B.sc agri i paam unit 1 introduction to agronomy

Introduction to Agronomy
Course: B.Sc. Agricultural
Subject :Principle of Agronomy and Agricultural Meteorology
Unit: 1

The Scenario in the food
production is changing fast in the
country with the advances made in
all branches of Agricultural sciences.
Agriculture is derived from the
Latin words…
• ‘agar’ or ‘agri’ means Soil and
• ‘cultura’ means Cultivation

 Agriculture is a very broad term
encompassing all aspects of crop production,
live stock farming, Fisheries, forestry etc.
 Management practices of different crops
from potential competitor as well as weed and
pest.
 It include physical environment resource is
- Land
- Water
- Air

Agriculture as art, science and
business of crop production
• As an art
it embraces knowledge of the way to perform the operations
of the farm in a skillful manner. The skill is categorized as;
Physical skill: It involves the ability and capacity to carry out the
operation in an efficient way for e.g., handling of farm
implements, animals, sowing of seeds, fertilizer and pesticides
application etc.
Mental skill: The farmer is able to take a decision based on
experience, such as,
( i) Time and method of ploughing,
( ii ) Selection of crop and cropping system to suit soil and
climate,
( Iii ) Adopting improved farm practices etc.

• As a science :
It utilizes all modern technologies developed on
scientific principles such as crop
improvement/breeding, crop production, crop
protection, economics etc., to maximize the yield and
profit.
For example, new crops and varieties developed
by hybridization, transgenic crop varieties resistant to
pests and diseases, hybrids in each crop, high
fertilizer responsive varieties, water management,
herbicides to control weeds, use of bio-control
agents to combat pest and diseases etc.

• As the business :
As long as agriculture is the way of life of the
rural population, production is ultimately bound
to consumption. But agriculture as a business
aims at maximum net return through the
management of land, labour, water and capital,
employing the knowledge of various sciences for
production of food, feed, fiber and fuel. In recent
years, agriculture is commercialized to run as a
business through mechanization.

Agriculture Industry
a) Resources are self generated Depends on raw materials
b) Direct producer Indirect producer
c) Subjected to natural calamities Protected from natural calamities
d) Production is not under control Production is under control
e)
All the process is carried out by
single person or family
There are separate units and subunits
f) Owner himself is the labour Owner as a labour is less in industry

Agriculture is grouped in four major categories as,
A. Crop Improvement (i) Plant breeding and genetics
(ii) Bio-technology
B. Crop Management (i) Agronomy
(ii) Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry
(iii) Seed technology
(iv) Agricultural Microbiology
(v) Crop-Physiology
(vi) Agricultural Engineering
(vii) Environmental Sciences
(viii) Agricultural Meteorology
C. Crop Protection (i) Agricultural Entomology
(ii) Plant Pathology
(iii) Nematology
D. Social Sciences (i) Agricultural Extension
(ii) Agricultural Economics
Allied disciplines (i) Agricultural Statistics
(ii) English
(iii) Mathematics
(iv) Bio-Chemistry etc.

 Norman (1980) has define Agronomy as
the science of manipulating the crop
environment complex with duel aims of
improving agriculture productivity and
gaining a degree of understanding of the
process involved
1 2

What is Agronomy ?
Agronomy is a branch of Agriculture which
deals with the study of the principles and
practices of soil, water and crop management.
 it is derived from greek words…
• agros means field
• nomas means to manage

Scope of Agronomy
 Agronomy is a dynamic discipline. With the advancement of
knowledge and better understanding of plant and environment,
agricultural practices are modified or new practices developed
for higher productivity. For example;-
 Availability of chemical fertilizers and herbicides for control
of weeds has led to development of a vast knowledge about
time, method and quantity of fertilizer and herbicide
application.
 Big irrigation projects are constructed to provide irrigation
facilities. However, these projects created side effects like water
logging and salinity. To overcome these problems, appropriate
water management practices are developed.

