Agriculture Cycle
Food is a basic requirement for all living things. We depend on plants and animals for food. Ancient people began to grow food in small areas and used certain procedures for its management and improvement. This art of growing crops is called farming.
Certain parameters must be observed in agriculture. Examples: crop type, soil conditions, climate, etc. Depending on these parameters, farmers decide which crops to grow, when and where. Also, it takes more than just the right soil, climate and season to get a good product. Some procedures are required to follow. Agricultural work is the act of growing crops. Various agricultural practices are discussed below.
Agricultural Practices
Soil Preparation
Before growing crops, prepare the soil for cultivation by tilling, leveling, and fertilizing. Plowing is the work of loosening and digging the soil with a plow. This helps with the proper aeration of the soil. After plowing, the soil is evenly distributed and leveled in a process called leveling. Then fertilize the soil
Sowing
Selecting a good seed is the first step in sowing. After preparing the soil, these seeds are sown in the field. This is called seeding. Seeding can be done manually, by hand, or with a seed drill. Some crops, such as rice, are first nursed in a small area and then transplanted to the main field.
Fertilization
Plants need nutrients to grow and produce yield. Therefore, regular feeding is required. Fertilization is the step in which nutritional supplements are provided, and these supplements can be either natural (fertilizers) or chemical compounds (fertilizers). Fertilizer is the decomposition of plant and animal waste. Fertilizers are chemical compounds made up of plant nutrients that are manufactured commercially. Fertilizers not only nourish plants, but also increase soil fertility. Other methods of soil replenishment are vermicomposting, crop rotation and legume planting.
Irrigation
Irrigation is the supply of water. Water sources include wells, ponds, lakes, canals, and dams. Overwatering can cause waterlogging and damage crops. This frequency and the interval between successive waterings should be controlled
Weeding
Weeds are unwanted plants that grow between crops. They are removed by hand pulling using herbicides and some are removed during soil preparation. This process is called harvesting. After harvesting, the grain is threshed or manually separated from the husk on a small scale (sieving).
Storage
The harvested grain is stored in Godowns granaries or bins for later use or marketing. Therefore, there is a need to improve methods of plant protection. To protect the grain from pests and rodents, it is washed, dried and fumigated before storage.
Good methods and practices must be followed for successful farming.
