Smart Farming

Soil Quality

Farmers should get the soil of their fields tested before sowing the crop, so that the amount of nutrients can be ascertained in it. If the deficiency is detected then soil treatment can also be done. It will directly benefit the farmers. If the crop is good, then the yield will increase. Excess amounts of nitrogen and DAP lead to blockage of other nutrients. Agricultural land is becoming alkaline and saline even with saline water.

Due to this, thousands of hectares of land are becoming barren due to the depletion of the fertility potential. The role of chemical fertilizers is also not less in this. Agricultural experts recommend applying gypsum and green manure in alkaline soil and dung manure in saline land or watering the field during rains. This makes this land cultivable.

Diseases increasing the excess of nitrogen - According to the Department of Agriculture, the excess of nitrogen (urea) in crops is increasing the disease. But this greatly increases the number of insect-moth medallions. Soil testing or "soil testing" in agriculture is a chemical test of a soil sample to determine the amount of nutrients available in the soil. The purpose of this test is to measure the fertility of the land and find out which elements are deficient in that land.

Objectives of Soil Testing

• To recommend the balanced amount of nutrients for a particular crop and variety by examining the fertility of the soil and to guide when and how to use fertilizers and manures.
• On the basis of identification and investigation of the problem of salinity, alkalinity and acidity in the soil, contribute in making the land cultivable again by recommending the quantity and type of land reformers.
• To ascertain the suitability of the land for setting up fruit orchards.
• To display on the map the fertility of soils of a village, development block, tehsil, district, state and find out the need for fertilizers. To assist in the manufacture, distribution and use of fertilizers by providing such information.

Selecting Seed or Transplanting Plants

Selecting certified seeds is of paramount importance to ensure good agricultural practice. It is better to look for varieties that are disease resistant. Healthy and strong plants should be given priority at the time of transplanting. Farmers should pick and throw away the plants showing symptoms of any disease. Planting seeds and saplings in a proper way, according to scientific data.

All growers should keep in mind that each crop has specific planting and location requirements in order to grow properly. Planting seeds or plants too close can lead to plant failure and not enough ventilation to the crop. On the other hand, planting them too far apart can give weeds a place to grow. In this situation, farmers are forced to apply herbicide, which could have been avoided. You can consult your local licensed agronomist for more information and for the appropriate planting requirements/planting distances for each crop.

Tillage

Ploughing the field with a plow cannot be called ploughing. In addition to ploughing, ploughing, weeding, digging with a shovel, running a pat or a roller (roller), etc., are included in ploughing. The main purpose of all these actions is that the soil becomes friable and soft and suitable conditions are presented in the soil for the successful life of the plant. Plants require water, air, proper temperature, edible material, absence of harmful substances and supporting base for roots.

All these things are achieved by traction and the success of the crop depends on the extent to which these suitable conditions can be preserved in the soil. Hence, the main purposes of traction are as follows:

(1) All weeds should be destroyed in the cultivated area.

(2) The soil should be friable so that the movement and movement of water, air, heat and light can be done successfully.

(3) Beneficial bacteria can render their work well.

Plowing Machines According to the function and use, tillage machines are divided into four parts:

• Solution,
• Harrow and cultivator,
• Pata and Roller,
• Other small instruments, such as khurpi, rake, hand hoe, etc.

Fertilizer

The decomposition used for nutrition and development in the plant world is called manure. The organic matter used in the form of manure is called organic manure.

It is of four types-

• Animal manures
• Compost
• Plant manures
• Chemical fertilizers

Firstly, before applying any fertilizer or tillage method, you need to take into account the soil condition of your farm through semi-annual or annual soil testing. No two farms are the same, nor can anyone give you fertilizer suggestions regardless of your soil test data, tissue analysis, and your farm's crop history.

Green manure -

In pulse crops for green manure, crops like Sanai, Dhincha, Cowpea, Urad, Moong, Guar etc. can be used. These crops grow quickly, in a short time, the leaves are heavy and remain in large numbers, and their need for fertilizer and water is less, due to which more organic matter is obtained at less cost.

