Crops are flowers that farmers grow for nourishment of the profit. Humans and animals can consume crops and they are essential for life to survive. Agriculture is the branch of science that deals with the study of agricultural civilisation and livestock breeding. Crops can be grown in two ways: farming or tank farming. Crops are harvested and used as food for human beings or fodder for the livestock. Crops are flowers that are sown on a greater extent from the similar variety. Crops are divided according to the seasons in which they grow:
Kharif Crops: These crops are sown in the early rainy season, which differs based on the crop and the area of cultivation. In India Kharif crops are planted around June and July, at the beginning of the monsoon season. These crops are harvested near the end of the monsoon season, between September and October. The main Kharif crop is paddy.
Rabi Crops: These crops are sown in the winter and following the monsoon season, which happens between October and November. Rabi crops are gathered in India during the spring months of March and April. Wheat is the most significant Rabi crop.
Techniques of crop production and management
Agriculture is followed by around 70% of the Indian population. Expectedly, crop production and management are necessary to guarantee high productivity in the fields. The following are the main agricultural techniques focused on crop production and management:
- Soil cultivation and planting the seeds
- Soil
- Using fertilisers
- Irrigation
- Weeding
- Harvesting
- Storage
Soil Cultivation
Before the seeds are sown, the earth is loosened and prepared . It is down by using ploughs. If there are massive chunks in the soil, they are broken up by using a hoe. This technique accelerates the soil, by enabling the roots to breathe easily. Nutrients and minerals are merged correctly with the soil by doing so soil becomes fertile and becomes suitable for cultivation.
Planting the seeds
Seeds of premium value and free of germs are gathered and cultivated on the land. The seeds must be planted at the right depths and time. The following are the various ways for planting the seeds.
- Methods from the past
- Transmitting
- Drilling
- Transporting
- Alpine decline
Manuring and fertilising
The soil may not have essential nutrients to help for the growth of plants. So manures and fertilisers are added to soil so that the soil becomes fertile. In compost containers, plants and animals debris decay to produce manure. Fertilisers are the factory-made chemicals consists of nutrients for plants. They create faster results than manures. But if fertilisers are used excessively, land becomes infertile.
Irrigation
Crops need water at regular intervals to grow properly. Irrigation is the technique of providing water to plants. Rivers, lakes and tube wells are different varieties of sources of irrigation. In ancient times moats, chain-pumps, dhelki and rahat were used for irrigation. But currently, sprinkler systems and the drip irrigation system are used. Water is needed for the growth of seeds. It allows the growth of flowers, fruits, seeds and plants.
Weeding
Weeds are the unwanted plants that grow along with the crops. They compete with the wanted crops to get food, water and so on. So weeds are removed by the process of weeding. Weedicides are the necessary chemicals used to kill weeds. They are sprayed before planting and flowering.
Harvesting
When the crops become mature, it is harvested for subsequent processing. It is a common labour work done by using a sickle. Threshing is the technique of segregating grains from harvested crops. It is done symmetrically or by cattle. Winnowing is the technique of segregating grains from the chaff. It can be done symmetrically or by cattle.
Storage
If the grains are to be stored for a longer duration, they must be stored carefully. They should be free from pests and moisture. Drying the grains reduces the chances of the growth of bacteria abd bugs. The harvested grains are stored in airtight iron jars or jute sacks and dried neem leaves are added. To store grains from pests and insects, huge amounts of grains are preserved in granaries.
