Every living thing requires food as a basic survival necessity. We rely on plants and animals to provide us with food. A small area of land was first planted for the cultivation of food by ancient men, who followed a set of rules for its management and improvement. Agriculture is the practice of cultivating a crop in a controlled environment.
In agriculture, certain parameters must be taken into consideration, such as the type of crop, the soil’s properties, the climate, and so on. The parameters used by farmers to determine which crop should be planted at what time of year and in what location are listed below: Furthermore, suitable soil, climate, and season are not enough to ensure the production of a high-quality product. To complete the task, it is necessary to follow a set of procedures. Agricultural practises refer to the procedures that are followed to raise crops in a particular area.
Agricultural Practices are defined as follows:
Preparation of the soil
Ploughing, levelling, and manuring the soil in which a crop will be grown are all necessary steps in the preparation of a crop. Using a plough, the soil is loosened and dug up in preparation for planting or harvesting. This contributes to the proper aeration of the soil. In a process known as levelling, the soil is evenly distributed and levelled after it has been ploughed into the ground. After that, the soil is manured.
Sowing
The selection of seeds from high-quality crop strains is the first step in the sowing process. After the soil has been prepared, the seeds are dispersed throughout the field, which is referred to as sowing. Sowing can be accomplished manually, by hand, or with the assistance of seed drilling machines. Some crops, such as paddy, are grown from seedlings in a small area before being transplanted to a larger field of production.
Manuring
Crops require nutrients to grow and produce a harvest. As a result, the provision of nutrients at regular intervals is essential. Providing nutritional supplements, whether natural (in the form of manure) or synthetic (in the form of synthetic fertiliser), is the task of manuring (fertilizers). Manure is the decomposition product produced by the decomposition of plant and animal wastes. Fertilizers are chemical compounds that contain plant nutrients and are produced commercially. They are used to increase the yield of crops. Manure not only provides nutrients to the crop but also helps to replenish soil fertility. Vermicomposting, crop rotation, and the planting of leguminous plants are some of the other methods of soil replenishment.
Irrigation
Irrigation is the process of supplying water. Wells, ponds, lakes, canals, and dams are all examples of water sources. Over irrigation can result in waterlogging of the crop, which can be detrimental to the crop’s growth. It is necessary to regulate the frequency of irrigation and the interval between successive irrigations.
Weeding
Weeds are unwelcome plants that grow in the vicinity of crops. They are removed through the use of weedicides, manual pulling with hands, and some are removed during the soil preparation process as well.
Harvesting
Harvesting is the process of cutting and gathering a crop after it has reached maturity; this is known as harvesting. Following harvesting, grains are separated from the chaff by threshing or, in small scale operations, by hand separating the grains (winnowing).
Storage
Godowns store the grains they harvest in granaries or bins for later use or marketing, depending on the crop. To improve crop protection methods, more research must be done. Cleaning, drying, fumigation, and other measures are taken before storing grains to protect them from pests and rodents.
CONCLUSION
From the following article, we can conclude that All living organisms require food to sustain themselves. Plants and animals are our primary sources of food. Food production was first started by ancient men in a small area, with specific management and improvement procedures. The practice of cultivating crops is referred to as “agriculture.”
Food is a basic survival requirement for all living things. For us to survive, we must rely on plants and animals. Ancient men began cultivating food on a small plot of land, following a set of rules for its care and improvement. The practice of cultivating a crop in a controlled environment is known as agricultural practice.