Ex.1.

Identification of seeds, crops and other inputs of rabi season

I Identification of crop seeds

1. Spring wheat: The kernel is red in color and egg-shaped with blunt ends. It has agrayish colored
brush on the tip. The germ is short and broad and somewhat wrinkled. The crease is open and it has
angular cheeks.
2. Durum wheat: The kernel has an amber color, and is larger and more tapered than hard red spring
wheat. Kernels are long and pointed, usually lopsided and boat-shaped. The germ is protruding, oval
and more pointed than in hard red spring wheat. The crease is tight. A brush is not present on most
varieties.
3. Two-rowed barley: The shape is broad with a flat back (duck-backed) and blunt ends. The crease
is straight and tight, and usually extends out to the end. Plump and short kernels (the result of only
two rows on a head) are usually broader and larger
than in six-row barley.
4. Six-rowed barley: Kernel shape is longer and narrower, with more of a spike tooth taper at the
end than in two-row barley. Two-thirds of the kernel (the outside two rows) is twisted, with a
crooked crease. The crease is more open to the end.
5. Oat: The color is white, yellow or tan and the surface of the kernel is practically smooth. The
awn, if present, is not bent or markedly twisted. The seed attachment is round and relatively small
compared to the large sucker-mouth-shaped attachment in wild oats. Kernels are long and somewhat
pointed at both ends, especially the tip end. The hull (the lemma and palea) is tightly attached to the
kernel and accounts for 25 to 35 percent of its weight. The hulless kernel or groat comprises the
remainder of the kernel weight.
6. Flax: The seeds are flat and have a smooth, shiny surface. They usually are dark brown or yellow
in color. The seeds are somewhat lens shaped, although more rounded at the base than the tip.
7. Safflower: Small hulled seed, light gray, tan or cream in color, often showing brown discoloration
near point of attachment. Similar in shape to sunflower seed but only half the size.
8. Oilseed Sunflower: Seeds have a broad base but taper to a pointed end. The color is usually black
or dark grey. An achene (shell) covers the nut-meat or seed within. They are similar to wild
sunflower, only much larger and dark in color.
9. Field pea: Seeds are small and may be round, angular or wrinkled. They vary in color but are
mostly yellow or green.
10. Lentil: Seeds are “lens “shaped (round and rather flat). Color can be tan, brown, olive green,
black, or purple-and-black mottled. The seed surface is generally smooth, but on some large seeds
may be wrinkled.
11. Yellow mustard: Small round, irregular seed is a dull yellow color. Some shrunken seed will
result in non-uniformity of seed size.
12. Sugarbeet: Seed is highly irregular in shape. The mature seed is contained within a mature
reddish brown to brown outer seed coat. There are both multigerm and non-germ seed types.
13. Alfalfa: Seeds vary in shape but often are kidney or mitt-shaped and are greenish-yellow to light
brown in color.
II Identification of crop plants
1. Wheat
Root system
i. Primary root system: It forms at the time of seed germination and arise at the depth when
seed is planted.
ii. Secondary root system: It arises at a point above the primary root system as the principal
organ of absorption as the young seedling progress to maturity.

Shoot system
It comprises of all plant parts visible above the ground. It is composed of stem, leaves and
inflorescence.
i. Stem: The stem of wheat plant is round or cylindrical. Stem and inflorescence may be called a
culum.
ii. Leaves: Leaf consists of four parts.
a. Leaf sheath: It is the basal part of leaf. It encircles the culum stem and protects the growing
point and auxillary buds from the weather and provides some support to stem.
b. Leaf blade: The flattened, parallel veined portion of the leaf.
c. Ligule: A membranous or cartilaginous fringe at the junction of the sheath and blade on the
side of leaf next to culum. The continuation of the sheath through the collar is known as ligule.
d. Auricle: Lobes of leaf blade which extend downward on each side at the junction of the blade
and sheath. These are horn like or claw like appendages projecting from the collar of the leaf.
iii. Inflorescence: The flowering portion of wheat plant which is called ear or head or spike.
a. Rachis: The central zigzag axis is the rachis. Spikelets are borne on alternate sides of rachis,
which gives it zigzag appearance.
b. Spikelet: It is composed of flowers called florets. The number of florets in a spikelet may vary
from 1-5.
c. Florets: The outer covering of a floret is made up of a lemma and palea. The lemma enfolds
the palea near their attachment point. If an awn is present, it is attached to lemma.
iv. Kernel: Wheat plant has a caryopsis type of fruit. The typical wheat kernel is from 3- 10mm
in length and from 3-5mm in diameter.

