Improvement in Food Resources - Crop Variety and Production Management

Crop Variety Improvement: This focuses on finding a crop variety that can give a good yield. Selection is done based on characteristics like disease resistance, response to fertilizers, product quality, and high yields. This is achieved through Hybridization (crossing between genetically dissimilar plants) or by introducing a gene that would provide the desired characteristic (Genetically Modified Crops).

Macronutrients: These are essential elements required by plants in relatively large quantities. They include Nitrogen ($N$), Phosphorus ($P$), Potassium ($K$), Calcium ($Ca$), Magnesium ($Mg$), and Sulphur ($S$).

Micronutrients: These are essential elements required by plants in very small quantities. They include Iron ($Fe$), Manganese ($Mn$), Boron ($B$), Zinc ($Zn$), Copper ($Cu$), Molybdenum ($Mo$), and Chlorine ($Cl$).

Manure and Fertilizers: Manure contains large quantities of organic matter and supplies small quantities of nutrients to the soil. Fertilizers are commercially produced plant nutrients like Nitrogen ($N$), Phosphorus ($P$), and Potassium ($K$).

Irrigation: To ensure that crops get water at the right stages, various systems like Wells (Dug wells and Tube wells), Canals, River Lift Systems, and Tanks are used.

Mixed Cropping: Growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land to reduce risk and provide insurance against failure of one of the crops. Example: Wheat + Gram.

Intercropping: Growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same field in a definite row pattern (e.g., a few rows of one crop alternate with a few rows of another crop). Example: Soyabean + Maize.

Crop Rotation: Growing different crops on a piece of land in a pre-planned succession to maintain soil fertility and optimize nutrient use.