Page 36
CROP PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT
Agricultural practices
We have read in ancient history that in 10000 BC people were nomadic i.e. they move from one place to another in search of food.
They were hunter and gatherer also i.e. hunting the animals and gathering fruits and vegetables for food.
Later they become agriculturist and adopted agriculture to grow crops.
Crop – when plants of same kind are grown and cultivated at one place on a large scale.
o Example – wheat, rice, maize etc.
Types of crops – cereals, vegetables and fruits.
Crops are grown according to climatic conditions like temperature, humidity and rainfall.
Cropping patterns are of 3 types – Rabi, Kharif and Zaid
o Kharif – grown in rainy season (June to September). E.g. – maize, paddy, soyabean, groundnut, cotton etc.
o Rabi – grown in winter season (Oct. to march) e.g. – wheat, gram, pea, mustard and linseed.
o Zaid – grown between March to June. E.g. – watermelon, muskmelon, pumpkin, cucumber etc.
Page 37
Basic practices of crop production
1. Preparation of soil
2. Sowing
3. Adding manure and fertilizers
4. Irrigation
5. Protecting from weeds
6. Harvesting
7. Storage
Preparation of soil
It is the 1st step before growing a crop.
Earthworms help in loosening and turning the soil + add humus.
The loosening and tilling of soil is called as tilling or ploughing.
Plough can be made of iron or wood.
If field is dry, then it may need watering.
If soil contains crumbs, then plank would be required to break them.
Field is levelled for sowing as well as for irrigation.
Q) Why there is need to prepare soil?
Turning and loosening the soil helps plant’s roots to penetrate deep into soil.
It also helps roots to breathe easily.
Helps in growing earthworm and microbes in soil. (farmer’s friend)
Bring nutrient rich soil to top.
Agricultural implements
Before sowing the seeds, the soil had to be broken to the size of grains to get better yield.
It is done with the tools like plough, hoe and cultivator.
Note – we need not to study how it works we just have to focus they are used for what purpose?
Plough
Page 38
Use - tilling the soil, adding fertilizers to the crop, removing the weeds, scraping of soil, etc.
Made of – wood or iron
Drawn by - pair of bulls or other animals (horses, camels, etc.). It contains a strong triangular iron strip called ploughshare which breaks the soil.
Hoe
Use - for removing weeds and for loosening the soil.
Pulled by – animals
Cultivator
Nowadays ploughing is done by tractor driven cultivator.
The use of cultivator saves labour and time.
Sowing
Most important part of crop production.
Before sowing, good quality seeds are selected so give a high yield.
Selection of seeds – seeds are put in water, hollow and lighter float on water and they are damaged seeds.
Tools used in sowing seeds –
Traditional tool
Page 39
Shaped like a funnel.
Seeds are filled into the funnel, passed down through two or three pipes having sharp ends which pierce into the soil and place seeds there.
Seed drill
Used - for sowing seeds with the help of tractors. It not only sows but also covers them with soil.
Sows the seeds uniformly at proper distances and depths. (appropriate distance necessary to avoid overcrowding and less competition for resources)
Advantage – saves time and labor.
Adding manure and fertilizers
The substances which are added to the soil in the form of nutrients for the healthy growth of plants are called manure and fertilisers.
Need of fertilizers
o Continuous growing of crops makes the soil deficient in certain nutrients. Adding of manure to the fields to replenish the soil with nutrients. This process is called as manuring.
o Improper or insufficient manuring results in weak plants.
Manure is an organic substance obtained from the decomposition of plant or animal wastes.
Fertilizers are chemical substances which are rich in particular nutrient.
Page 40
Q) How are fertilizers different from manure? Fertilizer Manure Inorganic salt Natural substance
Prepared in factories
Prepared in fields No humus to soil Lot of humus to soil
Rich in nutrients like NPK
Less rich in nutrients E.g. – Urea, ammonium sulphate, super phosphate, potash, NPK Vermicompost
Use of fertilizers had helped farmers to increase the yield of crops.
Excessive use results in barren land, water pollution etc.
Solution – use organic manure or leave the field uncultivated (fallow) in between two crops.