Root system
It consists of shallow and deep roots. Shallow roots spread laterally. Deep roots go up to 0.75 to
150cm.
Shoot system
i. Stem: Stem is cylindrical and possesses five to seven hollow internodes separated by solid
nodes.
ii. Leaves: Leaves arise alternately and consist of a sheath, blade, ligule and auricle. Auricles are
very conspicuous.
iii. Inflorescence: Inflorescence is called spike or head. Spike consists of spikelets attached at
the nodes of a zigzag rachis, and each spikelet has two glumes and a floret. In two rowed barley,
only central spikelet is fertile whereas in six rowed barley all the three spikelets are fertile.
iv. Kernel (grain): Its grain is a caryopsis consisting of lemma, palea and a rachilla. Caryopsis
is composed of the pericarp, endosperm and embryo.

2. Chickpea
Root system
It is robust, up to 2 m deep, but major portion of the roots is up to 60 cm.
Shoot system
i. Stem: Its plants possess branched, erect or spreading, sometimes shrubby much branched
stems, which are 0.2-1 m tall, glandular pubescent, olive, dark green or bluish green in color
ii. Leaves: They are imparipinnate, glandular- pubescent with 3-8 pairs of leaflets and a top
leaflet (rachis ending in a leaflet); leaflets ovate to elliptical, 0.6-2.0 cm long, 0.3-1.4 cm wide;
margin serrated, apex acuminate to aristate, base cuneate; stipules 2-5 toothed and stipules are
absent.
iii. Flowers: Flowers are solitary, sometimes two per inflorescence, auxiliary; peduncles 0.6-3
cm long, pedicels 0.5-1.3 cm long, bracts triangular or tripartite; calyx 7-10 mm long; corolla
white, pink, purplish (fading to blue) or blue, 0.8-1.2 cm long. The staminal column is
diadelphous (9-1) and the ovary is sessile, inflated and pubescent.
iv. Pods: Pod rhomboid ellipsoid, 1-2 with three seeds as a maximum, inflated and glandular-
pubescent. Seed color cream, yellow, brown, black or green, rounded to angular, seed coat
smooth or wrinkled, or tuberculate, laterally compressed with a median groove around two-thirds
of the seed, anterior beaked; germination cryptocotylar.

3. Lentil
Herbaceous annual plant, erect and bushy with four to six primary branches.
Root system
It has well developed root system including a central tap root and many lateral branches.
Shoot system
i. Stem: Stem is weak and quadrangular.
ii. Leaves: Leaves are small, compound and pinnate, small sessile leaflets occur in pairs of five
to seven. The end of leaflets forms tendrils.
iii. Inflorescence: It is a raceme of two to four flowers. Flowers are small, white tinged with
blue, violet or pink.
iv. Pods: Pods are short, flattened, one to one and a half centimeter long with a curved beak.

4.Sugarcane
It is a tall perennial plant growing erect up to 5 to 6 m.
Root system
It is fibrous and consists of two types of roots, viz., sett roots and shoot roots.
i. Sett roots: When sugarcane sett is planted in the soil and covered with moist soil, the root
primordia situated at the base of every cane joint is activated and produces roots. These roots are
known as sett roots and are mostly temporary.
ii. Shoot roots: After the emergence of primary shoot from the bud, other roots are produced
from lower rings of the lower nodes of the shoot. Those formed first go downwards, whereas
those formed near the soil surface grow in upper layer of soil for providing anchorage for the
plant. These roots produced from shoot are known as shoot roots.
Shoot system
i. Stalk: Sugarcane stalk is roughly cylindrical and is composed of many distinct nodes and
internodes. It is above ground portion of plant which bears leaves and flowers.
ii. Eye/bud: At each node, there is a bud, sometime known as „eye‟ appearing on opposite sides
of cane. These buds are protected by leaf sheath.
iii. Leaf scar: Just below the bud is a raised portion known as the leaf scar – a point of
attachment of leaf sheath to the stalk. Before this is the wax band.
iv. Tillers: Sugarcane produces branches that grow from below the soil surface. The
underground portion of stem tapers rapidly and from the lateral buds of this region the shoots
develop. Single cane may produce as many as 20-40 tillers.
v. Leaves: The leaves of cane plant grow alternately on opposite sides of the cane stalk from the
nodes. Leaf consists of a sheath and the blade with a ligule in between.
vi. Inflorescence: The inflorescence of sugarcane normally called the arrow is an open panicle.
The arrangement of spikelets is racemose, that is, the oldest flowers are at the bottom and
youngest at the top.
2. Identification of weeds in rabi season crops
Common Name
Jangli gobi
Kasni Chicory
Hirankhuri Field bind weed
Pitpapra / Gajri Fumitory
Kharthua / Bhabra Goosefoot
Bathua Lamb’s quarters
Senji (Pili) Indian clover
Desr. Senji (safed) White sweet
clover
Krishna neel Pimpernel, scarlet
Satyanashi Prick /Mexican poppy
Pyaji Wild onion
Satganthia Sand weed or corn
spurry
Pohli Wild safflower
Jangli Gajar Wild carrot
Jangli sarson Wild mustard
Gehun ka mama
Wild oat
Pyaji
Rabi weeds
Scientific Name
Launia asplenifolia
Cichorium intybus
Convolvulus arvensis L
Fumaria parviflora
Chenopodium murale L.
Chenopodium album L.
Melilotus indica
Melilotus alba
Angallis arvensis L.
Argemone mexicana L.
Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav.
Spergula arvensis L.
Carthamus oxyacantha
Daucus carota
Brassica kaber
Phalaris minor
Avena fatua
Asphodelus tenuifolius
 Ex.3. Seed rate and related numerical

