The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has officially released the OPSC AHO Syllabus 2026 for the Assistant Horticulture Officer (AHO) recruitment examination. With the syllabus now available, candidates can begin their preparation by focusing on the latest exam pattern and prescribed topics. A clear understanding of the official syllabus will help them prepare in a more organized manner and concentrate on the areas that matter most in the examination.
According to the official notification, the selection process will consist of two written examinations followed by an interview. Both written papers will contain questions exclusively from the Horticulture subject. Therefore, candidates should thoroughly cover every topic included in the official syllabus before the examination. In this article, you will find the complete OPSC AHO Syllabus 2026, exam pattern, selection process, subject-wise syllabus, and PDF download details.
OPSC AHO Written Exam Pattern 2026
| Paper | Subject | Full Marks | No. of Questions | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | Horticulture | 100 | 100 | 2 Hours |
| Paper-II | Horticulture | 100 | 100 | 2 Hours |
| Total | — | 200 | 200 | 4 Hours |
| Interview | — | 25 | — | — |
Key Highlights
- The written examination will be conducted for a total of 200 marks.
- It will consist of two papers, with 100 marks allotted to each paper.
- Each paper will have 100 objective-type (MCQ) questions, carrying 1 mark each.
- The examination will be conducted using the OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) system.
- 0.25 marks will be deducted for every incorrect answer.
- No marks will be awarded for unattempted questions.
- The duration of each paper will be 2 hours.
- Both papers will include questions exclusively from the Horticulture subject.
OPSC AHO Syllabus 2026
The OPSC AHO Syllabus 2026 is divided into two papers, and both papers cover different areas of the Horticulture subject. Candidates should carefully study the complete syllabus to understand the important topics and prepare for the examination in a structured manner.
Below, we have provided the paper-wise OPSC Assistant Horticulture Officer (AHO) Syllabus 2026, covering all the topics prescribed in the official syllabus for Paper-I and Paper-II.
OPSC AHO Paper-I Syllabus 2026
A. Agro Meteorology
- Agro-climatic zones of India & Odisha
- Agro-ecology for horticultural crops
- Weather & Climate
- Crop–Weather Relationship
- Weather Forecasting
- Climate Change
- Vulnerability and Risks
- Climate Resilience and Climate-Smart Practices
B. Soil and Nutrition
- Soils of Odisha
- Problematic Soils and Their Management
- Essential Plant Nutrients & Crop Growth
- Manures and Fertilizers
- Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) for Horticultural Crops
- Nutrient Use Efficiency
C. Water Management
- Water Resources of Odisha
- Irrigation Development
- Soil–Plant–Water Relationship
- Water Requirement and Irrigation Efficiency
- Irrigation Scheduling
- Methods of Irrigation
- Micro-Irrigation (Drip and Sprinkler) and Fertigation
- Water Use Efficiency & Water Productivity
- Irrigation Water Quality
- Stress Management
- Drainage
D. Weed Management
- Weeds and Their Classification
- Crop Weed Association
- Weed Competition & Allelopathy
- Weed Prevention, Eradication and Control
- Integrated Weed Management
- Herbicides and Their Uses
- Selectivity and Environmental Impact
E. Dry Land Farming
- Rainfed and Dry Land Horticulture
- Drought Management
- Contingent Planning
- Soil Moisture Conservation
- Water Harvesting & Recycling
- Watershed Management
- Conservation Agriculture / Horticulture
F. Integrated Farming System
- Farming System and Horticulture
- Integrated Farming System Models (Horticulture-Based)
G. Seed Technology
- Seed Quality
- Seed Dormancy
- Seed Production
- Seed Certification
- Seed Storage
H. Plant Protection
- Important Insect Pests of Horticultural Crops and Their Management
- Diseases of Horticultural Crops and Their Management
- Nematodes of Horticultural Crops and Their Management
- Biological Control
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of Horticultural Crops
I. Agricultural Economics
- Cost of Cultivation of Horticultural Crops
- Entrepreneurship in Horticulture
- Agri-Business Management
- Marketing
- Supply & Value Chain
- Concept of FPO
- CBBO
J. Agricultural Statistics
- Basic Statistical Principles
- Data Collection
- Compilation
- Analysis
- Interpretation
- Presentation
K. Related Subjects
- Tillage and Tillage Implements
- Farm Machineries and Equipment for Horticulture
- Crop Growth & Development
- Use of Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs)
- Different Cropping Patterns and Crop Rotation
