Agricultural crops are cultivated by farmers and large agro-industrial enterprises in order to obtain food, feed for livestock, and technological raw materials. There are several main types of such plants. Of course, the cultivation of agricultural crops must be carried out with the exact observance of certain technologies.
Main types
Most agricultural enterprises have a broad specialization and grow a variety of crops. These can be cereals, vegetables, fruit trees, root crops, etc. But most often in Russia, such crops are cultivated as:
- wheat, barley, rye and oats;
- potato;
- sunflower;
- fodder grasses;
- sugar beet.
These are the main types of agricultural crops in our country. Of course, domestic farmers are sometimes engaged in growing vegetables. Such crops are most often cultivated in greenhouses.
Grain growing technology
When cultivating oats, wheat, barley and rye, agricultural enterprises carry out the following activities:
- basic and pre-sowing soil preparation;
- fertilizer application;
- seed preparation;
- sowing;
- landing care;
- harvesting.
Sowing dates
Grain crops can be cultivated in the winter or spring way. In the first case, sowing takes place in the autumn, in the second - in the spring. The most important task in growing grain crops is to determine the timing of planting seeds in the soil. They should be chosen so that winter cereals reach the tillering phase before the onset of cold weather and form at least 3-4 shoots. Therefore, the optimal time for sowing grain crops in the non-chernozem zone of Russia is the first ten days of September. Sometimes landing is made at the end of August. When cultivating spring crops, the sowing time is determined by the condition of the soil. Most often, cereals are planted in mid or late April.
Plowing the land
Tillage before sowing cereals is carried out in such a way that as much post-harvest residue as possible remains on the surface. This is necessary in order to avoid erosion and keep as much moisture in the ground as possible.
Under plowing, in most cases, various kinds of mineral fertilizers are applied. Further, for spring crops, early spring harrowing is carried out, and for winter crops, pre-sowing cultivation is carried out.
Sowing seeds
After the soil is prepared, the actual planting of grain is carried out. In this case, only healthy, undamaged seeds that meet the prescribed standards are used. Before sowing, they are dressed to avoid infection with fungal, bacterial and other diseases. Winter grain crops are grown from the seeds of the previous year's harvest. For their storage at agricultural enterprises, special funds are created. Freshly harvested seeds are rarely used for planting. The fact is that they have a reduced germination rate. At the final stage of planting, the seeds are rolled to improve their contact with the soil.
Grain care
Subsequently, to obtain a good harvest, the following activities are carried out:
- Protection of cereals from pests and diseases. Fungicides and insecticides are treated as needed.
- Weed removal. In this case, crops are treated with herbicides.
- Top dressing. Fertilize crops during the season, usually using nitrogen compounds.
Harvest
This operation can be performed in two ways: directly or separately. Two-phase harvesting is performed for unevenly ripened, lodged or heavily weeded crops. In all other cases, the usual direct combining is performed.
Potato cultivation technology
Cereal crops are the main type of plants cultivated by domestic agricultural enterprises. However, potatoes are quite widespread. The cultivation technology of this crop includes the following steps:
- soil preparation;
- landing;
- plant care;
- harvesting.
Ground preparation and planting
Allotments for potatoes are usually chosen with loose soil, well-permeable to moisture and air. Only in such areas can you get good harvests of this crop. The best predecessors for potatoes are winter cereals, corn, perennial and annual grasses.
Prepare the soil for potatoes usually in the fall. At the same time, plowing (autumn) is carried out with the application of fertilizers. In April, the soil surface is leveled and early spring harrowing is carried out.
Only healthy, intact tubers of large and medium sizes are used for sowing. 10-12 days before landing, they are unloaded from storage and sorted out. Next, the tubers are germinated or simply dried. Sometimes, before planting, potatoes are treated with ash, mineral fertilizers and fungicides.
Tubers are planted only in well-warmed soil. At the same time, 55-60 thousand bushes are placed per 1 ha. Early varieties are usually planted more densely, later varieties less often. Actually, the landing itself can be ridge, semi-ridge or smooth. The first two methods are more often used on wet or heavy soils. The ridges are cut a few days before planting.
potato care
The first shoots of this culture appear in about two to three weeks. With a smooth landing in agricultural enterprises, harrowing is carried out. It can be performed before germination or after germination. In the future, potato care comes down to hilling and weeding. The first operation is performed twice per season: at a bush height of 15-18 cm and before flowering. Weeding is carried out as needed. Planting crops of this variety, among other things, should be periodically treated for phytophthora (fungicides) and the Colorado potato beetle ("Decis", "Volaton").
