UPMSP Intermediate Agronomy cheat sheet

Agronomy = science of field crop production and soil management; it integrates genetics, soil science, physiology and economics at field scale.

Yield equation: Yield = f(genotype, environment, management); management includes plant density, nutrition, water supply and protection.

Growth analysis terms: CGR (crop growth rate, g m^-2 day^-1), RGR (relative growth rate, g g^-1 day^-1), NAR (net assimilation rate), LAI (leaf area index); Yield = CGR x duration of effective grain filling.

Harvest index (HI) = economic yield / biological yield; wheat ~0.35-0.45, modern rice ~0.45-0.50, sugarcane ~0.60-0.70 on cane basis.

Solar energy conversion: 1 g dry matter approx 17.5 kJ; theoretical maximum conversion of PAR about 5-6%, field crops typically 1-2%.

Critical stages most sensitive to stress: crown root initiation and flowering in wheat, panicle initiation and flowering in rice, flowering and pod filling in pulses.

Law of diminishing returns: successive increments of a growth factor give smaller yield increments; guides fertilizer and irrigation dose decisions.

C3 vs C4: C4 crops (maize, sorghum, sugarcane, pearl millet) have lower photorespiration, higher water-use efficiency and higher optimum temperature than C3 crops (wheat, rice, mustard).

Cropping intensity (%) = (total cropped area / net sown area) x 100; multiple cropping index uses the same formula.

Cropping system = crop sequence + management practices on a given piece of land over time; cropping pattern = spatial and temporal arrangement of crops.

Intercropping types: row, strip, mixed and relay; advantage measured by Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) = sum of intercrop yields / sole crop yields; LER > 1 means advantage.

Uttar Pradesh dominant systems: rice-wheat (eastern/central), sugarcane-based (western), maize-wheat, pearl millet-wheat, pigeonpea-wheat, and urd/maize in Bundelkhand.

Farming systems classified by enterprise mix: arable, pastoral, mixed crop-livestock, plantation, horticulture and fish farming; by input use: organic, integrated, conventional.

Crop diversification reduces risk from price and weather shocks; legumes in rotation add 20-40 kg N/ha equivalent through biological nitrogen fixation.

Sequential cropping fits crops into a year: e.g., maize-potato-wheat or rice-mustard-mung; relay cropping sows the next crop before harvest of the standing crop.

Alley cropping and agroforestry combine trees with crops; boundary planting of Sesbania or subabul supplies fuel, fodder and green leaf manure.

Soil texture classes from the textural triangle: sand, loamy sand, sandy loam, loam, silt loam, clay loam, clay; loam is ideal for most field crops.

Bulk density = oven-dry soil mass / total volume (g/cm^3); typical mineral soils 1.2-1.6; porosity (%) = (1 - bulk density / particle density) x 100.

Field capacity, permanent wilting point and available water: available water = FC - PWP; loam holds about 15-20 cm of available water per 100 cm depth.

Soil pH affects nutrient availability: pH 6.0-7.5 optimum for most crops; below 5.5 aluminium toxicity and P fixation; above 8.5 zinc and iron deficiency.

Cation exchange capacity (CEC) in cmol(+)/kg: kaolinite 3-15, illite 10-40, montmorillonite 80-150, humus 150-300; higher CEC means greater nutrient buffering.

Saline soils have high EC and high ESP below 15; sodic (alkali) soils have ESP > 15, pH > 8.5 and poor infiltration; gypsum is the amendment for sodic soils.

Soil organic matter holds about 58% carbon; organic carbon of 0.5% or below in Indian soils is considered low fertility status.

Uttar Pradesh soils: alluvial (Indo-Gangetic plain, most fertile), black (Bundelkhand), red and laterite (southern fringe), and saline-sodic patches in Hardoi, Raebareli, Unnao and Kanpur.

Essential elements: 17 total (C, H, O, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S + Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo, Cl, Ni); macro vs micro based on plant requirement.

N, P, K expressed as N, P2O5, K2O in fertilizer grades; conversion: P x 2.29 = P2O5, K x 1.20 = K2O.

Fertilizer nutrient content: urea 46% N, DAP 18% N + 46% P2O5, SSP 16% P2O5 + 11% S, MOP 60% K2O, muriate vs sulphate of potash choice depends on chloride sensitivity.

Straight, complex and mixed fertilizers; NPK 10:26:26, 12:32:16, 19:19:19 are complex fertilizers; fertilizer mixtures must be physically compatible.

Law of minimum (Liebig): yield limited by the nutrient in shortest supply; law of the maximum and factor interaction also apply.

Integrated nutrient management (INM) combines chemical fertilizer, organic manure, biofertilizer and crop residues; FYM contains about 0.5% N, 0.2% P2O5 and 0.5% K2O.

Soil test based recommendation: fertilizer dose = (target yield nutrient uptake - soil supply) / fertilizer use efficiency; general N use efficiency in cereals 30-50%.

