On its official website, the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) has released the TNPSC Horticulture Officer syllabus and exam pattern. The TNPSC has advertised 48 vacancies for TNPSC Horticulture Officers. Eligible candidates can apply for TNPSC HO Recruitment.
TNPSC Horticulture Officer Syllabus
The TNPSC Horticulture Officer Recruitment syllabus is important because it outlines the topics that will be covered in the written examination.
The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) has released the TNPSC Horticulture Officer syllabus 2023 and exam pattern along with the official notification. Candidates can obtain a PDF copy of the Agriculture Officer Syllabus TNPSC and exam pattern by visiting the Commission’s official website. Candidates must be well-versed in the TNPSC Horticulture Officer Exam Pattern 2023 in order to cover all subjects and topics.
TNPSC Horticulture Officer Syllabus Paper – I
UNIT- I: Fundamentals of Horticulture
Scope and importance – State, National and Global scenario of horticultural crops – Area and production – Import and export – Nutritive value of horticultural crops – Horticultural zones of Tamil Nadu and India – National and regional agencies involved in the promotion of the horticultural Industry in India (NHB, APEDA and Commodity Boards) – Classification of horticultural crops – Factors limiting horticultural crop production – Role of the season – Soil and climate requirements – Physical and chemical properties of soil – Climatic factors – Light, temperature, photoperiod, relative humidity, rainfall, altitude, microclimate – Kitchen gardening -Nutrition gardening – Truck gardening – Market gardening – Vegetable forcing – Protected and precision horticulture – Hydroponics, Aeroponics – Nutrient Film Technique – Horticulture therapy.
UNIT – II: Growth and Development of Horticulture Crops
Important phases of growth and development – Bearing habits – Classification of horticultural crops based on life cycle – Annual, biennial perennial (woody and herbaceous perennials) – Fruitfulness and unfruitfulness – External and internal factors associated with unfruitfulness – Physiology of flowering, fruit set, ripening and senescence – Fruitdrop – Causes and control measures – Plant growth regulators – Functions and role in horticultural crops – Bud dormancy – Dormancy breaking – Parthenocarpy – Parthenogenesis – Polyembryony – Stenospermocarpy – Vivipary- Apomixis.
UNIT – III: Propagation of Horticultural Crops
Propagation – Definition – Establishment of the nursery – Site selection – Tools and implements propagation structures – Mist chamber, phytotron – Humidifiers – Greenhouse – Glasshouse – Polyhouse – Shade net, glass house, poly tunnels, cold frames and hotbeds, pit nursery – Media and containers – Soil sterilization – Sexual propagation – Merits and demerits – Crops propagated through seeds – Seed viability, longevity, dormancy, germination – Pre-sowing treatment – stratification, scarification, seed priming, seedling vigour – Raised seed bed and pro-tray nursery – Asexual propagation – Merits and demerits – Methods of vegetative propagation – Identification of plus trees – Mother block, scion bank – Clonal nursery – Cutting – Layering – Grafting, budding types – Anatomical and physiological basis of grafting – Stock scion relationship, graft compatibility – Budwood selection and certification – Propagation through specialized plant parts (bulbs, tubers, offsets, runners, suckers, slip, crown, rhizomes, corms) – Quality management and nursery certification – Micro propagation – Application – infrastructure requirements – Types of media – Stages of micro propagation – Micro grafting – in vitro propagation of important horticultural crops.
UNIT – IV: Management Techniques for Horticultural Crops
Planning – Layout and management of orchards – Fencing – Wind breaks and shelter beds – Spacing – Planting system – Physical and chemical properties – Soil reaction – acid, saline and alkaline soils – Soil fertility – Essential elements – Functions – Organic manures and inorganic fertilizers, bio-fertilizers, vermicomposting – Applications and management – Nutrient deficiencies and corrective measures – Physiological disorders and remedies – Irrigation – Critical stages of water requirement – Effect of water stress on crop yield – Anti-transpirants – management of irrigation water quality – Conventional and micro irrigation – Fertigation – Mulching – Sod culture – Weed management – Application growth regulators – Training and pruning principles and methods – Rejuvenation of senile and old orchards – Cropping systems – Cover cropping – Multitier cropping – Intercropping – Special horticultural techniques (pinching, thinning, disbudding, blanching, smudging, notching, ringing) – Principles of organic horticulture – GAP and GMP.
