Maharashtra SSC Agriculture Pre-Voc/NSQF study plan

Define agriculture and its branches in your own words, then classify ten local crops as food, cash, fibre, or fodder with the season (kharif, rabi, zaid) each is grown in.

Sequence the stages of crop production from land preparation through harvesting and threshing, and state one field operation performed at each stage.

Distinguish between soil texture and soil structure, and identify the three soil particle sizes (sand, silt, clay) by feel-texture description.

Explain how soil pH and organic matter affect nutrient availability, and list the soil conservation methods used on sloping land and on flat land.

Draw and label a soil profile with its horizons and write one sentence on what each horizon contains.

Differentiate manures (FYM, compost, green manure, vermicompost) from fertilizers (straight, complex, mixed) and state the nutrient content range of each manure type.

Calculate the quantity of urea, DAP, and muriate of potash needed to supply a stated NPK dose per hectare, showing the working.

Describe the correct method and timing of fertilizer application (basal, top dressing, band placement, fertigation) for a cereal and a vegetable crop.

Identify the main insect pests and diseases of cotton, sugarcane, paddy, and tomato, and match each to one symptom and one control measure (cultural, biological, or chemical).

Classify weeds as narrow-leaf and broad-leaf, and explain two mechanical and two chemical weed control practices with their precautions.

Compare surface, sprinkler, and drip irrigation on water-use efficiency, suitable crops, and cost, and state when each is preferred.

Compute irrigation interval and depth of water applied from given soil type, crop stage, and available water data.

Explain watershed and its components (ridge line, drainage line, check dam, farm pond) and describe two water-harvesting structures used in Maharashtra.

Plan a vegetable crop rotation for one year on a quarter-hectare plot, naming four vegetables with sowing time, spacing, and harvest period.

Describe propagation of a fruit crop (mango or guava) by grafting and of a vegetable by nursery raising and transplanting, listing the steps in order.

List the major cattle and buffalo breeds of Maharashtra and classify each as milch, draught, or dual purpose.

State the daily feed and fodder requirement of a crossbred cow, and describe the difference between concentrate, roughage, and mineral mixture in a ration.

Describe the signs of common livestock diseases (FMD, mastitis, bloat) and outline the vaccination and deworming schedule for a milch cow.

Explain the steps of clean milk production from milking through chilling, and state the factors affecting milk composition and yield.

Identify farm tools and implements for tillage, sowing, and harvesting (desi plough, cultivator, seed drill, sprayer, chaff cutter) and state the function and safety precaution for each.

Compute the cost of cultivation of one crop, separating fixed and variable costs, and calculate gross income, net profit, and benefit-cost ratio from a given set of figures.

Explain the role of the APMC market, e-NAM, and FPOs in marketing farm produce, and describe two ways a farmer can reduce marketing risk.

Prepare a simple enterprise budget for a small agro-based venture (nursery, vermicompost unit, or dairy) covering capital, recurring cost, and expected return.

List the safety precautions for handling pesticides, fertilizers, and farm machinery, and identify the first-aid steps for pesticide exposure.

Describe the documents and steps required to register a small agri-enterprise and to obtain a farm loan or subsidy under a typical state scheme.

Explain the principles of sustainable agriculture and organic farming, and compare them with conventional practice on soil health, yield, and cost.

Describe the effects of excessive chemical fertilizer and pesticide use on soil, water, and human health, and list two mitigation practices for each.

Explain the role of crop residue management, mulching, and cover crops in conserving soil moisture and organic carbon.

Describe the major causes of soil erosion in Maharashtra and the role of contour bunding, terracing, and afforestation in checking it.

Outline the steps of preparing compost and vermicompost, naming materials, layering, moisture, and harvesting time.

Revise crop production stages and soil basics by answering 40 mixed recall questions without notes and recording the score.

Re-derive the NPK fertilizer calculation and the manure-versus-fertilizer comparison from memory and correct your earlier errors.

Match 20 pests, diseases, and weeds to their crops, symptoms, and controls in a timed drill.

Write short answers (three to four sentences) to five likely long-answer questions drawn from these three domains.

Build a personal error log of every mistake made this week with the correct fact beside it.

Take two full-length mock tests under exam timing and score each against the answer key.

Analyse wrong answers by domain and rank your three weakest domains for final revision.

Revise the ranked weak domains using your own notes and error logs only, without new material.

Recite the key lists from memory: breeds, tools, irrigation methods, watershed structures, marketing channels, and safety rules.

Write one final one-page summary sheet per remaining domain for quick pre-exam recall.