8th Class Science Crop Production and Management Crop Production Management

       Introduction

Agriculture is the production, processing, marketing of plants products, as foods, fibers etc. Discovery of agriculture is a mile stone in human civilisation. Present day agriculture encompasses a wide variety of specialties and techniques, which includes among other things, ways to expand the lands suitable for crop production, digging of water-channels and other forms of irrigation, fertilisation etc. There are two forms of agriculture, sustainable and intensive agriculture. The technological developments have increased the agricultural production level many folds. The major agricultural products are food, fibers, and various other raw materials for agri-based industries. But the scientific advancement, at the same time, has also created widespread ecological imbalance and negative effect on human health.

         Crop Production Management

The cropping systems in the farms depend on the available resources and constraints of the environmental conditions of a place. Depending on the condition, there are different types of farming. The shifting agriculture is a system, in which the forest are cut and burnt to develop land for farming. Once the land is developed, the farmers shift to the new place or exploit the new pieces of land. The period for which the plot is left uncultivated is known as the field fallow. The other methods of farming are intercropping, mixed cropping, etc. In tropical environment, all the crops are grown, but in subtropical and arid environment, the timing and extent of agriculture is limited by the rainfall. All the perennial crops, such as, coffee, tea and chocolate etc are grown in this region.

Crop Production Systems  

         All the living organisms need food for their survival. They derive their food from the plants or other living organisms. The organized method of production of food by the human to fulfill their requirements is called:

(a) Sericulture

(b) Horticulture

(c) Agriculture

(d) Silviculture

(e) None of these

Answer: (c)

Explanation

The production of food crop is called agriculture.

        There are different methods of agriculture. Large scale food is produced and buffer stock is created. The agriculture for the fulfillment of own requirements is called:

(a) Intensive agriculture

(b) Extensive agriculture

(c) Sustainable agriculture

(d) Horticulture

(e) None of these

Answer: (c)

Explanation

Agriculture is done at different stages to fulfill the needs and requirements. It may be on large scale or small scale, depending on the requirement. The agriculture forthe fulfillment of minimum requirement is called sustainable agriculture.  

         Horticulture

It is the branch of science, which deals with the cultivation and processing of crops on large scale. It is broadly divided into two categories- ornamentals and edibles plants. It has eight area of study/ such as:

(i)   Arboriculture: It is the study of, selection, planting, caring and removal of individual trees, shrubs, vines and other perennial woody plants.

(ii) Floriculture; It involves the productions and marketing of floral crops.

(iii) Landscape horticulture: It involves the production, marketing and maintenance of landscape plants.

(iv) Olericulture: It involves the production and marketing of vegetables.

(v) Pomology: It involves the production and marketing of fruits.

(vi) Viticulture: It involves the production and marketing of grapes.

(vii) Oenology: It involves the production and marketing of wine and winemaking.

(viii) Postharvest Physiology: It involves the maintaining and preventing the spoilage of horticultural crops.

         Crop Seasons

India has two crop seasons:                                                  

(i) Kharif                                               (ii) Rabi

            Kharif

The meaning of the word kharif is summer or monsoon and is harvested in autumn. It is sown with the first rain in July during the south west monsoon. The period between the safe storage of seed and sowing in subsequent season is normally six month. Seeds are required to be kept in good condition and in safe storage, as they are harvested in the preceding season, and are used for sowing in the subsequent season. Some seeds required cold storage system, hence its cost increases. The major kharif crops are millets, paddy, maize, groundnut, cotton, soybean, sugarcane and tumeric.

           Rabi Crop 

It is also known as the spring harvest or winter crops. They are normally grown during the month of September to January. The major crops of this season are wheat, barley, mustard, peas and oats.

              Rabi Crop    

         There are different crop season, in which different crops are grown. Thus, the study of, selection, planting, caring and removal of individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants is known as:

(a) Arboriculture

(b) Floriculture

(c) Olericulture

(d) Viticulture

(e) None of these

Answer: (a)

Explanation

The branch of science which deals with the study of different aspect of growing plants is called arboriculture.

       The crops, which are grown during the rainy season are called kharif crops, and the crops, which are grown during the winter season are called rabi crops. Which one of the following crops is a rabi crop?

(a) Paddy

(b) Maize

(c) Millet

(d) Wheat

(e) None of these

Answer: (d)

Explanation

We know that paddy, maize and millet are kharif crops and grown during rainy season.  

         Soil Preparations

It is one of the most important aspects of farming, as the soil needs to be prepared for the farming, according to the requirement of the crops. If the soil is heavy clay, the addition of organic matter improves the drainage, aeration and also allows better root development. The correct amount of organic matter helps sandy soil to hold water and nutrients. The organic matters are derived from the remains of plants and animals waste. These waste materials serve as a food for the microorganisms like bacteria, protozoa, fungus, etc. The organic matters are in the form of compost, manures, green manure, grass clipping, barnyard fertilizer, shredded bark, etc.

The most important part of soil preparation is tilling the soil. While tilling, care should be taken to mix and level the soil properly. If tilling for the first time, land should not be worked out to maximum depth. First it should be tilled to half of the desired depth and then to the full depth. Tilling should be done only when the soil is dry and friable. If done on wet land, it leaves large clods, which become rock hard when get dried.