Syllabus
Practical
- Preparation of charts and maps of India showing different types of pastures and agro-forestry systems
- Identification of seeds and plants of common grasses, legumes and trees of economic importance with reference to agro-forestry
- Seed treatment for better germination of farm vegetation
- Methods of propagation/ planting of grasses and trees in silvipastoral system
- Fertilizer application in strip and silvipastroal systems
- After-care of plantation
- Estimation of protein content in loppings of important fodder trees
- Estimation of calorie value of wood of important fuel trees
- Estimation of total biomass and fuel wood
- Economics of agro-forestry
- Visit to important agro-forestry research stations
Unit I
Agrostology: definition and importance; principles of grassland ecology: grassland ecology – community, climax, dominant species, succession, biotype, ecological status of grasslands in India, grass cover of India; problems and management of grasslands.
Unit II
Importance, classification (various criteria), scope, status and research needs of pastures; pasture establishment, their improvement and renovation-natural pastures, cultivated pastures; common pasture grasses.
Unit III
Agroforestry: definition and importance; agroforestory systems, agri-silviculture, silvipasture, agri-silvipasture, agri-horticulture, aqua-silviculture, alley cropping and energy plantation.
Unit IV
Crop production technology in agro-forestry and agrostology system; silvipastoral system: meaning and importance for wasteland development; selection of species, planting methods and problems of seed germination in agro-forestry systems; irrigation and manuring in agro-forestry systems, associative influence in relation to above ground and underground interferences; lopping and coppicing in agro- forestry systems; social acceptability and economic viability, nutritive value of trees; tending operation; desirable tree characteristics.
Aim of the course
To teach crop husbandry of different forage, fodder and agroforestry crops/trees along with their processing.
