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Introduction
All living organisms need food for their existence. They need food for their growth, repair of tissues, energy and also protection against diseases. The various components of food are proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, roughage and water.
Human Dependence on Plants and Animals for Food
Of all the living organisms, only plants are autotrophs i.e., they are capable of synthesizing their own food. Animals are heterotrophs i.e. they are incapable of synthesizing their own food. They depend on plants and other animals for food. Man also being a heterotroph, gets his food from plants as well as animals.
Crop production
For successful crop production a thorough understanding of how crops develop and grow, the various factors that affect crop growth and development and how each factor can be modified or managed are essential. Plant responses to soil conditions and atmospheric environment must be exploited to the maximum to produce a high yield per unit area of land.
Nutrients
Just as the human body needs nutrients for its healthy growth, plants also need certain nutrients for their growth. The nutrients required by plants for their healthy growth are 16 in number. They are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulphur, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, boron, molybdenum and chlorine.
Fertilizers
Constant use of the soil leads to the loss of its important nutrients particularly nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and thus the soil loses its fertility. For the healthy growth of the plant these deficiencies in the soil have to be replenished with the use of certain materials called fertilizers.
Chemical Fertilizers
These are nutrient supplements for plants manufactured in fertilizer factories from chemicals. They are nutrient specific i.e., they may provide only nitrogen, only phosphorus or only potassium to the soil. They are often used when a particular nutrient is required in the soil for a particular crop.
Water
To increase food production the water resources of the country should be managed. India has 12 major river basins and 8 composite river basins that form the surface water resource. Besides, the ground water also adds to the total water resource. The monsoons bring in lot of rainfall.
Protection of Crops
Seed soil and water borne diseases mostly attack roots and plant stem. Air borne diseases attack all aerial parts of the plant i.e. leaf, flower and fruit. Seed and soil borne diseases can be controlled by treating the seed and soil. Air borne diseases can be controlled by treating the infested parts with fungicide spray.
Scientific Storage of Grains
Besides crop production good crop management involves storage of grains before distribution. During storage grains and seeds are subjected to spoilage by various agencies.
