Naincy Khurana
- Jul 21, 2022
- 6 min read

KHARIF CROP (Part 1) - Rice, Maize, Bittergourd , Soyabean

Updated: Jul 22, 2022

Context

CHARACTERSTIC FEATURES OF KHARIF CROPS
CHALLENGES FACED BY KHARIF CROPS
Some major kharif crops
Rice (Oryza sativa)
Maize (Zea mays)
Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia)
Soyabean ( Glycine max )

Term Kharif derived from Arabic word. These crops also known as Monsoon crops/ Autumn crops which means it requires good amount of rainfall for better yield. These crops are cultivated in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh during monsoon season, that is, from June to November.

Examples : Rice(most important Kharif crop), Maize, Cotton, etc.

What is kharif season?

Kharif season is different for various crops and region. In India, it is from June and ends in October.

CHARACTERSTIC FEATURES OF KHARIF CROPS

1. Starts after the monsoon season.

2. Kharif crops are sown in April and May and are harvested between September and October.

3. Since these crops are known as monsoon crops and therefore these crops requires a lot of rain.

4. These crops requires loamy and alluvial soil for better growth.

CHALLENGES FACED BY KHARIF CROPS

1. If the rainfall pattern is heavy and uneven then it may harm the crop’s growth. An appropriate amount of water is required by the crop however too much water can have harmful impact on yield of crops.

2. Hailstorms can have severe damaging effect on agriculture. Heavy hailstorms can permanently damage the crops resulting in large economical loss of farmers.

3. If the weather of an area is inappropriate (extremely cold, extremely hot or heavy rains causing flooding of an area) may also have negative impact on growth pattern of crops, that is, quality of crop can be affected.

Some major kharif crops

Rice (Oryza sativa)


·       The most important kharif crop of India.
·       It is grown in areas having hot and humid climates.
·       Grown in rainfed areas.
·       Requires temperature around 25 degree Celsius and rainfall of 100cm.
·       It is the staple food of eastern and southern parts of India.
·    Type of soil required is silty, loamy and gravel but clayey loam is best suited.
·       Can be grown in alkaline as well as acidic soils.
·     Rice which is grown in well-watered low land areas is called lowland or wet rice.
·       Rice which is grown on hills is called upland or dry rice. (have less yield as compared to wet rice).
·       Seed rate = 40 to 100kg/ha.

How the rice is grown in India?
Traditional methods are used to grow rice in India.
·       Field is plowed and organic fertilizer is applied to the crops.
·       Field is smoothed.
·       Manual transplanting of seed is done.
·       Proper irrigation is provided to the crops at regular interval of time.
·       Seeds are cultivated.

Some diseases in rice are:-

1. BATERIAL BLIGHT

It is caused by Xanthomonas campestris.

CHARACTERSTIC SYMPTOMS:

· Small water soaked spots on the lower surface of leaf.

· Small spots enlarge and fuse with each to form large brown, dry spots.

· There is presence of narrow yellow border surrounds lesions.

· Sunken, Reddish brown spots are observed on surface of pods.

MANAGEMENT:

· Use of disease resistant, genetically modified seed varieties. (Genetic Resistance)

· Don’t walk in wet fields and also no reuse of irrigation water, avoid incorporation of infected debris after harvest into the field. (Cultural Practise)

· By reducing the contamination of seed coat by treating seed with Steptomycin and also the use of copper-based sprays in an appropriate amount into the field.

2. FALSE SMUT:

It is caused by fungus Ustilaginoidea virens.

CHARACTRSTIC SYMPTOMS:

· Some rice grain transforms into mass of yellow fruiting bodies.

· Not each and every rice grain is affected, few are in normal condition also.

· Infection occurs during reproductive and ripening stages.

MANAGEMENT:

· Some Preventive measures can be used such as use of disease free seeds, control of insects and pests and not its elimination, removal of infected plant debris from the field.

· Some Cultural methods can be used such as use of disease resistant varieties, avoid excess application of fertilizers, no field activities is to be done when the field is wet.

· Some Chemical methods can be used as treating seeds with Carbendazim and copper based fungiside to control or manage the disease.

Maize (Zea mays)

·       Most versatile crop, that is, having many benefits for human health.
·       Also known as “Queen of cereals” due to highest genetic yield potential of maize among all other cereals.
·       Third most important crop after rice and wheat.
·       It acts as an ingredient for several industrial products like starch, oil, food sweetners, protein, cosmetic, textile, gum, paper industry.
·       Maize crop has various purpose, can act as grain, fodder, green cobs, sweet corn, baby corn, popcorn and therefore is cultivated in all states of country.
·       Soil required for the better growth of maize can be loamy sand to clay loam. Soil having good organic matter, high water holding capacity, neutral pH will give higher productivity.
·       Maize should not be grown in low lying fields which have poor drainage facility to avoid moisture stress. Also in fields having higher salinity.
·       Sweet corn are grown for human consumption while field corn are grown for animal consumption.
·       Also acts as raw material in making ethanol.
·       Seed rate = 8-10 kg/ha.