Relevant Information: To select a seed lot for sowing purpose, its purity and germination test is
the first requirement which can be determined as per procedure given below. Seed is divided into
different component is weighed separately and then percentage are determined for purity test. A
suitable size of seed sample is taken, say 100 in a petri dish or other method and suitable
conditions are provided for germination. Germination percentage is determined accordingly by
counting healthy and germinated seedlings after suitable period prescribed for a crop (Table 1).

1: Calculation of purity percentage.

Wt. of individual fraction

% Wt. of each fraction = —————————————x100

Total wt. of sample obtained

Percent of each fraction to the extent of 5% or more should be calculated and reported while
components of less than 0.05% should be reported as ‘traces’.

Seeds possessing minimum limits of purity must be rejected because these seeds will result in:

(i) Poor plant population and ultimately the yield.

(ii) Poor price of produce in market

(iii) Higher cost of cultivation because of higher cost of plant protection.

(iv) Higher cost of seed itself.

(v) Spread of new diseases, insect pests and noxious weeds.

Germination test of seed

(i) Petri dish method- Suitable for small seeds

(ii) Rolled towel test- Suitable for large seeds

(iii) Sand method – For all seeds

(iv) Folder paper towel method – For large seeds

Points to be remembered

(i) Only healthy seeds separated out during purity test should be taken for test.

(ii) Sterilization of the materials used.

(iii) Ideal germination requirements should be provided viz., substratum, moisture, temperature,
light, air etc for getting satisfactory test data .

According to ‘ Indian’ Seed Act 1966 ’ which has been in force from 1stOct., 1969, seed must
have minimum prescribed germination per cent.

Read value of seed

Represents its seed quality in terms of purity and germination. It can be evaluated by multiplying
purity % and germination % of seed sample dividing the product by 100. Thus, it is a standard
measure for comparison to two or more seed lots. A sample having higher real value is always
better than one having lower R.V.

Sample A Sample B

Purity % = 85 Purity % =98

Germination %= 95 Germination % =80

85 x 95 98 x 80

A =------------------ B = -----------------

100 100
 =80.75 = 78.40

It is more economical and better to buy the seed from seed lot of sample ‘A’. A seed lot having <
70 R.V. is not preferred for sowing purpose because of poor germination and purity values.

Calculation of seed requirement for rabi crops

Seed rate is calculated on the basis of number of plants required for unit area taking into
consideration the germination and purity per cent of the seed lot.

Examples:

(i) Calculate seed rate of upland wheat on the basis of following data:

(a) Spacing =22.5 cm x 2 cm

(b) Germination % = 89

(c) Purity % of seed = 82

(d) Test weight = 40 g

(e) Number of damaged seeds /m2 area which needs to be replaced by another = 12 seed/m2 area.

Solution: Total number of seeds required = No. of seeds required/ha + No. of seeds needed for
replacing damaged seeds