Irrigation

Irrigation is the act of artificially watering the soil to increase the amount of water available in it and is usually used to meet the water requirements of plants during crop growing, in dry areas or in case of insufficient rainfall. . Apart from this, it is also used in the field of agriculture for the following reasons:-

• To protect the crop from frost,
• Prevent the soil from drying out and becoming hard (consolidation),
• To control the growth of weeds in paddy fields, etc.

Irrigation methods

• sprinkler irrigation
• Surface Irrigation
• Irrigation with Dhekuli
• Canal irrigation
• Irrigation from wells and tube wells
• Irrigation from pond
• Rahat Irrigation
• Iron Irrigation
• Irrigation with Solar Pump

Sustainable use of water resources

• Agriculture which completely depends on rain for its water requirements is called rain-fed agriculture.
• Farmers should focus on learning how to use appropriate water for irrigation wisely.
• Regular analysis of water should be done to prevent pollution.
• If there are animals on the farm, keep them at a safe distance from any water source. Many microbes are found in animal waste.
• Do not put chemicals near water sources.
• You can use recyclable city water after obtaining special permission and always under the supervision of local authorized experts.
• You should label all recyclable urban water containers differently so that no one drinks that water.
• In many cases, the grower can irrigate their plants either very early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when temperatures are generally slightly lower. This will reduce the great loss of water from very rapid evaporation.
• Keep stagnant water sources covered. Stagnant water can attract animals, insects and micro-organisms causing serious diseases to both animals and humans.
• Consider modern micro-irrigation methods (e.g.: sprinklers) that use water efficiently.

In any given region, the water requirements of each crop are different, part of which is normally met by rain. You are advised not to irrigate too much and not to irrigate too well before the rains. Excessive irrigation can cause many problems in the crop (e.g.: rotting of the roots, fungal diseases etc.). You can consult a local licensed agronomist to create a detailed irrigation plan, according to the new or 12-month weather forecast.

Agricultural Safety and Health

Weeds are those unwanted plants that grow in a place without being planted and whose presence is more harmful than beneficial to the farmer.

On the basis of natural properties, weeds growing in different crops can be mainly divided into three categories-

• Grass
• Sedge
• Broad-leaf weeds

Grass is a monocotyledonous plant. Its leaves are elongated, narrow and generally venous, the stem cylindrical and the apex covered with pinnae, the roots are generally fibrous and apical. Sage class weeds also look like grass, but their stem is unconnected, solid and sometimes triangular rather than round. Those weeds whose leaves are broad and in which net-vein configuration and root system are found, are called broad-leafed.

Plant pathology is an applied science, under which the causes of plant diseases and their experimental solutions come. Since diseases in plants are caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, mycoplasma, nematodes, flowers, etc., besides other non-living causes like poisonous gases etc.

Due to many destructive diseases of crops, there is a lot of damage to the yield of crops directly or indirectly every year. The main examples of these ragas are -

• Red rot disease of sugarcane - in eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh and adjoining areas of Bihar,
• Red rot or cane of sugarcane - all over India,
• Powdery mildew and bunch top disease of mango.
• Guava Pickle
• Mahali or Koliroga disease of betel nut in central and southern India,
• Wheat Kitts,
• Arhar and gram harvested,
• Gegala or Sehun disease of wheat caused by nematodes
• Vegetal gland and mosaic,
• Coffee and tea kit,
• Paddy blight and brown leaf disease,
• Stem thawing of jute,
• Banana bunch top disease,
• The spores of cotton are scorched, wilt and blackhead etc.

Weeding

India is known as an agricultural country, and most of the population here is dependent on agriculture and its related industries. Different types of crops are produced in India every year. Sometimes due to unfavourable environment and other reasons, there is a huge reduction in the production of crops. However, farmers do various types of work for better production of their crop, out of which weeding also includes

We believe that every farmer, no matter how much land he has, should be protected from dangers present on the farm, such as chemical exposure to eyes and skin. At the same time, we also know that farmers who face these challenges will be able to work in a safer environment if they get the right information, advice and the right tools. Keeping its focus on practical farming, BASF has started training programs for farmers with full dedication, namely, 'Suraksha Always', since 2016 with full dedication. The objective of this program is to create a platform to provide information to farmers, where they are made aware of nine steps regarding the responsible use of farm sprayers and agrochemicals and personal protective equipment, During these meetings, only the specification of the product, its use is discussed and activities related to the promotion or sale of the product are not done, such meetings are organized in all the areas across India where we have business.

