NHB Senior Horticulture Officer Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2024

NHB Senior Horticulture Officer Syllabus

The NHB Senior Horticulture Officer Syllabus has been shared by the Indian Government’s Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare as part of the National Horticulture Board Recruitment 2024 Notification. This announcement aims to recruit 25 Senior Horticulture Officers for the National Horticulture Board (NHB). The detailed syllabus can be accessed on their official website nhb.gov.in. Interested candidates are encouraged to review this syllabus to prepare effectively for the upcoming recruitment process. Applicants can access the syllabus directly by clicking on the link provided in the article.

Senior Horticulture Officer Syllabus 2024

The NHB Senior Horticulture Officer Syllabus outlines the key subjects and topics that candidates need to prepare for the recruitment examination. This comprehensive syllabus serves as a guide for aspirants, covering various aspects of horticulture, including Tropical and Dry Land Fruit Production, Subtropical and Temperate Fruit Production, Breeding of Fruit Crops, Post-Harvest Technology, and more. A thorough understanding of this syllabus is crucial for candidates aiming to excel in the examination and secure the position of Senior Horticulture Officer at the National Horticulture Board. Continue reading for a detailed breakdown of the syllabus and exam pattern.

NHB Senior Horticulture Officer Syllabus 2024: Overview

The National Horticulture Board is conducting recruitment for the position of Senior Horticulture Officer (Group B) through the National Testing Agency. This government job opportunity has 25 vacancies, and interested applicants can apply online from December 16, 2023, until January 5, 2024. The selection process involves a Computer-Based Examination and a Descriptive Test. The salary for the position is in the range of Rs. 35,400 to Rs. 1,12,400. For more information and online application, candidates can visit the official websites of NHB (https://www.nhb.gov.in/) and NTA (https://recruitment.nta.nic.in/).

Particulars	Details
Organization Name	National Horticulture Board
Exam Conducting Body	National Testing Agency
NHB Recruitment Notification 2024 Post Name	Senior Horticulture Officer (Group B)
Category	Govt Jobs
Vacancy	25
Application Mode	Online
Application Starting Date	16th December 2023
Last Date To Apply Online	5th January 2024
Selection Process	Computer-Based Examination and Descriptive Test
Salary	Rs. 35,400-1,12,400/-
NHB Official Website	https://www.nhb.gov.in/
NTA Official Website	https://recruitment.nta.nic.in/

Download NHB Senior Horticulture Officer Syllabus PDF

Candidates can easily access the NHB Senior Horticulture Officer Syllabus in a comprehensive PDF format by clicking on the link provided below. This document offers an in-depth understanding of the subjects and topics included in the syllabus, serving as a valuable resource for candidates to prepare for the examination.

NHB Senior Horticulture Officer Exam Pattern 2024

The recruitment process involves two stages. In Stage-I, a Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) test lasting 2 hours carries a maximum of 150 marks. For Stage-II, eligible candidates from Stage-I take a 2-hour Descriptive Type test, with a maximum of 100 marks. The total marks combining both stages are 250.

Scheme of Examination
Stage-I (MCQ Type)
– Time:	2 Hours
– Max. Marks:	150 (150 questions)
Stage-II (Descriptive Type)
– Eligibility:	Only for those who qualify Stage-I
– Time:	2 Hours
– Max. Marks:	100
– Total Marks:	250 Marks

Evaluation at Stage-I:

• Each question in Stage-I is awarded 1 mark.
• No negative marking is applied.

Shortlisting for Stage-II:

• Candidates progressing to Stage-II are shortlisted in a 1:10 ratio, roughly 10 times the vacancies per category, based on their Stage-I performance.

Equating Scores:

• If the examination spans multiple sessions, scores are equated across sessions to account for slight variations in the difficulty levels of different test batteries used.

Final Merit Determination:

• The Total Marks obtained in Stage-II play a crucial role in determining the final merit of the candidates.

NHB SHO Exam Pattern: Stage-I (MCQ Type)

• The first stage is a Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) test.
• It lasts for 2 hours.
• The test includes four components:
  • Horticulture with 60 questions (60 marks),
  • General Studies with 30 questions (30 marks),
  • English Comprehension with 30 questions (30 marks),
  • Quantitative Aptitude & Mental Ability with 30 questions (30 marks).
• Each question in this stage carries 1 mark.
• The total marks for Stage-I are 150.
• Candidates have to answer a total of 150 questions within the 2-hour duration.