Advantages of manure over fertilizers –
o Improves soil texture
o Improves water retaining capacity
o It replenishes the soil with all the nutrients
o It makes the soil porous due to which exchange of gases becomes easy
o It increases the number of friendly microbes
Other method for replenishing the soil with nutrients – crop rotation (growing different crops alternately)
Irrigation
Why we need to irrigate crops?
o Plants contain nearly 90% water.
o Germination of seeds does not take place under dry conditions.
o Transportation of nutrients takes place only in water.
o Protects the crop from both frost and hot air currents
Irrigation - The supply of water to crops at different intervals
The time and frequency of irrigation varies from crop to crop, soil to soil and season to season.
Irrigation sources - wells, tube wells, ponds, lakes, rivers, dams and canals.
Traditional methods of irrigation
Page 41
Water available in wells, lakes and canals is lifted up by different methods –
o Moat (pulley -system)
o Chain pump
o Dhekli
o Rahat (lever system)
These methods are cheaper but less efficient.
Modern methods of irrigation
Sprinkler system
Page 42
o More useful on the uneven land where sufficient water is not available.
o Sprinkler Irrigation is a method of applying irrigation water which is similar to rainfall. Water is distributed through a system of pipes usually by pumping. It is then sprayed into the air and irrigated entire soil surface through spray heads so that it breaks up into small water drops which fall to the ground.
o Efficient coverage
Drip system
o Water falls drop by drop just at the position of the roots. So it is called drip system.
o Best technique for watering as provides water to plants drop by drop
o Water is not wasted.
o Boon for regions where water is not available.
Protection from weeds
Weeds - Growing of many other undesirable plants naturally along with the crop.
Weeding - removal of weeds.
Why weeding is necessary?
o Compete with the crop plants for water, nutrients, space and light.
Page 43
o Affect the growth of the crop.
o Interfere even in harvesting
o May be poisonous for animals and human beings.
Ways to remove weeding –
o Tilling - uproots and kill weeds
o Manual removal - physical removal of weeds by uprooting or cutting them close to the ground
o Seed drill is also used to uproot weeds.
Weedicides – chemicals which are used to control weeds are called as weedicides.
o Like – 2,4 D
o The weedicides are diluted with water and sprayed in the fields with a sprayer.
o No damage to crops.
o Spraying of weedicides may affect the health of farmers. So they should use these chemicals very carefully
Harvesting
The cutting of crop after it is mature is called harvesting.
In harvesting, crops are pulled out or cut close to the ground.
Harvesting in our country is done by following –
o Manually - by sickle
Page 44
o By a machine called harvester.
Separation of grains from chaff is called as Threshing.
“Combine” machine can be used for this purpose.
Small land holding farmer separate grain and chaff by winnowing.
Harvest festivals
The period of harvest is, thus, of great joy and happiness in all part of India.
Men and women celebrate it with great enthusiasm.
Special festivals associated with harvest season are – Pongal, Baisakhi, Holi, Diwali, Nabanya and Bihu. (click here for detailed list)
Page 45
Storage
Figure storage of grains in granaries
Page 46
Figure food corporation of India (silos for storage of grains)
If the crop grains are to be kept for longer time, they should be safe from moisture, insects, rats and microorganisms.
If fresh crops having moisture are stored without drying them then they may get spoilt or attacked by organisms, losing their germination capacity.
Farmers store grains in jute bags or metallic bins.
Large scale storage of grains is done in silos and granaries to protect them from pests like rats and insects
Dried neem leaves are used for storing food grains at home.
In large godowns specific chemical treatments are required to protect grains from pests and microorganisms.
Animal husbandry
Animals reared at home or in farms, have to be provided with proper food, shelter and care. When this is done on a large scale, it is called animal husbandry.
Food corporation of India
The Food Corporation of India was setup under the Food Corporation's Act 1964, in order to fulfill following objectives of the Food Policy:
o Effective price support operations for safeguarding the interests of the farmers.
o Distribution of food grains throughout the country for public distribution system.
o Maintaining satisfactory level of operational and buffer stocks of food grains to ensure National Food Security
CROP PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT
Agricultural practices
We have read in ancient history that in 10000 BC people were nomadic i.e. they move from one place to another in search of food.
