Crop Science and Technology

Crop Science and Technology is the field dealing with the selection, breeding, crop productivity, seed production, organic cover crops, crop technology transpiration, field crops research, and crop and irrigation technology. Crop sciences is concerned with selection and improvement of crops. It includes research and development on production techniques, improving agriculture productivity, minimizing the effects of pest, planting, maintenance, protection, harvesting and storage aspects of post-harvest. Weed control is the organic segment of vermin control, which endeavors to stop weeds, particularly poisonous or damaging weeds. Weed species are generally best controlled with post emergence translocated herbicides. Methods used to manage weeds include prevention, cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical. Crop production depends on the successful implementation of the soil, water, and nutrient management technologies. In order for crops to grow very well, it may be necessary to apply some form of fertilizer as a nutrient boost. This aspect of crop production management is also one that requires a careful analysis of the type of crop in relation to the kind of fertilizer that may be applied to that particular crop. The reason for this is because there are specific fertilizers for different crops, and there are specific types that may be used at various stages of plant growth. Apart from the application of fertilizers, pest management must be included in crop production management. This will require the application of pesticides that target the particular pest for that particular crop. Effective crop production management also requires the constant removal of weeds from the land since they tend to proliferate very fast and compete with legitimate crop. Other considerations include the practice of irrigation as a means of providing moisture when this is an issue. The proper harvesting of such a crop and the storage of the same will also be a part of crop management. Food production by the year 2020 needs to be increased by 50 percent more than the present levels to satisfy the needs of around 8 billion people. Much of the increase would have to come from intensification of agricultural production. Importance of wise usage of water, nutrient management, and tillage in the agricultural sector for sustaining agricultural growth and slowing down environmental degradation calls for urgent attention of researchers, planners, and policy makers. Crop models enable to promptly speculate on the long-term consequences of changes in agricultural practices. In addition, cropping systems, under different conditions, are making it possible to identify the adaptations required to respond to changes.