Stage-I (MCQ Type)
Test Components	Duration	2 Hours
No. of Questions
– Horticulture		60
– General Studies		30
– English Comprehension		30
– Quantitative Aptitude & Mental Ability		30
Total Marks		150
Total Questions		150

NHB SHO Exam Pattern: Stage-II (Descriptive Type)

• Stage-II is a Descriptive Type test.
• The test duration is 2 hours.
• The only component in this stage is “Horticulture and General Agriculture.”
• Candidates can earn a maximum of 100 marks in this stage.
• The total marks for Stage-II are 100.

Stage-II
Test Components	Duration	2 Hours
Descriptive Type	Marks	100
– Horticulture and General Agriculture
Total Marks		100

NHB Senior Horticulture Officer Syllabus

Stage-I

The syllabus for Stage-I examination includes the following topics:

Horticulture	General Studies	English Comprehension	Quantitative Aptitude & Mental Ability
– Tropical and Dry Land Fruit Production	– Questions on General Science	– Active Passive	– Time & Work
– Subtropical and Temperate Fruit Production	– Current events of national and international importance	– One-word Substitution	– Average
– Breeding of Fruit Crops	– History of India	– Unseen Passage	– Percentage
– Post-Harvest Technology	– Indian agriculture	– Fill in the blanks	– Ratio & Proportion
– Biotechnology of Fruit Crops	– Indian Geography	– Antonyms	– Interest
– Principles and Practices of Plant Propagation	– Indian Culture	– Synonyms	– Profit & Loss
– Production Technology of Cool Season Vegetable Crops	– New Agri-horti initiatives and schemes of Govt. of India	– Direct-Indirect	– Time & Distance
– Production Technology of Warm Season Vegetable Crops	– Environmental studies	– Error Detection	– Decimals
– Seed Production		– Sentence Improvement	– Fractions
– Hi-Tech Production Technology of Fruits, Flowers & Vegetable Crops			– Partnership
– Production Technology of Spice Crops			– Analogies
– Statistics			– Problem Solving
			– Judgement
			– Coding – Decoding
			– Relationship concept

Stage-II

In Stage-II of the examination, candidates will face a Descriptive Type test. This stage is specifically designed to assess the candidate’s depth of knowledge and awareness in the subjects related to horticulture. The questions will be formulated to evaluate the candidate’s understanding of topics such as Horticulture and General Agriculture. This stage aims to gauge the candidate’s proficiency in these subjects through thoughtful and detailed responses, allowing a more comprehensive assessment of their expertise and awareness in the specified areas.

TOPIC	MARKS ALLOCATED
Horticulture and General Agriculture	100 marks

NHB Senior Horticulture Officer Topic Wise Syllabus

Syllabus for Horticulture includes the following in detail:

Tropical and Dry Land Fruit Production

S. No.	Sub-Topic	Details
1	Commercial Varieties	Regional, national, and international importance
2	Eco-physiological Requirements	Recent trends in propagation, scion-stock relationship, planting systems, cropping systems, canopy management, nutrient and water management, fertigation, role of bio-regulators, etc.
3	Flowering, Pollination, and Development	Physiology of flowering, pollination, fruit set and development, honeybees in cross-pollination, physiological disorders-causes and remedies, quality improvement by management practices, etc.
4	Harvesting and Storage	Maturity indices, harvesting, grading, packing, storage, ripening techniques, mechanization, industrial and export potential, Agri Export Zones (AEZ), and industrial supports.
5	Fruits Covered	Mango, Banana, Citrus, Papaya, Guava, Sapota, Annonas, Aonla, Bael, Wood apple, Jamun, Pomegranate, Ber, and minor fruits of the tropics.

Subtropical and Temperate Fruit Production

S. No.	Sub-Topic	Details
1	Commercial Varieties	Regional, national, and international importance
2	Eco-physiological Requirements	Recent trends in propagation, scion-stock relationship, planting systems, cropping systems, root zone and canopy management, nutrient and water management, fertigation, role of bio-regulators, etc.
3	Flowering, Pollination, and Development	Physiology of flowering, pollination, fruit set and development, honeybees in cross-pollination, physiological disorders-causes and remedies, quality improvement by management practices, etc.
4	Harvesting and Storage	Maturity indices, harvesting, grading, packing, storage, ripening techniques, mechanization, industrial and export potential, Agri Export Zones (AEZ), and industrial supports.
5	Fruits Covered	Avocado, Pineapple, Jackfruit, Mangosteen, Carambola, Fig, Rambutan, Litchi, Loquat, Apple, Pear, Quince, Grapes, Plums, Peach, Apricot, Cherries, Persimmon, Kiwifruit, Strawberry, Walnut, Almond, etc.

