Relation of Agronomy with Other Disciplines of Agricultural Sciences

1) Soil science

Soil is the medium of plant growth. It can provide nutrient elements, air and water to the plants. Before planting the agronomical crops the knowledge about soil mineral composition, soil texture, water holding capacity, nutrient movement and absorption capacity, biological aspects in relation to soil pests and diseases and beneficial organisms and soil pH are necessary. Without the knowledge of soil, agronomy would not be completed.

2) Genetics, Plant Breeding and Bio-technology

Application of genetics in relation to plant breeding and proper choice of varieties under various and specific agro-climatic condition is helpful to increase the yield and quality aspects of field crops. The agronomist should study these sciences properly because for the development of any variety/cultivars, the principles of genetics, plant breeding, biotechnology etc are commonly used. In recent time the need for tissue culture and genetic engineering is highly emphasized and appreciated to the pace of conventional plant breeding techniques.

3) Plant pathology

Different disease pathogens attack the plant from seeding to harvesting and storage. Understanding the effect of the several fungal, bacterial and viral diseases, factors affecting their development and control measures are very much essential for successful crop production with higher crop productivity.

4) Entomology

Understanding the effect of various crop pests such as insects, mites, nematodes, rodents etc, factors affecting their development and control measures are needed for successful crop production.

5) Agri-botany and Crop Physiology

Any studies of agronomical crops related to morphology, anatomy and reproduction of plants are based on botany and its applications. The knowledge of various plant physiological processes such as photoperiod sensitivity and stress tolerance helps an agronomist to manipulate crops to fit into multiple cropping systems if needed.

6) Weed science

Weed not only reduce the crop yield as a result of competition but also impair the quality of produce through contamination. Therefore, understanding of the deleterious effect of weed competition and contamination and their suitable control measures is also essential for successful crop production.

7) Seed technology

“Seed technology may be defined as the methods through which the genetic and physical characteristics of seed could be improved. It involves such activities as variety development, evaluation and release, seed production, processing, storage and certification.

Seed technology is an interdisciplinary science, which deals from varieties release to all aspect of seed handling. Plant breeder, agronomist, botanist, pathologist, entomologist and physiologist can work together on the various aspects of seed technology.

8) Post harvest technology

All the crops that a farmer harvest from his farm can neither be sold nor consumed immediately and some of the products are to be stored for long or short period or have to be processed before use. Hence, the knowledge about storability, processing and processing quality is of great importance for successful crop husbandry.

9) Agro-meteorology

An understanding of the effects of various components of climate and weather on crops such as solar radiation, temperature, rainfall, humidity, hailstorm, wind and its velocity, other atmospheric composition etc. is a prerequisite for successful crop production.

10) Agri-engineering

An understanding of principles and practices of irrigation and drainage management, soil and water conservation and appropriate implements and machines are very essential for crop production.

11) Extension and rural sociology

Agronomy is also related with the principles and methodology followed in extension and rural sociology. Different developed new technologies or varieties and practices must be reached to the farmers and expansion of these programs could help to meet local needs of rural and urban societies.

Besides the understanding of above-mentioned disciplines related to agricultural sciences, an agronomist must have the better understanding of agricultural statistics and computer science, agri-economics and marketing, agri-resource management, farm management, biochemistry etc.