What is crop production?
Crop production is the systematic cultivation of plants for food, fiber, fodder, fuel, and industrial raw materials.
What are crops?
Crops are plants grown on a large scale for food, commercial use, or agricultural purposes.
What is agriculture?
Agriculture is the science and practice of farming, including crop cultivation, livestock rearing, and soil management.
What is the main objective of crop production?
The main objective is to maximize yield while maintaining soil fertility and environmental sustainability.
What are food crops?
Food crops are plants grown primarily for human consumption, such as cereals, pulses, fruits, and vegetables.
What are cash crops?
Cash crops are grown mainly for commercial profit rather than direct consumption, like cotton, sugarcane, and coffee.
What are cereal crops?
Cereal crops are grasses cultivated for edible grains, including rice, wheat, maize, barley, and oats.
What are pulse crops?
Pulse crops are leguminous plants producing protein-rich seeds like lentils, peas, chickpeas, and beans.
What are oilseed crops?
Oilseed crops are grown to extract edible or industrial oils, such as mustard, sunflower, soybean, and groundnut.
What are fiber crops?
Fiber crops provide raw material for textiles, including cotton, jute, flax, and hemp.
What is tilling?
Tilling is the process of loosening and turning soil to prepare land for sowing seeds.
Why is tilling important?
Tilling improves soil aeration, increases microbial activity, and helps roots grow deeper and stronger.
What is ploughing?
Ploughing is the primary tillage operation that breaks soil clods and buries weeds and crop residues.
What are modern tools used for ploughing?
Modern ploughing tools include tractors, cultivators, disc ploughs, and power tillers.
What is sowing?
Sowing is the process of placing seeds into the prepared soil at proper depth and spacing.
Why is proper sowing important?
Proper sowing ensures uniform germination, better plant growth, and higher crop yield.
What is seed rate?
Seed rate is the quantity of seed required per unit area of land for optimum crop growth.
What is seed selection?
Seed selection involves choosing healthy, disease-free, and high-yielding seeds for cultivation.
What are improved seeds?
Improved seeds are scientifically developed varieties with higher yield, disease resistance, and better adaptability.
What is seed treatment?
Seed treatment is the application of chemicals or bio-agents to seeds to protect from pests and diseases.
Why is seed treatment done?
Seed treatment prevents seed-borne diseases, improves germination, and ensures early crop establishment.
What is germination?
Germination is the process by which a seed develops into a new plant under favorable conditions.
What factors affect germination?
Moisture, temperature, oxygen, seed quality, and soil conditions affect seed germination.
What is soil?
Soil is the upper layer of Earth containing minerals, organic matter, water, and air necessary for plant growth.
What are the main types of soil?
Major soil types include sandy, clayey, loamy, black, red, and alluvial soils.
Which soil is best for crop production?
Loamy soil is best because it balances water retention, drainage, and nutrient availability.
What is soil fertility?
Soil fertility is the soil’s ability to supply essential nutrients for plant growth.
What are nutrients in crop production?
Nutrients are chemical elements required by plants for growth, development, and reproduction.
What are macronutrients?
Macronutrients are nutrients required in large amounts, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
What are micronutrients?
Micronutrients are nutrients needed in small quantities, such as zinc, iron, copper, and manganese.
What is manure?
Manure is organic matter added to soil to improve fertility, structure, and microbial activity.
What are fertilizers?
Fertilizers are chemical or organic substances supplying essential nutrients to crops.
What is organic manure?
Organic manure is decomposed plant or animal waste used to enrich soil naturally.
What is chemical fertilizer?
Chemical fertilizers are industrially produced nutrient compounds like urea, DAP, and NPK.
What is NPK fertilizer?
NPK fertilizer contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in specific proportions for balanced nutrition.
Why is nitrogen important for crops?
Nitrogen promotes leafy growth, chlorophyll formation, and overall vegetative development.
Why is phosphorus important for crops?
Phosphorus supports root development, flowering, seed formation, and energy transfer in plants.
Why is potassium important for crops?
Potassium enhances disease resistance, water regulation, and overall plant strength.
What is irrigation?
Irrigation is the artificial supply of water to crops at regular intervals.
Why is irrigation necessary?
Irrigation ensures adequate water availability for crops during insufficient or irregular rainfall.
What are traditional irrigation methods?
Traditional methods include wells, canals, tanks, and river lift irrigation systems.
What are modern irrigation methods?
