Learning Objectives
- Understand the need for improvement of food resources
- Learn about crop improvement, crop production management, and crop protection management
- Understand animal husbandry — cattle farming, poultry, fish production, and beekeeping
- Know the difference between manure and fertilizers
Key Concepts
Improvement in Crop Yields
India's population is growing, and we need more food. Green Revolution and White Revolution increased food production. Three approaches: crop variety improvement, crop production management, and crop protection management.
Crop Variety Improvement
Achieved through hybridisation (crossing genetically different plants) and genetic modification. Goals include:
- Higher yield — more crop production per hectare
- Improved quality — better nutritional value (e.g., protein-rich wheat)
- Biotic resistance — resistance to diseases, insects, and pests
- Abiotic resistance — tolerance to drought, salinity, waterlogging
- Shorter maturity period — reduces crop production cost
- Wider adaptability — crop grows in diverse conditions
- Desirable agronomic traits — tallness and profuse branching for fodder crops, dwarfness for cereals
Crop Production Management
Nutrient management: Plants require 16 essential nutrients — macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S) from soil in large quantities, and micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Mo, B, Cl) in small quantities. Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen come from air and water.
Manure: Organic substance from decomposition of plant/animal waste. Types: compost, vermicompost, green manure. Enriches soil with organic matter and nutrients.
Fertilizers: Commercially manufactured chemicals (e.g., urea, superphosphate, NPK). Provide specific nutrients in large quantities but overuse depletes soil health.
Irrigation: Supply of water to crops. Methods: wells, canals, river lift systems. Modern methods: drip irrigation (water drops directly at roots) and sprinkler system (water sprayed like rain).
Cropping patterns:
- Mixed cropping: Growing two or more crops simultaneously in the same field (e.g., wheat + gram).
- Intercropping: Growing two or more crops in definite row patterns (e.g., soybean + maize).
- Crop rotation: Growing different crops on the same land in successive seasons.
Crop Protection Management
Crops need protection from weeds, insect pests, and diseases.
Weeds: Unwanted plants that compete with crops (e.g., Xanthium, Parthenium). Removed by weeding, herbicides.
Insect pests: Attack roots, stems, and leaves. Controlled by pesticides, biological control.
Diseases: Caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses. Spread by air, water, soil, or insects. Prevented by resistant varieties, proper treatment of seeds.
Storage: Grains must be protected from pests, moisture, and rodents during storage. Dried to reduce moisture, then stored in silos or granaries.
Animal Husbandry
Cattle farming: Milch animals (milk) and draught animals (farm labour). Breeds: indigenous (e.g., Red Sindhi), exotic (e.g., Jersey). Cross-breeding improves yield.
Poultry farming: Rearing hens for eggs and meat. Improved breeds: cross between Indian (Aseel) and foreign (Leghorn) varieties.
Fish production: Marine fishing and inland fishing. Mariculture: farming in sea; Aquaculture: farming in freshwater bodies. Composite fish culture uses multiple species in one pond.
Beekeeping (Apiculture): Keeping bees for honey and wax. Common species: Apis cerana indica (Indian bee), Apis mellifera (Italian bee). Italian bee is preferred for higher honey yield.
Summary
Improvement in food resources requires better crop varieties, efficient production and protection management, and scientific animal husbandry. Crop improvement through hybridisation, proper nutrient management using manure and fertilizers, modern irrigation, and integrated pest management all contribute to increased food production. Animal husbandry includes cattle farming, poultry, fish culture, and beekeeping.
Important Terms
- Hybridisation: Crossing genetically different plants to obtain desired traits
- Manure: Organic substance from decomposed plant/animal waste for soil enrichment
- Fertilizer: Manufactured chemical substance providing specific plant nutrients
- Composite Fish Culture: Growing several species of fish together in a single pond
- Apiculture: Scientific beekeeping for honey production
- Mariculture: Cultivation of marine organisms in their natural habitat
Quick Revision
- Three approaches: crop variety improvement, production management, protection management
- Manure = organic; Fertilizer = chemical (inorganic)
- Mixed cropping: two crops in same field; Intercropping: in definite rows; Crop rotation: in successive seasons
- 16 essential nutrients for plants; NPK are primary macronutrients
- Cattle: milch + draught; Poultry: eggs + broilers; Fish: marine + inland