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Renganathan.R AP/RAC
Food Resources
Among all the living organisms, only green plants
are autotrophs, i.e., they make their own food.
In contrast to green plants, animals and human
beings are heterotrophs, i.e., they depend on
plants and other animals for food.
All the parts of one or other plant are consumed
by humans in the form of cereals, vegetables,
spices and fruits.
Animals produce milk, butter, egg, meat, etc.,
which also supplement our food requirements
Crops are plants grown in community on larger
area.
Agriculture is an applied science which deals
Food Production
Nutrients for plants
The food required by plants is composed of
certain elements, which are known as nutrients
along with the functions of the solar energy.
16 nutrient sources are: Carbon, Oxygen,
Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium,
Calcium, Magnesium, Sulphur, Iron, Manganese,
Boron, Zinc, Copper, Molybdenum, Chlorine.
Sources of the nutrients are the air, water and
soil.
Macro Nutrients: Nitrogen, Phosphorus,
Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Sulphur.
Micro Nutrients: Iron, Manganese, Boron, Zinc,
Food Production
Manure: Manures are natural fertilizers. They are
bulky sources of organic matter which supply
nutrients.
Fertilizers: Fertilizers are the sources of plant
nutrients, manufactured commercially from
chemicals. Chemicals can be organic compounds
and inorganic compounds.
Food Production
Manures
manure is a natural substance. It is obtained by
the decomposition of animal wastes such as dung
(gobar) of cattle and buffaloes and plant
residues.
A manure contains small amounts of essential
plant nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium.
A manure adds a great amount of organic matter
in the form of humus in the soil.
Nutrients present in the manure are absorbed
slowly by the crop plants since manure is not
soluble in water. Nutrients exist locked inside the
Food Production
A manure is voluminous and bulky so it is
inconvenient to store, transport, handle and
apply to the crop.
A manure is cheap and is prepared in rural
homes or fields.
Fertilizers
A fertilizer is a human made substance. It is an
inorganic salt or an organic compound.
Fertilizers are very rich in plant nutrients such
as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
A fertilizer does not add any humus to the soil.
Being soluble in water, a fertilizer is readily
absorbed by the crop plants.
Food Production
A fertilizer is nutrient specific. It can provide
specifically nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium
to the soil according to the need.
A fertilizer is compact and concentrated so it is
easy to store, transport and apply to the corp.
A fertilizer is costly and is prepared in factories.
High doses of these chemicals greatly increase
crop yield but then chemicals get washed off
through irrigation, rain fall as drainage and
reach rivers, lakes, streams and pollute them.
Food Production
Importance of water
Crop plants are irrigated with freshwater to
supply two essential elements to them,
hydrogen and oxygen.
Irrigation of crop fields is necessary to provide
sufficient moisture for the germination of
seeds.
Irrigation of crop plants is essential for the
growth and elongation of the roots of the crop
plants.
Irrigation of crops is necessary to increase the
number of aerial branches .
Irrigation is essential for the absorption of
Food Production
Irrigation
Nature of crop
Nature of soil
Canals, tanks, wells(dug wells, tube wells),check
dams.
Protection of crops
Pest control
Mechanical methods
Cultural methods
Chemical methods
Biological methods
Weed control
Disease control
Food Security
Access for poor and improvement in their
nutrition.
Increasing population and increasing incomes
increase the demand.
More need high quality produces.
Meeting the demands with increase in supply
A stress on water and land as they are the basic
resources required for agriculture.
Thank you..