Maharashtra HSC Multi-Skill Gardening (NSQF) study plan

Distinguish the four mineral particle size classes (sand, silt, clay, gravel) by feel and by sedimentation behaviour, and state the water- and nutrient-holding consequences of each

Classify a soil sample into a textural class using the hand-feel method and justify the classification with three observed properties

Explain how soil pH controls the availability of nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, and calcium, and predict which deficiency is most likely at pH 5.0 and at pH 8.0

Describe the functions of the main plant organs (root, stem, leaf, flower, fruit) and connect each to a gardening practice such as pruning, staking, or deadheading

Build a personal glossary of 40 horticultural terms with a one-line definition and one Maharashtra-relevant example for each

Compare sexual and vegetative propagation on cost, speed, uniformity, and disease risk, and select the appropriate method for five named crops

Demonstrate stem cutting, layering, division, and budding or grafting on practice material, recording the date, medium, and conditions for each

Explain the role of auxin, rooting medium aeration, humidity, and light in rooting success, and adjust a propagation setup to improve a failing batch

Identify 20 common garden and landscape plants by leaf arrangement, margin, venation, and habit, without relying on flowers

Describe nursery layout essentials: propagation beds, hardening-off area, potting shed, irrigation lines, and record-keeping

Prepare a planting pit or bed to specification, including depth, width, backfill mix, and drainage check, for both a shrub and a seasonal flower bed

Execute transplanting with correct root-ball handling, planting depth, firming, and immediate watering, and explain each step's purpose

Diagnose three common transplant failures (transplant shock, root girdling, planting too deep) from symptoms and prescribe a correction

Calculate a fertilizer dose from an NPK label to deliver a target quantity of nitrogen per plant or per square metre, and schedule applications across a season

Prepare and use compost or vermicompost, and judge maturity by smell, texture, and temperature

Identify 15 common insect pests and 10 diseases of vegetables and ornamentals from damage symptoms, and match each to an appropriate cultural, biological, or chemical response

Distinguish pest damage from nutrient deficiency and from herbicide injury using at least three discriminating symptoms

Apply integrated pest management in order: sanitation, resistant varieties, physical barriers, biological control, then targeted pesticide with correct dose, interval, and pre-harvest waiting period

Classify weeds by life cycle and growth habit, and choose between manual, mulching, mechanical, and chemical control for a given situation

Estimate crop water requirement from evapotranspiration and soil moisture, and demonstrate drip, sprinkler, and hand watering with their efficiency trade-offs

Name and demonstrate the correct use of at least 15 hand tools and garden machines, stating the task each is designed for and one common misuse

Carry out a safety inspection of tools and equipment, including handle tightness, blade sharpness, electrical insulation, and fuel handling, and document the findings

Apply the elements and principles of design (line, form, texture, colour, balance, scale, rhythm) to critique two existing gardens

Produce a planting plan for a small plot that respects sun path, wind direction, mature plant size, and maintenance effort

Select and cost the tools and materials required for a small landscape installation

Trace the scope of horticulture in Maharashtra across floriculture, pomology, olericulture, landscaping, and nursery trade, naming the agro-climatic conditions that favour each

Explain the role of an entrepreneur or self-employed gardener in the local economy, including service offerings, pricing logic, and seasonal demand

Plan a year-round maintenance calendar for a garden, covering pruning, repotting, mulching, feeding, and pest checks by season

Perform routine maintenance tasks to a professional standard: pruning cuts, staking, mulching, deadheading, and lawn mowing height

Describe government support relevant to small horticulture enterprises, such as nursery registration, credit, and training schemes, at a general level

Draft a one-page business concept for a gardening service or nursery, covering customer, service, cost, price, and expected margin

Prepare a simple income and expense statement for a month of garden work and identify the break-even point

Write a customer quotation and a follow-up message in clear professional language, and rehearse a two-minute spoken explanation of a garden problem and its solution

Identify employability routes in the sector, including nursery assistant, landscape helper, municipal gardener, and self-employment, with the basic skills each demands

Practise safe handling of a customer complaint and a pricing negotiation in a role-play

Revise all ten domains using a personal error log built from practice questions, and close the three weakest areas first

Re-test the soil, nutrition, propagation, and IPM calculations and identification tasks that carry the most marks

Simulate a full timed paper under exam conditions and review every wrong answer against the source concept

Consolidate the plant identification list to 40 species with diagnostic features and common pests or diseases for each

Prepare a practical demonstration of one core skill (transplanting, propagation, or tool maintenance) and explain it aloud in under five minutes