Crop Production and Management

Crop Production and Management

• Food production is essential to sustain the large population, accomplished via regular production, proper management, and distribution

Agricultural Practices

• Agriculture began around 10,000 B.C.E. when nomadic people cultivated land to produce crops like rice and wheat
• A crop refers to plants of the same kind grown at one place on a large scale
• Crops are classified based on the season they grow in, such as cereals, vegetables, and fruits
• India's diverse climate allows for a rich variety of crops

Cropping Patterns

• Kharif crops are sown in the rainy season (June to September), examples include:
  • Paddy
  • Maize
  • Soyabean
  • Groundnut
  • Cotton
• Rabi crops are grown in the winter season (October to March), examples include:
  • Wheat
  • Gram
  • Pea
  • Mustard
  • Linseed
• Pulses and vegetables are also grown during summer

Basic Practices of Crop Production

• Cultivation involves several activities done by farmers over time, similar to gardening tasks
• These activities are called agricultural practices, which include:
  • Preparation of soil
  • Sowing
  • Adding manure and fertilisers
  • Irrigation
  • Protecting from weeds
  • Harvesting
  • Storage

Preparation of Soil

• Turning and loosening the soil is crucial before growing a crop
• Loose soil allows roots to penetrate easily and breathe
• It also helps earthworms and microbes grow, enriching the soil with humus
• Soil contains minerals, water, air, and living organisms
• Decomposition of dead plants/animals releases nutrients back into the soil by soil organisms
• Turning/loosening soil brings nutrient-rich soil to the top for plant use
• The process of loosening and turning soil is called tilling or ploughing, which is done using a plough
• Dry soil may require watering pre-ploughing
• Ploughed fields may have soil clumps (crumbs) that must be broken before sowing
• Levelling the field is beneficial for both sowing and irrigation using a leveller
• Manure is sometimes added before tilling to aid with nutrient mixing
• The soil is moisturized before sowing

Agricultural Implements

• Breaking soil clumps before sowing seeds is important for a better yield, accomplished with various tools
• Plough:
  • Used since ancient times for tilling, adding fertilisers, removing weeds, and turning the soil
  • Usually made of wood and drawn by a pair of bulls or other animals
  • Contains a ploughshare (triangular iron strip) and a ploughshaft (long log of wood)
• Hoe:
  • Simple tool for removing weeds and loosening soil
  • Has a long rod of wood or iron with a broad, bent iron plate at one end
• Cultivator:
  • Tractor-driven tool, which saves labour and time

Sowing

• Sowing is an important aspect of crop production
• Good quality, clean, and healthy seeds are selected before sowing for a high yield
• Damaged seeds are lighter and float on water, which supports a separation of good and damaged seeds
• Traditional tool:
  • A funnel-shaped tool traditionally used for sowing seeds
  • Seeds are funnelled down through pipes with sharp ends to pierce and place seeds in the soil
• Seed drill:
  • Used for sowing with tractors, which sows seeds uniformly at equal distances and depth
  • Ensured the seeds are covered by the soil, protecting them from birds and it also saves time/labour

Adding Manure and Fertilizers

• The substances added to the soil for healthy plant growth are manure and fertilizers
• Soil supplies mineral nutrients essential for plant growth
• Continuous cultivation depletes soil of nutrients, so farmers must add manure to replenish them in a process called manuring, insufficient manuring results in weak plants
• Manure as an organic substance from decomposed plant/animal waste in pits is broken down by microorganisms
• Fertilizers are chemical compounds rich in particular nutrients, produced in factories
• Fertilizer examples: urea, ammonium sulphate, superphosphate, potash, NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium)
• Using fertilizers helps increase crop yields but excessive use reduces fertility and causes water pollution
• Manure enhances soil texture and water retention and replenishes soil with nutrients
• Crop rotation, growing different crops alternately, can also replenish soil, legumes can replenish nitrogen

Differences Between Fertilizers and Manure

• Fertilizer:
  • A man-made inorganic salt
  • Prepared in factories
  • Does not provide humus to the soil
  • Very rich in plant nutrients
• Manure:
  • A natural substance from decomposition
  • Can be prepared in fields
  • Provides humus to the soil
  • Relatively less rich in plant nutrients

Advantages of Manure

• Enhances water-holding capacity
• Makes soil porous for gas exchange
• Increases friendly microbes
• Improves soil texture

Irrigation

• Water is vital for the growth and development
• Water is absorbed by plant roots along with minerals and fertilizers
• Plants consist of 90% water
• Water is essential for seed germination under dry conditions
• Dissolved nutrients are transported throughout the plant in water
• The moisture maintains protection of the crop from frost and hot air currents
• Regular watering is called irrigation
• The time and frequency of irrigation depends in the crop, soil, and season
• Watering done more frequently in summer because of higher evaporation rate

Sources of Irrigation

• Wells
• Tubewells
• Ponds
• Lakes
• Rivers
• Dams
• Canals

Traditional Methods of Irrigation

• Methods used in different regions to lift water to the fields
• Cattle or manual labour is used, these methods are cheaper but less efficient
• Includes:
  • Moat (pulley-system)
  • Chain pump
  • Dhekli
  • Rahat (Lever system)
• Pumps are commonly used for lifting water, powered by diesel gas or solar energy

Modern Methods of Irrigation

• Sprinkler system:
  • Useful for uneven land with insufficient water
  • Perpendicular pipes with rotating nozzles sprinkle water like rain
  • Applied to lawns, coffee plantations, and other crops
• Drip system:
  • Water falls drop by drop near the roots
  • Best for fruit plants, gardens, and trees
  • Minimizes water waste
  • A boon in areas with poor water availability

Protection from Weeds

• Undesirable plants that grow naturally along with crops are called weeds
• Removing weeds is called weeding
• Weeds compete with crop plants for water, nutrients, space, and light, affecting crop growth
• Some weeds interfere with harvesting and can be poisonous
• The weeds are removed and the growth is controlled with:
  • Tilling before sowing to uproot and kill weeds
  • Manual removal by uprooting or cutting close to the ground
  • Some can be controlled by weedicides

Harvesting

• Cutting the crop after it matures is called harvesting
• Crops are pulled out or cut close to the ground
• Usually takes 3–4 months for a cereal crop to mature
• Harvested manually by sickle or using a Harvester

Threshing

• Grain seeds are separated from the chaff
• With a machine called a ‘combine’ which is a harvester and thresher
• Farmers sometimes burn stubs, which causes pollution
• Farmers use winnowing for separating grain and chaff

Storage

• Produce should be protected from:
  • Moisture
  • Insects
  • Rats
  • Microorganisms
• Harvested grains have ample moisture, so drying is to reduce moisture content
• Large-scale storage is done in silos and granaries to safeguard from pests
• Specific chemical treatments are used for large quantities of grains