The present book, Crop Production Technology - (Rabi crops) is an earnest attempt. This publication is prepared in a simple language so that all the students can be benefitted. This publication is also prepared as per the syllabus of ICAR and followed by most of the state Agricultural Universities as full and with little modification in some other Universities.
Agriculture is the most important sector for food security and economy of any country. Crop production is one of the most important components of agriculture. The development of high yielding varieties of crops and the improved management practices in the last 4 decades resulted in higher production through improving the productivity of crops.
Cereals are cultivated grasses grown for their edible starchy grains. Larger grains used as staple food – Rice, wheat, maize, barley, oats etc.
Barley is believed to be originated from Asia and Ethiopia. Its Sanskrit name ‘Yava’ is mentioned in ‘Veda’ and use of barley in religious ceremonies has been described which shows that barley has been grown in India since ancient times. It is widely believed that the ‘Near-East region’ is the probable place of origin of barley around 8000 BC (Harlan, 1968). There are two theories regarding the origin of barley.
The ancient wisdom of the Indians about the value of pulses in human nutrition is perhaps, responsible to an extent for the widespread vegetarianism in our country. The staple pulse component in combination with cereals in our diet emanates from this recognition, Modern nutritionists also substantiate that this combination is superior to either pulse or cereal alone.
Lentil is one of the oldest nutritious rabi pulse crop. The whole or splitted seeds are used in preparing dal and delicious namkin commonly called dalmoth. The splitted seeds are also used in making soup and porridge. Green pods are used as vegetables. The leaves and stalks are used as cattle feed.
Pea (Pisum sativum L.), the famous plant in which G.H. Mendel worked out Mendel Laws and Genetic Principles, is a noble and aristocratic vegetable. The crop is cultivated for its tender and immature pods for use as vegetable and mature dry pods for use as a pulse. In both cases, seeds are separated and used as vegetable or pulse.
Rapeseed and mustard are termed in different names in different places. Sarson and toria (lahi) are generally termed as rape seeds. Rai, raya or laha are termed as mustard. Rape seed and mustard belongs to the species Brassica of the family Cruciferae. It is an annual plant or biennial herbs. Rape seed and mustard are the major rabi oilseed crops of India.
Sunflower was introduced as an oil seed crop in India in 1967. The crop is now widely cultivated in all parts of India and in any type of situation. Sunflower belongs to Compositae family and the cultivated species is Helianthus annus spp. macrocarpus. Apart from the edible oil species, there are non-oily types, other edible forms and ornaments. Helianthus tuberosus gives the edible tubers.
Indian canes probably originated in the moist parts of North Eastern India from some plants closely related to Saccharum spontaneum (Barber, 1931). Brandes (1956) concluded that tropical cane might have originated in some of the larger islands of Oceania countries most probably in New Guinea, where various forms of thick, tall tropical canes have been grown from ancient times. Parthasarathy (1946) believed that India is the original home of Saccharum officinarum.
The Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI) aims at providing practical options to the farmers in improving the productivity of land, water and labour, all at the same time. SSI is also expected to reduce the overall pressure on water resources and contribute to the recovery of ecosystems. Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative is an innovative method of sugarcane production using less seeds, less water and optimum utilization of fertilizers and land to achieve more yields.
Jaggery making is a simple process comprising crushing of sugarcane for juice extraction, filtration and boiling of juice for concentration and then cooling and solidifying to give jiggery blocks.
Mints are a group of perennial herbaceous plants, belonging to the family Lamiaceae: Labiatae, which yield essential oil on distillation. The various species of mints which are commercially cultivated in different parts of the world are: Japanese mint or corn mint or field mint (Mentha arvensis subsp haplocalyx Briquet var. Piperscens Holmes var. Javanica), peppermint (M. Piperita L.) spearmint or garden mint or lamb mint (M. spicata L.) and bergamot mint or orange mint (M. citrata Ehrh.)
It is a perennial grass about 2 to 3m tall with profuse tillering habit having linear lanceolate leaves. The inflorescence is a highly branched terminal panicle. Origin: The origin is India
It is a tufted aromatic perennial herb with fibrous roots, erect over 2 m tall, with smooth leaves and bearing a large inflorescence. Origin: The origin of citronella is Sri Lanka
They are short duration crops. Fodder is available for use in short period, e.g., cowpea and soybean can be harvested within 50-60 days of sowing. Being short duration crops, they can fit well in the gaps between two crops or seasons as catch crop.
Origin is generally accepted that the genetic/evolutionary origin of lucerne is in the near east center of Vavilof and that the species developed in Asia Minor, Iran and the highlands of Turkmenistan. All these areas have cold winters and hot dry summers. The soil is well drained with an approximately neutral pH and has subsoils with deposits of calcium (lime). Sinskaya, a Russian, asserts that lucerne originated in two areas and that there was a second development in central Asia.
Maize is an ideal forage crop grown throughout the country. It is quick growing, high yielding and provides palatable and nutritious forage which can be fed at any stage of growth without any risk to animals. Maize produces good quality herbaceous fodder with high digestibility. On an average, it contains 9-10% crude protein, 60-64% neutral detergent fibre, 38-41% acid detergent fibre, 28-30% cellulose and 23-25% hemi cellulose on dry matter basis when harvested at milk to early-dough stage. It can be fed as green or dry and makes excellent silage.
Oats originated in the Mediterranean region and from there it spread to most of the countries of the world like U.S.A., Russia, Canada, Poland, Australia, France and Germany.
