Agricultural Practices

Introduction:

• Nomadic Lifestyle (Before 10,000 B.C.E.):
  • People were nomadic, wandering in search of food and shelter.
  • Consumed raw fruits and vegetables and hunted animals for sustenance.

Evolution of Agriculture:

• Transition to Agriculture:
  • Shifted from a nomadic lifestyle to cultivating land for food production.
  • The introduction of agriculture marked a significant change.

Basics of Agriculture:

• Cultivation and Crops:
  • Cultivating plants of the same kind on a large scale is termed a crop.
  • Examples include rice, wheat, and other food crops.
• Types of Crops:
  • Crops are diverse, and classified into cereals, vegetables, and fruits.
  • Classification based on the season of growth.

Cropping Patterns in India:

• Diversity in Climatic Conditions:
  • India exhibits varying climatic conditions—temperature, humidity, and rainfall.
• Kharif Crops:
  • Sown during the rainy season (June to September).
  • Examples: Paddy, maize, soybean, groundnut, and cotton.
• Rabi Crops:
  • Grown in the winter season (October to March).
  • Examples: Wheat, gram, pea, mustard, and linseed.
• Summer Crops:
  • Pulses and vegetables are cultivated during the summer season.

Regional Variations:

• Crop Diversity Across Regions:
  • India’s vastness results in diverse crops due to regional climatic variations.
  • Despite the diversity, two broad cropping patterns prevail.

Basic Practices of Crop Production

• Cultivation Process:
  • Crop production involves a series of activities conducted by farmers, akin to gardening practices or growing ornamental plants.

Agricultural Practices:

Preparation of Soil

Importance of Soil Preparation:

• Initial Step in Crop Cultivation:
  • Soil preparation is a fundamental step before growing crops.
• Loosening the Soil:
  • Turning and loosening the soil is essential for promoting root penetration.
  • Allows roots to breathe easily, even when reaching deep into the soil.

Benefits of Loosened Soil:

• Facilitating Growth of Organisms:
  • Loosened soil promotes the growth of earthworms and microbes.
  • These organisms further enhance soil quality by turning and adding humus.
• Nutrient Cycling:
  • Soil contains minerals, water, air, and living organisms.
  • The decomposition of dead plants and animals releases nutrients back into the soil.
  • Nutrients are absorbed by plants for growth.
• Bringing Nutrients to the Surface:
  • Turning and loosening soil brings nutrient-rich layers to the surface.
  • Ensures accessibility for plant roots, as only the top layer supports plant growth.

Tilling or Ploughing:

• Definition and Purpose:
  • Tilling or ploughing is the process of loosening and turning the soil.
  • Accomplished using a plough made of wood or iron.
• Breaking Soil Clumps:
  • Ploughing may result in large clumps of soil known as crumbs.
  • Breaking these crumbs is necessary for optimal soil structure.

Leveling and Additional Practices:

• Leveling for Sowing and Irrigation:
  • Leveling the field is crucial for efficient sowing and irrigation.
  • Achieved using a leveler to create a uniform surface.
• Adding Manure and Moistening Soil:
  • Manure is sometimes added before tilling for proper integration with the soil.
  • Soil is moistened before sowing to create favorable conditions for germination.

Agricultural Implements

• Importance of Soil Preparation:
  • Before sowing seeds, breaking soil clumps is crucial for achieving a better yield.
  • Various tools are employed for this purpose.

Main Agricultural Implements:

1. Plough:
   • Ancient Tool for Tilling:
     • Used since ancient times for multiple purposes.
     • Tasks include tilling, adding fertilizers, weed removal, and soil turning.
   • Construction:
     • Typically made of wood.
     • Features a strong triangular iron strip called ploughshare.
     • Long wooden log, ploughshaft, with a handle at one end.
   • Operation:
     • Drawn by a pair of bulls, horses, or camels.
     • One pair of bulls and a person can operate it efficiently.
   • Evolution:
     • Iron ploughs are gradually replacing Indigenous wooden ploughs.
2. Hoe:
   • Simple Weed Removal Tool:
     • Used for removing weeds and loosening the soil.
   • Design:
     • Long rod of wood or iron.
     • Equipped with a strong, broad, and bent iron plate acting as a blade.
   • Operation:
     • Pulled by animals.
3. Cultivator:
   • Modern Mechanized Ploughing:
     • Tractor-driven cultivators are employed for efficient plowing.
   • Advantages:
     • Saves labor and time compared to traditional methods.

Technological Advancements:

• Shift to Iron Ploughs:
  • Traditional wooden ploughs are increasingly being replaced by more durable iron ploughs.
• Mechanization with Cultivators:
  • Use of tractor-driven cultivators for enhanced efficiency in soil preparation.

Sowing

• Critical Stage in Crop Production:
  • Sowing marks a pivotal phase in the crop production process.