Breeding of Fruit Crops

S. No.	Sub-Topic	Details
1	Origin and Distribution	Taxonomical status, species, cultivars, cytogenetics, genetic resources, blossom biology, breeding systems, breeding objectives, breeding constraints, ideotypes, approaches for crop improvement, introduction, selection, hybridization, mutation breeding, polyploidy breeding, rootstock breeding, improvement of quality traits, resistance breeding, biotechnological interventions, achievements, and future thrust.
2	Selected Fruit Crops	Mango, Banana, Pineapple, Citrus, Grapes, Guava, Sapota, Jackfruit, Papaya, Custard apple, Aonla, Avocado, Ber, Litchi, Jamun, Phalsa, Mulberry, Raspberry, Apple, Pear, Plums, Peach, Apricot, Cherries, Strawberry, etc.

Post-Harvest Technology

S. No.	Sub-Topic	Details
1	Maturity Indices	Harvesting practices and grading for specific market requirements, influence of pre-harvest practices, enzymatic and textural changes, respiration, transpiration, physiology, and biochemistry.
2	Ethylene Management	Ethylene evolution, factors leading to post-harvest loss, pre-cooling treatment prior to shipment (chlorination, waxing, chemicals, bio-control agents, and natural plant products), fungicides, hot water, vapor heat treatment, sulfur fumigation, irradiation.
3	Storage Methods	Ventilated, refrigerated, modified atmosphere storage (MAS), controlled atmosphere (CA) storage, physical injuries, disorders, packing methods, transport, quality evaluation, principles and methods of preservation, food processing, canning, fruit juices, beverages, pickles, jam, jelly, candy, dried and dehydrated products, nutritionally enriched products, fermented fruit beverages, packaging technology, processing waste management, and food safety standards; Role of HACCP.
4	Processing Techniques	Canning, fruit juices, beverages, pickles, jam, jelly, candy, dried and dehydrated products, nutritionally enriched products, fermented fruit beverages, packaging technology, processing waste management, and food safety standards; Role of HACCP.

Biotechnology of Fruit Crops

S. No.	Sub-Topic	Details
1	Bio-technology Applications	Harnessing bio-technology for improvement of horticultural crops, influence of plant materials, physical and chemical factors, growth regulators on growth and development of plant cell, tissue, and organ culture.
2	Tissue and Organ Culture	Callus culture types, cell division, differentiation, morphogenesis, organogenesis, embryogenesis; use of bioreactors and in vitro methods for the production of secondary metabolites, suspension culture, nutrition of tissues and cells, regeneration of tissues, ex vitro, establishment of tissue culture plants, physiology of hardening and field transfer, organ culture-meristem, embryo, anther, ovule culture, embryo rescue, soma clonal variation, protoplast culture, and fusion.
3	Genetic Engineering and Transformation	Construction and identification of somatic hybrids and cybrids, wide hybridization, in vitro pollination and fertilization, haploids, in vitro mutation, artificial seeds, cryopreservation, rapid clonal propagation, use of molecular markers, in vitro selection for biotic and abiotic stress, achievements of biotechnology in horticultural crops, and application of gene editing tools in horticultural crops.

Principles and Practices of Plant Propagation

S. No.	Sub-Topic	Details
1	Cellular Basis for Propagation	Introduction, life cycle in plants, cellular basis for propagation, sexual propagation, apomixis, polyembryony, chimeras.
2	Seed Germination and Quality	Factors influencing seed germination, hormonal regulation of germination and seedling growth, seed quality, treatment, packing, storage, certification, and testing.
3	Rooting of Cuttings	Under mist and hot beds, physiological, anatomical, and biochemical aspects of root induction in cuttings.
4	Micropropagation	In vitro clonal propagation, direct organogenesis, embryogenesis, micrografting, and meristem culture.
5	Nursery Management	Selection of elite mother plants, establishment of budwood bank, stock, scion, and interstock relationship and incompatibility.