10000 10000

No. of seeds required/ha =------------- = --------------- =2222222 seeds

Spacings 0.225 x.02

No. of damaged seeds/ha = 10000 x 12 =120000

Therefore total no. of seeds = 2222222 + 120000 = 2342222 seeds/ha

Thus seed rate would be

 Total no. of seeds/ha x test wt x 100 x 100

= ------------------------------------------------------------

kg/ha 1000 x germination % x purity % x 1000

2342222x 40 x 100 x 100

= ----------------------------------------= 128.7 kg/ha

1000 x 89 x 82 x 1000
Ex.4.Sowing of wheat and planting of sugarcane.
Relevant information:
I Sowing of wheat:
Under irrigated timely sown condition, wheat sowing may be done in the first fortnight
of November in north India and the middle of November in north-east and central India. Under
late sown conditions, the wheat is sown in first fortnight of December. Rainfed wheat is
generally sown from second fortnight of October to early-November to get maximum benefit
from residual soil moisture. Seeds can be sown through broadcasting or in lines in rows 20 cm
apart. Under normal conditions, a seed rate of 100 kg/ha is sufficient. Under late sown
conditions, seed rate should be increased by 25 per cent. Irrigated wheat is spaced 22.5 cm
between rows and 8-10 cm between plants. Rainfed wheat is spaced 25-30 cm between rows
and 5-6 cm between plants. Seed depth should be around 5 cm.
The general N+P2O5+K2O recommendations for irrigated and rainfed wheat are
120+60+30 kg/ha and 80+40+20 kg/ha, respectively. Full dose of phosphorus and potassium
and half of nitrogen should be applied at the time of sowing, while remaining half dose should
be top dressed in two equal splits one at first irrigation and other at flowering stage. Farmyard
manure (FYM) or organic manures @ 10 t/ha at the time of sowing is beneficial for long-term
fertility maintenance.

II Planting of Sugarcane
Seed rate in sugarcane varies from region-to-region. In north India, seed rate generally
varies from 35,000 three budded sets/ha while in south it ranges between 25,000 to 40,000 three
budded sets/ha. The row spacing in subtropical part ranges from 60 to 90 cm whereas, it is 90-
150 cm in tropical regions.
Method of sowing
Flat planting: In this method shallow furrows are opened with a local plough or cultivator at
row spacing from 60 to 75 cm depending upon the situation. There should be sufficient moisture
in the field at the time of planting. The setts are planted in them . After this furrows are covered
with 5-7 cm of soil and field is leveled by heavy planking. In most parts of northern India and
some tracts of Maharasthra, cane is planted by this method.
Spaced transplanting (STP) method with single eye sett: Recently in STP method single eye
setts are used for planting. Either direct setts or seeding raised in polybag nurseries are
transplanted into the field after 50-55 days. For this STP or single eyed sett method 18-20 q/ha
seed is required. This method saves seed cost by 60-70%. In this method distance between two
setts is kept at 30 cm.

Furrow planting: In this method furrows are made with sugarcane ridger about 10-15 cm deep
in northern India and about 20 cm in south India. Setts are planted end to end in furrows and
covered with 5-6 cm soil, leaving upper portion of furrows unfilled. Immediately after covering
the setts water is let into furrows. This method is practiced in parts of UP and in Peninsular India,
particularly in heavy soils.
Trench planting: In some coastal areas as well as in other areas where the crop grows very tall
and strong winds during rainy season cause lodging of cane, trench method is adopted to save the
crop from lodging. Trenches at a distance of 75-90 cm are dug with the help of ridger or manual
labour. Trenches should be about 20-25 cm deep. After this already prepared mixture of fertilizer
should be spread uniformly in the trenches and mixed thoroughly in the soil. The setts are
planted end to end in the trenches. The tractor –drawn sugarcane planter is a very suitable device
for planting cane in trenches.

Ring or Pit system: This system was evolved by Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research,
Lucknow. In the system, circular pits of 90 cm diameter are dug out to a depth of 45 cm with a
gap of 60 cm on one side and 90 cm on another side is found suitable. At this spacing irrigation
channels are opened in the 90 cm gaps. At this spacing about 4000 pits can be formed per
hectare. The pits are re-filled with loose soil and farmyard manure or pressmud mixture to a
depth of 15 cm. While planting, 20 setts are planted per pit and covered with soil to a thickness
of 5 cm. As the crop grows, the soil is filled into the pits while manuring. This system has given
very high yields in the subtropics. In the tropical India, about 25% higher yields were obtained.
The system also gives better rations and has been found useful under saline soils and saline water
irrigated conditions. The system may be useful under drip system of irrigation. In this system as
the cane setts are packed closely lik spokes in rim. Mostly mother shoots develop which
apparently were better than the tillers in the conventional planting. Due to suppressed tillering in
the ring system from the very beginning, vigorous growth of mother shoots occurred. Due to this
the thickness and height of individual canes increased resulting in higher single cane weight.
 Ex.5.Application of herbicides and related numericals.
Relevant information:
The product label and the literature supplied with the herbicide will provide details of herbicide
name, active ingredient (a.i.), date of expiry, directions for use etc. It must be read before using
the herbicide. It is particularly important to note the strength of the product (a.i.) as the same
herbicide may be sold under different trade names with varying amounts of active ingredient. For
example, isoproturon is available at 50 and 75% formulations. For this reason only, the
recommendations are normally made on kg a.i. basis. Even in liquid formulations the herbicide
present is mentioned in g/L.
The amount of commercial formulation of the herbicide required can be calculated by the
following formula:

Dose in kg a.i. /ha

Commercial product (kg/ha) = ----------------------------- X 100

% a. i. in the product

Isoproturon is available as 75% WP and 50% WP. If the recommended rate of application is 0.75
kg ai/ha then the amount of commercial product required is:-

0.75

50% WP product = ----------------X 100 = 1.50 kg/ha

50

0.75

75% WP product =-------------- X 100 = 1.00 kg/ha

75
 Ex.6. Judging physiological maturity of various crops
Relevant information:
Physiological maturity : refers to a development stage after which no further increases in dry
matter occurs in the economic part. Crop is considered to be at physiological maturity when the
translocation of photosynthesis to the economic part is stopped.
External Symptoms of Physiological Maturity
The major symptoms of physiological maturity of some field crops are as follows:
• Wheat and Barely–Complete loss of green colour from the glumes.
• Maize and Sorghum–Black layer in the placental region of grain
• Pearl millet–Appearance of bleached peduncle
• Soybean–Loss of the green colour from leaves.
• Redgram–Green pods turning brown about 25 days after flowering.

Crop Criteria for harvesting

Rice 32 days after flowering, Green grains not more than 4-9%
Wheat About 15% moisture in grain, Grain in hard dough stage.
Maize 25–30 days after tasselling, Seed moisture content is at 34%
Sorghum 40 days after flowering
Bajra 28–35 days after flowering
Redgram 35–40 days after flowering
Black/Green gram Pod turn brown/black
Rapeseed/mustard 75% of the silique turn yellow, Seed moisture at 30%
Sunflower Back of heads turns to lemon yellow
Groundnut Yellowing of leaves and shedding
Development of purple colour of the testa
Cotton Bolls fully opened
Jute 50% pod stage (120–150 days)
Sugarcane Brix 18–20%, Sucrose 15%
 Ex.7.Fertilizer application in crops and related numerical
Relevant information:
Example 1 : For one hectare cultivation of wheat calculate the amount of calcium
ammonium nitrate, single super phosphate and murate of potash fertilizers if one one to
apply 150 kg N, 60 kg P2O5 and 60 kg K2O per hectare nutrients.

Solution: Wheat area to be cultivated = 1 ha or 10,000 m2 amount of nutrients needed to be

applied:
N = 150 kg, P2O5 = 60 kg and K2O = 60 kg.

Fertilizers available:
Calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) = 25% N
Single ammonium phosphate (SSP) = 16% P2O5
Murate of potash (MOP) = 60% K2O

Since we are aware total amount of nitrogen to be applied to the crop is 150 kg and among the
above three fertilizers CAN contains only 25% N and other two fertilizers do not have N content
so all the amount of nitrogen should be met through CAN.
150 X 100
Amount of CAN required = --------------- = 600 kg
25
Similarly, single super phosphate contains only 16% P2O5
60 X 100
Therefore, the total amount of SSP = ------------- = 375 kg
16
60 X 100
Similarly, the amount of MOP required = ------------- = 100 kg
60
Therefore, 600 kg CAN, 375 kg SSP and 100 kg MOP is required to provide 150 kg N, 60 kg
P2O5 and 60 kg K2O per hectare to the wheat crop.

Example 2: Calculate the quantity of urea, DAP and murate of potash for a crop to be
grown in 2 acre area. The crop requires 120 kg N, 60 kg P2O5 and 40 kg K2O per hectare.
Solution : Total are under the crop = 2 acre or 8000 m2
Nutrient required in 1 ha (10000 m2) area are:
Nitrogen = 120 kg
P2O5 = 60 kg
K2O = 40 kg
But we have to apply fertilizer to 8000 m2 is as follows:-
120 X 8000
Nitrogen = ---------------- = 96 kg
10000
60 X 8000
P2O5 = ---------------- = 48 kg
10000
 40 X 8000
K2O = ---------------- = 32 kg
10000
Fertilizers available: Urea = 46% N, DAP = 18% N and 46% P2O5 and murate of potash = 60%
K2O
Now we can calculate the individual fertilizers. But here one point must be noted that available
fertilizers Urea and murate of potash contains only single nutrient but DAP contains two nutrient
elements i.e. nitrogen and phosphorus. Therefore, first it is required to find out the amount of
DAP to meet 48 kg P2O5 per 8000 m2 demand.
48 X 100
Quantity of DAP required for 48 kg P2O5 = ------------- = 104.35 kg
46
18 X 104.35
Nitrogen in 104.35 kg DAP = ----------------- = 18.78 kg N
100
Total nitrogen required = 96 kg
Nitrogen supplied through DAP = 18.78 kg
Balance N to be supplied = 96 – 18.78 = 77.22 kg
Now, 77.22 kg N should be supplied through Urea (46%)
100 X 77.22
Therefore, the quantity of Urea required = ---------------- = 167.87 kg
46
100 X 32
Similarly, the quantity of murate of potash = ------------- = 53.33 kg
60
Hence, to meet the crop requirement 167.87 kg Urea, 104.35 kg DAP and 53.33 kg murate of
potash is required.