 Population pressure is increasing but the area
under cultivation is static. Therefore, to feed the
increasing population, more number of crops have to
be grown on the same piece of land in an year. As a
result, intensive cropping has come into vogue.
 Similarly, no tillage practices have come in place
of clean cultivation as a result of increase in cost of
energy.( Fuel prices of oil ) Likewise, new technology
has to be developed to overcome the effect of
moisture stress under dry land conditions.
 As new varieties of crops with high yield
potential become available, package of practices has
to be developed to exploit their full yielding
potential.

Total geographical area : 328.848 million ha.
Total reporting area : 304.300 million ha.
Area under cultivation : 143.000 million ha.
Total cropped area : 179.750 million ha.
Area sown more than once : 36.750 million ha.
Area not available for cultivation : 161.300 million ha.
Area under forest : 66.400 million ha.
Land utilization statistics

Developments of Agriculture
COLLECTION AND GATHERING
SOWING OF CROPES
REMOVAL OF UNWANTED PLANTS
WATERING
PROTECTION FROM PEST
TILLAGE
TILLAGE IMPLEMENTS
APPLICATION OF NUTRIENTS
CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS
PESTICIDS
DRIP IRRIGATION
COMBINES

• Green Revolution in India began in the 1960s, through the
introduction of high-yield crop varieties and application of
modern agricultural techniques, and led to an increase in food
production in India. It began after high-yielding wheat was first
introduced to India in 1963 by American agronomist Dr. Norman
E Borlaug, who is known as "the Father of the Green
Revolution".
• India's programme of Green Revolution was led by Dr. M. S.
Swaminathan, known as "the Father of the Green Revolution in
India". The introduction of High-yielding varieties of seeds and
the increased use of chemical fertilizers and irrigation led to the
increase in production needed to make India self-sufficient in
food grains, thus improving agriculture in India. The methods
adopted included the use of high yielding varieties (HYV) of
seeds along with the use of modern farming methods.
REVOLUTION IN AGRICULTURE
3 4

Green revolution Food grain production
White revolution/
Operation food
Milk production (dairy)
Yellow revolution Oilseeds production
Blue revolution Fish production
Golden revolution Fruit production
Gray revolution Fertilizer production
Pink revolution Prawn production
Red revolution Meat/ Tomato production
Round revolution Potato production
Silver revolution Egg/poultry production
Rainbow revolution All round growth in the production of foodgrains,
edible oils, fruits and vegetables, animal and fish
production
Energy revolution Provision of required food, nutrition and
environmental security to future generation

Relationship of Agronomy
with other Science
It is a Synthesis of Several disciplines like…
• Soil science
• Plant ecology
• Entomology
• Plant pathology
 To understand Soil physical, chemical and biological properties as
well as physiology of crops.
 Developments in these subjects help in developing new practices
which are simpler and economical to provide favorable
environment to the crop.
 Agronomy mainly deals with different management practices.

Important management practices for crop
growth and yield are…
- Tillage
- Seeds and sowing
- Nutrient management
- Water management
- Weed management
- Harvesting
- Storage
- Marketing

Classification based on climate:
1. Tropical: Crops grow well in warm & hot
climate.
E.g. Rice, sugarcane, Jowar etc
2. Temperate: Crops grow well in cool climate.
E.g. Wheat, Oats, Gram, Potato etc.

• Classification Based on growing season:
1. Kharif/Rainy/Monsoon crops: The crops grown in monsoon
months from June to Oct-Nov, Require warm, wet weather at
major period of crop growth, also required short day length
for flowering.
E.g. Cotton, Rice, Jowar, bajara.
2. Rabi/winter/cold seasons crops: Require winter season to
grow well from Oct to March month. Crops grow well in cold
and dry weather. Require longer day length for flowering.
E.g. Wheat, gram, sunflower etc.
3. Summer/Zaid crops: Crops grown in summer month from
March to June. Require warm day weather for major growth
period and longer day length for flowering.
E.g. Groundnuts, Watermelon, Pumpkins, Gourds.

