CROP PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT

Introduction

All living organisms require food. Plants can make their food themselves whereas animals including humans can not make their own food. Humans get their food from plants, or animals, or both. In order to provide food for a large population, we need to adopt certain agricultural practices.

Evolution of Crop Production or Agriculture

Till 10,000 B.C.E. people were nomadic, wandering in groups from place to place in search of food and shelter, eating raw fruits and vegetables and hunting animals for food.

Later, they started cultivating land and produced rice, wheat and other food crops.

What is a crop?

Plants of the same kind that are cultivated at one place on a large scale are called a crop. Ex: A Wheat Crop – here all the plants are grown in a field is wheat.

Crops Classification

Crops (cereals, vegetables and fruits)are classified on the basis of the season in which they grow into:

Basic Practices of Crop Production or agricultural practices

1.Preparation of Soil

The preparation of the soil is the first step before growing a crop. It involves turning and loosening the soil as a result of which the nutrient-rich soil comes to the top. It also helps the roots to penetrate deep into the soil. The loosened soil helps in the growth of earthworms and microbes present in the soil. The process of loosening and turning the soil is called tilling or ploughing. This is done by using a plough which is made of wood or iron.

The ploughed field may have big clumps of soil called crumbs. In order to get a better yield, it is necessary to break these soil clumps. This is done with the help of various tools such as plough, hoe and cultivator.

2. Sowing

Sowing of seeds at appropriate depths and distances gives a good yield. A good variety of seeds are sown after the selection of healthy seeds. Sowing is done by seed drills uniformly at equal distance and depth.

3.Adding Manure and Fertilisers

The substances which are added to the soil in the form of nutrients for the healthy growth of plants are called manure and fertilisers.

Manure is an organic substance obtained from the decomposition of plant or animal wastes.

Fertilisers are chemicals that are rich in a particular nutrient.

ex: urea, ammonium sulphate, super phosphate, potash, NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium).

FERTILISER	MANURE
man-made Inorganic salt,Chemical substance	Natural,Organic substance obtained by the decomposition of cattle dung and plant residues.
Prepared in factories	Prepared in fields
Does not provide humus to the soil	Provides humus to the soil
Rich in plant nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.	Less rich in plant nutrients

Advantages of Manure over fertilisers

it enhances the water holding capacity of the soil.
it makes the soil porous due to which exchange of gases becomes easy.
it increases the number of friendly microbes.
it improves the texture of the soil.

4.Irrigation

The supply of water to crops at regular intervals is called irrigation.

Sources of irrigation

wells
tubewells
ponds
lakes
rivers
dams
canals.

Methods of Irrigation

Traditional Methods of Irrigation
Modern Methods of Irrigation

Traditional Methods of Irrigation

Cattle or human labour is used in these methods. The various traditional ways are:

Modern Methods of Irrigation

Sprinkler Irrigation

Sprinkler Irrigation is a method of irrigation where water is distributed through a system of perpendicular pipes usually by pumping.

The perpendicular pipes, having rotating nozzles on top, are joined to the main pipeline at regular intervals.

When water is allowed to flow through the main pipe under pressure with the help of a pump, it escapes from the rotating nozzles and gets sprinkled on the crop as if it is raining.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Sprinkler Irrigation:

Advantages :

Eliminates water conveyance channels, thereby reducing water loss through these channels.
2.Suitable in all types of soil except heavy clay.

3.Saves up to 30% – 50 % water.

Suitable for irrigation where the plant population per unit area is very high.
Helps to increase yield.
6. Reduces soil compaction.

7.Suitable for undulating land.

8. Soluble fertilizers and chemicals use are possible.
9. Reduces labour cost.

Disadvantages :

It requires a high initial investment.
2. Power requirement is usually high since sprinklers operate with more than 0.5 kg/cm2 water pressure.
Fine-textured soils that have a low infiltration rate cannot be irrigated efficiently in a windy area.
Loss of water due to evaporation from the area during irrigation.
Wind distorts sprinkler pattern and causes uneven distribution of water.

Drip Irrigation

In this system, the water falls drop by drop directly near the roots. So it is called a drip system. It is the best technique for watering fruit plants, gardens and trees

Advantages and Disadvantages of Drip Irrigation:

Advantages:

Maximum use of available water.
2. No water being available to weeds so weed control is efficient.
Maximum crop yield.
4. High efficiency in the use of fertilizers.
5. Soil erosion is eliminated.
6. Improved infiltration in the soil of low intake.
7. No runoff of fertilizers into groundwater.
8. Fewer evaporation losses of water as compared to surface irrigation.
9. Improves seed germination.

Disadvantages:

Sensitivity to clogging.
Moisture distribution problem.
Salinity hazards.
High cost compared to furrow.
High skill is required for design, installation, and operation.

5.Protection from weeds

Advantages and Disadvantages of Drip Irrigation:

Advantages:

Maximum use of available water.
2. No water being available to weeds so weed control is efficient.
Maximum crop yield.
4. High efficiency in the use of fertilizers.
5. Soil erosion is eliminated.
6. Improved infiltration in the soil of low intake.
7. No runoff of fertilizers into groundwater.
8. Fewer evaporation losses of water as compared to surface irrigation.
9. Improves seed germination.

Disadvantages:

Sensitivity to clogging.
Moisture distribution problem.
Salinity hazards.
High cost compared to furrow.
High skill is required for design, installation, and operation.

6.Harvesting

The cutting of a crop after it is mature is called harvesting.

In India, harvesting is either done manually by sickle or by a machine called a harvester.

Separation of the grains from the chaff (dry, scaly protective casing of the seeds of cereal grains) is called threshing.

This is carried out with the help of a machine called ‘combine’.

Farmers with small holdings of land do the separation of grain and chaff by winnowing.

7.Storage

Harvested food grains normally contain more moisture than required for storage.

The large scale of storage of grains is done in silos and granaries to protect them from pests like rats and insects.

Farmers store grains in jute bags or metallic bins.

Dried neem leaves are used for storing food grains at home.