Example 3: Estimate total quantity of fertilizers for a crop to be grown in 4000 m2 area.
The crop requires 150 kg N, 50 kg P and 40 kg K per hectare. The fertilizers available with
the farmer are Urea, SSP and MOP.
Solution: Area to be grown = 4000 m2
Nutrient required in 1 ha (10000 m2) area are: 150 kg N, 50 kg P and 40 kg K.
So, the nutrient required for 4000 m2 is as follows:-
150 X 4000
N = ---------------- = 60 kg
10000
50 X 4000
P = ---------------- = 20 kg
10000
40 X 4000
K = ---------------- = 16 kg
10000
Convert P into P2O5 and K into K2O because SSP and MOP fertilizers contains 16% P2O5 and
60% K2O.
P2O5 = P X 2.29 = 20 X 2.29 = 45.8 kg
 K2O = K X 1.20 = 16 X 1.20 = 19.2 kg
Now, we are aware that for 4000 m2 area the nutrient required as per recommendation is:-
N = 60 kg
P2O5 = 45.8 kg
K2O = 19.2 kg
Now, calculate the quantity of individual fertilizer:-
100 X 60
Quantity of Urea required = ------------- = 130.43 kg
46

100 X 45.8
Quantity of SSP required = --------------- = 286.25 kg
16
100 X 19.2
Quantity of MOP required = --------------- = 32 kg
60
Example 4 : Calculate the quantities of urea, SSP and MOP for sugarcane crop to be
grown on half acre area. The crop requires 250 kg N, 100 kg P2O5 and 60 kg K2O per
hectare. Vermicompost (N 2%, P2O5 1% and K2O 1%) @ 10 t per hectare was applied at
the time of field preparation.
Solution : Total area under wheat crop = Half acre or 2000 m2
Vermicompost application = 10 t/ha or 10000 kg /10000 m2 or 1 kg/m2
Amount of vermicompost applied in wheat crop = 1 X 2000 = 2000 kg
Nutrient content in vermicompost = N 2%, P2O5 1% and K2O 1% (as given)
2 X 2000
Amount of N supplied through vermicompost = ------------- = 40 kg
100
1 X 2000
Amount of P2O5 supplied through vermicompost = ------------- = 20 kg
100
1 X 2000
Amount of K2O supplied through vermicompost = ------------- = 20 kg
100
Rate of nutrient application per hectare = 250 kg N, 100 kg P2O5, 60 kg K2O per hectare. But we
have half acre area or 2000 m2.
250 X 2000
Therefore, for 2000 m2 N required is = ---------------- = 50 kg
10000
100 X 2000
2
Therefore, for 2000 m P2O5 required = ---------------- = 20 kg
10000
60 X 2000
Therefore, for 2000 m2 are K2O required = ---------------- = 12 kg
10000
Balance amount of N required:-
Total N – N supplied through vermicompost = 50 – 40 = 10 kg
Similarly, P2O5 required = 20 – 20 = 0 (Nil)
Similarly, K2O required = 12 – 20 = -8 (Nil)
100 X 10
Quantity of Urea required = ------------- = 21.7 kg
46
No, SSP and MOP is required as the full dose of P2O5 and K2O was supplied through
vermicompost.
Ex.8. Morphological difference in wheat, barley and oat, rapeseed and
mustard, berseem and lucerne.
Relevant information:

Distinguishing characteristics between related crops and weeds

 Ex.9.Judging sugarcane maturity based on brix ratio and related calculation

Relevant information:
I. Maturity Signs of Sugarcane:
1. General yellowish colour of the whole crop.
2. Cessation of growth and emergence of flowers in case of flowering varieties.
3. Swelling of eye buds.
4. Metallic sound of cane when tapped with finger nail.
5. Breaking of cane at node region.
6. Sweetness of juice.
7. Brix saccharometer or hand refractometer reading is the sure sign of maturity and it should be
between 21 to 240 brix.

II. Testing of Sugarcane Maturity by Hand Refractometer:

1. Hand refractometer reading is a sure test of sugarcane maturity.
2. It determines the T.S.S. (Total soluble solids) in the juice.
3. The middle portion of the cane is punctured and a drop of juice is spread on the plate of the
refractometer.
4. Then refractometer is held against light and see through the lens.
5. A film of juice on plate appears as divided into dark and light halves.
6. Observe the point of intersection of these halves on the scale provided on plate itself and not
down the reading.
7. A few readings of canes selected randomly from the field are taken and average brix reading is
calculated.
8. The brix reading between 21 to 240 brix indicates the maturity of cane.

