ad horizontal

Agricultural Engineering

agricultural engineering

Agricultural engineers apply their knowledge of engineering technology and biological science to design agricultural machinery, equipment and structures. They also develop ways to conserve soil and water and help improve the processing of existent agricultural products.

Graduates in this stream of engineering help improve crop production systems, design animal facilities, test machinery and analyze food production systems. They should be able to work well in teams as they often have to work in groups with other engineering graduates, and not necessarily those only of this field.

Admission for a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) in Agricultural Engineering requires a solid background in mathematics, and also sound knowledge of science subjects like biology, chemistry and physics. Knowledge of English, social studies, computer literacy and humanities also play an important role. Most bachelor’s degree engineering programs usually have a duration of four years.

 

Agriculturists can find jobs as scientists, researchers, farm managers, head green keepers, project directors, product design engineers, senior agricultural managers, research analysts, agronomists, farming consultants or as subject matter specialists. Self employment is another option which graduates can consider.

Topics covered in Agricultural Engineering

Semester 1:

  • Engineering Drawing
  • Basic Electrical Engineering
  • Principles of Agriculture
  • Basic Electronics
  • Elementary Mathematics
  • Engineering Physics
  • Computer and Languages

Semester 2:

  • Soil Science
  • Engineering Mechanics
  • Engineering Thermodynamics
  • Engineering Chemistry
  • Horticultural and Field Crops

Semester 3:

  • Farm Implements
  • Surveying and Leveling
  • Introductory Biotechnology
  • Strength of Materials
  • Electrical Machines
  • Engineering Mathematics
  • Statistical Methods
  • Database Management and Internet Applications

Semester 4:

  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Farm Machinery
  • Engineering Hydrology
  • Unit Operation in Food Engineering
  • Soil Mechanics
  • Heat and Mass Transfer
  • Soil Physics
  • Theory of Machines
  • Environmental Studies

Semester 5:

  • Refrigeration and Air-conditioning
  • Building Materials and Structural Design
  • Machine Design
  • Agri-business Management
  • Field Operation and Maintenance of Tractors
  • Farm Machinery
  • Engineering Properties of Biological Materials, Wells and Pumps
  • Environmental Studies

Semester 6:

  • Instrumentation and Control Engineering
  • Operation Research
  • Post-harvest and Storage Engineering
  • Tractors and Power Units
  • Soil and Water Conservation Engineering
  • Crop Process Engineering
  • Irrigation Engineering

Semester 7:

  • Renewable Energy
  • Farm Machinery Design and Testing
  • Drainage Engineering
  • Dairy and Food Engineering
  • Entrepreneurship Development on Agro-industries
  • Hydraulics and Design of Irrigation Systems
  • Soil and Water Conservation Structures

Some colleges may require presentation of a seminar, industrial training or project work.

The final semester of most colleges has project work, along with three to four subjects, which may be electives. The subject pool students can choose from depends upon the faculty, resources and the facilities in each college, and may vary.

Electives under soil and water engineering include reservoir and pond design, wasteland management, minor irrigation, integrated watershed management, and environmental engineering. Farm machinery and power engineering electives may include subjects like human factors, farm machinery management, system engineering, manufacturing processes of agricultural machinery and agricultural mechanisation.Elective subjects that come under agricultural process and food engineering include beverages technology, food packaging technology, food laws and legislation, fermented food products and entrepreneurship in the food industry.

Colleges/Institutes for Agricultural Engineering Courses

  • Some colleges that offer a B.Tech. in Agricultural Engineering or a B.Tech. in Agriculture and Food Engineering are listed below:

    • Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University
    • Aligarh College Of Engineering & Technology
    • College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, Bhubaneswar
    • Dr. ZH Institute of Technology & Management
    • Gautam Buddh Technical University, Lucknow
    • Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
    • Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya
    • Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, Tavanur
    • Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Aurangabad

    Note: Programmes are subject to change, it is advisable to check directly with a school for current programme availability.

Related Links

ad horizontal