other , is called Ecology.”
- Helena Curtis (1975)
* Ecology word derived from two Greek words
‘Oikos’ means ‘house’ and ‘logos’ means ‘study’.
* Father of Ecology – Alexander von Humboldt
* ‘Oekologie’ term first used by German scientist
Ernest Hackel,1866

3. Division of Ecolgy
1. Autoecology :- The ecological study of a particular single species.
2. Synecology :- The ecological study of whole plant or animal communities.
Objective of Ecology is study of :-
1. Relationship between species,populations, Communities and ecosystms.
2. The local and geographical distribution of organisms.
3. The behavior of organisms under natural conditions.
4. The biological productivity of nature and its relationship with human.
5. Temporal changes in the occurrence and activities of organisms.
6. Conservation and management of natural resources and pollution.

4. Importance of Plant Ecology in crop Production
1. Increase in crop yield.
2. Control of soil erosion.
3. Protection of crops from insect and pests.
4. Conservation of soil fertility.
5. Crop production in Dry Areas.
6. Importance in limnology in crop production.
7. Pisiculture with crop production.
8. Biotic control in crop protection.

5. Environment
“The circumstances, objects or conditions by which one is
surrounded is known as Environment.”
Factors of Environment
(1) Physical or Abiotic or Non-living :-
Edaphic factors, Light, Temperature, Air, Water, Topography, Limiting
Factors etc.
(2) Biotic or Non- Physical or Organic :-
Micro-organisms, Trees, Animals, Biological activities, Human etc.

6. Environmental Pollution
“The contamination of the physical and biological components of the
atmosphere/environment to such extent that normal environmental is known as
environmentle pollution.”
Types of Environmental Pollution:-
(1). Air Pollution
(2). Water Pollution
(3). Soil {Land} Pollution
(4). Noise Pollution
(5). Radioactive Pollution
(6). Social {Mental} Pollution
(7). Industrial Pollution
(8). Thermal Pollution

7. Ecosystem
“An Ecosystem (Ecological System) is a sum total of living organisms.
the environment and the processes of interaction between and
within all parts of the system.”
- Mathawan(1974)
“The Ecosystem is the basic functional unit of organisms and their
environment, interacting with each other and within their own
components.”
- E.P. Odum(1971)
“A functional system formed by communities and their environment
is called Ecosystem.”

8. Components Of An Ecosystem
1. Biotic Components
(a) Producers = Autotrophs
Ex.- Green Plants and vegetations etc.
(b) Consumers = Phagotrophs
Ex.- Herbivores to Carnivores Animals
(c) Decomposers = Saprotrophs
Ex.- Bacteria, Fungi etc.

9. 2. Abiotic components
(a). Climatic or Physical Components
Ex.- Solar Energy, Air, Water and other
climatic factors etc.
(b). Organic Components
Ex.- Protein, Carbohydrates, Lipids and
other decomposed materials.
(c). Inorganic Components
Ex.- Minerals, Gases and Carbon-less
raw material etc.

10. An Crop Land Ecosystem
1. Biotic Components
(a). Producers:- Main Crops( Triticum aestivum, Zea mays,
Oryza sativa, Solanum tuberosum etc.)
(b). Primary Consumers :- Insects, Rat, Rabbits, Human etc.
(c). Secondary Consumers :- Frog, Snake etc.
(d). Teritiary Consumers :- Top Carnivores (Hawk, Eagle) etc.
(e). Decomposers :- Bacteria and fungi etc.
2. Abiotic Components
Organic and Inorganic materials presents in
Atmosphere and Soil

11. Plant Community
“A group of several species plant or animals living together
with mutual tolerance adjustment and beneficial interactions
in a natural area is known as a community.”
“Those groups of plants which grows on a place and keep a
relation with environment , are called plant community.”
Characterstics of Communty
(1). Species diversity
(2). Growth and Structure
(3). Dominance
(4). Succession
(5). Self Sufficiency

12. Classification of Plant Community
(1) Terresterial Plant Community
(a). Grass Land
(b). Desert Plant Community
(c). Tundra Community
(d). Forest Community
(2). Aquatic Plant Community
(a). Fresh Water Community
(b). Marine Water Community

13. Plant Succession
“The process of development of plant communities
is known as Plant succession”
Types Of Plant Successions
(1). Primary Succession:- Development of plant community at
new place where it was not before.
(2). Secondary Successsion:- Development of plant community
at same place again after long time.

14. Agro Climatic Zones of India
(1). Western Himalyan Region
(2). Eastern Himalyan Region
(3). Lower Gangetic Plains Region
(4). Middle Gangetic Plains Region
(5). Upper Gangetic Plains Region
(6). Trans-Gangetic Plains Region
(7). Eastern Plateau and Hilly Region
(8). Central Plateau and Hilly Region
(9). Western Plateau and Hilly Region
(10). Southern Plateau and Hilly Region
(11). East Coastal Plains and Hilly Region
(12). Western Coastal Plains and Hilly Region
(13). Gujarat Plains and Hilly Region
(14). Western Dry Region
(15). The Iceland Region

15. Thank You
Created By – Vikas Kumar