III. Quality Parameters

Important sugarcane quality parameters for assessing cane maturity are the juice Brix, pol
or sucrose percentage and purity.
Juice Brix: Juice Brix refers to the total solids content present in the juice expressed in
percentage. Brix includes sugars as well as non-sugars. Brix can be measured in the field itself in
the standing cane crop using a Hand Refractometer. This is usually referred as a Hand
Refractometer Brix or HR Brix.

Juice Sucrose or Pol Per Cent: The juice sucrose per cent is the actual cane sugar present in the
juice. It is determined by using a polarimeter, hence sucrose per cent is also referred to as pol per
cent. For all practical purposes pol % and sucrose % are synonyms. Now a days an instrument
called sucrolyser is also available for determining sucrose % in juice.

Purity Coefficient: It refers to the percentage of sucrose present in the total solids content in the
juice. A higher purity indicates the presence of higher sucrose content out of the total solids
present in juice. The purity percentage along with sucrose percent aids in determining maturity
time.
Purity Percentage = (Sucrose %/HR Brix)100
A cane crop is considered fit for harvesting if it has attained a minimum of 16% sucrose and 85%
purity.
Commercial Cane Sugar: The commercial cane sugar (CCS) refers to the total recoverable
sugar percent in the cane. This could be calculated by the following formula:

CCS (tons/ha) = [Yield (tons/ha) x Sugar Recovery (%)] /100

Sugar Recovery (%) = [S - 0.4 (B - S)] x 0.73

Where, S= Sucrose % in juice and B= Corrected Brix (%)

 Ex.10.Yield attributing characters, Theoretical yield and related numerical

Relevant information:
Yield estimation of Rabi crops
Yield is the ultimate objective of cultivating agricultural plants. Different plant parts
constitute the economic yield in different crops, like grain in cereals, pulses and oil seeds,
vegetative parts or fruits in vegetable crops; bark or out growth in fibre crops (jute, cotton); and
the entire plant in fodder crops. The yield per unit area (per m2 or ha) is the product of yield per
plant multiplied by the number of plants per unit area. It is, therefore, essential to know the yield
components per plant as well as per unit area.
Precautions
Use only a representative crop to estimate yields. Do not select plants of any particular
type. Do not damage any plant part. Record yield at the correct maturation stage. Do not allow
excessive wilting or drying of the material. Estimate yield in a sufficiently large sample.
Materials Required

(i) Polythene bags (ii) Harvesting equipment like sickle, knife, etc. (iii)Balance (iv) Gunny bags
or baskets, pans, etc.

Procedure
Single plant yield
Harvest 50 to 100 random single plants separately. Count the number of branches or
tillers, if any, for each plant. Thresh the seed or economic produce separately from each branch
or tiller or from the entire plant, as the case may be. Weigh the seed from each branch or tiller in
grain crops and economic produce in vegetables, fodder and fibre crops and record it. Determine
average number of branches/tillers per plant, yield per branch/tiller.

Yield per unit area

Mark out 10 plots of 1 m2 randomly in the field. Count the total number of plants per
plot. Harvest each plot separately. Thresh the material at the appropriate stage. Record yield
from each plot separately.
Observations
I) Single plant yield
Number of productive branches or tillers per plant. Average number of branches or tillers
per plant .Weight of seeds per branch or tiller. Average weight of seeds for each branch or tiller
in g. Average weight of seeds per plant in g Weight of 1000 seeds in small grains and 100 seeds
in big grains in g.

II) Yield per unit area

Average number of plants per plot Yield per plot of 1.0 sq. m( g) Average yield per plot
of 1 sq. m( g)
Calculations
Calculate the yield per hectare through the single plant yield method and yield per unit
area method. Yield per ha = Wt. of seeds per plant x No. of plants per ha. or Yield per plot of 1.0
sq. m x 10,000
Example 1 : Estimate the grain yield of wheat crop in field sown at 20X5 cm spacing and
plant attributes having effective tillers 4 per plant, grains/spike 45 and test weight is 45g.

