Comprehensive Course Structure
The B.Tech Agriculture program at Era University Lucknow is structured over eight semesters, with a carefully designed curriculum that balances theoretical knowledge with practical application. The program includes core subjects, science electives, departmental electives, and laboratory sessions to provide students with a well-rounded educational experience.
Year | Semester | Course Code | Course Title | Credits (L-T-P-C) | Prerequisites |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | 1 | AGRO-101 | Fundamentals of Agriculture | 3-0-0-3 | - |
1 | AGRO-102 | Plant Physiology and Biochemistry | 3-0-0-3 | - | |
I | 2 | AGRO-103 | Soil Science and Fertility | 3-0-0-3 | - |
2 | AGRO-104 | Agricultural Chemistry | 3-0-0-3 | - | |
II | 3 | AGRO-201 | Agronomy and Crop Management | 3-0-0-3 | AGRO-101, AGRO-102 |
3 | AGRO-202 | Irrigation and Drainage Systems | 3-0-0-3 | - | |
II | 4 | AGRO-203 | Agricultural Engineering Principles | 3-0-0-3 | AGRO-103, AGRO-104 |
4 | AGRO-204 | Farm Machinery and Equipment | 3-0-0-3 | - | |
III | 5 | AGRO-301 | Biotechnology in Agriculture | 3-0-0-3 | AGRO-201, AGRO-202 |
5 | AGRO-302 | Agro-Economics and Farm Management | 3-0-0-3 | - | |
III | 6 | AGRO-303 | Sustainable Irrigation Techniques | 3-0-0-3 | AGRO-203, AGRO-204 |
6 | AGRO-304 | Climate-Smart Agriculture | 3-0-0-3 | - | |
IV | 7 | AGRO-401 | Agricultural Research and Development | 3-0-0-3 | AGRO-301, AGRO-302 |
7 | AGRO-402 | Agro-Informatics and Data Analytics | 3-0-0-3 | - | |
IV | 8 | AGRO-403 | Capstone Project in Agriculture | 3-0-0-3 | AGRO-401, AGRO-402 |
8 | AGRO-404 | Internship and Industry Exposure | 0-0-0-6 | - |
Detailed Course Descriptions
Each course in the program is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of agricultural principles, supported by real-world applications and industry insights.
Biotechnology in Agriculture
This course introduces students to the application of biotechnology in crop improvement, genetic engineering, and molecular diagnostics. Students learn about gene editing techniques such as CRISPR-Cas9, transgenic crops, plant breeding, and biopesticides. The course includes laboratory sessions on DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and recombinant DNA technology.
Agro-Economics and Farm Management
This course explores the economic aspects of agriculture, including cost-benefit analysis, financial planning, market dynamics, and risk management. Students study agricultural finance, marketing strategies, cooperative farming, and policy frameworks affecting farm operations.
Sustainable Irrigation Techniques
This subject covers water conservation methods in agriculture, focusing on drip irrigation, sprinkler systems, rainwater harvesting, and smart irrigation technologies. The course includes case studies from different regions and emphasizes the importance of sustainable water use in farming practices.
Climate-Smart Agriculture
Students learn about climate change impacts on agriculture and strategies for adaptation and mitigation. Topics include carbon footprint reduction, renewable energy integration, drought-resistant crops, and sustainable land use practices. The course includes field visits to climate-resilient farms.
Agricultural Research and Development
This course prepares students for research careers in agriculture by teaching them about experimental design, data collection, statistical analysis, and scientific writing. Students engage in hands-on research projects under faculty supervision, gaining experience in hypothesis testing and result interpretation.
Agro-Informatics and Data Analytics
This advanced course focuses on using digital tools for agricultural decision-making. Students learn about GIS mapping, drone-based crop monitoring, satellite imagery analysis, and AI-driven yield prediction models. Practical sessions involve working with real datasets and developing custom software solutions.
Agricultural Engineering Principles
Students are introduced to the engineering principles underlying modern agriculture, including farm machinery design, automation systems, construction of irrigation infrastructure, and post-harvest processing technologies. The course includes both theoretical lectures and practical lab work.
Farm Machinery and Equipment
This course provides an overview of various farm machines and their operational mechanisms. Students study tractor components, harvesting equipment, tillage tools, and precision farming instruments. Practical sessions include maintenance and troubleshooting exercises.
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
This foundational course covers the physiological processes occurring in plants, including photosynthesis, respiration, nutrient uptake, and stress responses. Students gain knowledge of plant biochemistry through laboratory experiments and case studies.
Soil Science and Fertility
Students explore soil composition, fertility management, nutrient cycling, and soil health assessment. The course includes soil sampling techniques, pH measurement, and fertilizer application methods, with emphasis on sustainable practices.
Agronomy and Crop Management
This subject delves into crop cultivation practices, including seed selection, planting methods, fertilization strategies, irrigation scheduling, and pest control. Students learn about crop rotation, intercropping, and yield optimization techniques.
Project-Based Learning Philosophy
The department believes that project-based learning is essential for developing practical skills and fostering innovation in agriculture. All students are required to complete two mandatory projects during their academic journey: a mini-project in the third year and a final-year capstone project.
The mini-project is typically completed in groups of 3-5 students and focuses on a specific agricultural challenge or technology. Projects are selected from real-world scenarios provided by faculty members, industry partners, or ongoing research initiatives. Students must present their findings in both written reports and oral presentations.
The final-year capstone project is more extensive and requires students to identify an agricultural problem, propose a solution, and implement it through experimentation or simulation. This project is supervised by a faculty mentor and often involves collaboration with external organizations. The outcome is typically showcased at the university’s annual symposium and may lead to patents or publications.
Project selection is based on student interests, available resources, and relevance to current agricultural trends. Students are encouraged to propose their own ideas after consultation with mentors, ensuring that each project aligns with both academic objectives and real-world applicability.