Selection of Seeds:

• Quality and Variety:
  • Good quality, clean, and healthy seeds of high-yielding varieties are preferred by farmers.
  • High-yield seeds contribute to a more productive harvest.
• Identification of Damaged Seeds:
  • Damaged seeds are lighter and become hollow.
  • A practical method involves using water to separate healthy seeds from damaged ones.

Tools Used for Sowing:

1. Traditional Tool:
   • Funnel-shaped Device:
     • Traditionally used for sowing seeds.
     • Funnel design with two or three pipes having sharp ends.
     • Seeds are filled into the funnel and deposited into the soil through the pipes.
2. Seed Drill:
   • Modern Mechanized Sowing:
     • Utilized with tractors for efficient and uniform sowing.
     • Ensures seeds are sown at equal distances and depths.
     • Covers seeds with soil, protecting them from birds.
     • Saves time and labor compared to traditional methods.

Importance of Proper Seed Spacing:

• Avoiding Overcrowding:
  • Appropriate distance between seeds prevents overcrowding of plants.
  • Enables sufficient sunlight, nutrients, and water absorption.
  • Some plants may need removal to maintain optimal spacing and prevent overcrowding.

Adding Manure and Fertilisers

• Nutrient Supply for Plant Growth:
  • Manure and fertilizers are substances added to the soil to provide nutrients essential for the healthy growth of plants.

Role of Soil Nutrients:

• Mineral Nutrients from Soil:
  • Soil supplies mineral nutrients crucial for plant growth.
  • Continuous cultivation without replenishment depletes soil nutrients.

Manure: Organic Nutrient Source:

• Importance of Manure:
  • Organic substances are derived from the decomposition of plant or animal waste.
  • Farmers decompose waste in open pits, facilitated by microorganisms.
  • The process is known as manuring.
• Effects of Improper Manuring:
  • Insufficient manuring leads to weak plant growth.
  • Continuous cultivation without replenishment impoverishes soil nutrients.

Fertilisers: Chemical Nutrient Source:

• Chemical Composition:
  • Fertilizers are chemical-rich substances produced in factories.
  • Examples include urea, ammonium sulfate, superphosphate, potash, and NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium).
• Impact of Fertiliser Use:
  • Enhanced crop yield, particularly for wheat, paddy, and maize.
  • Excessive use leads to soil fertility decline and water pollution.
  • Balanced use or substitution with organic manure is encouraged.

Soil Fertility Maintenance:

• Alternatives to Fertilisers:
  • Organic manure or fallow periods between crops are recommended to maintain soil fertility.
  • Crop rotation, growing different crops alternately, helps replenish nutrients.
• Advantages of Manure:
  • They are considered superior to fertilizers due to several reasons:
    • Enhances soil water-holding capacity.
    • Improves soil porosity, facilitating gas exchange.
    • Increases the population of beneficial microbes.
    • Improves overall soil texture.

Crop Rotation and Rhizobium Bacteria:

• Crop Rotation for Nutrient Replenishment:
  • Alternating the cultivation of different crops aids in soil nutrient replenishment.
  • Historical practices like growing legumes for fodder followed by wheat in northern India.
• Role of Rhizobium Bacteria:
  • Present in leguminous plant roots’ nodules.
  • Fixes atmospheric nitrogen, contributing to soil fertility.

Irrigation

Importance of Water in Agriculture:

• Essential for Growth and Development:
  • Water, along with minerals and fertilisers, is absorbed by plant roots.
  • Approximately 90% of a plant’s composition is water.
  • Essential for seed germination and the transport of nutrients within the plant.
• Protection from Environmental Conditions:
  • Water protects crops from frost and hot air currents.

Need for Irrigation:

• Ensuring Soil Moisture:
  • Regular watering, known as irrigation, is necessary to maintain soil moisture for healthy crop growth.
  • Frequency varies based on crop type, soil characteristics, and seasonal variations.
• Increased Watering in Summer:
  • Higher watering frequency in summer due to increased water evaporation from soil and leaves.

Sources of Irrigation:

• Diverse Water Sources:
  • Wells, tubewells, ponds, lakes, rivers, dams, and canals serve as water sources for irrigation.

Traditional Methods:

• Human and Cattle-Powered Techniques:
  • Moat (pulley system), chain pump, dhekli, and rahat (lever system) are traditional methods.
  • Cheaper but less efficient, relying on human or cattle labor.
• Use of Pumps:
  • Pumps powered by diesel, biogas, electricity, or solar energy are common for lifting water.

Modern Methods:

1. Sprinkler System:
   • Applicability:
     • Suitable for uneven land with insufficient water.
   • Mechanism:
     • Perpendicular pipes with rotating nozzles joined to the main pipeline.
     • Water under pressure escapes from rotating nozzles, simulating rainfall.
   • Applications:
     • Useful for lawns, coffee plantations, and various crops.
2. Drip System:
   • Description:
     • Waterfalls drop by drop near the roots.
     • Efficient technique for watering fruit plants, gardens, and trees.
   • Advantages:
     • Minimizes water wastage, particularly beneficial in regions with poor water availability.

