1. Introduction to Agriculture

All living organisms need food to survive. Plants can make their own food by photosynthesis, but animals and humans depend on plants or other animals for food. To provide food for a large population, regular production, proper management, and distribution are necessary. This applied science of cultivating crops and raising livestock is called Agriculture.

Till 10,000 B.C. people were nomadic. They were wandering in groups from place to place in search of food and shelter. They ate raw fruits and vegetables and started hunting animals for food. Later, they could cultivate land and produce rice, wheat and other food crops. Thus, was born 'Agriculture'.

2. Crop Seasons in India

When plants of the same kind are cultivated at one place on a large scale, it is called a crop. For example, crop of wheat means that all the plants grown in a field are that of wheat.

India is a vast country. The climatic conditions like temperature, humidity and rainfall vary from one region to another. Accordingly, there is a rich variety of crops grown in different parts of the country. Despite this diversity, two broad cropping patterns can be identified:

3. Basic Practices of Crop Production

Cultivation of crops involves several activities undertaken by farmers over a period of time. These activities or tasks are referred to as agricultural practices. They are listed below in sequential order:

1. Preparation of soil
2. Sowing
3. Adding manure and fertilisers
4. Irrigation
5. Protection from weeds
6. Harvesting
7. Storage

4. Preparation of Soil

This is the first and most critical step. It involves turning the soil and loosening it. This allows roots to penetrate deep into the soil and breathe easily. The loosened soil helps in the growth of earthworms and microbes which are friends of the farmer, as they further turn and loosen the soil and add humus to it.

The process of loosening and turning of the soil is called tilling or ploughing. This is done by using a plough. Ploughs are made of wood or iron. If the soil is very dry, it may need watering before ploughing. The ploughed field may have big clumps of soil called crumbs. It is necessary to break these crumbs. Levelling the field is beneficial for sowing as well as for irrigation.

Agricultural Implements

• Plough: Used since ancient times for tilling, adding fertilizers, and removing weeds. It contains a triangular iron strip called ploughshare and a main long log of wood called ploughshaft.
• Hoe: A simple tool used for removing weeds and for loosening the soil. It has a long rod of wood or iron. A bent plate of iron is fixed to one of its ends and works like a blade.
• Cultivator: Nowadays ploughing is done by tractor-driven cultivator. The use of cultivator saves labour and time.

5. Sowing

Sowing is placing seeds in the soil. Selection of good quality seeds is vital. Farmers prefer to use seeds which give high yield.

Traditional Tool: The tool used traditionally for sowing seeds is shaped like a funnel. The seeds are filled into the funnel, passed down through two or three pipes having sharp ends. These ends pierce into the soil and place seeds there.

Seed Drill: Nowadays the seed drill is used for sowing with the help of tractors. It sows the seeds uniformly at equal distance and depth. It ensures that seeds get covered by the soil after sowing. This protects seeds from being eaten by birds. It saves time and labour.

6. Adding Manure and Fertilisers

The substances which are added to the soil in the form of nutrients for the healthy growth of plants are called manure and fertilisers. Continuous cultivation makes the soil poor in nutrients. Therefore, farmers have to add manure to the fields to replenish the soil with nutrients. This process is called manuring.

Difference Between Fertiliser and Manure

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.

7. Irrigation

Water is important for proper growth and development. Plants absorb water through roots. Along with water, minerals and fertilisers are also absorbed. Plants contain nearly 90% water. Water is essential because germination of seeds does not take place under dry conditions. Nutrients dissolved in water are transported to each part of the plant. Water also protects the crop from both frost and hot air currents.

The supply of water to crops at regular intervals is called irrigation. Sources of irrigation include wells, tube wells, ponds, lakes, dams, rivers and canals.

Modern Methods of Irrigation

• Sprinkler System: Useful for uneven land and sandy soil. Water is sprinkled like rain.
• Drip System: Water falls drop by drop near roots. Saves water. Best for fruit plants.

8. Protection from Weeds

Undesirable plants that grow naturally with crop plants are called weeds (e.g., wild oats, grass, amaranthus). The removal of weeds is called weeding. Weeding is necessary because weeds compete with crop plants for water, nutrients, space and light. They affect the growth of the crop.

