Maximizing Yields: Essential Agriculture Tips and Tricks for Farmers

agriculture tips for farmers – farming tips and tricks

Introduction to Farming / Planting Tips for Farmers and Beginners: Food is a basic need for every living thing and is dependent on plants and animals for food. People are starting to grow food in a small area and are using certain management and development processes. This art of planting is called agriculture. There are certain conditions to be considered in Agriculture such as crop type, soil structure, climate, etc. Farmers decide which crop to grow at what time of year and place depending on all these parameters. Requires a set of procedures that had to be followed. However, the plans for planting crops are called farming methods. In this article we have also covered the topics below;

1. What are the steps of agriculture
2. How can we succeed in agriculture
3. How do you start a farm for beginners
4. How many stages are there in the agriculture sector
5. Which are the types of agriculture
6. What are the main agricultural practices
7. Which agriculture is most profitable
8. Why farming is important to farmers
9. What is the importance of Agriculture
10. What do you do to improve farm animal production
11. How can the quality of livestock be improved
12. Are farmers important for our country
13. How to start an agriculture business
14. Tips for starting an agribusiness

Agriculture is the art and science of growing a variety of crops and livestock. The agricultural sector is one of the most important sectors in India. Without the agricultural sector, we cannot imagine the world. It is important to know the importance of agricultural practices in India. Farmers are the backbone of the global agricultural industry.

Farmers can produce different types of food, using different types of farming methods. But this method of farming depends on a variety of factors such as soil types, climatic conditions, and available resources, etc. Also, it contributes significantly to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

A Guide To Farming/Agriculture Tips For Farmers and Beginners, Horticulture Tips, and Livestock Tips

Agricultural Backbone: Generally, agriculture plays an important role in the economy of developing countries and provides the main source of food, income, and employment. Though, improvements in agriculture and land use are fundamental to achieving food security, poverty alleviation, and overall sustainable development.

Farmers hold the backbone of the agricultural system for its development. The agriculture sector is defined as crops being grown and harvested, so this is where farmers come in. They help the agricultural sector development, which not only feeds the local people but also gives the advantage to the economy by exporting the given goods to foreign countries.

For exporting, good quality material will be important which would be possible when the farmers have been careful and considerate about the factor influencing the crops. By exporting the goods to other countries, the economy of the state grows, which can be further spent toward the state’s development.

Agriculture Tips for Crop Selection to Harvesting

A farmer performs different steps from crop selection to harvesting;

• Crop Selection
• Land and Soil Preparation
• Seed Selection
• Seed Sowing
• Irrigation
• Crop Growth
• Manures and Fertilizers
• Pests and Diseases Management
• Harvesting

Tips for Crop Selection

Different types of crops need different soil types, nutrients, and water. Also, the amount of water required by the plant is dependent on the growing season and the climate where it is grown. Proper crop selection is the main factor in successful crop farming. Some important crop selection factors are;

• The specific location of the farm
• Land availability
• Soil type
• Climate
• Initial financial investment and expected return
• Market demand
• Water quality and availability
• Personal interests

Tips for Soil Preparation

For growing crops, the soil in which it is to be grown is prepared by ploughing, levelling, and manuring. Ploughing is the way of loosening and digging of soil and this helps in proper soil aeration. The soil is distributed evenly and levelled in the process known as levelling. The soil is then manured. Soil texture, compaction, cation exchange capacity, and organic matter content are just a few of the variables that can impact crop growth. Planting crops that are well-suited to your soil characteristics gives you a better chance of success in agriculture. Growers can have an impact on soil characteristics through some cultivation practices, by adding amendments, using certain planting methods, or employing methods to alter factors such as soil temperature, moisture retention, or compaction. Though, working with a soil that already meets most of a given crop’s needs increases the chances of success.

Crop Rotation – Organic farming relies on good, natural soil health so crop rotation is a big part of the farming process. Though, it is important to reduce pressure from insects, weeds, while supplementing nutrients in the soil. These trap crops that are planted between the main crops will keep the soil rich and help avoid erosion.

