Theory
An introduction to agrochemicals, their type and role in agriculture, effect on environment, soil, human and animal health, merits and demerits of their uses in agriculture, management of agrochemicals for sustainable agriculture.
Herbicides-Major classes, properties and important herbicides and fate of herbicides.
Fungicides – classification – inorganic fungicides – characteristics, preparation and use of sulfur and copper, mode of action-Bordeaux mixture and copper oxychloride.
Organic fungicides- Mode of action- dithiocarbamates-characteristics, preparation and use of zineb and maneb.
Systemic fungicides- benomyl, carboxin, oxycarboxin, metalaxyl, carbendazim, characteristics and use. Introduction and classification of insecticides: inorganic and organic insecticides organochlorine, organophosphates, carbamates, synthetic pyrethroids neonicotinoids, biorationals, insecticide act and rules, insecticides banned, withdrawn and restricted use, fate of insecticides in soil & plant. IGRS biopesticides, reduced risk insecticides, botanicals, plant and animal systemic insecticides, their characteristics and uses.
Fertilizers and their importance. Nitrogenous fertilizers: feedstocks and manufacturing of ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium chloride and urea. Slow release N-fertilizers. phosphatic fertilizers: feedstock and manufacturing of single superphosphate. Preparation of bone meal and basic slag. Potassic fertilizers: natural sources of potash, manufacturing of potassium chloride, potassium sulphate and potassium nitrate.
Mixed and complex fertilizers: sources and compatibility–preparation of major, secondary and micronutrient mixtures. complex fertilizers: manufacturing of ammonium phosphates, nitrophosphates and NPK complexes. Fertilizer control order. fertilizer logistics and marketing.
Plant bio-pesticides for ecological agriculture, bio-insect repellent.