Crop Production

For direct-seeded paddy the seed rate is 20–25 kg/ha. For transplanted paddy it increases to 50–60 kg/ha because seedlings are raised in a nursery (requiring higher seed density) before being transplanted to the main field.

The standard seed rate for wheat is 100–125 kg/ha under normal sowing conditions. For late sowing the seed rate is increased by 20–25% to compensate for reduced tillering capacity of late-sown plants.

In paddy, urea is split into three doses: basal (at transplanting), tillering (21–25 DAT), and panicle initiation (40–45 DAT). In wheat, urea is top-dressed at first irrigation (Crown Root Initiation stage, 20–25 DAS) and at tillering (40–45 DAS).

The four major cropping systems are: (1) Rice–Wheat — dominant in Indo-Gangetic Plains covering 12 million ha; (2) Rice–Rice — common in coastal Andhra, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal; (3) Cotton–Wheat — prevalent in Punjab and Haryana; (4) Soybean–Wheat — important in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Kharif crops are sown with the onset of southwest monsoon (June–July) and harvested in September–October: rice, maize, sorghum, bajra, cotton, groundnut, soybean, and sugarcane. Rabi crops are sown in October–November and harvested in March–April: wheat, barley, chickpea, mustard, and linseed.

Crop Production is a high-weightage topic in IBPS AFO (Professional Knowledge Section), NABARD Grade A/B (Agriculture paper), ICAR JRF (Agronomy discipline), Pre-PG entrance exams (IARI, BHU, TNAU, ANGRAU), and state PSC Agriculture Officer exams. Expect 8–12 questions per exam from this topic.