M.Sc Agriculture Syllabus and Subjects

Duration: 2 Years
Avg Fees: ₹50K - 1.5 LPA
Shristi T
Shristi T

Updated on - Oct 25, 2023

The MSc Agriculture syllabus covers topics such as advanced techniques of farming and the scientific study of farming, agribusiness, and husbandry. M.Sc Agriculture subjects include topics such as Water & Nutrient Management, Seed Technology, Horticulture, Agricultural Statistics, Plant Biochemistry, etc.

The MSc Agriculture subjects and syllabus is divided into four semesters, spanning a period of two years. The M.Sc Agriculture syllabus pdf can be downloaded from the official website of the colleges offering the course.

The MSc Agriculture syllabus provides in-depth study and research work during the entire course period that helps graduates at building job-specific skills in contemporary agricultural practices, making the M.Sc Agriculture job scope substantially extensive and broad. 

Table of Contents

Semester Wise MSc Agriculture Syllabus

The MSc Ag syllabus aims to cover all the foundation areas in agricultural science and provides comprehensive knowledge in mixed farming, plantation agriculture, Subsistence farming, dryland & wetland farming, etc. A common structure of the semester-wise M.Sc Agriculture syllabus is given below:

First-Year MSc Agriculture Syllabus

Below is the list of M.Sc Agriculture subjects in the first year.  

Semester I

Semester II

Soil Chemistry

Soil Physics

Modern Concepts in Crop Production

Soil Mineralogy, Genesis AndClassification

Principles and practices of Soil fertility and Nutrient management

Principles and Practices of Weed Management

Principles and Practices of Water Management

Dryland farming and Watershed management

Agrometeorology and crop weather forecasting 

Agronomy of Oil Seeds, Fibre, and Sugar Crops

Electives

Electives

Practical Topics in the First Year M.Sc Agriculture Syllabus

The practical topics in the first-year MSc Agriculture syllabus are given below:

  • Determination of soil moisture by tensiometer and pressure plate apparatus
  • Measurement of soil water potential by using a tensiometer
  • The procedure of plant and soil sampling
  • Identification of common Kharif and Rabi weeds

Second Year M.Sc Agriculture Syllabus

The subjects in the second-year MSc Ag syllabus  are given below:

Semester III

Semester IV

Agronomy of Major Cereals and Pulses

Soil Biology

Principles and Practices of Organic Farming

Agricultural Biochemistry

Soil Survey And Land Use Planning

Principles Of Plant Physiology

Agricultural Pesticides

Electives

Electives

Research Project

Practical Topics in the Second Year MSc Agriculture Syllabus

The practical topics in the second-year MSc Agriculture subjects are given below:

  • Determination of oil content in oilseeds and computation of oil yield
  • Phenological Studies in Sugarcane
  • Calculation on the herbicidal requirement for field crops under aquatic situations
  • Assessment of crop yield on the basis of growth analysis

Note: Depending on the university/college, the syllabus may differ slightly. Students can access the MSc Agriculture syllabus pdf by visiting the college website. 

M.Sc Agriculture Subjects

The M.Sc Agriculture subjects aim to provide theoretical and practical insight into agriculture and plant science along with the study of soil cultivation techniques, crop harvesting, animal husbandry, and manufacturing edible products from plant or animal resources. Some of the core & Elective M.Sc Agriculture subjects are given below:

Core M.Sc Agriculture Subjects:

The M.Sc Agriculture course consists of core and elective subjects. Following is the M.Sc Agriculture subject list consisting of core topics:

  • Agronomy
  • Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry
  • Soil Fertility & Nutrient Management
  • Plant Breeding & Genetics
  • Modern Concepts in Crop Production
  • Principles and Practices of Weed Management
  • Plant Physiology
  • Entomology

Elective MSc Agriculture  Subjects:

Some of the elective MSc Agriculture subject list in the MSc Agriculture syllabus are given below. 