Solution : Calculation of plant population in the field:

Row to row spacing of the crop = 20 cm= 0.20 m
Plant to plant spacing of the crop = 5 cm= 0.05 m
I: Space occupied by one plant = 0.20x0.05=0.100 m2
Area of one hectare = 10000 m2
10000
Number of plants per hectare = --------- =1000000 plants
0.01
II: Counting number of plants in one meter row length say 20 at 5 cm plant to plant
spacing.
Row spacing is 20 cm.
Length of one hectare = 100 meter
Breadth of one hectare = 100 meter
Area of one hectare = 100X100 =10000 m2
100
Number of rows at 20 cm in one hectare length = ----------- = 500
0.2
Number of plants in one hectare = 100X20 = 2000
Total plants in one hectare area = 500X2000 = 1000000 plants

III:
Per plant yield = No. of effective tillers/plant X No. of grains per spike X weight of one grain

If number of effective tillers = 4

Number of grains per spike = 45
Test weight = 45g
45
Per grain weight = ---------- = 0.045g
1000

4 X 45 X 45
Per plant yield = ----------------- = 8.1 g
1000
Per hectare yield = Plant population X Per plant yield
= 1000000 X 8.1g = 8100 kg = 81 q/ha.

Example 2 : Estimate the theoretical/ha grain yield of chickpea crop in field sown at 30X15
cm spacing and plant attributes having 60 pods per plant, 1.5 grains/pod and 100 seed
weight is 20g.

Solution :
Per plant yield = No. of pods/plant X No. of grains per pod X weight of one seed
60 X 1.5 X 20
Per plant yield = ----------------------- = 18 g
100
100 X 100X100 X 100
Number of plants per hectare = ------------------------------- =222222 plants
30 X15
Per hectare yield = Plant population X Per plant yield
= 222222 X 18= 3999996g = 3999 kg = 39.99 q/ha.
Example 3 : Calculate the cane yield /ha of sugarcane crop sown at row spacing of 60 cm
with 3 buded setts with seed rate of 30 q/Ac. The effective canes per meter row length is 10
and weight of one cane is 1 kg.

Solution :
Number of canes in one row = 10 X 100 = 1000
100 X 100
Number of rows per hectare = ------------------ =166.6 = 167
60
Per hectare yield = No. of rows X No. of canes/ row X Per cane yield
= 167 X 1000 X 1= 167000 kg = 1670 q/ha.
 Ex.11. Crop harvesting and related numericals on harvest index.
Relevant information:

HARVESTING
Removal of entire plant or economic parts after maturity from the field is called
harvesting. It includes the operation of cutting, picking, plucking or digging or a combination of
these for removing the useful part or economic part from the plants/crops. The portion of the
stem that is left in the field after harvest is called as stubble. The economic product may be
grain, seed, leaf, root or entire plant.

Harvest Index (H.I)

It is the ratio of the economic yield to the total biological yield expressed as percentage.
H.I = (Economic yield/Biological yield) × 100

Numerical: Calculate harvest in wheat variety Raj 4037, if biological yield is 110q/ha and
economic yield is 50q/ha.
50 100
HI =--------- x = 45.45%
110
Ex.12. Working out seed index (test weight) and cost of cultivation of crops

Relevant information:
Test weight is weight of 1000 seeds in grams in small seeded crops. Seed index is
weight of 100 seed in grams in large seeded crops.

Test weigh/seed index is determined by counting seeds and weight in grams.

Cost of cultivation:
Farmer grows a crop to get more and more production not only for fulfilling his domestic
requirement but also to get higher income or profit from the crop as an enterprise by selling the
product and byproduct in the market. Raising a crop successfully involves a lot of expenditure on
various items like purchase of various inputs required by the crop and hiring of labour,
machinery etc. for performing various field operations. This expenditure on the various items
needed for crop production is called cost of cultivation or production of the crop. Difference
between market value of final crop product obtained from a given land area and the total
expenditure on inputs and other items (cost of cultivation) gives the net return or profit from the
area. Therefore, the net profit per unit land area can be increased not only by increasing yield of
the crop produce but also by
minimizing the cost of production. An account of the cost of cultivation and return per unit land
area is necessary to find out the profitability of a crop or cropping system grown in a locality or
region. Therefore, cost benefit analysis of the crop enterprise on a farm is necessary for the
following purposes:
To find out the cost of cultivation of a crop per unit area and the profit per unit area from the
crop enterprise.
To find out the relative cost of various inputs and other items in order to find out their relative
importance in crop production.
To compare the profitability of a crop with other crops on a farm in order to find out the better
crops for the farm.
To compare the best crop or cropping system on a farm with other enterprises on the same
farm to find out the best enterprise on the farm.
To know the relative allocation of various enterprises with respect to space and time on a
farm so that the best enterprise dominates the farm.
To help farmers, administrators and policy makers in taking appropriate decisions about
allocation of agricultural resources.
To estimate the cost of cultivation of a crop and income from it, it is necessary to know the
prices of items (inputs and outputs).