Methods to control weeds:

• Tilling: Before sowing, tilling helps in uprooting weeds.
• Manual Removal: Using a khurpi or seed drill to uproot them.
• Weedicides: Chemicals like 2,4-D are sprayed to kill weeds. They do not damage the crop.

9. Harvesting

Harvesting is the cutting of a crop after it is mature. It usually takes 3 to 4 months for a cereal crop to mature. Harvesting can be done manually by sickle or by a machine called a harvester.

After harvesting, the grain seeds need to be separated from the chaff. This process is called threshing. This is carried out with the help of a machine called 'combine' which is in fact a harvester as well as a thresher. Farmers with small holdings of land do the separation of grain and chaff by winnowing.

10. Storage

Storage of produce is an important task. If the harvested grains are to be kept for longer time, they should be safe from moisture, insects, rats and microorganisms. Harvested grains have more moisture. If freshly harvested grains (seeds) are stored without drying, they may get spoilt or attacked by organisms, making them unfit for use or for germination. Hence, they are dried in the sun to reduce moisture content.

Farmers store grains in jute bags or metallic bins. Large scale storage is done in silos and granaries to protect them from pests like rats and insects. Dried neem leaves are used for storing food grains at home.

11. Food from Animals

Like plants, animals also provide us with different kinds of food (Milk, meat, eggs). Many people living in coastal areas consume fish as a major part of their diet. Animals reared at home or in farms, have to be provided with proper food, shelter and care. When this is done on a large scale, it is called animal husbandry.

Fish is good for health. We get cod liver oil from fish which is rich in Vitamin D.

Agriculture is the applied science of cultivating crops and raising livestock for food and other products. It is the primary source of livelihood for a significant portion of the world's population.

When plants of the same kind are cultivated at one place on a large scale, it is called a crop. Examples include wheat, rice, maize, and pulses grown in fields.

Kharif crops are sown in the rainy season (June to September) in India. They require plenty of water. Examples include paddy (rice), maize, soybean, groundnut, and cotton.

Rabi crops are grown in the winter season (October to March). They do not require as much water as Kharif crops. Examples include wheat, gram, pea, mustard, and linseed.

Zaid crops are grown in the summer season (March to June), between Rabi and Kharif seasons. Examples include watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, and fodder crops.

The process of loosening and turning the soil is called ploughing or tilling. It allows roots to breathe, helps roots penetrate deeper, and brings nutrient-rich soil to the top.

A plough is a traditional agricultural tool used for tilling the soil, adding fertilisers, and removing weeds. It consists of a ploughshare (iron strip) and a ploughshaft (long log).

A hoe is a simple tool used for removing weeds and loosening the soil. It has a long rod of wood or iron with a bent iron plate acting like a blade.

A cultivator is a tractor-driven agricultural implement used for ploughing. It saves significant time and labour compared to traditional ploughing methods.

Levelling is the process of crushing big lumps of soil (crumbs) and smoothing the soil surface after ploughing. This is done using a leveller and ensures uniform irrigation and sowing.

Sowing is the process of putting seeds into the soil. Clean, healthy, and good quality seeds are selected for high yields.

A seed drill is a modern tool used for sowing seeds with a tractor. It sows seeds uniformly at equal distance and depth, and covers them with soil to protect from birds.

Some crops like paddy, tomato, and chilli are first grown in a nursery. The healthy seedlings are then manually transplanted to the main field. This ensures better crop survival and yield.

Manure is an organic substance obtained from the decomposition of plant and animal wastes (like cow dung, urine, kitchen waste) by microorganisms. It improves soil texture and water retention.

Fertilisers are chemical substances rich in specific nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium). They are produced in factories. Urea, Ammonium sulphate, and NPK are common examples.

Crop rotation is the practice of growing different crops alternately on the same land. For example, growing legumes in one season and wheat in the next restores soil nitrogen.

Rhizobium bacteria live in the root nodules of leguminous plants. They fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil, acting as a natural fertilizer.

Supply of water to crops at regular intervals is called irrigation. The time and frequency of irrigation vary with crop, soil, and season.

