DRAFT STUDY MATERIAL
AGRICULTURE (808)
CLASS – XI
1
,Contributors:
BHANI RAM DALL
(M.Sc. Horticulture, Gold medallist)
MAMTA DALL
(M.Sc. Chemistry and Zoology, Gold medallist)
PREM CHAND
(M.Sc. Agriculture, M.Sc. Sol B.Ed., B.P.Ed.)
GAGAN DEEP CHANI
(M.Sc. Tropical and International Forestry)
2
, SECTION – I
Agriculture and Crop Production
Unit –I: Scope and Importance
A. Definition of agriculture and Branches of Agriculture
The term Agriculture is derived from two Latin words ager or agri meaning soil and cultura
or Cultus meaning cultivation. Agriculture is an applied science which encompasses all aspects of
crop productionincluding horticulture, livestock rearing, fisheries, forestry, etc.
Agriculture (Latin)
Ager Cultura/Cultus
Soil Cultivation
Agriculture is defined as an art, science and business of producing crops and livestock
for economic purposes.
As an art:- It embraces knowledge of the way to perform the operations of the farm in a
skillful manner,but does not necessarily include an understanding of the principles underlying the
farm practices.
As a science: Utilizes all technologies developed on scientific principles such as crop
breeding, production techniques, crop protection, economics etc. to maximize the yield and profit.
For example, new crops and varieties developed by hybridization, Transgenic crop varieties
resistant to pests and diseases, hybrids in each crop, high fertilizer responsive varieties, water
management, herbicides to control weeds, use of bio-control agents to combat pest and diseases etc.
As the business: As long as agriculture is the way of life of the rural population production
isultimately bound to consumption. But agriculture as a business aims at maximum net return
through the management of land labour, water and capital, employing the knowledge of various
sciences for production of food, feed, fibre and fuel. In recent years, agriculture is commercialized
to run as a business through mechanization.
Agriculture is defined in the Agriculture act (1947), as including ‘horticulture, fruit growing,
seed growing, dairy farming and livestock breeding and keeping, the use of land as grazing land,
meadow land, osier land, market gardens and nursery grounds, and the use of land for woodlands
where that use ancillary to the farming of land for Agricultural purposes”.
3
, Branches of Agriculture
1. Agronomy
2. Horticulture
3. Animal husbandry
4. Forestry
5. Fishery science
6. Agricultural Engineering and
7. Home science
1. Agronomy word drive from two Greek word “Agros” means field and “Nomos” means to
manage.
Agronomy (Greek)
Agros Nomos
Field To manage
Definition:- It is defined as an agricultural science deals with principles and practices of crop
production and field management.
or
Agronomy is branch of agricultural science, which deals with principles, & practices of soil,
water & crop management.
2. Horticulture word drive from two Latin word “Hortus” means garden and “cultura/
Cultus” means cultivation.
Horticulture (Latin)
Hortus Cultura/Culture
Garden Cultivation
Definition:- Horticulture is a branch of agriculture in which deal fruit crops, vegetable crops,
ornamental plants, commercial flower, medicinal crops, aromatic crops, spices crops, plantation
crops, individual tree, shrub, climber and post-harvest management and processing.
3. Animal husbandry word drive from “Animal” and “Husband” words. Animal means
livestock and husband means one who takes care.
Animal husbandry (English)
Animal Husband
Livestock One who takes care
4
AGRICULTURE (808)
CLASS – XI
1
,Contributors:
BHANI RAM DALL
(M.Sc. Horticulture, Gold medallist)
MAMTA DALL
(M.Sc. Chemistry and Zoology, Gold medallist)
PREM CHAND
(M.Sc. Agriculture, M.Sc. Sol B.Ed., B.P.Ed.)
GAGAN DEEP CHANI
(M.Sc. Tropical and International Forestry)
2
, SECTION – I
Agriculture and Crop Production
Unit –I: Scope and Importance
A. Definition of agriculture and Branches of Agriculture
The term Agriculture is derived from two Latin words ager or agri meaning soil and cultura
or Cultus meaning cultivation. Agriculture is an applied science which encompasses all aspects of
crop productionincluding horticulture, livestock rearing, fisheries, forestry, etc.
Agriculture (Latin)
Ager Cultura/Cultus
Soil Cultivation
Agriculture is defined as an art, science and business of producing crops and livestock
for economic purposes.
As an art:- It embraces knowledge of the way to perform the operations of the farm in a
skillful manner,but does not necessarily include an understanding of the principles underlying the
farm practices.
As a science: Utilizes all technologies developed on scientific principles such as crop
breeding, production techniques, crop protection, economics etc. to maximize the yield and profit.
For example, new crops and varieties developed by hybridization, Transgenic crop varieties
resistant to pests and diseases, hybrids in each crop, high fertilizer responsive varieties, water
management, herbicides to control weeds, use of bio-control agents to combat pest and diseases etc.
As the business: As long as agriculture is the way of life of the rural population production
isultimately bound to consumption. But agriculture as a business aims at maximum net return
through the management of land labour, water and capital, employing the knowledge of various
sciences for production of food, feed, fibre and fuel. In recent years, agriculture is commercialized
to run as a business through mechanization.
Agriculture is defined in the Agriculture act (1947), as including ‘horticulture, fruit growing,
seed growing, dairy farming and livestock breeding and keeping, the use of land as grazing land,
meadow land, osier land, market gardens and nursery grounds, and the use of land for woodlands
where that use ancillary to the farming of land for Agricultural purposes”.
3
, Branches of Agriculture
1. Agronomy
2. Horticulture
3. Animal husbandry
4. Forestry
5. Fishery science
6. Agricultural Engineering and
7. Home science
1. Agronomy word drive from two Greek word “Agros” means field and “Nomos” means to
manage.
Agronomy (Greek)
Agros Nomos
Field To manage
Definition:- It is defined as an agricultural science deals with principles and practices of crop
production and field management.
or
Agronomy is branch of agricultural science, which deals with principles, & practices of soil,
water & crop management.
2. Horticulture word drive from two Latin word “Hortus” means garden and “cultura/
Cultus” means cultivation.
Horticulture (Latin)
Hortus Cultura/Culture
Garden Cultivation
Definition:- Horticulture is a branch of agriculture in which deal fruit crops, vegetable crops,
ornamental plants, commercial flower, medicinal crops, aromatic crops, spices crops, plantation
crops, individual tree, shrub, climber and post-harvest management and processing.
3. Animal husbandry word drive from “Animal” and “Husband” words. Animal means
livestock and husband means one who takes care.
Animal husbandry (English)
Animal Husband
Livestock One who takes care
4
