Improvement in Food Resources: Crops, Production, and Management

**Improvement in Food Resources** \# Crops are plants grown in large quantities for food or other needs. \# The practice of cultivating land using such methods that yield sufficient crops, but do not harm the environment is called sustainable agriculture. \# Crop Production Nutrients Cereal cro...

**Improvement in Food Resources** \# Crops are plants grown in large quantities for food or other needs. \# The practice of cultivating land using such methods that yield sufficient crops, but do not harm the environment is called sustainable agriculture. \# Crop Production Nutrients Cereal crops Pulses Oilseeds \# Crop Seasons Kharif Rabi Summer crops - Pulses like urad and moong \# Improvement in Crop Yield can be achieved by adopting scientific approaches. These approaches which enhance the crop yield are as follows: Management of Crop Production Crop Improvement through genetic manipulation Management of Crop Protection Management of Crop Production Management of nutrients Macronutrients- C, H, O, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S. Primary nutrients- N, P, K Micronutrients- Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Boron, molybdenum and Cl. Sources of nutrients- Air- C, O Water- H Soil- N The deficiency of nutrients leads to stunted growth, yellowing of leaves (due to less chlorophyll), reduced crop yield and even death of plants. \# Manure is organic matter obtained from the decomposition (breakdown) of animal wastes, dead plants and animals by the action of decomposers like bacteria and fungi. Types of manure Farmyard manure Compost Vermicompost- earthworm and microbes Green manure- \# Fertilizers are inorganic chemicals manufactured in industries. Types of fertilizers Nitrogenous urea, ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate Phosphatic superphosphate, ammonium phosphate Potassium potassium nitrate, chloride, sulphate Application of fertilizers Before sowing, during irrigation, by spraying them Judicious use of fertilizers Disadvantages of fertilizers- Change the nature of the soil Pollutes sources of water hence unfit for human consumption Eutrophication \# Organic farming is an environment-friendly system of crop cultivation in which biological methods are used to provide nutrition to the soil and finally to the plants. Organic farming is a farming system with minimal or no use of chemicals as fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides etc. and with a maximum input of organic manures, recycled farm wastes, and bio-agents, with healthy cropping systems. \# Irrigation- 58% of our cropped area does not have a proper irrigation facility and depends on rainfall. Mixed farming is a system of farming on a particular farm which includes crop production, raising of livestock etc. \# Cropping patters- Mixed cropping: Mixed cropping is growing of two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land. For example, wheat + gram, or wheat + mustard, or groundnut + sunflower. This reduces risk and gives some insurance against failure of one of the crops. Intercropping: Growing two or more crops in definite row patterns is known as inter-cropping. For example, soyabean + maize, or finger millet (bajra) + cowpea (lobia). The crops are selected such that their nutrient requirements are different. This ensures maximum utilisation of the nutrients supplied, and also prevents pests and diseases from spreading to all the plants belonging to one crop in a field. This way, both crops can give better returns. Crop rotation: The growing of different crops on a piece of land in pre-planned succession is called crop rotation. One year Two year Three year Crop Improvement through Genetic Manipulation Varietal improvement is required for higher yield, good quality, biotic and abiotic resistance, shortening the maturity duration, wider adaptability and desirable agronomic characteristics. The factors for which variety improvement is done are: Higher yield: To increase the productivity of the crop per acre. Improved quality: Quality considerations of crop products vary from crop to crop. Baking quality is important in wheat, protein quality in pulses, oil quality in oilseeds and preserving quality in fruits and vegetables. Biotic and abiotic resistance: Crops production can go down due to biotic (diseases, insects and nematodes) and abiotic (drought, salinity, water logging, heat, cold and frost) stresses under different situations. Varieties resistant to these stresses can improve crop production. Change in maturity duration: The shorter the duration of the crop from sowing to harvesting, the more economical is the variety. Such short durations allow farmers to grow multiple rounds of crops in a year. Short duration also reduces the cost of crop production. Uniform maturity makes the harvesting process easy and reduces losses during harvesting. Wider adaptability: Developing varieties for wider adaptability will help in stabilising the crop production under different environmental conditions. One variety can then be grown under different climatic conditions in different areas. Desirable agronomic characteristics: Tallness and profuse branching are desirable characters for fodder crops. Dwarfness is desired in cereals, so that less nutrients are consumed by these crops. Thus developing varieties of desired agronomic characters help give higher productivity. 