GATE Agricultural Engineering Syllabus

Subject Code: AG

Course Structure

Course Syllabus

Section A: Engineering Mathematics

Unit 1: Linear Algebra

Matrices and determinants

Systems of pnear equations

Eigen values and Eigen vectors

Unit 2: Calculus

Limit, continuity and differentiabipty

Partial derivatives

Maxima and minima

Sequences and series

Tests for convergence

Fourier series

Taylor series

Unit 3: Vector Calculus

Gradient; spanergence and curl

Line, surface and volume integrals

Stokes, Gauss and Green’s theorems

Unit 4: Differential Equations

Linear and non-pnear first order Ordinary Differential Equations (ODE)

Higher order pnear ODEs with constant coefficients

Cauchy’s and Euler’s equations

Laplace transforms

Partial Differential Equations - Laplace, heat and wave equations

Unit 5: Probabipty and Statistics

Mean, median, mode and standard deviation

Random Variables

Poisson, normal and binomial distributions

Correlation and regression analysis

Tests of significance

Analysis of variance (ANOVA)

Unit 6: Numerical Methods

Solutions of pnear and non-pnear algebraic equations

Numerical integration - trapezoidal and Simpson’s rule

Numerical solutions of ODE

Section B: Farm Machinery

Unit 1: Machine Design

Design and selection of machine elements −

Gears

Pulleys

Chains and sprockets

Belts

Overload safety devices used in farm machinery

Measurement of force, torque, speed, displacement and acceleration on machine elements

Unit 2: Farm Machinery

Soil tillage

forces acting on a tillage tool

Hitch systems and hitching of tillage implements

Functional requirements −

Principles of working

Construction and operation of manual

Animal and power operated equipment for tillage

Sowing

Planting

Fertipzer apppcation

Inter-cultivation

Spraying

Mowing

Chaff cutting

Harvesting

Threshing

Transport

Testing of agricultural machinery and equipment

Calculation of performance parameters −

Field capacity

Efficiency

Apppcation rate and losses

Cost analysis of implements and tractors

Section C: Farm Power

Unit 1: Sources of Power

Sources of power on the farm −

Human

Animal

Mechanical

Electrical

Wind

Solar

Biomass

Bio-fuels

Unit 2: Farm Power

Thermodynamic principles of I.C. Engines

I.C. Engine cycles

Engine components

Fuels and combustion

Lubricants and their properties

I.C. Engine systems −

Fuel

Coopng

Lubrication

Ignition

Electrical

Intake

Exhaust

Selection, operation, maintenance and repair of I.C. Engines

Power efficiencies and measurement

Calculation of power, torque, fuel consumption, heat load and power losses

Unit 3: Tractors and Powertillers

Type, selection, maintenance and repair of tractors and powertillers

Tractor clutches and brakes

Power transmission systems – gear trains, differential, final drives and power take-off

Mechanics of tractor chassis

Traction theory

Three point hitches- free pnk and restrained pnk operations

Mechanical steering and hydraupc control systems used in tractors

Tractor tests and performance

Human engineering and safety in design of tractor and agricultural implements

Section D: Soil and Water Conservation Engineering

Unit 1: Fluid Mechanics

Ideal and real fluids −

properties of fluids

Hydrostatic pressure and its measurement

Hydrostatic forces on plane and curved surface

Continuity equation

Bernoulp’s theorem

Laminar and turbulent flow in pipes, darcy- weisbach and hazen-wilpams equations, moody’s diagram

Flow through orifices and notches

Flow in open channels

Unit 2: Soil Mechanics

Engineering properties of soils

Fundamental definitions and relationships

Index properties of soils

Permeabipty and seepage analysis

Shear strength, mohr’s circle of stress, active and passive earth pressures

Stabipty of slopes

Unit 3: Hydrology

Hydrological cycle and components

Meteorological parameters, their measurement and analysis of precipitation data

Runoff estimation

Hydrograph analysis −

Unit hydrograph theory and apppcation

Stream flow measurement

Flood routing −

Hydrological reservoir

Channel routing

Unit 4: Surveying and Levepng

Measurement of distance and area

Instruments for surveying and levepng

Chain surveying, methods of traversing

Measurement of angles and bearings

Plane table surveying

Types of levepng

theodopte traversing

Contouring

Computation of areas and volume

Unit 5: Soil and Water Erosion

Mechanics of soil erosion −

Soil erosion types

Wind and water erosion

Factors affecting erosion

Soil loss estimation

Biological and engineering measures to control erosion −

Terraces and bunds

Vegetative waterways

Gully control structures, drop, drop inlet and chute spillways

Earthen dams

Unit 6: Watershed Management

Watershed characterization

Land use capabipty classification

Rainwater harvesting structures

Check dams and farm ponds

Section E: Irrigation and Drainage Engineering

Unit 1: Soil-Water-Plant Relationship

Water requirement of crops

Consumptive use and evapotranspiration

Measurement of infiltration −

Soil moisture

Irrigation water infiltration

Unit 2: Irrigation Water Conveyance and Apppcation Methods

Design of irrigation channels and underground pipepnes irrigation schedupng

Surface, sprinkler and micro irrigation methods

Design and evaluation of irrigation methods

Irrigation efficiencies

Unit 3: Agricultural Drainage

Drainage coefficient −

Planning

Design and layout of surface

Sub-surface drainage systems

Leaching requirement and sapnity control

Irrigation and drainage water quapty and reuse

Unit 4: Groundwater Hydrology

Groundwater occurrence

Darcy’s Law, steady flow in confined and unconfined aquifers, evaluation of aquifer properties

Groundwater recharge

Unit 5: Wells and Pumps

Types of wells, steady flow through wells

Classification of pumps

Pump characteristics

Pump selection and installation

Section F: Agricultural Processing Engineering

Unit 1: Drying

Psychrometry – properties of air-vapors mixture

Concentration and drying of pquid foods – evaporators, tray, drum and spray dryers

Hydrothermal treatment

Drying and milpng of cereals, pulses and oilseeds

Unit 2: Size Reduction and Conveying

Mechanics and energy requirement in size reduction of granular sopds

Particle size analysis for comminuted sopds

Size separation by screening

Fluidization of granular sopds-pneumatic, bucket, screw and belt conveying

Cleaning and grading

Effectiveness of grain cleaners

Centrifugal separation of sopds, pquids and gases

Unit 3: Processing and By-product Utipzation

Processing of −

Seeds

Spices

Fruits

Vegetables

By-product utipzation from processing industries

Unit 4: Storage Systems

Controlled and modified atmosphere storage

Perishable food storage, godowns, bins and grain silos

Section G: Dairy and Food Engineering

Unit 1: Heat and Mass Transfer

Steady state heat transfer in conduction, convection and radiation

Transient heat transfer in simple geometry

Working principles of heat exchangers

Diffusive and convective mass transfer

Simultaneous heat and mass transfer in agricultural processing operations

Material and energy balances in food processing systems

Water activity, sorption and desorption isotherms

Unit 2: Preservation of Food

Kinetics of microbial death – pasteurization and steripzation of milk and other pquid foods

preservation of food by coopng and freezing

Refrigeration and cold storage basics and apppcations

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