Improvement in Crop Yields

Crops are the plants grown on a larger land area to provide food for the growing population. To improve the yield of crops, one should have a proper understanding of the factors that affect the growth of crops. The crops are grown depending upon the seasons.

Kharif crops are grown in the rainy season and are known as monsoon crops, such as paddy, cotton, maize, etc.

Rabi crops are winter crops such as wheat, gram, peas, etc.

In order to improve the crop yield, the following approaches are adopted:

• Crop Variety Improvement

• Crop Production Management

• Nutrient Management

Also Read: Agriculture and Organic farming

Approaches to Improve Crop Yield

Crop Variety Improvement

The plant breeding helps the farmers to select the desired properties of crops and cross them to produce new varieties. These varieties are then provided to the farmers. This has made it easier to feed the large population of the country. Also, it helps in the production of disease-resistant crops.

The crop variety is improved for the following reasons:

• By improving the crop variety through cross-breeding and hybridization, the crop yield can be increased.

• The crop becomes resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses.

• For short-duration crops, the early maturing varieties can fit the crop into multiple cropping varieties.

• The new varieties can acclimatize to different environmental conditions.

Also Read: Food Crops

Crop Production Management

In India, the farming ranges from very small to very large farms. Different farmers have different sizes of lands, money, and access to information and technology. The crop yield depends upon the inputs. Crop production includes no-cost, low-cost, and high-cost production practices.

Nutrient Management

Plants require inorganic elements known as nutrients for their growth and development. There are certain macro and micronutrients provided by the plants depending upon the quantity in which they are required.

Macronutrients

These nutrients are required by the plants in relatively larger quantities. Eg., carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, etc.

Micronutrients

These nutrients are required by the plants in smaller quantities. Eg., iron, manganese, boron, zinc, copper, etc.

The farmers should be aware of proper nutrients to be provided to the plants. Both too little and too much of the nutrients are harmful to the crops.

Also Read: Agriculture and Agricultural Practices

An essential for agriculture, this chapter is designed to provide the best learning experience for higher primary students. For more information on Improvement in Crop Yields Class 9, visit BYJU’S app.