Production Technique in Field Crops for Higher Yield

Introduction Field crops are crops grown on a large scale primarily for food, feed, fibre, oil, sugar, industrial raw materials and other economic purposes. They form the foundation of agriculture and play an important role in food security, employment, livestock production and rural development. Major Field crops include cereals such as rice, wheat, maize and sorghum; pulses such as chickpea, pigeon pea and lentil; oilseeds such as soybean, groundnut, mustard and sunflower; fibre crops such as cotton and jute; and commercial crops such as sugarcane and tobacco. The production of field crops involves a series of scientific and carefully planned operations beginning with the selection of a suitable crop and variety and continuing through land preparation, seed treatment, sowing, nutrient management, irrigation, weed control, pest and disease management, harvesting, threshing, storage and marketing. The productivity and profitability of a crop depend on the proper integration of all these operations. Modern crop production aims not only to obtain high yields but also to maintain soil fertility, conserve water, reduce production costs, protect the environment and provide safe agricultural products. Therefore, the concept of integrated crop production combines improved varieties, balanced fertilisation, and efficient irrigation, integrated pest management, mechanisation and sustainable farming practices. 1. Selection of Crop and Variety: The first step in field-crop production is selecting a crop and variety suitable for the particular agro-climatic conditions. Factors affecting crop selection: 1. Climate: Temperature, rainfall, humidity and length of growing season influence crop growth. 2. Soil: Soil texture, fertility, pH, drainage and water-holding capacity should be considered. 3. Availability of irrigation: Crops requiring large amounts of water should preferably be grown where irrigation facilities are available. 4. Market demand: Farmers should consider the demand and expected price of the produce. 5. Cropping system: The crop should fit properly into the existing crop rotation. 6. Farm resources: Availability of labour, machinery, fertilisers, water and capital should be considered. 7. Resistance to pests and diseases: Resistant or tolerant varieties reduce crop losses and pesticide requirements. Characteristics of an improved variety: An improved variety should have high yield potential, good quality, adaptability to local conditions. The improved variety should exhibit resistance or tolerance to major diseases and insects. Suitable maturity period, Good response to fertilisers, Resistance to lodging where appropriate, Better tolerance to drought, salinity or other stresses when required. Certified or quality seed of a recommended variety should be used for obtaining a healthy and uniform crop stand. 2. Land Preparation: Land preparation provides a suitable physical environment for seed germination and root development. It also helps in controlling weeds and incorporating crop residues and organic manures. Primary tillage: Primary tillage is generally performed after harvesting the previous crop. Ploughing loosens the soil, breaks compact layers and incorporates crop residues. Common implements include: Mould-board plough, disc plough, country plough, chisel plough. The number of ploughings should be based on soil conditions rather than following a fixed number. Excessive tillage can destroy soil structure, increase erosion and raise production costs. Secondary tillage: Secondary tillage produces a fine and level seedbed. It may involve harrowing, planking, levelling and cultivator operation. The seedbed should generally be sufficiently fine and moist but should not be excessively pulverised. Conservation tillage: Modern agriculture increasingly promotes conservation tillage practices such as:Minimum tillage, zero or reduced tillage, residue retention and mulching. These practices can reduce soil erosion, conserve moisture and reduce fuel consumption. 3. Soil Testing and Fertility Management: Soil is the main medium for plant growth and provides plants with water and essential nutrients. Soil testing should be carried out before crop production to determine nutrient status and guide fertiliser application. Essential plant nutrients are required by plants and can be broadly classified into two categories: · Macronutrients: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium and Sulphur · Micronutrients: Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Boron, Molybdenum, Chlorine and Nickel. Nutrients should be supplied according to crop requirements and soil-test recommendations. · Organic manures: Organic manures improve soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Important sources include farmyard manure, compost, vermicompost, green manure, crop residues and poultry manure. Well-decomposed farmyard manure or compost should preferably be incorporated into the soil before planting. · Chemical fertilisers: Fertilisers provide nutrients in concentrated forms. Common fertilisers include: Urea – nitrogen, diammonium phosphate – nitrogen and phosphorus, Single superphosphate – phosphorus and sulphur, Muriate of potash – potassium, Complex fertilisers – combinations of nutrients. Balanced fertilisation is important because excessive application of one nutrient can create nutritional imbalance and environmental problems. 