Question

Give different steps of agricultural practices in sequence.

Answer 1

Hint: Agricultural practices contain activities related to the growth and harvesting of plants. Proper nourishment of plants is ensured to have a good yield.

Complete Answer:
The art of cultivation of crops is called agriculture. The annual cycle of agriculture contains activities related to the growth and harvest of the plant. These activities include sowing, increasing fertility of the soil, cutting of weed plants, moving of crops when they grow big, and harvesting.

The steps of agricultural practices include
1. Soil preparation: The soil needs to be fertile enough to provide nutrients to the growing crop. The soil is loosened up by digging so that there is proper aeration of the soil. This process of loosening and digging of soil is called plowing. The soil is then distributed evenly and leveled properly. After leveling the soil is manured so that it is rich in nutrients.

2. Sowing: The primary stage of sowing is the selection of good quality crop strains. These seeds are dispersed in the field and this process is called sowing. It can be done by hand or by using machines. Some crops like paddy are first grown in a small area into seedlings and then are planted in the main field.

3. Manuring: Manure is rich in nutrients and is important for the growth of crops to produce a high yield. The crop needs supplements to grow which can be natural (manure) or chemical compounds (fertilizers).

4. Irrigation: Water is very essential for the proper growth of crops. Water can be supplied by well, ponds, canals, etc. Overirrigation is harmful to crops as it may lead to waterlogging damaging growing crops. So, the frequency and quantity of irrigation should be controlled.

5. Weeding: Cutting out the unwanted plants growing among the crops is called weeding. They are either pulled out or are removed by weedicides. Removal of these weeds is very important as these weeds take up the nutrition of growing crops leading to the poor yield.

6. Harvesting: Cutting and gathering of fully grown crops is called harvesting.

7. Storage: Grains produced are stored in godowns or granaries for later use. Therefore, there should be proper measures taken to protect the harvested crops. To protect grains from pests and rodents all sorts of cleaning, drying, fumigation, etc are done prior to storing grains.

Note: Manure is a waste of plants and animals. It is high in various nutrients. All the wet waste from our home can go for manure formation. Manure also increases the fertility of the soil.