Production Technology of Cool Season Vegetable Crops

S. No.	Sub-Topic	Details
1	Climatic and Soil Requirements	Introduction, climatic and soil requirements, commercial varieties/hybrids, sowing/planting times and methods, seed rate and seed treatment.
2	Crop-Specific Requirements	Nutritional and irrigation requirements, intercultural operations, weed control, mulching, physiological disorders.
3	Harvesting of Specific Crops	Potato, chow chow, cole crops (cabbage, cauliflower, knolkhol, sprouting broccoli, Brussels sprout), root crops (carrot, radish, turnip, beetroot), bulb crops (onion, garlic), peas and beans, leafy vegetables (palak).

Production Technology of Warm Season Vegetable Crops

S. No.	Sub-Topic	Details
1	Climatic and Soil Requirements	Introduction, climatic and soil requirements, commercial varieties/hybrids, sowing/planting times and methods, seed rate and seed treatment.
2	Crop-Specific Requirements	Nutritional and irrigation requirements, intercultural operations, weed control, mulching, physiological disorders.
3	Harvesting of Specific Crops	Tomato, eggplant, hot and sweet pepper, okra, vegetable cowpea, Dolichos lablab, cluster bean, cucurbitaceous crops, sweet potato, cassava, yams, colocasia, moringa, amaranths.

Seed Production

S. No.	Aspect	Details
1	Introduction	Importance and present status of the vegetable industry.
2	Propagation in Vegetables	Modes of propagation in vegetables.
3	Seed Morphology and Development	Floral biology of vegetable plant species, classification based on seed dormancy, pollination, and reproduction behavior.
4	Steps in Quality Seed Production	Identification of suitable areas for seed production, methods of seed production, comparison between different methods, pollination mechanisms, sex types, ratios, and modification of flowering pattern in cucurbits.
5	Nursery Raising and Transplanting	Seed production technology for various vegetable categories – solanaceous, cucurbitaceous, leguminous, malvaceae, cole crops, leafy vegetables, root, tuber and bulb crops.
6	Harvesting/Picking Stage and Seed Extraction	Techniques for harvesting/picking and seed extraction in fruit vegetables.
7	Grading, Storage, and Seed Certification	Seed quality testing, seed certification standards, clonal propagation and multiplication in tuber crops (e.g., Potato and Sweet Potato), seed-plot technique in potato, TPS (True Potato Seed).
8	Hybrid Seed Production Technology of Vegetables	Maintenance of parental lines, use of male sterility and self-incompatibility in hybrid seed production.

Hi-tech Production Technology of Fruits, Flowers & Vegetable Crops

S. No.	Aspect	Details
1	Importance and Scope of Protected Cultivation	Significance of protected cultivation of fruits, flowers & vegetable crops.
2	Principles Used in Protected Cultivation	Principles and greenhouse technology in protected cultivation.
3	Effect of Temperature, Carbon Dioxide, Humidity	Influence of temperature, carbon dioxide, humidity on crops.
4	Energy Management	Efficient energy management in protected cultivation.
5	Low-Cost Structures and Training Methods	Types of low-cost structures, training methods, engineering aspects in vegetable production.
6	Classification of Protected Structures	Classification of protected structures including low-cost poly-house/greenhouses and other structures.
7	Types of Cladding Material	Varieties of cladding material used in protected cultivation.
8	Mulching, Solarisation, and Fumigation	Practices such as mulching, solarisation, and fumigation in protected cultivation.
9	Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation, and Fertigation	Irrigation methods – Drip and sprinkler irrigation, fertigation.
10	Special Horticultural Practices, Hydroponics	Innovative horticultural practices, hydroponics, mechanization and automation in protected cultivation.
11	Vertical Farming and Soilless Culture	Implementation of vertical farming and soilless culture for enhancing productivity and off-season cultivation of high-value vegetable crops like tomato, capsicum, and cucumber.