Use and Agronomic classification:
1. Grain crops: May be cereals as millets cereals are
the cultivated grasses grown for their edible starchy
grains. The larger grain used as staple food is
cereals.
E.g. Rice, Jowar, Wheat, Maize, Barley(Jav), and
Millets are the small grained cereals which are of
minor importance as food. E.g. Bajara.
2. Pulse/legume crops: Seeds of leguminous crops
plant used as food. On splitting they produced Dal
which is rich in protein.
E.g. Green gram, Black gram, Soybean, Pea,
Cowpea, Lentil (Masur) etc.

3. Oil seeds crops: Crop seeds are rich in fatty acids, are
used to extract vegetable oil to meet various
requirements.
E.g. Groundnut, Mustard, Sunflower, Sesamum,
Linseed (Alsi) etc.
4. Forage Crop: It refers to vegetative matter fresh as
preserved utilized as food for animals. Crop
cultivated & used for hay and silage.
E.g. sorghum, Elephant grass, Guinea grass, Berseem
& other Pulse etc.
5. Fibre crops: Grown for fibre yield. Fibre may be
obtained from seed.
E.g. Cotton, Jute, Mesta, Sun hemp, Flax.

6. Roots crops: Roots are the economic produce in root
crop.
E.g. Sweet potato, Sugar beet, Carrot, Turnip etc.
7. Tuber crop: Crop whose edible portion is not a root
but a short thickened underground stem.
E.g. Potato, Elephant yam.
8. Sugar crops: The two important crops are sugarcane
and sugar beet cultivated for production for sugar.
9. Starch crops: Grown for the production of starch.
E.g. Tapioca, Potato, Sweet potato.
10. Dreg crop: Used for preparation for medicines.
E.g. Tobacco, Mint.

11. Spices & condiments/spices crops: Crop plants as their
products are used to flavour taste and sometime color the
fresh preserved food.
E.g. Ginger, Garlic, Chili, Cumin, Onion, Coriander, Cardamom,
Pepper, Turmeric etc.
12. Vegetables crops: May be leafy as fruity vegetables. E.g.
Palak, Mentha, Brinjal, Tomato.
13. Green manure crop: Grown and incorporated into soil to
increase fertility of soil.
E.g. Sun hemp, Guar
14. Medicinal & aromatic crops: Medicinal plants includes
Cinchona, Isabgoli, Opium poppy, Senna, Belladonna,
Rauwolfra and aromatic plants such as Lemon grass, Citronella
grass, Palmorsa, Japanese mint, Peppermint, Rose geranicem,
Jasmine, Senna etc.

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH
INSTITUTES IN INDIA
NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTES:
• CAZRI : Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
• CFTRI: Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore,
Karnataka
• CICR: Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur,
Maharashtra
• CPRI: Central Potato Research Institute, Simla, H.P.
• CRIJAF: Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres,
Barrackpore, W.B.
• CIAE: Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal, M.P.
• CPCRI: Central Plantation crops Research Institute, Kasargod,
Kerala

• CRIDA: Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture,
Hyderabad, A.P.
• CRRI: Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Orissa
• CSWCRTI: Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and
Training Institute, Dehradun, U.P.
• CTCRI: Central Tuber Crops Research Institute,
Thiruvananthapuram, (Trivendrum), Kerala
• CSSRI : Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana
• CTRI : Central Tobacco Research Institute, Rajahmundry, A.P.
• DOR : Directorate of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad, A.P.
• DRR : Directorate of Rice Research, Hyderabad, A.P.
• DWR : Directorate of Wheat Research, Karnal, Haryana

• DWMR: Directorate of Water Management Research
Institute, Jhansi, U.P.
• FRI: Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, U.P.
• IARI: Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi
• IGFARI: Indian Grassland Fooder and Agroforestry Research
Institute, Jhansi, U. P.
• IISR: Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, U.P.
• IISS: Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, M.P.
• IIPR: Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur, U.P.
• IIHR: Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore,
Karnataka.
• ILRI: Indian Lac Research Institute, Ranchi, Bihar
• JTRL: Jute Technological Research Laboratory, Kolkata, W.B.

