Factors Affecting Crop Production

During crop production lot of factors responsible for growth and development of crop, in this article we have explained Factors Affecting Crop Production.

Growth is a progressive development of an organism, which is irreversible in nature. It can be measured in terms of increase in plant height, diameter of stem, number of branches, tillers, total dry weight and finally the yield of economic product. The growth of an organism is influenced by several factors, some of which can be manipulated or regulated by man whereas others are beyond his control.

Researchers have identified some 50+ factors that govern the crop growth, out of which seven are environmental or climatological in nature, not manageable by man.

Table of Contents

Factors affecting crop growth can broadly be classified into four groups.

Genetic factors
Environmental factors
Edaphic factors
Biotic factors.

1-Genetic Factors

Genetic factors or plant factors include crops and their varieties. Generally crops are grown as per the conventions and food habits. But to make best use of climatic and edaphic factors, selection of crops should be made on their best adaptability under a particular set of conditions. This will e help in exploiting the genetic potential s of a crop and increasing crop production. Not only crops but their varieties also play important role in increasing production.

2-Environmental Factors

Environment is an integration of all external conditions. The chief component of environmental factors is climate. Climate is the sum total, mean and extreme limits of weather over an appreciably large area and long period of time. The important climatological parameters are air, temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, wind velocity and direction, evaporation etc. The climatological factors are discussed in details in succeeding paragraphs of this chapter.

3-Edaphic Factors

Edaphic factors deal with soil. Soil is a medium on which plants grow. The physical (texture, structure), chemical (pH, electrical conductivity, Redox potential) and biological (micro organisms such as actinomycetes, fungi, bacteria, algae) properties a constitute edaphic factors.

4-Biotic factors

The activities and interference of men, animals, birds, macro and micro- organisms influence the crop growth and productivity. The activities of man are responsible for soil erosion, depletion of soil fertility and degradation of micro- climatic conditions, whereas macro and micro-organisms are responsible for attack of various pests and diseases on crops.

Monsoon and its Importance in Agricultural Production

The term ‘monsoon’ is derived from an Arabic word ‘mausim’, which means ‘season’. The word monsoon refers to circulation of wind, which takes place in reverse direction every 6 months, 1.e. from summer to winter and vice-versa. Monsoon circulation involves a change of 180 degree in the direction of wind.

Monsoons Prevailing over Indian Sub- continent

South-west monsoon:

In the early summer large land mass of central and southern Asia gets heated by the sun and warm air starts rising. As it rises, suction is created and the moist air across the Arabian sea and the Bay of Bengal is pulled, creating south-west monsoon. More than 70% of the rainfall over India is recorded during the south- west monsoon.

North-east monsoon:

In winter the large land mass of Central Asia cools faster than the air over the Indian ocean. As a result, the cool, dry and heavier air over the land mass starts blowing downwards towards the equator. When these currents strike the Himalayan ranges they get deflected and start moving across the plains of India. Since they are coming from land mass, they do not carry sufficient moisture and there is very little rainfall during the north-east monsoon. However, when the currents pass over and cross the Bay of Bengal and get deflected in south-western direction, they carry humid air and strike the coastal area of Tamil Nadu, and deposit the water in the form of rains. Thus the north-east monsoon is responsible for having some rainfall only on the south- eastern coast of the peninsula.

Crop Seasons On the basis of rainfall and temperature

These are periods of the year characterized by climatic conditions, mainly caused by the orientation of the earth’s axis to the plane of the ecliptic and the revolution of the earth about the sun. On the basis of rainfall and temperature, there are four distinct seasons in India, viz.

Summer or pre-monsoon season (March to May)
Rainy or monsoon season (June to September)
Post monsoon season (October- December)
Winter season (December to February)

Summer or pre-monsoon season

This period is characterized by high temperature. During this period temperature is high in northern region compared with southern region. As temperature rises, the atmospheric pressure decreases. A local circulation of wind begins to set in. During this season violent wind, torrential rains, hail etc. are observed.
In Kerala and the western coastal area, pre-monsoon showers are received. Assam and Bengal also receive some rainfall in this season. In the drier north-west the dry hot winds are most frequent. Evening dust storms are very common in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The weather gets hotter steadily from the beginning of March, and April and May are the hottest months of the year. Pre-monsoon showers are mainly useful for preparatory cultivation.

Rainy or monsoon season

This is the grand period of rainfall in India. About 60 per cent of the total rainfall in a year is received during this period. All dry lands and wet lands receive rain during this season, and the climate is warm, humid with bright sunshine except for rainy days. Most of tropical or kharif crops are grown during this season.

Post monsoon season

The rainfall received during this period is around 33 per cent of annual rainfall. Mostly temperate or rabi crops are grown during this period in north India. In south India especially in Tamil Nadu and coastal Andhra Pradesh rains occur during north-east monsoon. The temperature is high up to middle of October, which later drops rapidly.

Winter season

This season extends from December to February. During this period temperature distribution over India shows a marked decrease from south to north. This period is generally rainless in most parts of the country, which helps in harvesting of crops. In north-western part occasionally one or two winter showers also occur. The weather is cool, usually dry and pleasant with dew fall during morning.