2
Fundamentals of Agronomy (Agron-101)
Fundamentals of agronomy
Agron 101
Dr. O.P.Lathwal
Prof. (Agronomy)
College of Agriculture, Kaul
REFERENCE FUNDAMENTALS OF AGRONOMY
- R.L. ARYA
Chapt Title Page
Pankaj Aggroia K2021A20BIV
, 2
Fundamentals of Agronomy (Agron-101)
er No. No.
1 Agronomy and its Scope 3
2 Tillage and Tilth 12
3 Crop Density and Geometry 18
4 Crop Nutrition 22
5 Fertilizers in Crop Nutrition 32
6 Soil plant water relationship 39
7 Irrigation 47
8 Crop Water Requirement 56
9 Water Use Efficiency 67
10 Water logging and drainage 72
11 Growth and development of crops 78
12 Plant ideotypes and Adaptation & 82
distribution of crops
13 Crop rotation 86
14 Harvesting and threshing 91
1) Agronomy and its Scope
1. Terminology in Agronomy
Plant: A living organism of the kind exemplified by trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, ferns and mosses,
typically growing in a permanent site, absorbing water and inorganic substances through its roots,
and synthesizing nutrients in its leaves by photosynthesis using the green pigment chlorophyll
Crop: A crop is an aggregation/group of plants usually of the same species and normally of very
similar genetic constitution grown in the fields.
Pankaj Aggroia K2021A20BIV
, 2
Fundamentals of Agronomy (Agron-101)
Agriculture: The term agriculture is derived from the Latin word ager or agri meaning soil and
cultra meaning cultivation. Agriculture is defined as the cultivation of and/or production of crop
plants or livestock products.
Farming: The process of harnessing solar energy in the form of economic plant and animal product
is called farming
System: A set of inter related practices/processes organized into a functional entity is call a system.
Crop Production: It is branch of agriculture that deals with growing of crops for use as food and
fiber.
Agronomy: It is a branch of agriculture which deals with principles and practices of field crop
production and management of soil for higher productivity.
The term agronomy is derived from the two Greek words agros, meaning field and nomos,
meaning to manage.
Father of Agronomy: Pietro de Crescenzi
Agronomy includes various crop production activities like land preparation, crop stand
establishment, soil fertility management, irrigation water management, weed management,
harvesting and threshing of crops grown for human feed, livestock and poultry feed, fibers, oils and
certain industrial products.
Scope: It is opportunity or possibility to do or deal with something
Scope of Agronomy: It is the extent of opportunity or possibility in agronomy to which it is relevant
2. Scope of Agronomy
Agronomy is a dynamic (full of ideas and energy) discipline. With the advancement of
knowledge and better understanding of plant and environment, agricultural practices are modified
or new practices developed for higher productivity. For example, availability of chemical fertilizers
has necessitated the generation of knowledge on method, quality and time of application of
fertilizers. Restoration of soil fertility and amelioration of soil problems need to be addressed.
Similarly, availability of herbicides for the control of weeds has led to development of vast
knowledge about selectivity, time and method of application of herbicide. Gigantic irrigation
projects are constructed to provide irrigation facilities. However, these projects created side effect
like water logging and salinity. To overcome these problem appropriate water management
practices are developed in agronomy. Population pressure is increasing but the area under
cultivation is static or declining. More number of crops has, therefore, to be grown on same piece
of land in a year. As a result intensive cropping has come into vogue. Similarly no tillage practices
have come in place of clean cultivation as a result of increasing cost of energy. Likewise, new
technology has to be developed to overcome the effect of moisture stress under dry land
conditions. As new variety of crop with high yield potential and available package of practices have
to be developed to exploit their full potential. Technology involving non-monetary inputs/practices
like selection of crops/varieties, sowing time, proper methods and application time of inputs,
assessing various crop needs, optimum time of harvesting and threshing are important for crop
production. Thus, agronomy is discipline of great scope.
Pankaj Aggroia K2021A20BIV
, 2
Fundamentals of Agronomy (Agron-101)
3. Role of an Agronomist
• Agronomist: He is a scientist who studies the principles and practices of crop production
and soil management for maximizing yields. Agronomists develop innovative farm practices
and technologies for growing crops profitably and sustainably without environment
degradation.
• Role of Agronomists includes:
Planning, programming and executing measures for efficient use of lands, labor, capital and
other factor of crop production
Experimentation for improved crop production technology
Agronomist studies the problems of crop production and develops better ways of producing
food, feed and fiber.
Agronomist aims at obtaining maximum production at minimum cost
Formulation of efficient cropping and farming systems
Choice of crops and cultivars adaptable to different agro climate and land situations for
optimum yields
Extension of crop production technologies
As a team leader for solving all the field problems relating to crop production
Solving of all social, economic and cultural problems in addition to field problems for
effective functioning of the farm
4. Basic principles of Agronomy
• Planning, programming and executing measures for maximum utilization of land, labor,
capital and other factors for profitable crop production.
• Choice of crop varieties adaptable to the particular agro-climate, land situation, soil fertility,
season and method of cultivation.
• Proper field management by tillage, preparing field channels and bunds for irrigation and
drainage, leveling and adopting other suitable land improvement practices.
• Adoption of multiple cropping and also mixed or intercropping to ensure harvest even
under adverse environmental conditions.
• Timely application of proper and balanced nutrients to the crop and improvement of soil
fertility and productivity.
• Choice of quality seed and maintenance of plant density per unit area
• Proper water management with respect to crop, soil and environment.