Deficiency symptoms: N pale yellow older leaves; P purple stems and leaves; K marginal scorch; Zn interveinal chlorosis and small leaves; B hollow stem and poor seed set.

Tillage objectives: seedbed preparation, weed control, residue incorporation, soil aeration and moisture conservation; excess tillage causes organic matter loss and erosion.

Primary tillage: mouldboard plough, disc plough, chisel plough; secondary tillage: cultivator, harrow, leveller, roller.

Ploughing depth: shallow 10-15 cm, medium 15-25 cm, deep 25-40 cm; deep ploughing once in 3-4 years breaks hardpan and buries weed seeds.

Conservation tillage: minimum tillage disturbs only the seed zone; zero tillage leaves >30% residue cover and reduces soil erosion and fuel use.

Zero tillage in rice-wheat saves about 20-25 kg N/ha, advances wheat sowing by 7-10 days and reduces terminal heat stress risk.

Tillage implements: rotavator combines primary and secondary tillage; laser land levelling improves water distribution uniformity and saves 15-25% irrigation water.

Soil workability: tillage is best at field capacity moisture; tilling wet soil causes compaction and clod formation.

Seedbed requirements: fine tilth, adequate moisture, level surface, correct depth and good contact between seed and soil.

Fine seedbed for small seeds (mustard, berseem); coarse seedbed for large seeds (maize, cotton); ridge and furrow for sugarcane and potato.

Soil erosion types: sheet, rill, gully, splash and wind erosion; universal soil loss equation A = R x K x LS x C x P estimates water erosion.

Contour bunding, graded bunding, terracing and check dams control runoff on sloping land; contour ploughing and strip cropping reduce slope length.

Wind erosion control: shelterbelts, stubble mulching, strip cropping and stabilised soil surface; sandy soils of western UP need shelterbelt planting.

Contour trenching and vegetative barriers on 2-5% slopes reduce soil loss; grassed waterways safely dispose concentrated runoff.

Soil conservation practices on alluvial plains: crop residue retention, green manuring, balanced fertilization and avoiding burning of residues.

Seed quality attributes: genetic purity, physical purity, germination %, vigour and freedom from seed-borne pathogens and weeds.

Seed rate calculation: seed rate (kg/ha) = (plant population x test weight in g) / (germination fraction x purity fraction x 1000).

Sowing methods: broadcasting, line sowing, drilling, dibbling, transplanting, ridge and furrow, and raised bed planting; line sowing gives uniform depth and easier weeding.

Sowing depth rule of thumb: 3-5 cm for most cereals and pulses; deeper sowing delays emergence; light seeds sown shallower than heavy seeds.

Seed treatment: fungicide (carbendazim, thiram), biofertilizer (Rhizobium, Azotobacter, PSB) and insecticide; Rhizobium for legumes only.

Spacing examples: wheat rows 20-22.5 cm, rice transplant 20 x 10-15 cm, maize 60 x 20-25 cm, sugarcane 90 cm row with 3-bud setts.

Plant population density affects LAI and yield; optimum density balances intra-plant competition with full ground cover; gap filling and thinning maintain stand.

Seed dormancy and hard seed in legumes require scarification or soaking; seed treatment with Rhizobium should not be mixed with chemical fungicide at the same time.

Water requirement (WR) = evapotranspiration (ET) = crop transpiration + soil evaporation; irrigation requirement = WR - effective rainfall - soil water contribution.

Irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) = crop yield / irrigation water applied; field water use efficiency uses total water applied.

Scheduling criteria: IW/CPE ratio (irrigation water / cumulative pan evaporation), critical growth stage approach and soil moisture depletion approach.

Wheat needs 4-6 irrigations; critical stages crown root initiation (20-25 DAS), tillering, jointing, flowering, milk and dough.

Rice transplanted is grown in standing water 5 cm; alternate wetting and drying saves 15-25% water without yield loss.

Irrigation methods: surface (flood, furrow, basin), sprinkler for coarse soils and close-growing crops, drip for wide-row crops; drip saves 40-60% water.

Drainage is essential in high rainfall and waterlogged areas; waterlogging reduces oxygen and causes yellowing; raised beds and field drains mitigate it.

Conveyance losses in unlined channels reach 30-40%; lining and pipe distribution improve overall irrigation efficiency.

Weed classification by life cycle: annuals, biennials, perennials; by morphology: grasses, sedges, broadleaf weeds.

Critical period of crop-weed competition: wheat 30-60 days after sowing; rice 20-45 days after transplanting; weeds cause 20-40% yield loss in cereals.

Weed control methods: cultural (crop rotation, competitive varieties, closer spacing), mechanical (hand weeding, hoeing), biological and chemical (herbicides).

Herbicide classification by selectivity: selective (2,4-D, pendimethalin) vs non-selective (glyphosate, paraquat); by translocation: contact vs systemic.