Modern methods include drip irrigation, sprinkler systems, and micro-irrigation techniques.
What is drip irrigation?
Drip irrigation delivers water directly to plant roots, reducing water loss and improving efficiency.
What is sprinkler irrigation?
Sprinkler irrigation sprays water over crops like rainfall using pipes and rotating nozzles.
What is crop rotation?
Crop rotation is growing different crops sequentially on the same land to maintain soil fertility.
Why is crop rotation important?
It prevents pest buildup, improves soil nutrients, and reduces soil exhaustion.
What is monocropping?
Monocropping is growing the same crop repeatedly on the same land year after year.
What are the disadvantages of monocropping?
It reduces soil fertility, increases pest infestation, and raises disease risk.
What is mixed cropping?
Mixed cropping involves growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same field.
What is intercropping?
Intercropping is growing different crops in a definite row pattern to maximize resource use.
What is weeding?
Weeding is the removal of unwanted plants that compete with crops for nutrients.
Why are weeds harmful?
Weeds compete for water, nutrients, sunlight, and reduce crop yield significantly.
What are common weeding methods?
Hand weeding, hoeing, mechanical weeding, and chemical herbicides are common methods.
What are herbicides?
Herbicides are chemicals used to control or eliminate weeds in crop fields.
What is pest infestation?
Pest infestation refers to the attack of insects, rodents, or animals on crops.
What are crop pests?
Crop pests are organisms that damage plants by feeding, boring, or transmitting diseases.
What are pesticides?
Pesticides are chemicals used to kill or control insects, rodents, fungi, and weeds.
What is integrated pest management?
It combines biological, chemical, and cultural methods to control pests sustainably.
What are crop diseases?
Crop diseases are caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, or nematodes affecting plant health.
What is harvesting?
Harvesting is the process of cutting and collecting mature crops from fields.
When should crops be harvested?
Crops should be harvested at full maturity to ensure maximum yield and quality.
What are harvesting tools?
Sickles, harvesters, combines, and reapers are commonly used harvesting tools.
What is threshing?
Threshing is the separation of grains from harvested crops.
What is winnowing?
Winnowing separates lighter chaff from heavier grains using wind or airflow.
What is crop yield?
Crop yield is the total produce obtained per unit area of cultivated land.
What factors affect crop yield?
Soil fertility, seed quality, water availability, climate, and farming practices affect yield.
What is climate’s role in crop production?
Climate determines crop suitability, growth duration, water needs, and productivity.
What is Kharif crop season?
Kharif crops are grown during monsoon season, typically from June to October.
What are examples of Kharif crops?
Rice, maize, cotton, groundnut, and soybean are common Kharif crops.
What is Rabi crop season?
Rabi crops are grown in winter season, from October to March.
What are examples of Rabi crops?
Wheat, barley, mustard, peas, and gram are common Rabi crops.
What is Zaid crop season?
Zaid crops are grown during summer between Rabi and Kharif seasons.
What are examples of Zaid crops?
Watermelon, cucumber, muskmelon, and fodder crops are common Zaid crops.
What is sustainable crop production?
It focuses on long-term productivity while conserving resources and protecting the environment.
What is organic farming?
Organic farming avoids synthetic chemicals and uses natural inputs for crop cultivation.
What are advantages of organic farming?
It improves soil health, reduces pollution, and produces healthier food.
What is green revolution?
The Green Revolution introduced high-yielding varieties and modern techniques to increase food production.
What are high-yielding varieties?
HYV seeds are genetically improved seeds producing higher output under proper inputs.
What is soil erosion?
Soil erosion is the removal of fertile topsoil by wind or water.
How can soil erosion be prevented?
Contour farming, crop rotation, mulching, and afforestation help prevent soil erosion.
What is mulching?
Mulching covers soil with organic or synthetic materials to conserve moisture.
Why is crop diversification important?
It reduces risk, improves income stability, and enhances soil and ecosystem health.
What is precision farming?
Precision farming uses technology to optimize inputs and increase crop productivity.
What is mechanization in agriculture?
Mechanization involves using machines to improve efficiency and reduce labor.
What is post-harvest management?
It includes storage, processing, packaging, and transportation of harvested crops.
Why is storage important in crop production?
Proper storage prevents spoilage, pest damage, and post-harvest losses.
What are granaries?
Granaries are structures used to store grains safely for long periods.
What are silos?