Production Technology of Spice Crops

S. No.	Aspect	Details
1	Introduction	Historical accent, present status nationally and internationally, future prospects of spice crops.
2	Botany and Taxonomy	Botanical and taxonomical details of spice crops.
3	Climatic and Soil Requirements	Climatic and soil conditions suitable for spice crops.
4	Commercial Varieties/Hybrids	Details about commercial varieties and hybrids.
5	Site Selection and Planting Material Production	Guidelines for site selection, production of planting material including rapid multiplication and micro-propagation.
6	Sowing, Planting Times and Methods	Optimal sowing and planting times, methods for spice crops.
7	Seed Rate and Seed Treatment	Recommended seed rates and seed treatment practices.
8	Nutritional and Irrigation Requirements	Nutritional needs and irrigation requirements for spice crops.
9	Intercropping, Mixed Cropping	Approaches to intercropping and mixed cropping in spice cultivation.
10	Intercultural Operations, Weed Control	Practices for intercultural operations and weed control in spice crops.
11	Mulching, Physiological Disorders	Utilization of mulching and addressing physiological disorders.
12	Harvesting, Post-Harvest Management	Techniques for harvesting, post-harvest management, and processing practices for spice crops.
13	Plant Protection Measures, Precision Farming	Measures for plant protection, precision farming in spice cultivation.
14	Quality Control of Various Spice Crops	Methods for ensuring quality control of various spice crops – Black Pepper, Cardamom, Clove, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Allspice, Turmeric, Ginger, Garlic, Coriander, Fenugreek, Cumin, Fennel, Ajwain, Dill, Celery, Tamarind, Garcinia, Curry Leaf, Saffron, Vanilla, etc.
15	Role of Commodity Boards in Spices Development	Contribution and significance of commodity boards in the development of spice crops.

Statistics

S. No.	Aspect	Details
1	Frequency Distribution	Understanding frequency distribution.
2	Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion	Calculation and interpretation of measures of central tendency and dispersion – mean, median, mode, standard deviation, etc.
3	Population Distributions	Types of population distributions – normal, binomial, Poisson.
4	Correlations	Understanding correlations – regression, partial, and multiple.
5	Tests of Significance	Application of tests of significance – t, F, Chi-square.
6	Experimental Designs	Concepts and application of experimental designs – randomized block, Latin square, split plot.
7	Analysis and Interpretation of Designs	Analyzing and interpreting experimental designs – randomized block, Latin square, split plot.

The syllabus for General Agriculture is outlined as follows:

Topic	Subtopics	Concepts	Applications
Agriculture Importance	National economy, Agro-ecological zones, Geographic distribution	Crop plant significance, Cultural practices, Crop rotations	Scientific basis, Multiple cropping, Intercropping
Soil Science	Soil composition, Mineral and organic constituents	Soil properties, Essential plant nutrients	Soil fertility, Fertilizer use, Organic and inorganic fertilizers
Plant Physiology	Plant nutrition, Nutrient absorption, Transactions, Metabolism	Diagnosis of nutrient deficiencies, Photosynthesis, Respiration	Growth and development, Auxins, Hormones
Genetics	Cell and cell organelles, Cell division	Principles of genetics, Gene interaction, Mutation	Genetic resources, Conservation, Utilization
Plant Breeding	Genetic basis, Pureline selection, Mass selection	Male sterility, Incompatibility, Pedigree selection	Back-cross method, Heterosis, Hybrids, Seed production
Horticulture	Fruit and vegetable crops, Propagation methods	Crop rotation, Intercropping, Post-harvest handling	Landscaping, Ornamental horticulture, Floriculture
Crop Protection	Pests and diseases, Control principles	Integrated management, Plant protection equipment	Proper use, Maintenance
Agricultural Economics	Economic principles, Farm planning	Resource-use efficiency, Income maximization	Farm systems, Regional development roles

English Comprehension:

Sub-Topic	Description
Active Passive	Transformation of sentences from active voice to passive voice.
One-word Substitution	Identifying and providing a single word for a group of words or ideas.
Unseen Passage	Reading and understanding a passage not seen before, and answering questions based on it.
Fill in the blanks	Completing sentences with appropriate words.
Antonyms	Identifying words with opposite meanings.
Synonyms	Identifying words with similar meanings.
Direct-Indirect	Converting direct speech into indirect speech and vice versa.
Error Detection	Identifying and correcting grammatical errors in sentences.
Sentence Improvement	Enhancing the structure and correctness of sentences.

Quantitative Aptitude & Mental Ability:

Sub-Topic	Description
Time & Work	Solving problems related to time and work allocation.
Average	Calculating averages of numbers and solving related problems.
Percentage	Calculating percentages and solving problems involving percentages.
Ratio & Proportion	Solving problems based on ratios and proportions.
Interest	Calculating simple and compound interest.
Profit & Loss	Calculating profits and losses in business transactions.
Time & Distance	Solving problems related to time, speed, and distance.
Decimals	Understanding and working with decimal numbers.
Fractions	Performing operations with fractions.

NHB Senior Horticulture Officer Syllabus 2024: FAQs