- Crop Diversification
- Organic Farming & Certification
- Protected Cultivation
- Wasteland Management
- Biotic & Abiotic Stress Management
- Government Schemes on Horticulture
- Apiculture
- Mushroom Cultivation
- Composting and Vermicompost
- Digital Initiatives of the State Government
OPSC AHO Paper-II Syllabus 2026
A. Plant Propagation and Nursery Management in Horticulture
- Importance of Plant Propagation
- Sexual & Asexual Methods of Plant Propagation in Horticultural Crops
- Advantages & Limitations of Plant Propagation
- Propagation Methods of Horticultural Crops:
- Cutting
- Budding
- Grafting
- Layering
- Tissue Culture
- Propagation Through Specialised Plant Parts
- Plant Propagation Structures
- Media Preparation
- Nursery Act, Registration & Accreditation
- Hi-Tech Nurseries
- Insect, Pest and Disease Management of Nursery Plants
B. Fruit Crops
- Scope and Importance of Fruit Crops
- Classification of Fruit Crops
- Area, Production and Distribution
- Growing Zones of Fruit Crops
- Agro-Climatic Zones and Suitable Fruit Crops for Tropical, Sub-Tropical and Wasteland Areas
- Soil & Climate
- Commercial Varieties
- Planting
- Cultural Practices
- Nutrient, Water and Weed Management
- Intercultural Operations
- Physiological Disorders
- Plant Protection Measures
- Harvesting and Yield
- Post-Harvest Management of Important Crops
Commercial Fruit Crops
- Mango
- Banana
- Citrus
- Pineapple
- Guava
- Papaya
- Sapota
- Ber
- Pomegranate
- Litchi
- Custard Apple
Niche Crops
- Aonla
- Jamun
- Ber
- Jackfruit
Exotic Crops
- Passion Fruit
- Avocado
- Dragon Fruit
- Strawberry
C. Plantation Crops
- Scope & Importance
- Area, Production and Distribution
- Soil & Climate
- Commercial Varieties
- Seed Rate
- Spacing and Planting/Transplanting
- Nutrient, Water & Weed Management
- Plant Protection Measures
- Harvesting and Yield
- Post-Harvest Management:
- Grading
- Processing
- Packaging
- Value Addition
- Marketing of Important Commercial Plantation Crops
Commercial Plantation Crops
- Coconut
- Areca Nut
- Cashew Nut
- Oil Palm
- Palmyra Palm
- Date Palm
- Cocoa
- Coffee
- Tea
D. Vegetable Crops
- Scope and Importance
- Area, Production & Productivity
- Cultivation of Important Tropical, Sub-Tropical, Temperate, Under-Exploited and Perennial Vegetable Crops
- Soil & Climate
- Commercial Varieties
- Hybrids
- Seed Rate
- Spacing & Time of Sowing/Transplanting
- Nutrient, Water & Weed Management
- Physiological Disorders
- Plant Protection
- Harvesting
- Post-Harvest Management
- Export Potential
- Value Addition
- Off-Season Cultivation of Important Vegetable Crops
Vegetable Groups
- Solanaceous Vegetables: Potato, Tomato, Brinjal, Chilli & Capsicum
- Major Cucurbits: Pumpkin, Cucumber, Watermelon, Bitter Gourd, Bottle Gourd & Ridge Gourd
- Pod Vegetables: Pea, French Bean, Cowpea, Cluster Bean & Dolichos Bean
- Okra
- Cole Crops: Cabbage, Cauliflower & Knol Khol
- Bulb Crops: Onion & Garlic
- Root Crops: Radish, Carrot, Beetroot & Turnip
- Leafy Vegetables: Amaranthus, Basella & Spinach
- Tree Vegetables: Drumstick & Curry Leaves
- Tropical Tuber Crops: Sweet Potato, Cassava, Yam, Elephant Foot Yam & Taro
E. Spices, Condiments, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
- History, Scope and Importance
- Cultivation Practices
- Soil & Climate
- Commercial Varieties
- Spacing
- Seed Rate
- Sowing/Planting Time
- Nutrient, Water & Weed Management
- Plant Protection
- Physiological Disorders
- Harvesting and Yield
- Post-Harvest Management of Important Crops
Important Crops
- Betel Vine
- Black Pepper
- Cardamom
- Ginger
- Turmeric
- Curry Leaf
- Coriander
- Fenugreek
- Fennel
- Cumin
- Periwinkle
- Rauwolfia
- Ocimum
- Kewda
- Aloe Vera
- Lemon Grass
F. Ornamental Horticulture
- History of Gardens
- Types and Styles of Gardens
- Parks
- Principles of Landscaping
- Garden Features
- Ornamental Trees
- Shrubs
- Herbs
- Climbers
- House Plants
- Flower Arrangements
- Bonsai
- Urban Horticulture
- Bio-Aesthetic Planning
- Scope and Importance
- Soil & Climate
- Cultural Operations
- Nutrient, Water & Weed Management
- Crop Protection
- Post-Harvest Management of Important Commercial Flower Crops
Important Commercial Flower Crops
- Rose
- Marigold
- Chrysanthemum
- Gladiolus
- Jasmine
- Crossandra
- Dahlia
- Tuberose
Protected Cultivation & Post-Harvest Management
- Rose
- Orchid
- Carnation
- Anthurium
- Gerbera
Other Topics
- Lawn and Its Maintenance
- Cultivation of Important Cut Foliages
OPSC AHO Selection Process 2026
The selection process for the OPSC Assistant Horticulture Officer (AHO) Recruitment 2026 consists of the following stages:
- Written Examination
- Interview
- Final Merit List
Important Links
| Sarkari Syllabus | Click Here |
| OPSC Official Website | Click Here |