Silos are tall storage structures designed for bulk grain preservation.
What is food security?
Food security ensures availability, accessibility, and affordability of food for all people.
How does crop production support food security?
Increased crop production ensures sufficient food supply for growing populations.
What is subsistence farming?
Subsistence farming produces crops mainly for farmer’s family consumption.
What is commercial farming?
Commercial farming focuses on large-scale production for market sale.
What is dryland farming?
Dryland farming relies on rainfall and moisture conservation techniques.
What is irrigated farming?
Irrigated farming depends on artificial water supply for crop growth.
What is agroforestry?
Agroforestry integrates trees with crops to improve productivity and sustainability.
What is crop insurance?
Crop insurance protects farmers against losses from natural calamities or crop failure.
What is agricultural extension?
Agricultural extension provides farmers with technical knowledge and improved practices.
Why is crop production important?
Crop production provides food, employment, raw materials, and economic stability.
What is land preparation in crop production?
Land preparation involves tilling, leveling, and cleaning fields to create favorable conditions for seed sowing.
Why is leveling of fields important?
Leveling ensures uniform water distribution, reduces waterlogging, and improves crop growth efficiency.
What is primary tillage?
Primary tillage is the first deep soil turning operation to loosen soil and bury crop residues.
What is secondary tillage?
Secondary tillage refines soil texture, breaks clods, and prepares a smooth seedbed.
What is soil texture?
Soil texture refers to the proportion of sand, silt, and clay particles in soil.
What is soil structure?
Soil structure is the arrangement of soil particles into aggregates affecting aeration and water movement.
What is soil pH?
Soil pH measures acidity or alkalinity, influencing nutrient availability and crop growth.
Which soil pH is ideal for most crops?
Most crops grow best in slightly acidic to neutral soils with pH between 6.0 and 7.5.
What is salinity in soil?
Salinity refers to excess soluble salts in soil that hinder water uptake by plants.
What are saline soils called?
Saline soils are often called white soils due to salt accumulation on the surface.
What is waterlogging?
Waterlogging occurs when soil remains saturated, restricting oxygen supply to plant roots.
How does waterlogging affect crops?
It reduces root respiration, causes nutrient deficiency, and ultimately lowers crop yield.
What is crop spacing?
Crop spacing is the distance maintained between plants to ensure proper growth and sunlight exposure.
Why is proper spacing important?
Proper spacing reduces competition for nutrients, improves air circulation, and prevents disease spread.
What is broadcasting method of sowing?
Broadcasting involves scattering seeds uniformly over the field by hand or machines.
What is line sowing?
Line sowing places seeds in straight rows at uniform depth and spacing.
What is transplanting?
Transplanting involves moving seedlings from nurseries to main fields for further growth.
Which crops are commonly transplanted?
Rice, vegetables, tobacco, and flowers are commonly grown using transplanting methods.
What is a nursery bed?
A nursery bed is a small prepared area where seedlings are grown before transplanting.
What is crop establishment?
Crop establishment refers to successful germination and early growth after sowing.
What is basal fertilizer application?
Basal application supplies nutrients to soil before or during sowing.
What is top dressing?
Top dressing is applying fertilizers to standing crops during growth stages.
What is foliar application?
Foliar application involves spraying nutrient solutions directly on plant leaves.
Why is foliar feeding effective?
It allows quick nutrient absorption and corrects deficiencies rapidly.
What is irrigation scheduling?
Irrigation scheduling determines when and how much water crops require.
What is critical irrigation stage?
It is the growth stage when water stress severely affects crop yield.
What is rainfed agriculture?
Rainfed agriculture depends entirely on rainfall without supplemental irrigation.
What are advantages of rainfed farming?
It requires less investment and conserves groundwater resources.
What are disadvantages of rainfed farming?
Uncertain rainfall causes crop failure, low yield, and income instability.
What is soil moisture conservation?
It involves practices that reduce evaporation and retain water in soil.
What is contour farming?
Contour farming involves ploughing along land contours to reduce runoff and erosion.
What is strip cropping?
Strip cropping grows crops in alternate strips to prevent soil erosion.
What is cover cropping?
Cover cropping grows plants to protect soil between main cropping seasons.
What are green manure crops?
Green manure crops are grown and incorporated into soil to improve fertility.
Examples of green manure crops?
Sunhemp, dhaincha, and cowpea are common green manure crops.
What is biological nitrogen fixation?