  • Argo-economics
  • Agricultural Statistics
  • Fertilizer Technology
  • Production Technology of Spices, Aromatic, Medicinal, and Plantation Crops
  • Crop Production under Special Situations
  • Cropping Systems and Sustainable Agriculture

M.Sc Agriculture subjects in Detail

The subjects in the MSc Ag syllabus are dynamic and spread across various domains such as Economics, Environmental Science, Horticulture, Statistics, etc. A detailed view of some of the M.Sc Agriculture subject list is given below:

M.Sc Agriculture subjects

Topics Covered

Soil Physics

Soil water behavior-infiltration, Soil physical environment & soil fertility relationship, Soil compaction processes, soil texture, soil structure-genesis

Soil Chemistry

Chemical composition of soils, Soil reaction, Chemistry of acid & salt-affected soils and their reclamation, clay-organic matter interaction in retention

Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management

Soil fertility and productivity, Essential plant nutrients, crop response to different nutrients, residual effects and fertilizer use efficiency, fertilizer mixtures, and grades

Water Management

Water and its role in plants, water resources of India, major irrigation projects, Soil water movement in soil and plants, Water management of the crops, and cropping systems

Weed Management

Weeds, Crop weed association, competition & allelopathy, Concepts of weed prevention, control & eradication, Physical, cultural, chemical, biological & integrated weed management

Organic Farming

Organic farming - concept and definition, Organic farming & water use efficiency, earthworms & vermicompost, Green manures & biofertilizers, Labeling & accreditation procedures

College Wise M.Sc Agriculture Syllabus

The subjects and syllabus offered by M.Sc Agriculture colleges can differ reflecting their unique educational objectives. To access and download the M.Sc Agriculture syllabus pdf, students should visit the official website of their selected university. The following sections provide a general outline of the syllabus of the M.Sc Agriculture colleges in India.

Lucknow University M.Sc Agriculture Syllabus

The Lucknow University curriculum covers fundamental subjects like soil chemistry, plant nutrition, and soil management. It also delves into more specialized areas like soil mineralogy and agricultural biochemistry. The semester wise  MSc AG syllabus is detailed in the table below:

Semester I

Semester II

Soil Chemistry

Soil Physics

Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition

Soil Mineralogy, Genesis and Classification

Management of Problem Soils and Water

Manures and Fertilizers

Principles and Practices of Soil Fertility and 

Statistics and Computer Application

Semester III

Semester IV

Seminar 

Soil Biology and Biochemistry

Agricultural Biochemistry

Principles of Plant Physiology

Soil Survey and Land Use Planning

Project Work

Agricultural Pesticides

 

Guru Nanak Dev University M.Sc Agriculture Syllabus

The Guru Nanak Dev University M.Sc Agriculture syllabus emphasizes on modern concepts in crop production, weed management, and sustainable agriculture. It also covers topics related to soil fertility, nutrient management, and experimental research techniques. An overview of the detailed MSc AG syllabus is provided below:

Semester I

Semester II

Modern Concepts in Crop Production

Principles and Practices of Weed Management

Soil Fertility & Nutrient Management

Agronomy of Oil Seeds, Fibre and Sugar Crops

Principles and Practices of Water Management

Field Plot Techniques

Soil Chemistry and Biochemistry

Soil Fertility and Fertilizer Use

Statistical Methods for Research Workers

Experimental Designs for Research Worker

Weed Management

Farming Systems and Sustainable Agriculture

Crop Production under Special Situations

Production Technology of Spices, Aromatic, Medicinal and Plantation Crops

Semester III

Semester IV

Agronomy of Major Cereals and Pulses

Cropping Systems and Sustainable Agriculture

Principles and Practices of Organic Farming

Dry Land Agriculture and Watershed Management

Fertilizer Technology / Physiology of Growth & Development/ Fundamentals of Agroclimatology

Research Work

Credit Seminar

 

Research Work

 

Syllabus for MSc Agriculture Entrance Exam

For admissions to the MSc Agriculture course, colleges may follow either entrance-based or merit-based selection criteria. Specific universities may have variations in their MSc Agriculture entrance exam syllabus. Listed below is a general outline of the syllabus for MSc agriculture entrance exam:

MSc Agriculture Subjects for Entrance Exam

Topics Covered 

Agriculture Science

Questions covering agronomy, horticulture, soil science, and plant breeding.

