GATE Agricultural Engineering Syllabus

Subject Code: AG

Course Structure

Course Syllabus

Section A: Engineering Mathematics

Unit 1: Linear Algebra

• Matrices and determinants
• Systems of linear equations
• Eigen values and Eigen vectors

Unit 2: Calculus

• Limit, continuity and differentiability
• Partial derivatives
• Maxima and minima
• Sequences and series
• Tests for convergence
  • Fourier series
  • Taylor series

Unit 3: Vector Calculus

• Gradient; divergence and curl
• Line, surface and volume integrals
• Stokes, Gauss and Green’s theorems

Unit 4: Differential Equations

• Linear and non-linear first order Ordinary Differential Equations (ODE)
• Higher order linear ODEs with constant coefficients
• Cauchy’s and Euler’s equations
• Laplace transforms
• Partial Differential Equations - Laplace, heat and wave equations

Unit 5: Probability 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 linear and non-linear 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
  • Fertilizer application
  • Inter-cultivation
  • Spraying
  • Mowing
  • Chaff cutting
  • Harvesting
  • Threshing
  • Transport
• Testing of agricultural machinery and equipment
• Calculation of performance parameters −
  • Field capacity
  • Efficiency
  • Application 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
  • Cooling
  • 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 link and restrained link operations

• Mechanical steering and hydraulic 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

• Bernoulli’s theorem

• Laminar and turbulent flow in pipes, darcy- weisbach and hazen-williams 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
• Permeability and seepage analysis
• Shear strength, mohr’s circle of stress, active and passive earth pressures
• Stability 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 application

• Stream flow measurement

• Flood routing −

  • Hydrological reservoir

  • Channel routing

Unit 4: Surveying and Leveling

• Measurement of distance and area
• Instruments for surveying and leveling
• Chain surveying, methods of traversing
• Measurement of angles and bearings
• Plane table surveying
• Types of leveling
• theodolite 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 capability 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 Application Methods

• Design of irrigation channels and underground pipelines irrigation scheduling
• 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 salinity control
• Irrigation and drainage water quality 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 liquid foods – evaporators, tray, drum and spray dryers

• Hydrothermal treatment

• Drying and milling of cereals, pulses and oilseeds

Unit 2: Size Reduction and Conveying

• Mechanics and energy requirement in size reduction of granular solids
• Particle size analysis for comminuted solids
• Size separation by screening
• Fluidization of granular solids-pneumatic, bucket, screw and belt conveying
• Cleaning and grading
• Effectiveness of grain cleaners
• Centrifugal separation of solids, liquids and gases

Unit 3: Processing and By-product Utilization

• Processing of −
  • Seeds
  • Spices
  • Fruits
  • Vegetables
• By-product utilization 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 sterilization of milk and other liquid foods

• preservation of food by cooling and freezing

• Refrigeration and cold storage basics and applications

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