Crop Production and Management

Kharif crops (monsoon/summer): sown in June-July, harvested Sept-Oct. Examples: Rice, maize, soybean, groundnut, cotton, sugarcane. Rabi crops (winter): sown in Oct-Nov, harvested March-April. Examples: Wheat, barley, mustard, pea, gram. Zaid crops: short summer season. Examples: Cucumber, watermelon, muskmelon.

Preparation of soil: ploughing (loosens soil, aerates, removes weeds), levelling (levelling board), manuring. Sowing: using seed drill (saves time, evenly spaced). Irrigation: canal irrigation (rivers), wells/tube wells, drip irrigation (most efficient — drops water at roots, saves 30-50% water), sprinkler irrigation. Weeding: removing unwanted plants (weeds) that compete for nutrients.

Manure: decomposed animal/plant waste — improves soil texture and microorganisms, organic, slow-acting. Fertilisers: chemical compounds, fast-acting, specific nutrients. NPK: Nitrogen (leafy growth), Phosphorus (root growth), Potassium (fruit/flower). Urea (nitrogen), DAP (phosphorus). Overuse of chemical fertilisers: soil degradation, water pollution. Green revolution used heavy fertilisers + HYV seeds.

Harvested grain must be stored properly — pests, moisture and heat cause damage. Traditional: mud bins, metal drums (sealed). Modern: silos (large cylindrical metal structures). Chemical methods: fumigation (chemicals kill pests). Cold storage: vegetables and fruits. Proper storage = no food wastage = food security.