• NCMRT: National Centre for Mushroom Research and
Training, Solan, H.P.
• NRCG: National Research Centre for Groundnut,
Junagadh, Gujarat
• NRCS: National Research Centre for Sorghum,
(Directorate of Sorghum Research) Hyderabad, A.P.
NRC for Soybean, Indore, M.P.
NRC for Spices, Calicut, Kerala
NRC for Cashew, Pattur, Karnataka
NRC for Citrus, Nagpur, Maharasthra
NRC for Rapeseed and Mustard, Bharatpur, Rajasthan
NRC for Oil Palm, Pedavegi, Andhra Pradesh.

• NCWS: National Centre for Weed Science, Jabalpur, M.P.
• NBPGR : National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources,
New Delhi
• NAARM: National Academy of Agricultural Research
Management, Hyderabad
• NBSSLUP: National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use
Planning, Nagpur, Maharashtra
• NPPTI: National Plant Protection Training Institute,
National Institute of plant v Health Management,
Hyderabad, A.P.-NIPHM.
• PDCSR: Project Directorate for Cropping Systems
Research, Meerut, U.P.
• SBI: Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu

• INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTES :
• CGIAR: Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research,
Washington, D.C.
• CIFOR : Centre for International Forestry Research, Bogor,
Indonesia
• CIAT: Centre International de Agricultural Tropical, Cali, Columbia
• CIMMYT: Centre International de la Mejoramientode Maizy Trigo,
Mexico
• CIP: Centre International de la papa (International Potato Centre)
Lima, Peru
• IPGRI: International Plant Genetic Resources Institiute
• IBPGR: International Board for Plant Genetic Resources, Rome,
Italy
• ICARDA: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry
Areas, Aleppo, Syria

• ICRAF: International Centre for Research in Agro-Forestry, Nairobi,
Kenya
• ICRISAT: International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid
Tropics, Hyderabad, India
• IFPRI: International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington,
U.S.A
• IITA: International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria
• IWMI/IIMI: International Irrigation Management Institute,
Colombo, Sri Lanka
• ICRISAT: On water
• ILRI: International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
• IRRI: International Rice Research Institute, Manila, Philippiness
• ISNAR: International Service for National Agricultural Research,
The Hague, The Netherlands
• WARDA: West Africa Rice Development Association, Ivory Coast,
West Africa

1 Western Himalayan zone
2 Estern Himalayan zone
3 Lower Gangetic plains
4 Middle Gangetic plains
5 Upper Gangetic plains
6 Trans Gangetic plains
7 Eastern Plateau & hills
8 Central Plateau & hills
9 Western Plateau & hills
10 Southern Plateau & hills
11 East Coast Plains & hills
12 West Cost Plains & Ghats
13 Gujarat Plain & hills
14 Western Dry Region
15 Island Zone5

Agro Climatic Zone of Gujarat State
Zone -I South Gujarat Heavy Rainfall
Zone
Zone -V North-west Zone
Zone -II South Gujarat Zone Zone -VI North Saurashtra Zone
Zone -III Middle Gujarat Zone Zone -VII South Saurashtra Zone
Zone -IV North Gujarat Zone Zone -VIII Bhal and Coastal Zone
6

Sr.
No.
NARP Zone
Zonal
Research
Station
Districts Suitable Crops
1
South Gujarat
Heavy Rainfall
Zone
Navsari
Dang, Valsad and Valod, Vyara, songadh
and Mahuva taluks of Surat.
Rice, Sorghum, Ragi, Kodra,
Seasamum, Pigeonpea,
Groundnu, Cotton, Sugarcane,
Chillies, Wheat, Gram
2
South Gujarat
Zone
Surat
Surat and Amod, Ankleshwar, Broach,
Dekdopada, Honsot, Jhagadia, Nanded,
Sagbara and Valia talukas of Broach.
Rice, Wheat, Gram, Perlmillets,
Sorghum, Maize, Kodra, Ragi,
Pigeonpea, roundnut, Sesamum,
Castor, Cotton, Sugarcane,
Chillies,
3
Middle Gujarat
Zone
Anand
Panchmahals, Baroda and Anand,
Balasinor, Borsad, Kapadvanj, Kheda,
Matar, Ahmedabad, Nadiad, Petlad and
Thasara and taluks of Kheda.
Sorghum, Maize, Kodra, Ragi,
Pigeonpea, Groundnu, Sesamum,
Castor, Cotton, Sugarcane,
Chillies, Chickpea, Tobacco,
Potato, Rapeseed & Mustard.
4
North Gujarat
Zone
Dantiwada
Sabarkantha, Gandhinagar, Dehgam,
Daskroi, Sanand talukas of Ahmedabad,
Deesa, Dhenera, Palanpur, Dandta,
Wadgam taluks of Banaskantha and
Chanasma, Kadi, Kalol, Kheralu, Mehsana,
Patan, Sidhpur, Visnagar, Vijapur taluks
and Mehsana.
Sorghum, Maize, groundnut,
Sesamum, Castor, Cotton,
Sugarcane, Cumin, Rapeseed &
Mustard.
Agro-climatic zones of Gujarat