1\. How do biotic and abiotic factors affect crop production? 2\. What are the desirable agronomic characteristics for crop improvements? Methods of crop improvement- Each character is controlled by a gene. A gene is a unit of heredity made up of DNA. It is located on chromosomes. The incorporations of desirable characters can be brought by scientific techniques like- \# Mutation occurs when a gene goes through a structural change \# Polyploidy is caused due to a change in the chromosome number due to the reshuffling of genes during sexual reproduction. \# Recombinant DNA technology, desired DNA is isolated from one organism and inserted into the DNA molecule of another organism. Hybridisation is the process cross-breeding between genetically dissimilar individuals. Hybridisation is of the following three types- Intervarietal Interspecific Intergeneric The science of improving crop varieties is called plant breeding. Introduction- acclimatize Selection mass selection pure-line selection Advantages of high-yielding varieties High yield Early maturation Disease resistant Better response to fertilizers Desirable agronomic traits Wider adaptability Better quality \* Disadvantages of high-yielding varieties Produce less fodder Higher inputs Management of Crop Protection Undesirable plants that grow along with cultivated crops are called weeds. They compete with the useful plants for minerals, water, light and space. They decrease the crop yield and lower the quality of foodgrains. Spread crop pests and diseases by acting as alternative hosts. Common weeds are- Amaranthus (chaulai), Chenopodium (bathua), convolvulus (khuri), doob grass and wild oat (javi) Methods of Weed Control Mechanical method- harrow (khurpi), hoe or rake \- tilling, mowing, burning and flooding Chemical method- Use of weedicides (sprays or powder) eg., 2, 4D(2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) MPCA(2-methyl-4-chloro-1-phenoxyacetic acid) and butachlor. Herbicides Cheap, easy and less time-consuming Biological method-cochineal insects are used to eradicate prickly pear -Carps (a type of fish) can control weeds like Hydrilla and Lemna A plant disease is a structural or physiological abnormality which reduces the yield of the crop. About 10% of our crop is damaged by pathogens (bacteria, fungi, viruses and insects). Crop diseases are of the following three types Seed borne- Ergot of bajra and leaf spot of paddy - fungi Soil borne- smut of bajra and tikka of groundnut -fungi Air borne - rust of wheat - fungi \* Effect of pests and crop disease 1\. Cut root, stem, leaf, e.g., weevil attack on wheat crops 2\. Suck cell sap from parts of a plant, e.g., aphids on mustard crops 3\. Bore into stem and fruit, e.g., shoot-borer larvae Locusts, dragonflies and grasshoppers Bugs and beetles Termites and white ants Methods of pest control- Chemical Pesticides - Fungicides, insecticides, rodenticides, nematicides Baits and traps are used to kill rodents Biological-slow, highly specific and non-polluting Australian ladybird -citrus orchards \- introduction of disease-resistant varieties of crops \- crop rotation Harmful effects of pesticides- non-biodegradable causes environment pollution Contact may cause skin problems and respiratory diseases Biological magnification Scientific Storage of Grain Need for safe storage- efficient storage and distribution systems are required Damage during storage- 10% (15 million tonnes of food grains) is lost due to improper storage. It can feed 75 million people. Factors responsible for the spoilage of food: \* Abiotic factors i\. Moisture content- 14% by weight ii\. Temperature 30-32C is optimum for growth of insects, 30 to 40 C for microorganisms If the storage compartments is kept cool and dry much of the damage can be averted. \*Biotic factors -rodents, birds, insects and microorganisms \- enzymes present in them \* Preventive and control measures Dry or non-perishable food-stored at room temperature after drying in sun = Dry storage Perishable food-Cold Storage - at low temperature Godowns, stores should be clean, dry, and free from foreign matter and infestation of insects, rodents and spiders Pesticides- Spraying before storage Malathion, Pyrethrum etc. -Fumigation -two tablets of Aluminium phosphide (black poison) 3 g each in one ton grain **Animal Husbandry** Domestic animals can be grouped into four types: i\. Milk producing ii\. Meat and egg iii\. Working or draught iv\. Fibre and skin yielding The branch of agriculture which deals with the breeding, feeding and care of domestic animals is called animal husbandry. Farm animals require proper care and management such as shelter, feeding, breeding and disease control. This is called animal husbandry. It is essential for- \* Milk production 200 kg in India 3000 kg in Sweden \* Annual per capita consumption of