Crop production and managment
1. The production of crops and raising animals for human benefit is called
agriculture. Besides crop production, it includes poultry, fishing and
2. Sericulture- Raising silkworm.
3. Horticulture (Latin: Hortus- garden) is a branch of agriculture that deals with
the production of vegetables, fruits and ornamental (decorative) plants.
4. Plants of the same kind grown in one place, on a large scale, are called a crop.
5. The product of cultivated plants is called crop produce.
6. The crops that are sown in the rainy season are called kharif crops.
7. Kharif crops are sown at the beginning of the monsoon season (June/July) and
harvested at the end of the monsoon season (September/October
8. The crops that are sown in the winter season are called rabi crops.
9. Rabi
crops
are
sown
at
the
beginning
of
the
winter
season
(October/November) and harvested in March/April
10. The process of loosening and turning the soil is called ploughing or tilling.
11. Plough is a tool used for tilling the soil.
12. The process of crushing the big lumps of soil and spreading the soil evenly is
called levelling. It is done using wooden or iron leveller.
13. Fungicides - chemicals that kill fungi.
14. Seeds are sown by scattering them by hand. This method is called broadcasting.
15. The process of transferring the plantlets from the nursery to the crop field is
called transplantation.
16. Crop rotation is the method of growing different crops alternately on the same
field.
17. Bacteria called Rhizobium are present in the root nodules of leguminous plants.
These bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into simpler nitrogen
compounds (nitrates) that are water-soluble and easily absorbed by plants.
18. Use of manure or fertilisers is called manuring. These substances enhance the
fertility of the soil.
19. Manure is an organic compound (rich in nutrients) obtained by the
decomposition of plant and animal wastes by microbes.
20. Compost is prepared by the decomposition of farm and domestic organic waste
materials like animal excreta, faecal matter of human beings, sewage wastes,
weeds and dry leaves in a compost pit.
21. The process of producing compost is called composting.
22. Compost is rich in inorganic nutrients but not in some essential nutrients like
nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
23. Fertilisers are human made chemical substances that are rich in one or more
nutrients like nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K).
24. The supply of water to the crop plants at regular intervals through sources other
than rain is called irrigation.
25. A drip system of irrigation supplies wate directly to the roots of plants drop by
drop
26. Sprinkler system of irrigation sprays the water from the top using sprinklers.
27. Excessive irrigation causes water to stand in the field. This condition is called
water logging.
28. Pesticides: Chemical used to kill pests.
29. Weedicides: Chemical used to kill weeds
30. Unwanted plants that grow along with a cultivated (main) crop in a field are
called weeds.
31. The process of removing weeds from crop fields called weeding.
32. Weeds may be pulled out by hand or through ploughing/a harrow/a garden
trowel.
33. Chemical weedicides are 2, 4-D (2, 4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid) and MCPA
(2-methyl-4-chloro-1-phenoxy acetic acid).
34. The process of cutting and gathering the crop after its maturation, is called
harvesting.
35. Harvesting is done either manually by sickle or by a machine called a
harvester.
36. After harvesting, grains are separated from the crop plant. This is called
threshing.
37. Winnowing helps in the separation of the grains from the husk. Winnowing is
also done by a machine called a winnowing machine.
38. These dried grains are packed in jute bags or metallic bins and stored. On a
commercial scale, food grains are stored in silos or granaries.
39. Many people use neem leaves and turmeric for seeping their food grains safe and
microbe-free. This method is called organic storage.
40. The science that deals with breeding, feeding and caring for domesticated
animals is called animal husbandry.