It is the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into usable form by microorganisms.
Which crops help nitrogen fixation?
Leguminous crops fix nitrogen through symbiotic bacteria in root nodules.
What is Rhizobium?
Rhizobium is a beneficial bacterium that fixes nitrogen in legume roots.
What is compost?
Compost is decomposed organic waste used to improve soil fertility.
What is vermicompost?
Vermicompost is nutrient-rich manure produced using earthworms.
What are biofertilizers?
Biofertilizers contain living microorganisms that enhance nutrient availability to plants.
Advantages of biofertilizers?
They improve soil health, reduce chemical fertilizer use, and are environmentally friendly.
What is weed threshold level?
It is the weed population level beyond which economic crop loss occurs.
What is mechanical weed control?
Mechanical weed control uses tools and machines to uproot weeds.
What is chemical weed control?
Chemical weed control uses herbicides to suppress weed growth.
What is pre-emergence herbicide?
Pre-emergence herbicides are applied before weed seeds germinate.
What is post-emergence herbicide?
Post-emergence herbicides are applied after weeds emerge.
What is crop pest resistance?
It is the crop’s ability to tolerate or resist pest attacks.
What is biological pest control?
It uses natural predators, parasites, or pathogens to control pests.
What are beneficial insects?
Beneficial insects help control pests or assist pollination.
Examples of beneficial insects?
Ladybirds, honeybees, lacewings, and parasitoid wasps are beneficial insects.
What is pollination?
Pollination is the transfer of pollen from anther to stigma for fertilization.
Why is pollination important?
Pollination increases fruit set, seed formation, and crop yield.
What is crop maturity?
Crop maturity is the stage when crops are fully developed and ready for harvest.
What is physiological maturity?
It is the stage when seeds stop accumulating dry matter.
What is delayed harvesting?
Delayed harvesting occurs when crops are not harvested at proper maturity time.
Effects of delayed harvesting?
It causes yield loss, grain shattering, and quality deterioration.
What is mechanical harvesting?
Mechanical harvesting uses machines to cut and collect crops efficiently.
What is combine harvester?
A combine harvester performs harvesting, threshing, and winnowing simultaneously.
What is post-harvest loss?
Post-harvest loss refers to quantity and quality reduction after harvesting.
Major causes of post-harvest losses?
Improper storage, pests, moisture, and poor handling cause post-harvest losses.
What is grain moisture content?
It is the percentage of water present in harvested grains.
Why is drying important after harvest?
Drying reduces moisture, preventing fungal growth and spoilage.
What is sun drying?
Sun drying uses sunlight to reduce moisture content in harvested produce.
What is artificial drying?
Artificial drying uses machines to control temperature and drying speed.
What is crop productivity?
Crop productivity measures output per unit area over a specific time period.
What is yield gap?
Yield gap is the difference between potential and actual crop yield.
What is climate-smart agriculture?
It adapts crop production to climate change while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
What is carbon sequestration in agriculture?
It stores atmospheric carbon in soil through improved farming practices.
What is sustainable yield?
Sustainable yield maintains long-term productivity without harming resources.
What is food grain production?
Food grain production includes cereals and pulses grown for human consumption.
What is horticultural crop production?
It focuses on fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants.
What is seed certification?
Seed certification ensures genetic purity and quality of seeds.
What is crop diversification?
Crop diversification involves growing varied crops instead of single-crop dependence.
Why is crop diversification encouraged?
It reduces risk, improves income, and enhances nutritional security.
What is agricultural sustainability?
It balances productivity, environmental health, and economic viability.
What is farm mechanization?
Farm mechanization replaces manual labor with machines for efficiency.
What is agricultural productivity growth?
It refers to increased output using improved technology and practices.
What is crop loss assessment?
Crop loss assessment estimates damage caused by natural or human factors.
What is agricultural resilience?
Agricultural resilience is the ability to recover from climate and market shocks.
What is precision nutrient management?
It applies nutrients based on crop requirement and soil status.
What is smart farming?
Smart farming uses data, sensors, and automation for efficient crop production.
What is crop calendar?
Crop calendar outlines sowing, irrigation, fertilizer, and harvesting schedules.
Why is crop calendar important?
It helps farmers plan operations timely for maximum yield.
What is agricultural productivity index?
It measures efficiency of agricultural production over time.
What is crop sustainability index?
It evaluates environmental, economic, and social impacts of cropping systems.