What are the Basic Practices of Crop Production?
The crops are grown in a very systematic manner. The following are examples of basic agricultural practices:
Soil Preparation
It is the first step before planting a crop and is one of the most important agricultural tasks. The turning and loosening of the soil allow the roots to penetrate deep into the soil and breathe freely even when they are deep in the soil.
The loosened soil also promotes the growth of earthworms and microbes, which turn and loosen the soil and add humus to it. As a result, it is critical to properly prepare the soil before beginning cultivation. The methods for soil preparation are listed below.
Ploughing or Tilling
- As only a few centimetres of the top layer of soil supports plant growth, turning and loosening the soil brings the nutrient-rich soil to the surface so that the plants can use it. It is accomplished by using a plough made of wood or iron. If the soil is extremely dry, it may need to be watered before ploughing.
Plough
- Ploughs are primarily used for tilling the soil, applying fertiliser to the crop, removing weeds and other waste materials from the field, and turning the soil. A plough is a wooden vehicle drawn by a pair of bulls or horses.
- It has a ploughshare, which is a strong and sharp triangular iron strip. The plough’s main component is a long log of wood known as the plough shaft. The other end is connected to a beam that is attached to the bull’s neck.
Hoe
- It is a simple tool for tilling the land, removing weeds, and digging up the soil. A long wooden rod is attached to one end by a bent iron plate. The other end could be connected to an animal.
Cultivator
- Tractors are used to power cultivators. Cultivators also kill weeds and remove unwanted vegetation from the field. Ploughing is now done with a tractor-driven cultivator.
Levelling
- The topsoil in the field is quite loose after it has been ploughed. The leveller, which is a heavy wooden or iron plank, is used to level the soil. Field levelling also aids in the uniform distribution of water during irrigation.
Base Manuring
- We add manure to the soil even before sowing to increase soil fertility because it is properly incorporated into the soil.
- The use of green manure and farmyard manure will always improve crop growth and yield.
Basic Practices of Crop Production
Basic practice of crop production involves several key steps and considerations to ensure successful cultivation. Crops are plants that are grown on a large scale from the same variety. Agriculture is the practice of cultivating crops. The basic practice of crop production involves selecting suitable crops, preparing the soil, planting seeds, providing adequate water and nutrients, managing disease, monitoring crop growth, harvesting, and handling.
Table of Content
- What is Crop Production?
- What are the Basic Practices of Crop Production?
- Sowing
- Adding Fertilizers and Manure
- Crop Rotation
- Irrigation
- Weeding
- Harvesting
- Storage