Cleaning
The ripening time of tubers depends primarily on the potato variety. To facilitate mechanized harvesting in agricultural enterprises, the tops are usually mowed. This operation is carried out in 3-5 days. Actually cleaning can be done in three ways:
- direct combining - on light crops;
- according to separate technology - on heavy soils;
- in a combined way.
Seed tubers before laying for storage are kept in the light for 10-12 days until light greening. Table potatoes are air-dried for several hours. Of course, like any other major crop, potatoes must be stored properly. The tubers are laid for the winter in dark, cool rooms in bulk or in boxes.
Sunflower cultivation technology
It is customary to grow this crop after winter and spring cereals. Pre-sowing preparation of land for sunflower includes such operations as plowing, harrowing and leveling the soil with special drags. Cultivation is carried out to the depth of planting seeds (6-10 cm). Manure is usually used as fertilizer during plowing. Sometimes mineral supplements can also be used (depending on the composition of the soil).
For sowing, seeds of varieties and hybrids entered in the register with a germination rate of at least 95% are used. Planting is carried out in well-warmed soil at the rate of 30-50 thousand plants per hectare. Sowing is carried out in a dotted way. At the final stage, the sections are rolled up.
Sunflower care in our country is carried out using exclusively mechanized methods. The first operation is such as harrowing to shoots and along them, with simultaneous weeding and the use of herbicides. Further sunflower care includes procedures such as:
- Fight against emptiness. To do this, hives are placed on the plot at the rate of 1.5-2 per hectare.
- Pest and disease control using chemicals.
Harvesting is done after the back side of the baskets turns yellow. Reed flowers should fall off. Sunflower is harvested, like most other agricultural crops, with special combines.
Forage grass cultivation technology
Agricultural crops of this group can be cultivated as pasture or for hay or silage. There are many types of forage grasses. But most often in our country alfalfa, clover, vetch and legumes are grown. The technology of their cultivation, like any other agricultural crops, includes soil preparation, sowing, care and harvesting.
A feature of growing herbs is a very deep, 25-30 cm, plowing (due to long roots), the possibility of sowing perennial crops under the cover of annuals and top dressing with mineral fertilizers during the growth period. Plants are harvested in the budding or flowering phase.
Sugar beet cultivation
About 21 thousand hectares of arable land are used for this crop in Russia. The optimal depth of plowing land for beets is 25-30 cm. Such land cultivation is carried out in the fall - usually in September. At the same time, manure is applied in the amount of 40-80 t/ha. For sowing, use treated seeds. Planting is carried out to a depth of 25-35 mm, depending on the type of soil, using special seeders. Beet care consists mainly of weeding or applying herbicides, as well as protecting plants from pests and diseases using chemicals. Harvesting of this culture usually begins on September 20-25. In this case, flow, transshipment or combined technologies can be used. The last two methods are usually used for high weed areas.
Growing vegetables in greenhouses
A feature of the cultivation of crops of this variety in closed ground is the periodic use of top dressing and land replacement. After all, the soil in greenhouses is depleted very quickly. Also, in such farms, maximum attention should be paid to the fight against pests and diseases. Infections spread very quickly in closed ground conditions. Seeds of agricultural crops of this variety must be treated before planting.
Most often, cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers and melons are grown indoors. Greenhouses themselves can be film, glass or polycarbonate. Among other things, when growing vegetable crops, special attention is paid to their selection for compatibility. This takes into account such factors as the mode of feeding and irrigation, climatic conditions, the need for pollination, the frequency of ventilation, etc.
Varieties and hybrids
In farms and large agricultural enterprises, mainly only varieties of agricultural crops entered in the state register are grown. The exception is the experimental stations where selection work is carried out. When breeding new varieties, the following methods can be used:
- selection with the consolidation of certain valuable features;
- hybridization in breeding nurseries.
The resulting varieties and hybrids are tested and, if the value for agriculture is established, they are entered into the state register.
Growing crops, therefore, must be carried out on well-prepared soils, using suitable fertilizers and seeds of the best varieties. In the absence of violations of technology, even in the event of adverse weather conditions, it is possible to obtain good yields and at the same time avoid such negative consequences as erosion and soil depletion.