Tips for Seed Selection

Seed selection is very important for crop growth. A seed must be good so it will grow into a plant otherwise we will not get the result and we must select good and healthy seeds. Characteristics of good quality seed are;

• Higher genetically purity
• Higher physical purity for certification.
• Possession of good shape, size, and color, etc., based on specifications of variety.
• Higher physical soundness and weight.
• Higher germination ( 90 to 35% depending on the crop)
• Higher physiological vigor and stamina.

Seed Sowing tips

The selection of seeds of good quality crop strains is the main stage of sowing. After the soil preparation, these seeds are dispersed in the field and this is known as sowing. Seed sowing can be done manually, by hand, or by using seed drilling machines. Some crops like paddy are first grown into seedlings in a small region and then transplanted to the main field. Good quality seeds are out of reach of the majority of farmers because of the exorbitant prices of better seeds.

Irrigation tips

Any sustainable agricultural practice needs a good level of irrigation at regular intervals. The modern method to begin it is the drip irrigation system. Also, this helps you in saving water by not wasting oodles of extra amount or losing it all quickly due to the heat. As it can be machine-controlled, the supervision becomes easier.

Irrigation meaning is the supply of water. Sources of water can be wells, ponds, lakes, canals, and dams, etc. Over irrigation can lead to waterlogging and damage the crop. Then, this is frequency and interval between successive irrigation need to be controlled.

Drainage systems in any farm decide the compatibility of the soil with daily water consumption. If you aren’t managing your drainage systems regularly, and the results won’t be quite as promising. You can end up losing your crops via overwatering in a particular area or drying out a particular section of your field. Therefore, drainage management daily helps you maintain balance.

Fertilizers and Manures

Organic methods will help promote healthy crop growth and some examples of organic methods include composting, mulching, and using bio-fertilizers. Vermicomposting is also another excellent method of introducing important nutrients into the soil naturally. The different types of fertilizers are – Inorganic fertilizer- Nitrogen fertilizer, Phosphorus fertilizer. Organic fertilizers are agricultural waste, livestock manure, and municipal sludge.

Crops need nutrients to grow and produce yield. Therefore, the supply of nutrients at regular intervals is necessary. Manuring is the step where nutritional supplements are provided and these supplements can be natural (manure) or chemical compounds (fertilizers). Also, manure is the decomposition product of plant and animal wastes. Fertilizers are chemical compounds consisting of plant nutrients and are farmed commercially. Apart from providing essential nutrients to crop, manure replenishes soil fertility as well. Other main approaches for soil replenishment are vermicomposting, crop rotation, and planting leguminous plants.

Weed Management

Generally, weeds are unwanted plants that grow among crops. They are removed by using weedicides, by manually pulling them with hands and some weeds are removed during soil preparation. It can be a stumbling block to producing crops. Weeds can reduce your crop yields and consume resources intended for crops. For controlling weeds there are many options in organic farming like manual weeding (hand removal, pulling, and cutting), mowing, mechanical cultivation, and thermal control (flaming).

Tips for Pests and Diseases Management in Agriculture

Major plant pests and diseases are viruses, bacteria, fungi, and insects greatly impair their productivity. Crops can be protected from several pests and diseases by using pesticides and biocontrol agents. The cultivated grains should be stored safely to avoid product loss. Some important mechanical and physical control methods are tillage, mowing, cutting, and mulching.

Crop diseases arise due to the right combination of the pathogen, host, and environmental conditions. Selecting crops and varieties that are resistant to known disease issues, along with having a good crop rotation plan to break disease cycles, can help to minimize soil-borne pathogens. Selecting disease resistance crops is important. Properly identifying crop diseases will not only help with disease control for the current crop but also with ongoing crop planning.

Different ways to control insects and diseases in crops are;

• Encourage healthy soil
• Choose resistant varieties
• Plant in the right place
• Attract beneficial insects
• Repel pests
• Maintaining crop diversity
• Using pests to fight pests
• Organic Pesticides
• Rotate crops
• Practice inter-planting
• Use floating row covers.

Tips for Harvesting Plants

Once the crop is matured, it is cut and gathered carefully, this process is called harvesting. Followed by harvesting, grains are separated from the chaff either by using threshing, or manually on a small scale (winnowing). For harvest procedures the subsequent points are important by selecting the correct harvest time refers to the ripeness and maturity of the produce. Optimal harvest times are early morning hours or the evening when temperature levels are lower. Harvesting of delicate and high-value produce is best done manually.