Herbicide selectivity is based on differential absorption, translocation and metabolism; crop safety depends on dose, stage and formulation.

Herbicide resistance arises from repeated use of one mode of action; rotate herbicide groups and integrate mechanical and cultural control.

Common wheat herbicides: pendimethalin pre-emergence, sulfosulfuron and clodinafop post-emergence; 2,4-D against broadleaf weeds; apply at recommended stage.

Phalaris minor in wheat and Echinochloa in rice are major grass weeds; Cyperus rotundus is a persistent sedge difficult to control.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is the main rabi cereal of UP; sowing October-November, harvest March-April; recommended varieties include HD 2967, HD 3086, DBW 17 and WH 1105.

Rice is the main kharif cereal of eastern UP; transplanted rice needs 5 cm standing water; varieties like Pusa Basmati 1121, Sarjoo 52 and NDR 359.

Maize is a versatile kharif/rabi crop; hybrid seed rate 20-25 kg/ha; grain yield 6-8 t/ha; also used for fodder and baby corn.

Sugarcane is a major cash crop of western UP; planted October-November or February-March; 3-bud setts, 90 cm rows; ratoon crop gives a second harvest.

Pulses: pigeonpea (kharif), chickpea and lentil (rabi), mung and urd (kharif); chickpea needs one protective irrigation; Rhizobium seed treatment improves nodulation.

Oilseeds: mustard/rapeseed (rabi), sesame, groundnut (kharif), linseed; mustard seed rate 4-5 kg/ha; mustard is sensitive to aphid attack at flowering.

Potato is a major cash crop of UP; seed tubers of 30-40 g planted 60 x 20 cm; ridge planting supports mechanised harvesting.

Crop seasons in UP: kharif (June-October), rabi (October-March), zaid (March-June); zaid crops include mung, urd, cucurbits and fodder maize.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) sequence: monitoring and economic threshold level (ETL), cultural, mechanical, biological and chemical control as last resort.

Major wheat pests: termites, aphids, pink stem borer; major wheat diseases: yellow rust, brown rust, loose smut, Karnal bunt and powdery mildew.

Rice pests: yellow stem borer, brown planthopper, leaf folder, gall midge; rice diseases: blast, bacterial leaf blight, sheath blight and tungro virus.

Sugarcane pests: top borer, early shoot borer, pyrilla, woolly aphid; diseases: red rot, smut, grassy shoot and ratoon stunting.

Pest management tactics: resistant varieties, seed treatment, crop rotation, destruction of stubble, pheromone traps, light traps and biological agents like Trichogramma.

Pesticide application principles: correct product, correct dose, correct stage, correct nozzle and safe interval before harvest; observe pre-harvest interval.

Disease triangle: susceptible host, virulent pathogen and favourable environment; management removes one leg of the triangle.

Storage pests (khapra beetle, grain weevil, rice moth) controlled by clean storage, fumigation and hermetic bags; stored grain moisture below 12% prevents mould.

Tractor power selection: 20-35 hp for small holdings, 35-50 hp for medium; implement width matched to tractor power and soil draft.

Primary tillage implements: mouldboard plough, disc plough, chisel plough; secondary: cultivator, harrow, rotavator, leveller, roller.

Sowing and planting implements: seed drill, seed-cum-fertilizer drill, zero-till drill, ridge planter, transplanter; calibration ensures correct seed rate.

Threshing and harvesting: combine harvester performs cutting, threshing and cleaning; grain loss should be below 2-3%.

Post-harvest losses in cereals 10-15%; major causes are threshing, drying, storage and transport losses.

Grain drying: safe moisture for storage is 12-14% for cereals, 8-10% for oilseeds; sun drying and mechanical dryers are common.

Storage structures: mud bin, metal bin, hermetic bag and cold storage; fumigation with aluminium phosphide requires trained supervision.

Value addition and grading improve farm income; cleaning, grading, packaging and cold chain reduce post-harvest losses.

Organic farming excludes synthetic fertilizers and pesticides; relies on compost, green manure, biofertilizers, crop rotation and biological pest control.

Organic certification requires a conversion period of 2-3 years and documented records of inputs and practices.

IPM uses ETL-based decision making; economic threshold level is the pest density at which control action is justified to prevent economic loss.

INM combines organic and inorganic sources to maintain soil fertility; recommended practice includes FYM, green manure, biofertilizers and balanced chemical fertilizer.

Biofertilizers: Rhizobium for legumes, Azotobacter and Azospirillum for non-legumes, PSB for phosphorus solubilisation, mycorrhiza for phosphorus uptake.

Green manuring with Sesbania or sunhemp adds 40-60 kg N/ha; vermicompost contains about 1.5-2% N and improves soil physical properties.

Conservation agriculture principles: minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil cover and crop diversification; reduces erosion and improves soil organic carbon.

Climate-smart practices: laser levelling, direct seeded rice, zero tillage, residue retention and crop diversification reduce water use and greenhouse gas emissions.