Threshing of crops

Harvesting and threshing of crops is an important process in agriculture. Nowadays the availability of labour and excessive labour has become a serious problem for the farmers. Traditionally, this process of harvesting and threshing, which lasted for months, is completed in a few days with the use of machines. There is a risk of crop damage due to lack of timely harvesting and threshing. This delays the sowing of the next crop, which reduces its yield.

In today's time, many machines have been developed for harvesting and threshing. Farmers can use advanced sickles, automatic vertical conveyor reaper (pedestrian), and automatic vertical conveyor reaper (sedentary) for harvesting crops. Power tiller operated reaper can also be used. With a toothed sickle, labour has to be reduced and the productivity of the person increases. After harvesting, farmers can thresh the crops by using threshing machines Small farmers can use 10 hp threshing machines. Seated Automatic and Tractor Operated Vertical Conveyor Reaper is useful for medium and large farmers. Large farmers can use axial flow or multi-crop threshing machines running from 25-35 hp for threshing. Combine harvester is the most suitable machine for large farmers, in which they can do harvesting and threshing simultaneously. This saves a lot of time. This gives enough time to prepare the field for sowing the next crop.

Various types of power source based threshers are used for threshing. Threshing machines are mainly divided by the rate of their cylinders.

• Hammer Type Machine
• Peg Type (Nano or Sherpur Design)
• Rasp Bar Type Thresher
• Axial Flow Machine (IRRI Design)
• Multicrop Threshing Machine

Precautions while using threshing machines

• To prevent accidents caused by threshing machines, farmers who buy harp and hadamba thresher, proposed by the Government of India, must install a crop puller.
• The electric motor shutdown button should be placed near the working person, so that the motor can be stopped quickly in case of emergency.
• Do not wear loose clothing especially dhoti, dupatta, open sleeve shirt and watch or kada while working on the threshing machine. Use gloves. Do not work on Thresher by intoxication or consumption of alcohol.
• Use a cloth or mask on the nose to avoid dust and straw and goggles to protect the eyes.
• No man should work continuously for more than 8 hours on a threshing machine. Fatigue and insomnia increase the risk of accidents.
• Do not talk or divert attention while working.
• Do not attempt to open or tighten any parts while the threshing machine is running.

Grain storage

Maintaining the availability of grain in the market after harvest is a day-to-day necessity and it is necessary to store the grain for the seed. Modern farmers have increased production by adopting new techniques of increasing yield with advanced seeds, expensive fertilizers and crop protection measures. But when farmers' year-round earnings are stored, then many types of pests and diseases cause damage of 10 to 15 percent. Therefore, there is a need for safe storage for the farmers.

Main precautions to be noted in grain storage

• The grain should be completely dried in sunlight before storing the grain. The moisture content in it should not exceed 10 percent.
• The grain should be cleaned before storage. Broken grains are more prone to infection by mold etc. Therefore, the broken grains should be separated.
• New sacks should be used for filling the grain. The bags should be dipped in 1% malathion solution before re-filling the used bags.
• New sacks should be used for filling the grain. The bags should be dipped in 1% malathion solution before re-filling the used bags.
• Before carrying the grain, the bullock cart, tractor, truck etc. should be cleaned. The storage room should be thoroughly washed with malathion solution 3 liters per 100 sqm.
• Do not keep the sacks full of grain adjacent to the wall and keep some distance between the sacks from the sacks.
• Use neem powder to protect the grain from pests.
• Use zinc phosphide and warfarin to kill rats.
• Use of aluminum phosphide and ethylene dibromide (EDB) ampule if the grain is infected with pests.