Basic Practices of Crop Production

Introduction

Plants are autotrophs, i.e., they can prepare their food through photosynthesis. Animals and humans are heterotrophs, i.e., depend on other organisms for their food. Food is vital for all living beings as it provides nutrients and energy to carry out the different life processes. Humans cultivate the land and produce various plant-based food items called crops. The large-scale cultivation of a particular plant is called a crop, for example, grains, vegetables, fruits etc.

Types of Crops

Our country produces different types of crops depending on its geographical settings and physio-chemical factors. Accordingly, there are two crops − Kharif (grown exclusively in the rainy season) and rabi (grown in the winters). Kharif crops include sorghum, bajra, rice, maize and soybean. Rabi crops include wheat, barley, oats, pulses, and mustard.

Crop production

Culturing crops on a large scale for food is called crop production. However, it's not a simple task to grow crops on a large scale; it involves several different steps with proper care at every step to reap the desired harvest. The steps involved in producing crops are as follows −

• Soil preparation − Soil is a rich medium of humus, organic matter, nutrients, earthworms and beneficial microbes (involved in nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilization) to support the growth of various crops. Therefore, it is vital to prepare the soil before sowing seeds. Soil preparation is achieved by turning the soil to make the stiff soil loose and breathable, called ploughing. The soil must not be too dry before ploughing; in such cases, watering is essential. The organic matter suspended beneath the top layer of soil is brought to the surface by ploughing. Soil is prepared manually by using agricultural tools such as plough and hoe. Plough has been in use since the primitive days. It is a wooden structure composed of three parts: beam, ploughshaft and ploughshare are drawn by a pair of bulls. Hoe is another implement similar to a blade used for ploughing, drawn by bulls. These implements can also be used to remove weeds. Off late, cultivators are used for ploughing the soil, which does not require the use of animals; instead, it is driven by the tractor.

• Sowing of crops − Sowing is the process of planting seeds in the soil. Seeds of good quality with high yielding capacities are selected. Sowing can be carried out manually or by a seed yield. The manual method involves adding seeds into a funnel and allowing them to pass through a pipe pierced into the soil, thereby scattering the seeds. This method has limitations in not being able to sow the seed at appropriate depths and is time-consuming. The seed drill is a newer technique adopted by the farmers sowing the seeds at appropriate depths and maintaining gaps between every seed. This method saves human resources and keeps the pecking birds at bay.

• Addition of nutrients in manures or fertilizers −

Good quality plants are achieved by providing the soil with manure or fertilizers. Constant cultivation of crops depletes the soil of essential nutrients. Therefore, the soil has to be replenished by adding nutrients as manures or fertilizers. Manure is prepared in the field by dumping plant or animal waste in an open pit and allowing the microbes to decompose the waste. Decomposed matter is a natural source of organic matter. At the same time, fertilizers are synthesized in the factories.

Examples include NPK and potash. Crop rotation is an alternate method of restoring the soil devoid of nutrients. Manure has more advantages over using fertilizers as it is not chemically synthesized, increases soil quality and allows the soil to retain moisture.

• Irrigation − Watering the crops is inevitable in crop production, as it is needed for proper growth. Water maintains the soil humidity and protects the crops from scorching and dry conditions. Irrigation is the means of supplying a controlled amount of water to the crops at timely intervals. The natural sources of irrigation include wells, hand pumps, rivers, lakes etc. Irrigation can be done manually. However, the manual method may not be efficient as the water requirement differs for each crop type. Therefore, the method adopted widely is the sprinkler system and drip system.

Sprinkler system of irrigation

Water from the main pipe is passed through to vertical pipes attached to a rotating nozzle. The nozzles sprinkle water on the crops. This method is used widely in coffee plantations and lawns where the land is uneven.

Drip irrigation system

The plant is watered drop by drop. The method is widely used for tomatoes, bananas, grapes etc. 

• Removal of weeds − This process involves the removal of unwanted plants called weeds competing for space and nutrients. The elimination of weeds in the field is called weeding. Weeds may hinder the growth of crops and, in some instances, could be harmful to human consumption. They are removed before producing flowers using a seed drill. Spraying weedicides can also help in controlling them.

• Harvesting − The reaping of the mature crop is called harvesting, which can be done manually with a sickle or by a harvester machine. The grains are then separated from the chaff or other crops.

• Storage − The harvested grains are sun-dried to get rid of moisture which could lead to the growth of undesirable micro-organisms. After drying, the grains are stored in jute bags or metal containers to prevent invading insects, rats, worms etc. Silos can be used when storing the grains in bulk and for prolonged periods. 

FAQs

Qns 1. What is crop rotation?

Ans. Crop rotation is the method of growing different types of crops sequentially on the same land to replenish the lost nutrients in the soil. Legumes can be grown in one season in a given land and grains in the next season.

Qns 2. Give examples of weedicides.

Ans.2,4-D ethyl ester and glyphosate

Qns 3. What is vermicomposting?

Ans. Vermicomposting is the use of earthworms to convert kitchen food wastes into compost.

Qns 4. Name the bacteria responsible for fixing atmospheric nitrogen.

Ans. Rhizobium.

Qns 5. What are Silos?

Ans. Silos are steel or aluminium tall cylinders without ventilation to store grains.