Agriculture and Agricultural Practices

Agriculture word is derived from two Latin words Ager (means, field) and Colo (means, to cultivate). Agriculture is the practice of cultivating of plants on a large scale and rearing livestock to meet the demand of the increasing population. 

• Agricultural practice is defined as farming or cultivating in the field.
• India has approximately 60% of its land dedicated to the cultivation of different food and fiber crops. 
• The world’s major food staples are wheat and rice in which India ranks second in terms of supply. 
• Agriculture is the main source of income for a large number of the Indian population.
• About 58% of Indians depend upon the agricultural sector for their livelihood.

Read More: Food Crops

Key Terms: Agricultural Practice, Agriculture,, Soil, Manure, Fertilizer, Irrigation, Crop, Sowing.

Also Read: Agricultural Soil

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Agricultural Practices

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Agricultural practices refer to the processes that are applied at the farms for better production of agricultural products. These processes are used in agriculture for better yield. The agricultural practices are as follows:

1. Preparation of Soil

Soil is the primary requirement for traditional agricultural practices. It is a necessary procedure done before sowing seeds or planting saplings. 

• This step allows the proper enhancement of nutrients. 
• The most fertile layer of soil is the topmost layer of soil or humus.
• It contains the dead and decaying components of animals and plants brought about by different microorganisms. 
• There are bacteria such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria (that increase the nitrogen content of the soil), blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), etc. 
• Their function is to increase the nutrient content of the soil. 

The different steps followed for soil preparation are;

1. Ploughing

It is also known as tilling, this process is used to break the soil particles and loosen them and turn it over. Earlier, this process was done by using bullocks but in modern days, the usage of tractors is quite prevalent. Ploughing facilitates the uprooting of weeds and aeration (proper oxygen supply) of the soil. This also helps in the resurfacing of fresh nutrients to the topsoil thereby increasing its fertility.

2. Levelling 

This is done to ensure the evenness of the farming land. The ploughed land needs to be levelled properly so that all the seeds (that will be sown) are sown on the same even surface.

Figure: Leveling of soil

2. Sowing

Sowing is the next step in crop cultivation. Seeds are buried in the prepared soil. Proper precautions should be taken while performing this process.

• Proper distance between seeds should be maintained.
• Soil should be clean and free from any disease causing pathogens. 
• Appropriate depth of the soil should be taken care of. 
• Sowing is done manually or modern sowing tools like seed drills are used.

In the case of rice plants, seeds are sown in a smaller area and when these seeds become small saplings. These are transferred to the main field for large scale production. Seeds are also stored for later use to conserve the specific species.

Figure: Sowing the seeds

3. Manuring

Manuring is the process of supplying the plant with nutritional supplements. Manure is applied to the soil to increase yield. 

• It is made from decomposed dead animals and plants and also from rotten waste (vermicompost).
• Chemical fertilizers are also used for manuring. 
• These fertilizers contain the required amount of nutrients for plant growth.
• Chemical fertilizers should be applied in proper quantity as excessive application can prove to be fatal to the crops.

Figure: Manuring

4. Irrigation

Irrigation is the method of proper water supply to crops. Water is necessary for plant survival, so water must be supplied in proper amounts at a regular interval to prevent drying of crops as well as to prevent waterlogging.

• Waterlogging leads to erosion of the fertile humus. 
• Traditional methods of irrigation include manual supply of water from ponds, lakes, wells, etc. 
• Using human or cattle labor. However, this is a less efficient method.
• Modern irrigation methods include sprinkler systems and drip systems. 
• It makes use of water economically and also is very efficient. 
• These methods help in agriculture in places with poor water availability.

Figure: Irrigation

5. Weeding

Weeding is the method of removal of weeds from the soil. Weeds are the unwanted plants that grow between rows of crops. 

• Common examples of weeds include oxalis, wild grass, etc. 
• It is very necessary to remove weeds.
• Weeds compete with the crops for the natural resources like air, water, sunlight and nutrients. 
• Weedicides are chemicals that destroy weeds but do not harm the crops.
• Examples of weedicides are Atrazine, NAA, 2,4-D, etc.

Figure: Removal of Weeds or extra grass

6. Harvesting

Harvesting is the gathering of grains and fruits as required from the crops. Harvesting is the most laborious task in farms that are smaller in size and have lesser equipment. It is a very crucial step since grain wastage depends on the mode of harvesting.

• Different crops have different harvesting seasons. 
• Different vegetables and fruits are plucked or cut from the plant, grains are separated from the husk, etc. are some of the examples of harvesting. 
• These are later stored in jute bags and transported to different parts of the country for sale and profit.

Harvesting of Fruits

7. Storage

The freshly harvested grains are dried in the sun to remove excess moisture and are then stored. 

• Grains are stored in different granaries for later use. 
• Drying of grains resists the growth of various microorganisms which could have been attracted by the moisture of the grains. 
• Proper godowns and warehouses are required for the storage of grains. 
• Grains are stored here and sold throughout the year for better profits. 
• Godowns and warehouses should be free of pests and rodents. 
• Proper measures like fumigation, cleaning, etc. should be done for maintenance.

Also Read:

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Things to Remember

• Agriculture refers to the cultivation of plants or simply farming.
• Different agricultural practices are adopted in order to provide food.
• Crops are referred to as the same plant cultivated at a place. 
• Soil is prepared by ploughing and levelling by bullocks or using different machines like tractors.
• Organic manures and fertilizers are required for the replenishment of soil nutrients.
• Irrigation of crops with a proper supply of water at regular intervals is necessary.
• Weedicides are applied in fields to prevent the growth of weeds.
• Crops are harvested either by using machines or manually.
• Threshing is the process of separation of grains from chaff.
• Crops have to be properly stored in granaries.