4. Seed Selection and Seed Quality: Good-quality seed is one of the most important requirements for successful crop production. High-quality seed should have: High germination percentage, Good genetic purity, physical purity, Good vigour, Freedom from seed-borne diseases, appropriate moisture content, and freedom from insect infestation. Seed should be obtained from reliable sources. Seed treatment: Seed treatment protects young seedlings from seed-borne and soil-borne diseases and may improve germination. Methods include, namely, fungicide treatment, biofertiliser treatment, insecticide treatment where recommended, and physical treatment. For legumes such as chickpea, pea, soybean and groundnut, inoculation with appropriate Rhizobium cultures can improve biological nitrogen fixation. Other beneficial microbial inoculants may include phosphate-solubilising microorganisms and plant-growth-promoting microorganisms. 5. Sowing: Sowing is a critical operation because crop population and uniformity depend greatly on it. Important factors in sowing: time of sowing and seed rate. Row spacing, plant-to-plant spacing, depth of sowing, soil moisture and sowing method. The optimum sowing time differs among crops and regions. Methods of sowing: · Broadcasting: Seeds are scattered over the prepared field. It is simple but may result in uneven plant distribution. · Line sowing: Seeds are placed in rows at recommended spacing. This facilitates includes intercultural operations, weed control, fertiliser placement, irrigation management, and mechanical harvesting. · Drilling: Seed drills place seeds at a relatively uniform depth and spacing. · Dibbling: Individual seeds are placed in holes at specified distances. It is useful for crops requiring wider spacing. · Transplanting: Some crops, especially rice, may be established by transplanting seedlings raised in a nursery. 6. Plant Population and Spacing: Proper plant population is essential for optimum yield. If the population is too low, available resources such as sunlight, water and nutrients are not fully utilised. Excessive population can cause competition between plants. The recommended spacing depends on crop species, variety, soil fertility, irrigation, climate, plant architecture and duration of crop. For example, cereals generally require closer spacing than crops such as cotton or pigeon pea. 7. Water Management: Water is essential for germination, photosynthesis, nutrient transport and growth. Both insufficient and excessive water can reduce yield. · Sources of irrigation: Irrigation water may come from wells, tube wells, canals, reservoirs, farm ponds and rivers. · Methods of irrigation: · Surface irrigation: Water is applied over the soil surface. It includes flood irrigation, basin irrigation, border irrigation, and furrow irrigation. · Sprinkler irrigation: Water is sprayed through sprinklers and is useful where land is uneven or water availability is limited. · Drip irrigation: Water is supplied directly near the root zone through emitters. It can improve water-use efficiency and is particularly useful for widely spaced crops. · Critical stages of irrigation: Different crops have particular growth stages when water shortage can cause considerable yield reduction. Irrigation should therefore be scheduled according to crop requirement, soil type, weather, crop growth stage, and available water. Over-irrigation should be avoided because it can cause water logging, nutrient leaching, salinity and unnecessary expenditure. 8. Weed Management: Weeds are unwanted plants that compete with crops for water, nutrients, light and space. They can also harbour insects and diseases. Methods of weed control: · Mechanical control: Weeds may be removed using a hand hoe, wheel hoe, cultivator, inter-row and equipment. · Cultural control: Cultural practices include proper crop rotation, timely sowing, proper plant population, competitive varieties, mulching and clean seed. · Chemical control: Herbicides can control weeds efficiently when used according to the label and crop recommendations. Herbicides may be applied before sowing, pre-emergence and post-emergence. Correct selection, dose and application timing are essential. · Integrated weed management: Integrated weed management combines cultural, mechanical and chemical methods to provide effective and economica