Protection from Weeds

• Undesirable Plant Growth:
  • Undesirable plants that grow naturally alongside crops are known as weeds.

Importance of Weed Control:

• Competing with Crops:
  • Weeds compete with crop plants for water, nutrients, space, and light.
  • Adversely affects the growth of the crop.
• Harvesting and Health Concerns:
  • Some weeds interfere with harvesting processes.
  • Certain weeds may be poisonous to animals and humans.

Methods of Weed Control:

• Tilling Before Sowing:
  • Tilling the soil before sowing helps uproot and kill weeds.
  • Uprooted weeds may dry up and integrate into the soil.
  • Timing is crucial, with the best results achieved before weed flowering and seed production.
• Manual Removal:
  • Physical removal of weeds by uprooting or cutting close to the ground.
  • Tools such as khurpi or a seed drill are employed for efficient manual weeding.
• Chemical Control with Weedicides:
  • Introduction of Weedicides:
    • Chemicals like 2,4-D, known as weedicides, are used to control weed growth.
    • Sprayed in the fields to kill weeds without damaging crops.
  • Application Timing:
    • Weedicides are most effective when applied during the vegetative growth of weeds before flowering and seed formation.
  • Safety Measures:
    • Farmers need to exercise caution during the application of weedicides.
    • Protective measures include covering the nose and mouth with cloth to avoid inhaling chemicals.

Health Considerations:

• Potential Health Impact:
  • Prolonged exposure to weedicides during spraying may affect the health of farmers.
  • Farmers are advised to use these chemicals carefully and take necessary precautions.

Harvesting

• Significance of Harvesting:
  • Harvesting, the cutting of mature crops, is a crucial task in agriculture.

Harvesting Methods:

• Manual Harvesting:
  • Crops are manually pulled out or cut close to the ground.
  • Commonly done with a sickle.
  • Typically takes 3 to 4 months for cereal crops to mature.
• Mechanical Harvesting:
  • Introduction of Harvesters:
    • Harvesting can also be done with machines known as harvesters.
    • Accelerates the harvesting process.
  • Combine Machines:
    • Combines, functioning as both harvesters and threshers, separate grain seeds from chaff.
    • Efficient for large-scale farming.

Threshing:

• Separation of Grain and Chaff:
  • After harvesting, grain seeds need to be separated from the chaff.
  • This process is called threshing.
• Use of Combine Machines:
  • Combines, equipped with threshing capabilities, streamline the process.
• Winnowing for Small Holdings:
  • Farmers with small land holdings often use winnowing for grain and chaff separation.

Storage

Importance of Storage:

• Preserving Harvested Grains:
  • Proper storage of harvested grains is essential for long-term preservation.

Challenges in Storage:

• Moisture and Pest Threats:
  • Harvested grains are prone to moisture, insects, rats, and microorganism attacks.
  • Freshly harvested grains with higher moisture content are particularly vulnerable.

Drying Process:

• Preventing Spoilage:
  • Grains are dried in the sun before storage to reduce moisture content.
  • Moisture reduction is crucial to prevent spoilage and attacks by pests, bacteria, and fungi.

Storage Methods:

• Traditional Storage:
  • Farmers commonly use jute bags or metallic bins for grain storage.
• Large-Scale Storage:
  • Silos and granaries are employed for large-scale storage to protect grains from pests like rats and insects.

Additional Storage Measures:

• Use of Neem Leaves:
  • Dried neem leaves are utilized for storing food grains at home.
  • Neem’s natural properties act as a deterrent to pests and microorganisms.
• Chemical Treatments:
  • Large-scale storage in godowns requires specific chemical treatments to protect grains from pests and microorganisms.

Food from Animals

Food Source	Examples
Meat	Beef, Chicken, Pork, Lamb
Dairy Products	Milk, Cheese, Yogurt
Eggs	Chicken Eggs, Duck Eggs
Seafood	Fish, Shrimp, Lobster
Honey	Natural Sweetener from Bees

• Diverse Food Sources from Animals:
  • Animals contribute various types of food similar to plants.

Examples of Animal-Derived Foods:

1. Meat:
   • Beef, Chicken, Pork, Lamb, etc.
2. Dairy Products:
   • Milk, Cheese, Yogurt, etc.
3. Eggs:
   • Chicken Eggs, Duck Eggs, etc.
4. Seafood:
   • Fish, Shrimp, Lobster, etc.
5. Honey:
   • Natural sweetener produced by bees.

Animal Husbandry:

• Proper Care and Nurturing:
  • Animals reared at home or on farms require proper food, shelter, and care.
  • Large-scale management of animals is termed animal husbandry.