Sr.
No.
NARP Zone
Zonal
Research
Station
Districts Suitable Crops
5
North-west
Zone
Bhachau
Kutch, Rajkot, Malia Halvad, Dhrangdhra,
Dasada taluks of Surendranagar, Sami and
Harij taluks of Mahsana, Santhalpur,
Radhanpur, Kankrej, Deodar, Vav, Tharad
taluks of Banaskantha and Viramgam taluka
of Ahmedabad.
Sorghum, Maize, Pigeon pea,
groundnut, Sesamum,
Castor,Cotton, Rapeseed &
Mustard, Barley.
6
North
Saurashtra
Zone
Targhadia
Jamnagar, Rajkot, Chotila, Limdi, Lakhtar,
Muli, Sayla, Wadhwan talukas of
Surendranagar and Gadheda, Umrala, Botad,
Kundla, Dihor, Garidhar, Palitana talukas of
Bhavnagar and Amreli, Babra, Lathi, Lalia,
Kunkavav, Khamba, Dhari taluks of Amreli.
Pearlmillets,
Sorghum,
Groundnut,
Seasamum,
Castor,
Cotton,
Pulses.
7
South
Saurashtra
Zone
Junagarh
Junagadh, Ghodha, Talaja, Mahava taloukas
of Bhavnagar Kodinar, Rajula and Jafrabad
talukas of Amerli and Dhoraji, Jetpur, Upleta
talukas of Rajkot.
Rice, Maize, Wheat, Sugarcane,
Gram, Pearlmillets, Pulses,
Sorghum, Cotton, Groundnut,
Seasamu, rapeseed & mustard
8
Bhal and
Coastal Zone
Arnej
Bhavnagar (Vallabhipur, Bhavnagar talukas),
Ahmedabad (Dholka, Dhanduka talukas), and
Vagra, Jambusa talukas of Bharauch.
Rice,
Pearl millets.

Tillage
• Father of tillage - Jethro Tull
Plants absorb minute particles of soils.
Therefore, he suggested that through ploughing and
other operations were necessary so as to make soil into
fine particles.
Ideal condition of soil can be achieved by
manipulating the soil properly & bringing it in good tilth
through a series of mechanical operations like
ploughing, clod crushing, harrowing, leveling,
compacting, interculturing etc. by tillage implements.
7

 Tillage of the soil consists of breaking the hard
compact surface to a certain depth and other
operations that are followed for plant growth.
 Tillage is the physical manipulation of soil with tools
& the tilling of land for the cultivation of crop plants
i.e. the working of the surface soil for bringing about
conditions favourable for Raising of crop plants.
 Tillage is the manipulation of soil with tools &
implements for loosening the surface crust &
bringing about conditions favourable for the
germination of seeds and the growth of crops.
What is Tillage ?

