Crop Production and Management

Agriculture:-

The word agriculture is the English adaptation of Latin Agricultura, from ‘ ager’, a field and ‘cultura’, cultivation. It is ‘tillage of the soil’ or a ‘field’. Agriculture is the cultivation of the soil to grow plants and the raising of animals for human needs. It constitutes all aspects of crop production, livestock farming, fisheries, forestry, etc.

Agriculture in India:-

Agriculture is a major occupation in India. Farmers supplement income by rearing animals on the farm.

The breeding and upkeep of livestock on farms or homes is called ANIMAL HUSBANDRY.

When plants of the same kind are grown and cultivated in one place on a large scale, it is called a crop.

The major cropping patterns in India are:◦ Kharif- sown in the rainy season between June and September e.g. paddy, maize, groundnut.◦ Rabi- sown in the winter between October and March e.g. wheat, gram, pea and mustard.

Process of Agriculture:-

1.Preparation of soil:

Firstly the soil is loosened and turned to bring nutrient rich soil to the top using plough or hoes.

In this process of loosening the soil manures are also added in it.

The large chucks and crumbs of soil are broken down into small pieces and then the field is levelled using a leveller.

This processes are done so that the roots are easily pushed through the soil, and oxygen supply to the plants is increased.

Simultaneously with the loosening of soil weeds are removed from it.

2. Sowing:

In this process seeds are sown at uniform distances and depth.

After sowing the seeds they are covered with soil so that the birds could not get access to it.

In this process healthy seeds are chosen to ensure to get a good yield, it is done by separating healthy and defective seeds by putting it in a bowl of water. The healthy seeds sink in the bowl whereas the defective ones float.

3. Adding manure and fertilizers:

Manures and fertilizers are added to provide essential nutrients to the growing plants. They ensure better health and increased yield in the crops.

Manures:

Manures are organic substance obtained from the decomposition of plant or animal wastes. Microorganisms in compost pits act on-farm wastes to yield manure, e.g. vermicomposting. Manures are not nutrient specific and do not harm the soil and can be used in large quantity.

Fertilizers:

Fertilizers areinorganic compounds manufactured in factories. They are nutrient specific such as urea and ammonium sulphate (nitrogen), superphosphate (phosphorus), potash (potassium) and NPK (nitrogen potassium and phosphorus). Excess use of fertilizer may make the soil saline.

4.Irrigation:

Supply of water at regular intervals and at right times is called irrigation. Irrigation is necessary for the plants because plants contain 90% water and all parts of the plant need water for proper development. Water also works as a solvent for the nutrients present in the soil and these dissolve nutrients are absorbed by the roots and transported to all parts of the plant.

Methods of Irrigation:

Traditional methods using cattle or manual labour.◦ Moat (pulley system)◦ Chain pump◦ Dhekli◦ Rahat (Lever system)◦ Diesel, biogas, and electricity are used to run pumps that lift the water.

Modern methods:

Sprinkler system Drip system

5.Protecting crops from weeds:

In this process the undesirable plants that grow naturally on a field and compete with the crop for sunlight, water and nutrients called weeds are removed by weeding before they produce flowers and seeds.

This is done because they may interfere with harvesting and even be poisonous to both animals and humans.

Methods of weeding:

Manually using khurpi (a sharp knife-like instrument)◦ At the time of sowing using seed drill.◦ Tilling before sowing seeds can uproot and kill weeds. They dry up and get mixed with the soil and become manure.◦ Using chemical weedicides like 2, 4-D which are diluted with water and sprayed on the fields. These compounds act only on the weeds and spare the crops. Spraying of weedicides should be done after taking proper precautions.

6. Harvesting:

In this process the cutting of mature crops is done. This is done by both manual and machine processes. Manual harvesting is done by using a sharp curved instrument called sickle. Whereas machine harvesting is done by using a harvester.

In case of wheat crop the grains are separated from the chaff and is called threshing.

7. Storage:

Grains must be dried before storage to prevent microbial growth due to moisture in fresh seeds.

Storage can be done in jute bags or metallic bins.

Specially built storage structures like SILOS and GRANARIES protect grains from infestation by rats and insects.

Grains are sprayed with special chemicals to prevent pests or microbial attack.

Small quantities of grains (e.g. in homes) can be stored by using dried neem leaves.