STEPS FOR AGRICULTURE PRACTICES

INDEX• MEANING OF AGRICULTUE.• AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES.• STEPS FOR AGRICULTURE

PRACTICES.• PREPIRATION OF SOIL. • SOWING.• ADDING MANURE AND

FERTILIZERS.• IRRIGATION.• PROTECTION FROM WEEDS.• HARVESTING.• STORAGE.

AGRICULTURE Agriculture is also called farming or husbandry. It is the

cultivation of animals, plants, fungi, and other life forms for food, fiber, biofuel and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the development of civilization. The study of agriculture is known as agricultural science. Agriculture generally speaking refers to human activities, although it is also observed in certain species of ant and termite. Agricultural practices such as irrigation, crop rotation, fertilizers, pesticides and animals were developed long ago.

AGRICULTURE PRACTICES Agricultural Practices means the steps involved in agriculture which

can be seen generally been done by farmers and gardeners. Agricultural practices such as irrigation, crop rotation, fertilizers, pesticides and animals were developed long ago, but have made great strides in the past century. The history of agriculture has played a major role in human history, as agricultural progress has been a crucial factor in worldwide socio economic change. Division of labor in agricultural societies made commonplace specializations rarely seen in hunter-gatherer cultures. So, too, are arts such as epic literature and monumental architecture, as well as codified legal systems. When farmers became capable of producing food beyond the needs of their own families, others in their society were freed to devote themselves to projects other than food acquisition. Historians and anthropologists have long argued that the development of agriculture made civilization possible. The total world population probably never exceeded 15 million inhabitants before the invention of agriculture.

STEPS FOR AGRICULTURE PRACTICESPREPERATION OF SOIL.SOWING.ADDING MANURE AND FERTILIZERS.IRRIGATION.PROTECTION FROM WEEDS.HARVESTING.STORAGE.

PREPIRATION OF SOIL Prior to planting, the soil needs to be prepared, usually by

some form of tillage or chemical "burn-down" to kill the weeds in the seedbed that would crowd out the crop or compete with it for water and nutrients. Depending on the amount of crop residue they leave on the surface. Residue slows the flow of runoff that can displace and carry away soil particles.

SOWING PROCESS Sowing is the process of planting seeds. Seed soaking is

generally done by placing seeds in medium hot water for at least 24 to up to 48 hours Seed cleaning is done especially with fruit (as the flesh of the fruit around the seed can quickly become prone to attack from insects or plagues. To clean the seed, usually seed rubbings with cloth/paper is performed, sometimes assisted with a seed washing. Seed washing is generally done by submerging cleansed seeds 20 minutes in 50 degree Celsius water. This (rather hot than moderately hot) water kills any organisms that may have survived on the skin of a seed. Especially with easily infected tropical fruit such as leeches and rambutans, seed washing with high temperature water is vital

ADDING MANURES AND FERTILZERS Plant requires food/nutrients/elements for its growth and

development which are absorbed through soil. The nutrient supplying sources are manures and fertilizers. Application of manures and fertilizers to the soil is one of the important factors which help in increasing the crop yield and to maintain the soil fertility.

Manure: It is a well decomposed refuse from the stable and barn yards including both animal excreta and straw or other litter. Or he term manure implies to the any material with the exception of water which when added to the soil makes it productive and promotes plant growth.

Fertilizers: These are industrially manufactured chemicals containing plant nutrients. Or It is an artificial product containing the plant nutrients which when added to soil makes it productive and promotes plant growth.

IRRIGATION Irrigation is the process of supplying dry land with

water by means of ditches etc .It is the artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall. Additionally, irrigation also has a few other uses in crop production, which include protecting plants against frost,

PROTECTION FROM WEEDS A wild plant growing where it is not wanted and in

competition with cultivated plants. Weeds can compete with productive crops or pasture, or convert productive land into unusable scrub. Weeds are also often poisonous, distasteful, produce burrs, thorns or other damaging body parts or otherwise interfere with the use and management of desirable plants by contaminating harvests or excluding livestock.

HARVESTING. Harvesting crops involves getting the crop out of the field and

transported to market. Most crops are harvested in the fall, except for hay which is cut several times over the course of the summer. Field crops are harvested by machine, while small fruits and other food crops are typically harvested by hand, although in certain cases, they may be harvested by machine.

Equipment Used For Harvesting.1. Tractors.2. Forage Harvesters.3. Combines.4. Cotton Harvesters.5. Grain Carts.6. Balers.

STORAGE OF GRAIN The purpose of any grain storage is to prevent grain

quality loss from weather, wind and moisture; rodents, birds and insects, and microorganisms. Many types of buildings such as pole buildings used for machinery storage, empty barns, and stud framed shops or garages can be used for grain storage. Seed stored for more than six weeks must be protected against insect damage. Seed should only be stored when 'dry', as grain of high moisture causes temperatures to rise and mould to develop. High temperatures reduce the efficacy of grain protectants, allowing insects to multiply. Cooling of grain (below 15 degrees C) helps to suppress insect activity.

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