Agricultural fields, in addition to crops have weeds, small animals like rats, mites, insects, pests, disease-causing pathogens and are frequently raided by birds that damage and spoil the crops.
Crops need to be protected to yield high crop production. Hence crop protection management is important before, during and after the cultivation.
Chemical (poisons) that are used to kill pests such as weeds, insects, mites, rodents and fungi are called pesticides.
CROP PROTECTION BEFORE AND DURING THE CULTIVATION
Unwanted plants growing along with the crops are called weeds that steal the nutrients provided for crops and affect the growth of the crops.
For example, Cyperinus rotundus(motha), Bermuda grass etc.
The weeds could be controlled by weedicides and also could be uprooted using machines without affecting the main crop.
In addition, pests and rodents affect the crop by ruining the whole crop and eating up the large portion of grains.
Crops are also damaged by pathogenic diseases, microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
These crop damaging factors affect different parts of the crop through various means. Pesticides and bio control agents could protect crops from these pests and diseases.
CROP PROTECTION AFTER THE CULTIVATION
Chances of grain loss are much higher after than before cultivation.
Some factors responsible for grain loss are common pests and rodents and some environmental conditions like humidity and temperature.
Certain precautions help to prevent from this loss. Pests could be killed by a method called fumigation.
The cultivated grains need to be stored safely to avoid product loss and methods of protection need to be better.
Grains should be cleaned before storing and they also need to be dried completely in sunlight to protect the crops from fungal growth, caused by the presence of moisture.
ADDITIONAL PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO ENSURE PROTECT THE CROP