UNIT – V: Production Technology of Fruit Crops
Scope and importance of fruit crops – Composition and uses – Origin and distribution – Species – Season – Climate and soil requirement – Varieties and hybrids – Propagation techniques – Planting systems and planting density – Including High-density planting (HDP) and ultra high-density planting (UHDP) – spacing – Water and nutrient management – Fertigation – Weed management – Canopy management – Training and pruning – Intercultural practices – Off-season production – Special horticultural techniques – Use of plant growth regulators – Maturity indices – Harvest and yield – Nutrient deficiencies and physiological disorders and its corrective measures and management of important pest and diseases of important fruit crops: Mango, Banana, Acidlime, Sweet orange, Mandarin, Grapes, Papaya, Guava, Sapota, Pineapple, Jackfruit, Pomegranate, Aonla, Annona, Ber, Apple, Pear,
Plum, Peach, Strawberry, Litchi, Avocado, Walnut and Almond and minor tropical, arid and temperate fruit crops.
UNIT- VI: Production Technology of Vegetable Crops
Scope and importance of vegetable crops – Composition and uses – Origin and distribution – Area and production – Soil and climatic
requirements – Varieties and hybrids – Propagation methods – Seed rate – Sowing and nursery practises – Containerized seedling production – Season – Planting methods – Water, nutrient and weed management – Fertigation – Training for vegetables – Intercultural practices – Maturity indices – Harvest and yield – Nutrient deficiencies and physiological disorder and its corrective measures of important vegetable crops: Tomato, Brinjal, Chilli and Capsicum (Sweet Pepper), Bhendi, Leguminous vegetables (Beans, Peas, Cluster beans, Cowpea, Dolichos bean); Bulbous vegetables (Onion, Garlic); Tuber crops – (Potato, Tapioca, Sweet potato, Elephant foot yam, Colacassia); Cucurbitaceous vegetables (Cucumber, Bittergourd, Snake gourd, Ridgegourd, Ashgourd, Muskmelon, Watermelon, Pumpkin) – Cruciferous vegetables (Cabbage, Cauliflower and Knolkhol); Root vegetables(Carrot, Radish, Beetroot, Turnip) – Leafy vegetables (Spinach, Lettuce, Palak, Amaranthus) – Perennial vegetables (Drumstick, Coccinea) – Protected cultivation of vegetable crops – Precision farming of important vegetable crops and seed production.
UNIT – VII: Floriculture & Landscape Gardening
Scope and importance of flower crops production – Uses – Origin and distribution – Area and production – Climate and soil requirement – Species and varieties – Propagation, season – Spacing and planting methods – Irrigation, nutrient management – Fertigation – Weed management – Training and pruning – Intercultural operations – Special horticultural techniques – Growth regulators – Off-season production – Maturity indices – Harvest and yield and management of important pest and diseases for important loose flower crops: Jasmine, Rose, Tuberose, Chrysanthemum, Marigold, Nerium and Crossandra – Cut flowers – Rose, Carnation, Anthurium, Orchid and Gerbera – Cutfoliage and fillers. Principles of Landscape designing – Styles of gardening – Types of gardening viz., Hindu, English, Mughal, Japanese, Persian, Italian, French gardening – Garden components – Trees foliage flowering and avenue trees – Burlapping – Shrubs – Flowering annuals creepers and Climbers – Cacti and succulents – Lawn – Astroturf – Types of grasses – Layout, planting and maintenance of lawn – Hedge and edge plants – Indoor plants and interior scaping – Garden adornments – Principles and styles of flower arrangements – Bonsai styles and culture – Industrial, Institutional, Public and Private landscaping – Special types of gardening – Bog garden, dish, terrarium, bottle, roof, vertical gardening and green wall.