They were hunter and gatherer also i.e. hunting the animals and gathering fruits and vegetables for food.
Later they become agriculturist and adopted agriculture to grow crops.
Crop – when plants of same kind are grown and cultivated at one place on a large scale.
o Example – wheat, rice, maize etc.
Types of crops – cereals, vegetables and fruits.
Crops are grown according to climatic conditions like temperature, humidity and rainfall.
Cropping patterns are of 3 types – Rabi, Kharif and Zaid
o Kharif – grown in rainy season (June to September). E.g. – maize, paddy, soyabean, groundnut, cotton etc.
o Rabi – grown in winter season (Oct. to march) e.g. – wheat, gram, pea, mustard and linseed.
o Zaid – grown between March to June. E.g. – watermelon, muskmelon, pumpkin, cucumber etc.
Page 37
Basic practices of crop production
1. Preparation of soil
2. Sowing
3. Adding manure and fertilizers
4. Irrigation
5. Protecting from weeds
6. Harvesting
7. Storage
Preparation of soil
It is the 1st step before growing a crop.
Earthworms help in loosening and turning the soil + add humus.
The loosening and tilling of soil is called as tilling or ploughing.
Plough can be made of iron or wood.
If field is dry, then it may need watering.
If soil contains crumbs, then plank would be required to break them.
Field is levelled for sowing as well as for irrigation.
Q) Why there is need to prepare soil?
Turning and loosening the soil helps plant’s roots to penetrate deep into soil.
It also helps roots to breathe easily.
Helps in growing earthworm and microbes in soil. (farmer’s friend)
Bring nutrient rich soil to top.
Agricultural implements
Before sowing the seeds, the soil had to be broken to the size of grains to get better yield.
It is done with the tools like plough, hoe and cultivator.
Note – we need not to study how it works we just have to focus they are used for what purpose?
Plough
Page 38
Use - tilling the soil, adding fertilizers to the crop, removing the weeds, scraping of soil, etc.
Made of – wood or iron
Drawn by - pair of bulls or other animals (horses, camels, etc.). It contains a strong triangular iron strip called ploughshare which breaks the soil.
Hoe
Use - for removing weeds and for loosening the soil.
Pulled by – animals
Cultivator
Nowadays ploughing is done by tractor driven cultivator.
The use of cultivator saves labour and time.
Sowing
Most important part of crop production.
Before sowing, good quality seeds are selected so give a high yield.
Selection of seeds – seeds are put in water, hollow and lighter float on water and they are damaged seeds.
Tools used in sowing seeds –
Traditional tool
Page 39
Shaped like a funnel.
Seeds are filled into the funnel, passed down through two or three pipes having sharp ends which pierce into the soil and place seeds there.
Seed drill
Used - for sowing seeds with the help of tractors. It not only sows but also covers them with soil.
Sows the seeds uniformly at proper distances and depths. (appropriate distance necessary to avoid overcrowding and less competition for resources)
Advantage – saves time and labor.
Adding manure and fertilizers
The substances which are added to the soil in the form of nutrients for the healthy growth of plants are called manure and fertilisers.
Need of fertilizers
o Continuous growing of crops makes the soil deficient in certain nutrients. Adding of manure to the fields to replenish the soil with nutrients. This process is called as manuring.
o Improper or insufficient manuring results in weak plants.
Manure is an organic substance obtained from the decomposition of plant or animal wastes.
Fertilizers are chemical substances which are rich in particular nutrient.
Page 40
Q) How are fertilizers different from manure? Fertilizer Manure Inorganic salt Natural substance
Prepared in factories
Prepared in fields No humus to soil Lot of humus to soil
Rich in nutrients like NPK
Less rich in nutrients E.g. – Urea, ammonium sulphate, super phosphate, potash, NPK Vermicompost
Use of fertilizers had helped farmers to increase the yield of crops.
Excessive use results in barren land, water pollution etc.
Solution – use organic manure or leave the field uncultivated (fallow) in between two crops.
