STORAGE OF GRAINS
Field crops are infested by a large number of weeds, insect pests and diseases. If weeds and pests are not controlled at the appropriate time then they can damage the crops so much that most of the crop is lost.
Weeds are unwanted plants in the cultivated field, for example, Xanthium (gokhroo), Parthenium ( gajar ghas), Cyperinus rotundus (motha). They compete for food, space and light. Weeds take up nutrients and reduce the growth of the crop. Therefore, the removal of weeds from cultivated fields during the early stages of crop growth is essential for a good harvest.
Generally, insect pests attack the plants in three ways:
(i) they cut the root, stem and leaf,
(ii) they suck the cell sap from various parts of the plant, and
(iii) they bore into stem and fruits.
They thus affect the health of the crop and reduce yields.
Diseases in plants are caused by pathogens such as bacteria, fungi and viruses. These pathogens can be present in and transmitted through the soil, water and air.
Weeds, insects and diseases can be controlled by various methods. One of the most commonly used methods is the use of pesticides, which include herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. These chemicals are sprayed on crop plants or used for treating seeds and soil. However, excessive use of these chemicals creates problems, since they can be poisonous to many plant and animal species and cause environmental pollution.
Weed control methods also include mechanical removal. Preventive methods such as proper seedbed preparation, timely sowing of crops, intercropping and crop rotation also help in weed control. Some other preventive measures against pests are the use of resistant varieties, and summer ploughing, in which fields are ploughed deep in summers to destroy weeds and pests.
|
Animal Products |
Percent (%) Nutrients |
|||||
|
|
Fat |
Protein |
Sugar |
Minerals |
Water |
Vitamins |
|
Milk (Cow) |
3.60 |
4.00 |
4.50 |
0.70 |
87.20 |
B1, B2, B12, D, E |
|
Egg |
12.00 |
13.00 |
* |
1.00 |
74.00 |
B2, D |
|
Meat |
3.60 |
21.10 |
* |
1.10 |
74.20 |
B2, B12 |
|
Fish |
2.50 |
19.00 |
* |
1.30 |
77.20 |
Niacin, D, A |
Table 15.2: Nutritional values of animal products
*Present in very small amounts
Activity 15.1:
* Visit a nearby garden/agricultural field and make a list of the weeds and the flowers/crops found in the area.
* Also, make a list of insect pests, if any, infesting the flowers/crops.
Storage losses in agricultural produce can be very high. Factors responsible for such losses are biotic— insects, rodents, fungi, mites and bacteria, and abiotic— inappropriate moisture and temperatures in the place of storage. These factors cause degradation in quality, loss in weight, poor germinability, discolouration of produce, all leading to poor marketability. These factors can be controlled by proper treatment and by systematic management of warehouses.
Preventive and control measures are used before grains are stored for future use. They include strict cleaning of the produce before storage, proper drying of the produce first in sunlight and then in shade, and fumigation using chemicals that can kill pests.
Activity 15.2:
* Collect grains/seeds of cereals, pulses, and oilseeds and gather information about the seasons in which they are sown and harvested.
Questions
1. Why should preventive measures and biological control methods be preferred for protecting crops?
2. What factors may be responsible for losses of grains during storage?
Source: This topic is taken from NCERT TEXTBOOK