UNIT – VIII: Production Technology of Spices and Plantation Crops
Scope and Importance of spices and plantation crops – Composition and uses – Origin and distribution – Area and production – Climate and soil requirements – Species and varieties – Season, seed rate/propagation methods –Spacing – Planting system – High-density planting – Irrigation and nutrient management – Fertigation and weed management – Training and pruning – Cropping systems – Multitier cropping – Cover cropping – Inter cropping – Growth regulators – Mulching Shade and canopy regulation – Maturity indices, harvest, yield and management of important pest and diseases and processing m e t h od s of important plantation and spice crops: Major, seed, tree, herbal spices and minor spices – Black Pepper, Cardamom, Turmeric, Ginger, Curry leaf, Clove, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Coriander, Fenugreek, Cumin, Tamarind, allspice and vanilla – Plantation crops – Tea, Coffee, Rubber, Cocoa, Coconut,
Oil palm, Cashew, Palmyrah, Arecanut.
UNIT – IX: Production Technology of Medicinal and Aromatic Crops
Scope and importance of medicinal and aromatic crops – Composition and uses – Origin and distribution – Area and production – Ex situ and in situ conservation – Classification of medicinal and aromatic crops – Constraints in medicinal plant cultivation – Climate and soil – Varieties – Propagation – Nursery practices -Planting methods – Cropping systems – Manures & fertilizers – Irrigation – Intercultural operations – Harvest indices – Harvest & yield and management of important pest and diseases – Production systems – Contract farming – GAP – GCP – GMP – Organic production and certification – Classification and distillation methods of essential oils – Secondary metabolite production – Value addition – Organisational support for the promotion of medicinal and aromatic crops – Medicinal crops: Senna, Periwinkle, Glory lily, Aswagandha, Medicinal coleus and Solanum, Sweet flag, Aloe, Isabgol, Phyllanthus, Stevia, Opium poppy. Aromatic crops: Lemon grass, Citronella, Vetiver, Ocimum, Davana, Mint, Geranium, Patchouli and Eucalyptus.
UNIT – X: Post Harvest Technology of Horticultural Crops
Importance of post-harvest handling in horticultural crops – Maturity indices – Post-harvest handling methods – Washing – Grading – Waxing – Grades and standards – Methods of packing – Types of containers and their advantages and disadvantages – Storage – Principles and methods of refrigerated and gas storage – Storage methods – Pre-cooling – Controlled atmospheric storage, Modified atmospheric storage – Low-pressure storage and cold chain concept – Importance and scope of processing industry in India, general principles of fruit and vegetable preservation like canning, dehydration, freezing, fermentation – Use of chemicals(preservatives) and irradiation – GMP – Food safety and quality control.
TNPSC Horticulture Officer Syllabus Paper – II
UNIT-I: GENERAL SCIENCE
(i) Scientific Knowledge and Scientific Temper – Power of Reasoning – Rote Learning vs Conceptual Learning – Science as a tool to understand the past, present and future. (ii) Nature of Universe – General Scientific Laws – Mechanics – Properties of Matter, Force, Motion and Energy – Everyday application of the Basic Principles of Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism, Light, Sound, Heat, Nuclear Physics, Laser, Electronics and Communications. (iii) Elements and Compounds, Acids, Bases, Salts, Petroleum Products, Fertilisers, Pesticides. (iv) Main concepts of Life Science, Classification of Living Organisms, Evolution, Genetics, Physiology, Nutrition, Health and Hygiene, and Human Diseases. (v) Environment and Ecology.
UNIT-II: CURRENT EVENTS
(i) History – Latest diary of events – National symbols – Profile of States – Eminent personalities and places in the news – Sports-Books and authors. (ii) Polity – Political parties and political system in India-Public awareness and General administration- Welfare-oriented Government schemes and their utility, Problems in Public Delivery Systems. (iii) Geography-Geographical landmarks. (iv) Economics-Current socio-economic issues. (v) Science-Latest inventions in Science and Technology. (vi) Prominent Personalities in various spheres – Arts, Science, Literature and Philosophy.
UNIT-III: GEOGRAPHY OF INDIA
(i) Location – Physical features – Monsoon, Rainfall, Weather and Climate – Water Resources – Rivers in India – Soil, Minerals and Natural Resources – Forest and Wildlife – Agricultural pattern. (ii) Transport -Communication. (iii) Social Geography – Population density and distribution- Racial, Linguistic Groups and Major Tribes. (iv) Natural calamity – Disaster Management – Environmental pollution: Reasons and preventive measures – Climate change – Green energy.
