This document provides an overview of introductory agriculture. It discusses the history of agricultural development in India and factors that affect crop production like soil, social and economic factors. It also outlines the major branches of agriculture like crop production, horticulture, agricultural engineering, forestry, animal husbandry, fishery science and home science. Broadly, agriculture is grouped under four major categories - crop improvement, crop management, crop production and social sciences. The document provides background information on the different aspects and areas related to introductory agriculture.

1. Introductory Agriculture

2. AGRN 312 Introductory Agriculture
•History of Agricultural development in India.
•Factors affecting crop production
•Soil factors
•Social and economic factors
•Diversity in physiographic
•Soil groups
•Dry and irrigated agriculture
•Farming systems approach
•Value addition
•Requirements in new technology and research
•Role of women in Agriculture.

3. Agriculture
• Agriculture with its allied sectors is unquestionable
the largest livelihood provider in India, more so in the
vast rural areas.
• It contributes significant figure to the Gross Domestic
Products (GDP).
• Sustainable agriculture in terms of food security, rural
employment and environmentally sustainable
technologies such as soil conservation, sustainable
natural resources management and biodiversity
protection, are essential for holistic rural
development.

4. Agriculture
• Indian Agriculture and allied activities have witnessed
green revaluation, a white revolution, yellow
revolution & a blue revolution.
• The word agriculture is derived from Latin term Ager
cultura (field cultivation).
• Can be defined as a service, art & business of
producing crops & livestock for economic purpose.
• An activity of man primarily aimed at production of
food fiber & fuel by optimum use of terrestrial
resources is termed as agriculture.

5. Agriculture
• Agriculture helps to meet the basic needs of human
and civilization – providing fooding, clothing, shelters,
medicine and recreation.
• It is a productive unit where the free gifts of nature
namely - land, light, air temperature and rain is utilized
– indispensable for human beings – Primary Unit.
• Secondary Unit namely animals, livestock, birds and
insects feed on primary units and provides
concentrated products such as meat, milk, wool,
honey, silk ect.

6. Agriculture
• Agriculture consists of growing plants and rearing
animals in order to yield produce & thus it helps to
maintain ecological balance.
• Agriculture has three main spheres viz. Geoponic
(Cultivation in earth-soil), Aeroponic (Cultivation in
air) and Hydroponic (Cultivation in water ).

7. Branches of Agriculture includes
• Crop Production - Includes Agronomy, Soil Science, Entomology,
Plant Pathology, Micro Biology etc. The aim is to
have better food production. It includes
production of various crops including oilseeds,
pulses, cereals, fibers crops, sugarcane etc.
• Horticulture - Deals with Vegetable Production of flowers,
fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants,
condiments (includes narcotic crops – opium
etc.) medicinal plants & beverages.

8. Branches of Agriculture includes
• Agricultural Engineering - Important component of crop
production & Horticulture particularly
to provide tools & implements to
facilitate proper animal husbandry &
crop production tools.
• Forestry - Production of commercial timber.
• Animal Husbandry - Maintenance of various livestock
rearing and their use.
• Fishery Science - Marine fish & island fishes including
shrimp farming.
• Home Science - Application & utilization of
agricultural produce.

9. Branches of Agriculture includes
Integration of seven branches,
first three is grouped as for crop
production and next two for
animal management & last two as
allied agricultural branches.

10. Broadly in practice agriculture is grouped under 4
major categories
I. Plant Breeding & Genetics
II. Biotechnology
A – Crop Improvement

11. Broadly in practice agriculture is grouped under 4
major categories
I. Agronomy
II. Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry
III. Seed Technology
IV. Agricultural Microbiology
V. Crop Physiology
VI. Agricultural Engineering
VII. Environmental Science
VIII.Agricultural Meteorology
B – Crop Management

12. Broadly in practice agriculture is grouped under 4
major categories
I. Agricultural Entomology
II. Plant Physiology
III. Nematology
C – Crop Production

13. Broadly in practice agriculture is grouped under 4
major categories
I. Agricultural Extension
II. Agricultural Economic
D – Social Science

14. Broadly in practice agriculture is grouped under 4
major categories
I. Agricultural Statistics
II. English & languages
III. Mathematics
IV. Bio-chemistry
Allied Disciplines