Sprinkler irrigation involves spraying water into the air like rain through rotating nozzles. It is very effective for uneven land and sandy soil.

In drip irrigation, water falls drop by drop directly near the roots through pipes. It prevents water wastage and is ideal for regions with water scarcity.

Weeds are undesirable plants that grow naturally along with the crop (e.g., wild oats, grass). They compete with crops for water, nutrients, space, and light.

The process of removing weeds is called weeding. It is necessary because weeds affect crop growth and can sometimes be poisonous to animals and humans.

Chemicals used to kill weeds are called weedicides (e.g., 2,4-D). They are diluted with water and sprayed on fields to destroy weeds without harming the crop.

Harvesting is the cutting and gathering of mature crops. It is done manually using a sickle or by a machine called a harvester.

Threshing is the process of loosening the edible part of grain (or other crop) from the straw (chaff). It is done by beating the sheaves against a hard surface or using a machine.

Winnowing is the method of separating grain from chaff by blowing air. The lighter chaff is blown away, while the heavier grains fall down. It is used by farmers with small landholdings.

A combine harvester, or simply combine, is a versatile machine that performs both harvesting and threshing operations in a single pass over the field.

Proper storage is crucial to protect grains from moisture, insects, rats, and microorganisms. Grains must be dried in the sun before storage to prevent spoilage and fungal attack.

Silos are tall metal or concrete structures used for bulk storage of grains. Granaries are large buildings used for storing gunny bags filled with grains. Both protect crops from pests.

Animal husbandry is the branch of agriculture concerned with animals that are raised for meat, fibre, milk, eggs, or other products. It involves breeding and caring for livestock.

Green manure is created by leaving uprooted or sown crop parts to wither on a field so that they serve as a mulch and soil amendment, adding organic matter and nutrients.

Excessive water in the field is called waterlogging. It cuts off the air supply to the roots, preventing them from breathing and potentially causing the plant to rot or die.

Humus is the dark organic matter in soil that forms when plants and animals decay. Manure is a rich source of humus, which improves soil structure and fertility.

NPK stands for Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K). These are the three primary macronutrients found in most chemical fertilisers necessary for plant growth.

Vermicomposting is a process of preparing compost with the help of redworms. It is an excellent method of recycling kitchen waste into nutrient-rich manure.

Compost is organic matter that has been decomposed in a process called composting. It recycles various organic materials otherwise regarded as waste products.

Broadcasting is the manual scattering of seeds over the field. It is a traditional method of sowing but often results in uneven distribution and depth of seeds.

Pisciculture involves the commercial breeding of fish, usually for food, in fish tanks or artificial enclosures such as fish ponds.

Apiculture is the maintenance of honey bee colonies, commonly in man-made hives, by humans for collecting honey and wax.

Organic farming is a method of farming where chemical fertilisers and pesticides are avoided. Instead, organic manure, bio-fertilisers, and bio-pesticides are used.

Traditional irrigation methods include Moat (pulley system), Chain pump, Dhekli, and Rahat (Lever system). These methods are cheaper but less efficient than modern ones.

Earthworms are called the friends of farmers because they burrow in the soil, making it porous and aerated, and their castings fertilize the soil.

Good quality seeds are clean, healthy, and of a good variety. To test seeds, put them in water; damaged seeds are hollow and float, while healthy seeds sink.

Nitrogen fixation is the process by which atmospheric nitrogen is converted into ammonia or related nitrogenous compounds in soil, primarily by bacteria like Rhizobium.

Rahat is a traditional irrigation system involving a wheel turned by oxen or buffaloes to lift water from a well using a chain of buckets.

Dried neem leaves are traditionally used in India to protect stored grains from insects and pests due to their natural insect-repelling properties.

Cod liver oil is a nutritional supplement derived from the liver of cod fish. It is rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin D.

Dairy farming is a class of agriculture for long-term production of milk, which is processed for eventual sale of a dairy product.

Poultry farming is the practice of raising domesticated birds such as chickens, ducks, and turkeys for the purpose of farming meat or eggs for food.

Agricultural practices aim to ensure food security, which means that all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food.