Science

Questions encompass biology, chemistry, and physics, forming the foundation.

Agricultural Engineering

Topics include machinery, irrigation, and sustainable practices.

General Knowledge

Awareness of agricultural policies, trends, and issues.

Aptitude and Reasoning

Logical and analytical questions.

Mathematics

Questions covering arithmetic, algebra, and quantitative reasoning

English

Assess proficiency in reading, grammar, and vocabulary.

M.Sc Agriculture Course Structure

The M.Sc Agriculture course structure is pragmatic. Seminars, labwork, field trips, projects, and other certifications are essential elements under the M.Sc Agriculture course structure. The standard course structure is given below:

  • Practical Learning (lab)
  • Core Subjects
  • Elective Subjects
  • Internship

M.Sc Agriculture Teaching Methodology and Techniques

M.Sc Agriculture includes unique learning methodologies. Interactive classroom sessions, case studies, and research projects are part of the teaching approach. Some of the teaching methods and practices associated with the M.Sc Agriculture course are given below:

  • Assignments
  • Following course module books
  • Case studies/Research work
  • Internships

M.Sc Agriculture Projects

Projects under the MSc Ag syllabus act as mini-thesis which is a compulsory project for the students to complete at the end of their 4th semester. Some of the project topics under the MSc Ag syllabus are given below:

  • Gsm-Based Smart Agriculture System
  • All-In-One Farming Robot
  • Tree Shifter Project
  • Terrace Garden Project
  • Solar Operated Farming Project

M.Sc Agriculture Reference Books

Students who want to obtain in-depth knowledge of agricultural science can review the reference books. These books will help them to perform better through the course and understand the concepts in an effective way. Some of the Reference Books under the MSc Agronomy syllabus are given below:

MSc Agriculture Subjects

Books

Authors

Crop Production

Principles and Practices of Agronomy

P Balasubramaniyan and SP Palaniappan

Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management 

The Nature and Properties of Soils

NC Brady and R.R Weil 

Weed Management

Principles in Weed Management

RJ Aldrich and RJ Kramer

Organic Farming

Organic Farming – Theory and Practice

SP Palaniappan and K Anandurai

Water Management

Irrigation and Drainage

D. Lenka

M.Sc Agriculture Fee Structure

FAQs

What is the 1st year syllabus of MSc Agriculture?

The 1st year syllabus of the MSc Agriculture includes subjects like Principles and Practices of Water Management, Plant Genetic Resources and Seed Technology, Micro Economic Theory and Application, Agricultural Statistics, etc.

What are the core subjects of MSc Agriculture?

The core subjects of the MSc Agriculture syllabus are Agronomy, Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, Plant Breeding & Genetics, Forestry, etc.

What are the elective subjects in MSc Agriculture?

A few of the elective subjects of the MSc Agriculture syllabus are Economics, Plant Pathology, Biochemistry and Plant Physiology, Statistics, etc.

What are the MSc Agriculture projects?

Some popular MSc Agriculture project topics are Gsm Based Smart Agriculture System, All In One Farming Robot, Tree Shifter Project, Terrace Garden Project, etc.

What are the important books for MSc Agriculture?

A few popular reference books include Biotechnological Applications of Biodiversity by Joydeep Mukherjee, Cropping System: Research Approach by Biswas Benukar, Crop Production In Stress Environments: Genetic And Management Options by DP Singh, etc.

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