Crop :
When plants of the same kind are cultivated at one place on a large scale, it is called a crop.
Types of Crops :
Kharif crops : The crops, which are sown in the rainy season (from July to October) are called Kharif crops. Exp. Paddy, maize, soyabean, groundnut and cotton are kharif crops
Rabi crops : The crops, which are grown in the winter season (from October to March) are called Rabi crops. Exp. Wheat, gram, pea, mustard and linseed are Rabi crops.
Basic Practices of Crop
Production :
(1) Preparation of Soil :
- The preparation of soil is the first step before growing a crop.
- The soil is prepared for sowing the seeds of the crop.
- Preparations of soil includes loosening and turning of soil.
Tilling or Ploughing :
The process of loosening and turning of the soil is called tilling or ploughing and is done by using a plough.
Plough :
- A plough is used by farmers for different purposes such as adding of fertilizers, tilling and loosening of the soil, adding fertilisers to the crop, removing the weeds and turning the soil.
- The ploughshare is the triangular iron strip.
- A plough shaft is the main part of the plough, which is made using a log of wood.
- The other end of the shaft has a handle.
- The other end is attached to a beam which is placed on the bull’s necks.
- A wooden, traditional plough can be operated by a pair of an ox and a man.
- Nowadays these wooden ploughs are being replaced by the iron ploughs.
- It is a simple tool which is used for removing weeds and for loosening the soil.
- Nowadays ploughing is done by tractor-driven cultivator.
- A cultivator is attached to the tractor and helps in loosening soil.
- Cultivators are used instead of ploughs since they are faster.
(2) Sowing :
- Sowing is an important part of crop production.
- Sowing is the process of planting the seeds in the soil.
- The seeds are sowed in the soil that is loosened by a cultivator or plough.
Selection of Seeds :
- Selection of good seeds is done by putting the seeds in water.
- The dead and damaged seeds become hollow and float on water whereas the good seeds sink.
Traditional Tools :
- The traditional tool used to sow the seeds was like a funnel.
- Once seeds were put into this funnel, they would go to 2-3 tubes having sharp ends.
- The ends will pierce into the soil and place the seeds there.
Seed Drill :
- Nowadays the seed drill is used for sowing with the help of tractors.
- It ensures that seeds are sown uniformly, at a particular depth and are covered by soil after sowing.
Nursery
- A nursery is a place where young plants and trees are grown for planting .
- When they grow into seedlings, they are transplanted to the field.
Adding Manure and Fertilisers :
Manure/Fertilizers
- Manures and fertilizers are the substances that are added to the soil to increase their fertility.
Differences between Manure and Fertilizers
| S.N | Fertilizer | Manure |
| 1 | Fertiliser is a man-made obtained inorganic salt. | Manure is a natural substance, prepared from organic matter such as human waste, cow dung and farm waste |
| 2 | Fertiliser is prepared in factories. | Manure can be prepared in the fields. |
| 3 | Fertiliser does not provide humus to the soil | Manure provides a lot of humus to the soil. |
| 4 | Fertilisers are very rich in like nitrogen, nutrients. phosphorus and potassium. | Manure is relatively less rich in plant plant nutrients. |
Advantages of Manure :
- It enhances the water holding capacity of the soil.
- It makes the soil porous due to which exchange of gases becomes easy.
- It increases the number of friendly microbes.
- It improves the texture of the soil.
(3) Irrigation :
- The supply of water to crops at regular intervals is called irrigation.
- The time and frequency of irrigation varies from crop to crop, soil to soil and season to season.
Sources of irrigation :
The sources of
water for irrigation are— wells, tube wells, ponds, lakes, rivers, dams
and canals.
Traditional Methods of
Irrigation :
- Moat (pulley-system)
- Chain pump
- Dhekli,
- Rahat (Lever system)
Modern Methods of
Irrigation :
(i) Sprinkler System:
- In this system perpendicular pipes, having rotating nozzles on top, are joined to the main pipeline at regular intervals. When water is allowed to flow through the main pipe under pressure with the help of a pump, it escapes from the rotating nozzles. It gets sprinkled on the crop as if it is raining.
- This system is more useful on the uneven land where sufficient water is not available.
- Sprinkler is very useful for lawns, coffee plantation and several other
(ii) Drip system :
- In this system, the water falls drop by drop directly near the roots. So it is called drip system.
- It is the best technique for watering fruit plants, gardens and trees.
(4) Protection from Weeds :
Weeds :
- Undesirable plants that may grow naturally along with the crop are called weeds.
- The removal of weeds is called weeding.
- The best time for the removal of weeds is before they produce flowers and seeds.
Weeding :
- Manual removal : The manual removal includes physical removal of weeds by uprooting or cutting them close to the ground, from time to time. This is done with the help of a khurpi.
- Controlled by using certain chemicals : Weeds are also controlled by using certain chemicals, called weedicides, like 2,4-D. These are sprayed in the fields to kill the weeds. They do not damage the crops.
- Spraying of weedicides may affect the health of farmers. So they should use these chemicals very carefully. They should cover their nose and mouth with a piece of cloth during spraying of these chemicals.
(5) Harvesting :
- The cutting of crop after it is mature is called harvesting.
- In harvesting, crops are pulled out or cut close to the ground.
- Harvesting is either done manually by sickle or by a machine called harvester.
- Threshing- In the harvested crop, the grain seeds need to be separated from the chaff. This process is called threshing.
- Threshing is carried out with the help of a machine called combine.
- Farmers with small holdings of land do the separation of grain and chaff by winnowing.
(6) Storage :
- Freshly harvested grains have more moisture. Hence, before storing them, the grains are properly dried in the sun to reduce the moisture in them. This prevents the attack by insect pests, bacteria and fungi.
- Farmers store grains in jute bags or metallic bins.
- In large scale storage of grains is done in silos and granaries to protect them from pests like rats and insects.