Objects of Tillage:
1. To make the soil loose & porous
2. To aerate the soil
3. To have repeated exchange of air / gases
4. To prepare a good seed bed which helps the germination of
seeds.
5. To create conditions in the soil suited for better growth of crops.
6. To make the soil capable for absorbing more rain water.
7. To increase the soil temperature
8. To control weeds
9. To remove stubbiest
10. To destroy insect pests
11. To destroy hard pan
12. To incorporate organic & other bulky manures
13. To Invert soil to improve fertility

Aims and objectives of tillage
1. Moisture management:- Soil configuration for in situ
moisture conservation, to increase infiltration rate
to increase moisture storage capacity of soil profile,
to increase aeration to reduce evaporation losses
through inter tillage operations to provide drainage
to remove excess water etc.
2. Erosion control:- Contour tillage, contour cultivation
tillage across the slope.
3. Weed control:- Check weed growth & avoid
moisture competition.
4. Management of crop residues:- Mixing of trash and
decomposition of crop residues retention of trash
on top layers to reduce erosion.

5. Improvement of tilth: - Minimize the resistance to root
penetration, improve soil texture & structure etc.
6. Improvement of soil aeration:- For good growth of
crop.
7. Providing food seed:- Soil contact.
8. Preparing fine surface for seeding operation.
9. Incorporation of manures, fertilizers and agro
chemicals (weedicide & soil amendments) into the soil.
10. Insect control.
11. Temperature control for seed germination.

Types of Tillage Operations
1. Preparatory tillage:
Tillage operations that are carried out from the time of harvest of a crop to
the sowing of the next crop are known as preparatory cultivation/ Tillage. OR
Operations carried out in any cultivated land to prepare seedbed for sowing
crops are preparatory tillage.
a) Primary tillage: It mainly includes the ploughing operation which is
opening of the compacted soil with the help of different ploughs.
Ploughing is done to:
1) Open the hard soil,
2) Separate the top soil from lower layers,
3) Invert the soil whenever necessary and
4) Uproot the weeds & stubbles.
b) Secondary tillage : Lighter or finer operation performed on the soil after
primary tillage are known as secondary tillage which includes the operations
performed after ploughing, leveling, harrowing etc.

2. Seedbed preparation:
After preparatory tillage the land is to be laid out
properly for irrigating crops if irrigation is
available for sowing or planting seeding which are
known as seedbed preparation.
It includes harrowing, levelling, compacting the
soil, preparing irrigation layouts such as basins,
borders, rides & furrows etc.
3. Inter tillage/ Inter cultivation/ Interculture/
after care operation:
The tillage operations that are carried out in the
standing crop are called inter tillage operations.

Modern Concepts of Tillage
1. Minimum Tillage:
It is aimed at reducing tillage operations to the
minimum necessary for ensuring a good
seedbed, rapid germination, a satisfactory stand
& favourable growing conditions, Tillage can be
reduced by:
1) Omitting operations which do not give
much benefit when compared to the cost and
2) Combining agricultural operations like
seeding & fertilizer application.

• Advantages:
1) Improve soil condition due to decomposition of plant
residues in situ,
2) Higher infiltration caused by decomposition of vegetation
present on Soils & channels formed by decomposition of dead
roots.
3) Less resistance to root growth due to improved structure.
4) Less soil compaction by reduced movement of heavy tillage
vehicles.
5) Less soil erosion compared to conventional tillage.
• Disadvantages:
1) Less seed germination,
2) More ‘N’ has to be added as rate of decomposition of
organic matter is slow.
3) Nodulation may affect in some legumes.
4) Sowing operations are difficult with ordinary implements.

2. Zero tillage:
It is an extreme form of minimum
tillage. Primary tillage is completely avoided &
secondary tillage is restricted to seedbed
preparation in the row zone only.
It is followed where,
1) Soils are subjected to wind & water erosion,
2) Timing of tillage operations is too difficult &
3) Requirements of energy & labour for tillage
are too high.

• Advantages:
1) Soils are homogenous in structure with more no. of earth
worms.
2) Organic matter content increased due to less
mineralization.
3) Surface runoff is reduced due to presence of mulch. Several
operations are performed by using only one implement. In
these weeds are controlled by spraying of herbicides.
• Disadvantages:
1) Higher ‘N’ is too applied due to slower mineralization of
org. matter.
2) Large population of perennial weeds appears.
3) Build up of pests is more.