Advantages of manure over fertilizers –
o Improves soil texture
o Improves water retaining capacity
o It replenishes the soil with all the nutrients
o It makes the soil porous due to which exchange of gases becomes easy
o It increases the number of friendly microbes
Other method for replenishing the soil with nutrients – crop rotation (growing different crops alternately)
Irrigation
Why we need to irrigate crops?
o Plants contain nearly 90% water.
o Germination of seeds does not take place under dry conditions.
o Transportation of nutrients takes place only in water.
o Protects the crop from both frost and hot air currents
Irrigation - The supply of water to crops at different intervals
The time and frequency of irrigation varies from crop to crop, soil to soil and season to season.
Irrigation sources - wells, tube wells, ponds, lakes, rivers, dams and canals.
Traditional methods of irrigation
Page 41
Water available in wells, lakes and canals is lifted up by different methods –
o Moat (pulley -system)
o Chain pump
o Dhekli
o Rahat (lever system)
These methods are cheaper but less efficient.
Modern methods of irrigation
Sprinkler system
Page 42
o More useful on the uneven land where sufficient water is not available.
o Sprinkler Irrigation is a method of applying irrigation water which is similar to rainfall. Water is distributed through a system of pipes usually by pumping. It is then sprayed into the air and irrigated entire soil surface through spray heads so that it breaks up into small water drops which fall to the ground.
o Efficient coverage
Drip system
o Water falls drop by drop just at the position of the roots. So it is called drip system.
o Best technique for watering as provides water to plants drop by drop
o Water is not wasted.
o Boon for regions where water is not available.
Protection from weeds
Weeds - Growing of many other undesirable plants naturally along with the crop.
Weeding - removal of weeds.
Why weeding is necessary?
o Compete with the crop plants for water, nutrients, space and light.
Page 43
o Affect the growth of the crop.
o Interfere even in harvesting
o May be poisonous for animals and human beings.
Ways to remove weeding –
o Tilling - uproots and kill weeds
o Manual removal - physical removal of weeds by uprooting or cutting them close to the ground
o Seed drill is also used to uproot weeds.
Weedicides – chemicals which are used to control weeds are called as weedicides.
o Like – 2,4 D
o The weedicides are diluted with water and sprayed in the fields with a sprayer.
o No damage to crops.
o Spraying of weedicides may affect the health of farmers. So they should use these chemicals very carefully
Harvesting
The cutting of crop after it is mature is called harvesting.
In harvesting, crops are pulled out or cut close to the ground.
Harvesting in our country is done by following –
o Manually - by sickle
Page 44
o By a machine called harvester.
Separation of grains from chaff is called as Threshing.
“Combine” machine can be used for this purpose.
Small land holding farmer separate grain and chaff by winnowing.
Harvest festivals
The period of harvest is, thus, of great joy and happiness in all part of India.
Men and women celebrate it with great enthusiasm.
Special festivals associated with harvest season are – Pongal, Baisakhi, Holi, Diwali, Nabanya and Bihu. (click here for detailed list)
Page 45
Storage
Figure storage of grains in granaries
Page 46
Figure food corporation of India (silos for storage of grains)
If the crop grains are to be kept for longer time, they should be safe from moisture, insects, rats and microorganisms.
If fresh crops having moisture are stored without drying them then they may get spoilt or attacked by organisms, losing their germination capacity.
Farmers store grains in jute bags or metallic bins.
Large scale storage of grains is done in silos and granaries to protect them from pests like rats and insects
Dried neem leaves are used for storing food grains at home.
In large godowns specific chemical treatments are required to protect grains from pests and microorganisms.
Animal husbandry
Animals reared at home or in farms, have to be provided with proper food, shelter and care. When this is done on a large scale, it is called animal husbandry.
Food corporation of India
The Food Corporation of India was setup under the Food Corporation's Act 1964, in order to fulfill following objectives of the Food Policy:
o Effective price support operations for safeguarding the interests of the farmers.
o Distribution of food grains throughout the country for public distribution system.
o Maintaining satisfactory level of operational and buffer stocks of food grains to ensure National Food Security
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