Pankaj Aggroia K2021A20BIV
Fundamentals of Agronomy (Agron-101)
Fundamentals of agronomy
Agron 101
Dr. O.P.Lathwal
Prof. (Agronomy)
College of Agriculture, Kaul
REFERENCE FUNDAMENTALS OF AGRONOMY
- R.L. ARYA
Chapt Title Page
Pankaj Aggroia K2021A20BIV
, 2
Fundamentals of Agronomy (Agron-101)
er No. No.
1 Agronomy and its Scope 3
2 Tillage and Tilth 12
3 Crop Density and Geometry 18
4 Crop Nutrition 22
5 Fertilizers in Crop Nutrition 32
6 Soil plant water relationship 39
7 Irrigation 47
8 Crop Water Requirement 56
9 Water Use Efficiency 67
10 Water logging and drainage 72
11 Growth and development of crops 78
12 Plant ideotypes and Adaptation & 82
distribution of crops
13 Crop rotation 86
14 Harvesting and threshing 91
1) Agronomy and its Scope
1. Terminology in Agronomy
Plant: A living organism of the kind exemplified by trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, ferns and mosses,
typically growing in a permanent site, absorbing water and inorganic substances through its roots,
and synthesizing nutrients in its leaves by photosynthesis using the green pigment chlorophyll
Crop: A crop is an aggregation/group of plants usually of the same species and normally of very
similar genetic constitution grown in the fields.
Pankaj Aggroia K2021A20BIV
, 2
Fundamentals of Agronomy (Agron-101)
Agriculture: The term agriculture is derived from the Latin word ager or agri meaning soil and
cultra meaning cultivation. Agriculture is defined as the cultivation of and/or production of crop
plants or livestock products.
Farming: The process of harnessing solar energy in the form of economic plant and animal product
is called farming
System: A set of inter related practices/processes organized into a functional entity is call a system.
Crop Production: It is branch of agriculture that deals with growing of crops for use as food and
fiber.
Agronomy: It is a branch of agriculture which deals with principles and practices of field crop
production and management of soil for higher productivity.
The term agronomy is derived from the two Greek words agros, meaning field and nomos,
meaning to manage.
Father of Agronomy: Pietro de Crescenzi
Agronomy includes various crop production activities like land preparation, crop stand
establishment, soil fertility management, irrigation water management, weed management,
harvesting and threshing of crops grown for human feed, livestock and poultry feed, fibers, oils and
certain industrial products.
Scope: It is opportunity or possibility to do or deal with something
Scope of Agronomy: It is the extent of opportunity or possibility in agronomy to which it is relevant
2. Scope of Agronomy
Agronomy is a dynamic (full of ideas and energy) discipline. With the advancement of
knowledge and better understanding of plant and environment, agricultural practices are modified
or new practices developed for higher productivity. For example, availability of chemical fertilizers
has necessitated the generation of knowledge on method, quality and time of application of
fertilizers. Restoration of soil fertility and amelioration of soil problems need to be addressed.
Similarly, availability of herbicides for the control of weeds has led to development of vast
knowledge about selectivity, time and method of application of herbicide. Gigantic irrigation
projects are constructed to provide irrigation facilities. However, these projects created side effect
like water logging and salinity. To overcome these problem appropriate water management
practices are developed in agronomy. Population pressure is increasing but the area under
cultivation is static or declining. More number of crops has, therefore, to be grown on same piece
of land in a year. As a result intensive cropping has come into vogue. Similarly no tillage practices
have come in place of clean cultivation as a result of increasing cost of energy. Likewise, new
technology has to be developed to overcome the effect of moisture stress under dry land
conditions. As new variety of crop with high yield potential and available package of practices have
to be developed to exploit their full potential. Technology involving non-monetary inputs/practices
like selection of crops/varieties, sowing time, proper methods and application time of inputs,
assessing various crop needs, optimum time of harvesting and threshing are important for crop
production. Thus, agronomy is discipline of great scope.
Pankaj Aggroia K2021A20BIV
, 2
Fundamentals of Agronomy (Agron-101)
3. Role of an Agronomist
• Agronomist: He is a scientist who studies the principles and practices of crop production
and soil management for maximizing yields. Agronomists develop innovative farm practices
and technologies for growing crops profitably and sustainably without environment
degradation.
• Role of Agronomists includes:
Planning, programming and executing measures for efficient use of lands, labor, capital and
other factor of crop production
Experimentation for improved crop production technology
Agronomist studies the problems of crop production and develops better ways of producing
food, feed and fiber.
Agronomist aims at obtaining maximum production at minimum cost
Formulation of efficient cropping and farming systems
Choice of crops and cultivars adaptable to different agro climate and land situations for
optimum yields
Extension of crop production technologies
As a team leader for solving all the field problems relating to crop production
Solving of all social, economic and cultural problems in addition to field problems for
effective functioning of the farm
4. Basic principles of Agronomy
• Planning, programming and executing measures for maximum utilization of land, labor,
capital and other factors for profitable crop production.
• Choice of crop varieties adaptable to the particular agro-climate, land situation, soil fertility,
season and method of cultivation.
• Proper field management by tillage, preparing field channels and bunds for irrigation and
drainage, leveling and adopting other suitable land improvement practices.
• Adoption of multiple cropping and also mixed or intercropping to ensure harvest even
under adverse environmental conditions.
• Timely application of proper and balanced nutrients to the crop and improvement of soil
fertility and productivity.
• Choice of quality seed and maintenance of plant density per unit area
• Proper water management with respect to crop, soil and environment.
Pankaj Aggroia K2021A20BIV