poultry meat: 131 kg 1318 kg egg: 6/year/head in India 295/year/head in USA \* Fish \* Proper utilisation of animal wastes \* Working efficiency of domestic animals Main handicaps in the promotion and growth of livestock Shortage of feed and fodder Lack of care Poor genetic potential of livestock Climatic and environmental factors [Farm management of buffalo and cows] \* A good animal shelter should be- Clean, dry and well ventilated. Spacious to prevent overcrowding. Provision for drinking water. Adequate sunlight during the day. Proper management for the disposal of excreta. Hygienic surrounding. Provide protection from predators, fire, rain, severe heat and cold. \* Feed Green fodder and dry grasses (roughage): fibrous, coarse substances with low-nutrient contents like hay, jawar, bazra, berseem -- 15 to 20 kg Grain mixture (concentrate): food rich in one or more nutrient like oilseeds, oil cakes, cereals and bran- 4 to 5 kg Water -- 32 litres \* 25% of the world cattle population in India, but only 5% of the world's total milk production. Diseases of animals- bacterial, viral, fungal Symptoms Inactive, stops eating Yield or working capacity is reduced Prevention and control of diseases Vaccinations are given to farm animals against many major viral and bacterial diseases. Breeding Artificial insemination Selection of breeds having desirable qualities Collection of semen Preservation of semen Introduction of semen-injected artificially into the vagina of the chosen female during heat period Advantages: - \* Produce high-yielding breed \* Cheaper \* Ensures good-quality progeny \* More reliable \* High-quality semen is available throughout year Karan-Swiss (Brown Swiss, Indian Sahiwal) Karan-Fries (Holstein-Friesian, Tharparkar) Frieswal (Holstein-Friesian, Sahiwal) Embryo transfer 1\. Which method is commonly used for improving cattle breeds and why? Poultry farming: Poultry farming is done to raise domestic fowls. Poultry production includes egg production and broiler production for poultry meat. Layers Broilers Housing and shelter Feed Disease Breeding: To enhance poultry production, cross breeding is done between Indian and exotic breeds for variety improvement. Breeds for variety improvement are focused on to develop new varieties for the following desirable traits--- \(i) number and quality of chicks \(ii) dwarf broiler parent for commercial chick production; \(iii) summer adaptation capacity/ tolerance to high temperature; \(iv) low maintenance requirements; \(v) reduction in the size of the egg-laying bird with ability to utilise more fibrous cheaper diets formulated using agricultural by-products.\ \* Poultry fowl suffer from a number of diseases caused by virus, bacteria, fungi, parasites, as well as from nutritional deficiencies. These necessitate proper cleaning, sanitation, and spraying of disinfectants at regular intervals. Appropriate vaccination can prevent the occurrence of infectious diseases and reduce loss of poultry during an outbreak of disease. Fish provide nutritious food, oil, fertilizers and other useful products. Fish proteins, vitamins A and D and easy digestibility Shark and cod-liver oil have medicinal value. There are two ways of obtaining fish. One is from natural resources, which is called capture fishing. The other way is by fish farming, which is called culture fishery. Freshwater: rohu catla tirica singhara calbasu malli magur -57 lakh tonne 1999-20 Marine: Bombay duck eel hilsa salmon, sardines pomphret Prawns, lobsters, crabs, molluscs Fish production: Fish may be obtained from marine resources as well as inland resources. To increase production of fish, they can be cultured in marine and inland ecosystems. Marine fish capture is done by fishing nets guided by echosounders and satellites. Composite fish culture system is commonly used for fish farming. Surface breeder- catla Intermediate breeder- rohu Bottom breeder- mrigal common carp Bee-keeping is done to get honey and wax. \* The local varieties of bees used for commercial honey production are Apis cerana indica, commonly known as the Indian bee, A. dorsata, the rock bee and A. florae, the little bee. An Italian bee variety, A. mellifera, has also been brought in to increase yield of honey. \* The value or quality of honey depends upon the pasturage, or the flowers available to the bees for nectar and pollen collection. In addition to adequate quantity of pasturage, the kind of flowers available will determine the taste of the honey. Variations means differences between individuals of the same species. Exercises 1\. Explain any one method of crop production which ensures high yield. 2\. Why are manure and fertilizers used in fields? 3\. What are the advantages of inter-cropping and crop rotation? 4\. What is genetic manipulation? How is it useful in agricultural practices? 5\. How do storage grain losses occur? 6. How do good animal husbandry practices benefit farmers? 7\. What are the benefits of cattle farming? 8. For increasing production, what is common in poultry, fisheries and bee-keeping? 9\. How do you differentiate between capture fishing, mariculture and aquaculture?