3. Stubble mulch tillage:
The soil is protected at all times either by growing a crop
or by crop residues left on the surface during fallow periods. It is
year round system of managing plant residue with implements
that undercut residue, loosen the soil and kill weeds. Soil is tilled
as often as necessary to control weeds during the interval
between two crops. However, it presents the practical problem as
the residues left on the surface interfere with seedbed
preparation & sowing operations. The traditional tillage & sowing
equipment is not suitable under these conditions.
Modern methods of tillage are not practiced in Indian
condition because:
a) Left over residue is a valuable fodder & fuel.
b) Limited use of heavy machinery & therefore problem of soil
compaction is rare.

4. Peddling:
Pudding is ploughing the land with standing water so as
to create an impervious layer below the surface to
reduce deep percolation losses of water and to provide
soft seedbed for planting rice.
5. Conservation tillage:
It is disturbing the soil to the minimum extent &
leaving crop residues on the soil. It includes minimum &
zero tillage which can reduce soil loss up to 99% over
conventional tillage. In most cases, it reduces soil by
50% over conventional tillage. Conventional tillage
includes ploughing twice or thrice followed by
harrowing & planking. It leaves no land unploughes &
leaves no residues on the soil.

Ploughing:
• Ploughing is done almost every year by
wooden or iron ploughs to open the land, to
dig out deep-rooted weeds or stubbles, to
aerate the soil and to trap and store water for
crops.
• On an average one plough opens up half an
acre of land in a day. Deep ploughing, up to
about 10" depth, is absolutely necessary for
sugarcane and root crops like suran and sweet
potatoes.

Reference/ Sources
- 1.http://www.google.co.in/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAgQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2
Fwww.normanborlaug.org%2F&ei=udajVKruKsm9uATVuYDgAg&psig=AFQjCNExuZ39Me_WhOMjauoLmcHyHd4Tn
w&ust=1420109881837063
- 2.https://www.google.co.in/search?sa=G&q=norman+ernest+borlaug&tbm=isch&tbs=simg:CAQSZRpjCxCo1NgEG
gIIPQwLELCMpwgaPAo6CAISFPIi8yKdIZMh2SamIdcS7higIasTGiBmqjyui7EpGY18CKrCV3EX5XQz1O2JUUcSRLE9EQL
wCwwLEI6u_1ggaCgoICAESBHs4sFQM&ei=NdajVMSfIpepuwTIsoCICg&ved=0CBkQwg4oAA&biw=1366&bih=633
- 3.https://www.google.co.in/search?sa=G&q=norman+ernest+borlaug&tbm=isch&tbs=simg:CAQSZRpjCxCo1NgEG
gIIPQwLELCMpwgaPAo6CAISFPIi8yKdIZMh2SamIdcS7higIasTGiBmqjyui7EpGY18CKrCV3EX5XQz1O2JUUcSRLE9EQL
wCwwLEI6u_1ggaCgoICAESBHs4sFQM&ei=NdajVMSfIpepuwTIsoCICg&ved=0CBkQwg4oAA&biw=1366&bih=633
- 4. https://lh3.ggpht.com/oVmq_rTdAMoCzYUOL9DS79oiV_nT7qia9EoHpBkNNxqBHAowknYXt-
4Inkn0OX97rOds9DQ=s85
- 5. https://lh4.ggpht.com/Lh9YUoTeb1Vk8_ToYPibXd-ooGYuuuDPmtDWZi9cPDMCbFPfwJSl_sPIjnHMZsb4lpK-=s85
- 6. https://lh4.ggpht.com/wUZalrifkB3uIRPMyeN4U5D2tEp-
F1d9q8d7A7VhaRcmkU0dEnTKs4iSARlqPMJ83nQwCA=s140
- 7. https://lh3.ggpht.com/3n-zuit7tXA8XRcOkjnGatk2y07snvtyB8GV3-
O7PolWCMfGLiesLMR3cPzX4RNPe1k3kA=s85
Text book and Web sources
- www.agriinfo.in
- ecourses.iasri.res.in
- Principles of Agronomy by T. Yellamanda Reddy and G.H. Sankara Reddy

B.sc agri i paam unit 1 introduction to agronomy

B.sc agri i paam unit 1 introduction to agronomy

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