UNIT–IV: HISTORY AND CULTURE OF INDIA
(i) Indus Valley Civilization – Guptas, Delhi Sultans, Mughals and Marathas – Age of Vijayanagaram and Bahmani Kingdoms – South Indian History. (ii) Change and Continuity in the Socio-Cultural History of India. (iii) Characteristics of Indian Culture, Unity in Diversity –Race, Language, Custom. (iv) India as a Secular State, Social Harmony.
UNIT-V: INDIAN POLITY
(i) Constitution of India – Preamble to the Constitution- Salient features of the Constitution- Union, State and Union Territory. (ii) Citizenship, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties, Directive Principles of State Policy. (iii) Union Executive, Union Legislature – State Executive, State Legislature – Local Governments, Panchayat Raj. (iv) Spirit of Federalism: Centre-State Relationships. (v) Election – Judiciary in India – Rule of Law. (vi) Corruption in Public Life – Anti-corruption measures – Lokpal and Lok Ayukta – Right to Information- Empowerment of Women-Consumer Protection Forums, Human Rights Charter.
UNIT-VI: INDIAN ECONOMY
(i) Nature of Indian Economy – Five-year plan models – an assessment – Planning Commission and Niti Ayog. (ii) Sources of revenue – Reserve Bank of India – Fiscal Policy and Monetary Policy – Finance Commission – Resource sharing between Union and State Governments – Goods and Services Tax. (iii) Structure of Indian Economy and Employment Generation, Land Reforms and Agriculture – Application of Science and Technology in Agriculture – Industrial growth – Rural Welfare Oriented Programmes – Social Problems – Population, Education, Health, Employment, Poverty.
UNIT-VII: INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT
(i) National Renaissance –Early uprising against British rule – Indian National Congress – Emergence of leaders –B.R.Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh, Bharathiar, V.O. Chidambaranar Jawaharlal Nehru, Kamarajar, Mahatma Gandhi, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Thanthai Periyar, Rajaji, Subash Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore and others. (ii) Different modes of Agitation: Growth of Satyagraha and Militant Movements. (iii) Communalism and Partition.
UNIT-VIII: History, Culture, Heritage and Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu
(i) History of Tamil Society, related Archaeological discoveries, Tamil Literature from Sangam Age till contemporary times. (ii) Thirukkural
(a) Significance as a Secular Literature (b) Relevance to Everyday Life (c) Impact of Thirukkural on Humanity (d) Thirukkural and Universal Values – Equality, Humanism, etc (e) Relevance to Socio-Politico-Economic affairs (f) Philosophical content in Thirukkural
(iii) Role of Tamil Nadu in freedom struggle – Early agitations against British Rule – Role of women in the freedom struggle. (iv) Evolution of 19th and 20th Century Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu – Justice Party, Growth of Rationalism – Self Respect Movement, Dravidian Movement and Principles underlying both these Movements, Contributions of Thanthai Periyar and Perarignar Anna.
UNIT–IX: Development Administration in Tamil Nadu
(i) Human Development Indicators in Tamil Nadu and a comparative assessment across the Country – Impact of Social Reform Movements in the Socio-Economic Development of Tamil Nadu. (ii) Political parties and Welfare schemes for various sections of people – Rationale behind Reservation Policy and access to Social Resources – Economic trends in Tamil Nadu – Role and impact of social welfare schemes in the Socio-Economic Development of Tamil Nadu. (iii) Social Justice and Social Harmony as the Cornerstones of Socioeconomic Development. (iv) Education and Health Systems in Tamil Nadu. (v) Geography of Tamil Nadu and its impact on Economic growth. (vi) Achievements of Tamil Nadu in various fields. (vii) e-Governance in Tamil Nadu.
UNIT-X: APTITUDE AND MENTAL ABILITY
(i) Simplification – Percentage – Highest Common Factor (HCF) – Lowest Common Multiple (LCM). (ii) Ratio and Proportion. (iii) Simple interest – Compound interest – Area – Volume – Time and Work. (iv) Logical Reasoning – Puzzles-Dice – Visual Reasoning – Alpha numeric Reasoning – Number Series.
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