Chapter 1 - Crop Production and Management

A) INTRODUCTION

We all know that every living organism needs food to survive. Plants can synthesise their own food but, animals including human beings are dependent on others for food. So for providing food for large number of people we need proper management.

So for this large scale demand of food for humans, they started agriculture practises.

AGRICULTURE - it is a human activity of cultivating crops and plantations for the large scale production of food and goods such as bio fuels, fibres, animal feed etc.

CROPS- when the plants of same types are cultivated at a place on a very large scale are known as crop.

B) TYPES OF CROPS IN INDIA

India is a vast country where diverse practices of farming are seen in different parts. But crops in India can be divided into two main types, which are basically:

• Kharif (monsoon crops) - these are sown in the beginning of rainy season. Ex-paddy, maize, cotton etc.

• Rabi (winter crops) - these are sown in the beginning of winter season. Ex-wheat ,gram, pea etc.

C) BASIC PRACTICES OF CROP PRODUCTION

Cultivation of crop involves various activities and steps which are referred as agriculture practices. There are seven agriculture practices.

These activities are-

1) Preparation of soil
2) Sowing
3) Adding manure and fertilisers
4) Irrigation
5) Protection from weeds
6) Harvesting
7) Storage

Let us see each point in detail.

c.1) PREPARATION OF SOIL

One of the most important steps in preparation of soil is to loosen it, which allows the microorganism and earthworm to enrich the soil. This helps the root to penetrate deep into the soil and also bring the nutrient rich soil on the top layer.

The process of loosening or turning of soil is called tilling or ploughing.

PLOUGHING

• This is done with the help of plough.
• Ploughed field contains big pieces of soil called crumbs.

· Further it is levelled using a wooden or an iron leveller to prevent the soil from being eroded by wind or water.

· Next manure or fertilizer is added to increase the soil fertility.

Plough

• it is tool for ploughing in olden days.
• Made up of wood or iron.
• It contains triangular iron strip called as the ploughshare.
• The main part is a rod of wood known as plough shaft.

· The last end is attached to the beam which is attached to the bull.

H oe

• It helps in removing the weeds.
• It has long rod made up of wood or iron.
• A strong bent plate made up of iron is present at one end.
• This is pulled generally by ox.

Cultivator

Cultivator: Nowadays ploughing is done by tractor driven cultivator. The use of cultivator saves labour and time. [Fig.1.1 (c)]

Fig. 1.1(C)

c.2) SOWING

· Seeds which are used for sowing should be of good quality, healthy and free from infections.

• Seeds must be planted at correct depth in the soil.
• Proper amount of water is needed for the seeds to germinate.

· The gap between the seeds should be proper and at the right distance.

Traditional tool

• it is shaped like a funnel
• Funnel's end is pierces into the soil.
• Funnel is passes through the funnel

Seed drill

• Now days drills are used present in the tractors.
• It sows the seeds uniformly at proper distance and depth.
• It ensures that seeds are properly covered by the soil.

c.3) ADDING MANURE AND FERTILIZERS

· Soil itself supplies necessary minerals and nutrients to the plant.

· In certain areas when farmer grows crops after crops it decrease the fertility of the soil.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MANURE AND FERTILIZERS

S.no.	Manure	Fertilizers
1.	Made up of animal and plants waste	Made up of chemicals in factories
2.	Provides mainly organic matter	Provides mainly nutrients
3.	No side effects as it is natural	Gives side effects
4.	Provides long term soil fertility	Not good for long term soil fertility
5.	It is cheaper	It is costlier than manures
6.	It gives slow result	Provides fast and effective result

c.4) IRRIGATION

Supply of water to crops at different interval of time is known as IRRIGATION

· Water is the basic and important requirement for growth and development of plants.

· Germination of seeds doesn't take place under dry conditions.

· Proper irrigation system will ensure the timely and adequate required water to crops. This will lead to more yield.

Sources of irrigation : wells, tube wells, ponds, lakes, rivers, dams and canals.

1. Traditional method of irrigation:

The water available in wells, lakes and canals is lifted up by different regions, for taking it to the fields.

Various traditional methods are:-

2. Modern methods of irrigation:

a. Sprinkler system:

· Used where uneven land is present.

· Perpendicular pipes, having rotating nozzles on top.

· Joined to the main pipeline at regular intervals.

· Water is flowed under pressure with the help of pump, escaping through rotating nozzles and gets sprinkled.

b. Drip system:

· Water falls drop by drop at the position of the roots.

· Best technique for watering fruit plants, garden and trees.

· Very less water wastage.

C.5) PROTECTION FROM WEED

Weeds are the undesirable plants which grow naturally along with the crops.

· Removal of weeds is called weeding.

· Weeding is important as they effect the growth of crop by compete with the crop plants.

WEED CONTROL

· Tilling before sowing of crops helps in uprooting and killing of weeds.

· Manual removal includes physical removal of weeds by cutting them.

· Weeds are control by spraying weedicides.

· Weedicides are the chemical to kill the weed.

C.6 ) HARVESTING

Cutting of crops after it is mature is called harvesting.

· Crops are pulled out or cut close to the ground.

· It can be done manually by sickle or by machine.

· The grain seed need to be separated from the chaff with the help of machine called "combined".

C.7) STORAGE

· Grains are kept for the longer time without getting spoiled is known as storage.

· Should be kept safe from moisture, insect, rats and microorganisms.

· If grains are stored without drying they may get spoilt and lose their germination capacity.

· Small scale storage in jute bags and metallic bins.

· Large scale storage in silos and granaries.

D) FOOD FROM ANIMALS

· Like plants, animals also provide us with different kinds of foods.

· People living in coastal areas consume fish as a major part of their diet.

· Just like crop production involve number of steps ,similarly animals reared at home or in farm

· When this is done on large scale it is known as animal husbandry.