Soil and Crop Management

Soil and Crop Management Components

• Selecting suitable crops and varieties for the specific soil type is key
• Implementation of conservational techniques such as crop rotation and mulching is an important component
• Maintaining soil fertility and moisture through tillage and irrigation is helpful

Importance of Nutrient Management

• Ensuring enough nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to promote robust crop growth and yields are important
• Common fertilizers include Urea (a nitrogen source) and DAP (Diammonium Phosphate)

Importance of Water Management

• Prevent over-watering and ensure proper irrigation during key growth phases like flowering
• Drip irrigation is a good conservational approach, it minimizes water waste and delivers water directly to plant roots

Weed and Pest Control

• Wild oats can be managed with herbicides such as butachlor or by manually removing them
• Barnyard grass can be handled with pre-emergent herbicides or crop rotation
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) uses biological controls (natural predators), cultural methods (crop rotation), and chemical controls (minimal pesticides)
• IPM is helpful as it reduces pesticide use and environmental harm and avoids pest resistance.

Crop Production Seasons

• Kharif crops are sown in June-July and harvested in October-November, for example rice and maize
• Rabi crops are sown in October-November and harvested in March-April, wheat and mustard are included
• Zaid crops grow between March and June, and include watermelon and muskmelon

Kharif Crop Soil and Climate

• Rice needs a hot, humid climate and clayey soil
• Maize needs a warm climate and loamy soil

Rabi Crop Information

• Grown between October and March
• The major crops are wheat, barley, peas, and mustard

Agricultural Crop Classifications

• Wheat is a cereal crop
• Soybean is an oilseed crop
• Sugarcane is a commercial crop
• Berseem is a fodder crop
• Chickpea is a pulse crop

Cereal Crops as Staple Foods

• Cereal crops such as rice and wheat are rich in carbohydrates and a primary energy source in India

Rice Climate and Soil Needs

• Hot, and humid conditions with high rainfall
• Clayey or loamy soil with water-holding ability

Rice Cultivation Via System of Rice Intensification (SRI)

• Uses single young seedlings, wide spacing, and organic manure to reduce water use and increase productivity

Steps for the Wetting of Rice

• Soil Puddling
• Seedling transplantation into flooded areas
• Water level maintenance
• Harvesting when mature

Rice Pests and Diseases Management

• Stem borers can be controlled using chlorpyriphos
• Blast diseases are treated with fungicides like bavistin

Water Requirements for Rice

• About 3000-5000 liters of water for 1 kg of rice
• Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) reduces use

Crop Rotation Benefits

• Improves soil fertility while decreasing pests
• An example includes rice-wheat cropping

Dry Seeding vs Wet Seeding

• Dry seeding involves sowing seeds in dry soil followed by irrigation
• Wet seeding involves sowing sprouted seeds in puddled (wet) soil

Preference for Organic Manure

• Improves soil composition, adds organic matter, prevents chemical residue

Nutrient Management Details

• Providing vital nutrients such as Urea, DAP, organic manure, and compost to ensure crop growth
• Balanced nutrient application gives high yields and decreases potential environmental damage

Weed Management Details

• Weeds that compete with crops for nutrients, light, and space decrease yields
• Hand weeding, mechanical instruments, and herbicides such as butachlor are ways to manage weeds

Disease Management Details

• Diseases such as leaf blight and rust decrease yields
• Disease-resistant varieties are preventive measures and using fungicides such as bavistin

Pest Management Details

• Using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to use biological, cultural, and chemical techniques
• Using chlorpyriphos and crop rotation control stem borers

Soil and Crop Management for Agriculture Benefits

• Supports agriculture by ensuring crops can be grown for a very long time
• Crop rotation, mulching, and conservational tillage will ensure soil health
• Correct irrigation, pest control, and nutrient use yield good results and preserve resources

Water Management Techniques

• Drip Irrigation delivers water directly to the root zone
• Rainwater Harvesting collects and stores rainwater for irrigation
• Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) used in rice farming to reduce water use

Kharif Crop Facts

• Sown in June-July, and harvested in October-November
• Rice maize and cotton are examples

Rabi Crop Facts

• Sown in October-November, and harvested in March-April,
• Wheat mustard, and barley are examples

Zaid Crop Facts

• Grown between March and June
• Watermelon and muskmelon are examples

Rice Climate and Soil Needs

• Requires hot and humid climates with temperatures above 25°C
• It grows best in clayey soil with good water-holding capacity

Maize Climate and Soil Needs

• It thrives in warm climates with moderate rainfall
• Prefers well-drained loamy soil

Rabi season facts

• Runs between October and March
• Major crops include wheat, barley, mustard, and peas

Crop Classification Examples

• Rice is a cereal
• Chickpea is a pulse
• Sugarcane is for commercial use

Cereal Crop Advantages

• The richness in carbohydrates serves as a primary energy source
• They are easy to cultivate, and easy to afford

Ideal Rice Growing Locations

• Require hot, humid climates above 25°C and 100-150 cm of annual rainfall
• Needs clayey or loamy soils with great water retention and organic matter content

Rice Wetting Steps

• Puddling: Field preparation by flooding and plowing
• Transplanting: Planting young rice plants in flooded areas
• Water Maintenance: Standing water is maintained while the crop grows
• Weed Control: Removal of weeds by hand or with herbicides
• Harvesting: Cutting of the mature crop

Rice Pests and Diseases

• Stem borer are pests controlled by chlorpyriphos
• Leaf blast is a disease treated using bavistin

Reducing Water Use in Rice Agriculture

• Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) is helpful and saves 30-40% water

Crop Rotation Benefits

• Prevents soil depletion by reducing the buildup of pests and diseases
• It maintains soil composition, for example rice-wheat rotation

Dry Seeding Fact

• Sowing seeds in dry soil and irrigation afterwards is helpful

Wet Seeding Fact

• Sowing pre-sprouted seeds in wet soils helps

Organic Manure Benefits over Chemical Fertilizers

• Organic matter improves soil structure, is better at promoting microbial activity, and leaves no harmful residues

Unit-2 Key Points

• The cultural demands for key Indian fruits, vegetables, flowers, and spices
• Understanding pests, diseases, soil, climate, and methods for multiplication
• Capability to spot pests and illnesses with expertise in pruning, budding, and grafting processes

Temperate Fruits Overview

• Examples are apples, pears, and peaches
• Thrive in cool climates
• Need well-drained, loamy soil at pH 6-6.5

Tropical Fruits Overview

• Mangoes, bananas, and pineapples are examples
• Thrive in warmer, humid climates
• Need soil with high organic matter

Sub-Tropical Fruits Overview

• Citrus Fruits, Oranges and lemons are examples of these
• Fungal infections can be a problem

Solanaceous Crop Facts

• Tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants are examples
• Loamy soil with good drainage and high organic matter

Protecting Cucurbitaceous Crops

• Pumpkins, cucumbers, and bottle gourds can be included
• Support and safeguard from fruit flies

Cole Crop Facts

• Cabbage and cauliflower
• Needed are irrigation and insecticide treatments

Flower Crop Details

• Roses, marigolds, and tuberose
• Roses prefer sunlight and marigolds need regular pruning

Spices Details

• Coriander, turmeric, and black pepper are examples
• Need temperatures that are warm with loamy soils
• Needed is the managing of aphids, and fungal ailments

Propagation Methods

• Grafting, budding, air layering, and seed sowing
• Pruning of grapevines and apple trees are helpful to consider