Best Agricultural Engineering Books for GATE Examination 2023

Linear Algebra: Matrices and determinants, linear and orthogonal transformations, Caley Hamilton theorem; Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors, solutions of linear equations.

Calculus: Limit, continuity, and differentiability; partial derivatives; homogeneous function – Euler’s theorem on homogeneous functions, total differentiation; maxima and minima of function with several independent variables; sequences and series – infinite series, tests for convergence; Fourier, Taylor and MacLaurin series.

Vector Calculus: Vector differentiation, scalar, and vector point functions, vector differential operators – del, gradient; divergence and curl; physical interpretations-line, surface, and volume integrals; Stokes, Gauss, and Green’s theorems.

Differential Equations: Linear and non-linear first order Ordinary Differential Equations (ODE); homogeneous differential equations, higher-order linear ODEs with constant coefficients; Laplace transforms and their inverse; Partial Differential Equations – Laplace, heat, and wave equations.

Probability and Statistics: Mean, median, mode, and standard deviation; random variables; Poisson, normal and binomial distributions; correlation and regression analysis.

Numerical Methods: Solutions of linear and non-linear algebraic equations; numerical integration – trapezoidal and Simpson’s rule; numerical solutions of ODEs.

Machine Design: Design and selection of machine elements – gears, pulleys, chains, and sprockets and belts; overload safety devices used in farm machinery; measurement of force, stress, torque, speed, displacement, and acceleration on machine elements – shafts, couplings, keys, bearings and
knuckle joints.

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, and threshing calculation of performance
parameters – field capacity, efficiency, application rate, and losses; cost analysis of implements and tractors.

Sources of Power: Sources of power on the farm – human, animal, mechanical, electrical, wind, solar, and biomass; biofuels.

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 and 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; performance index, cost analysis of implements and tractors.

Tractors and Power tillers: Type, selection, maintenance, and repair of tractors and power tillers; 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; steering and hydraulic control systems used in tractors; tractor tests and performance; human engineering and safety considerations in the design of tractor and agricultural implements.

Fluid Mechanics: Ideal and real fluids, properties of fluids; hydrostatic pressure and its measurement; continuity equation, kinematics, and dynamics of flow; Bernoulli’s theorem; laminar and turbulent flow in pipes, Darcy- Weisbach, and Hazen-Williams equations, Moody’s diagram; flow through orifices, weirs, and notches; flow in open channels, dimensional analysis – concepts of geometric dimensionless numbers.

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, Terzaghi’s one-dimensional soil consolidation theory.

Hydrology: Hydrological cycle and measurement of its components; meteorological parameters and their measurement; analysis of precipitation data; runoff estimation; hydrograph analysis, unit hydrograph theory, and application; stream flow measurement; flood routing, hydrological reservoir, and channel routing, Infiltration – indices and equations, drought and its classification.

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; total station, introduction to GPS survey, computation of areas and volume.

Soil and Water Erosion: Mechanics of soil erosion – wind and water erosion: soil erosion types, 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.

Watershed Management: Watershed characterization and land use capability classification; water budgeting in the watershed, rainwater harvesting, check dams, and farm ponds.

Soil-Water-Plant Relationship: Water requirement of crops; consumptive use and evapotranspiration; measurement of infiltration, soil moisture, and irrigation water infiltration.

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.

Agricultural Drainage: Drainage coefficient; planning, design, and layout of surface and sub-surface drainage systems; leaching requirement and salinity control; irrigation and drainage water quality and reuse; non-conventional drainage system.

Groundwater Hydrology: Groundwater occurrence; Darcy’s Law, steady and unsteady flow in confined and unconfined aquifers, groundwater exploration techniques; overview of groundwater recharge estimation and artificial recharge techniques.

Wells and Pumps: Types of wells, steady flow through wells; design and construction of water wells; classification of pumps; pump characteristics; pump selection and installation.

Engineering properties of agriculture produce: Physical, thermal, frictional, rheological, and electrical properties.

Evaporation and Drying: Concentration and drying of liquid foods – evaporators, tray, drum and spray dryers; hydrothermal treatments; drying and milling of cereals, pulses, and oilseeds; drying kinetics; psychrometry – properties of air-water vapor mixture.

Size Reduction and Material Handling: Mechanics and energy requirement in size reduction of agriculture produce; 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 separation; centrifugal separation of solids, liquids, and gases; homogenization;
filtration and membrane separation.

Processing of Agriculture Produce: Processing of seeds, spices, fruits, and vegetables; value addition of agriculture produce.

Storage Systems: Controlled and modified atmosphere storage; perishable food storage, godowns, bins, and grain silos, packaging material, and machines.

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.

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.