Zero tillage : The extreme in conservation tillage is no-till (zero tillage) wherein the new crop is planted in the residue of the previous crop without any prior soil tillage or seed bed preparation and is usually possible when all weeds are controlled by the

Yield components : Components which finally make up or control yield of any crop. For example, yield components of cereal grain yield are grain weight per grain number/ear, ear number/plant and plant number/unit area. Yield evaluation : Yield evaluation is the

Xanthophyll : A yellow or orange carotid pigment associated with chlorophyll in chloroplasts, also present in certain chromoplasts. Xylem : The principal water-conducting non-living tissue in vascular plants characterized by the presence of tracheids; may also

Water holding capacity The weight of the water held by a given quantity of absolute dry soil when saturated. Watershed A watershed is a hydrological unit or a piece of land that drains at a common point. This natural unit is evolved through the interaction or

Varieties A variety may be pureline or a mixture of purelines. Natural selection and domestication over thousands of years has resulted in the development of varieties, cultured under different seasonal, soil and climatic conditions. Vapour Pressure Deficit Va

Upland rice Rice grown in rainfed, naturally well drained soils, without surface water accumulation, normally without pheratic water supply and normally not bunded. Urea [CO(NH2)2] A synthetic, non-protein organic compound, crystalline or made into granules or

Tapping The process of harvesting latex from trunk of rubber plant, fruit of papaya, etc. Thinning : Removing of extra plants from thickly populated crop stand with an idea of maintaining optimum plant population. Tillage The operation of agriculture implement

Saline Soil A soil containing excess of natural soluble salts to impair soil and crop productivity and has pH value of 8.5, EC 4 mmhos per cm at 25 degree C and ESP 15 per cent. Scion A bud or branch cut for grafting or planting. Section A surveyed parcel of l

Ram (or buck) A male sheep of any age. Rangeland A large open land area on which livestock wander and graze. The native vegetation is mainly grasses, forbs, and shrubs. Relative Humidity Relative Humidity is the ratio between the amount of water vapour present

Qualitative character A character showing few distinct classes, governed by one or few oligogenes, and relatively little affected by the environment. Quadruple cropping Growing four crops a year in sequence. Quiescence The condition in which the seed can germi

Pasteurization The process of heating milk to kill pathogens that may be harmful to humans. Pasture A fenced area of forage, usually improved, on which animals are grazed. Pesticide Used to destroy pests. Fungicides (destroys fungus), herbicides (destroys plan

Organic Farming (Biological Husbandry) It is agricultural production system which avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetically compounded fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators and livestock feed additives. To the maximum extent feasible organic far

A system of agricultural devised by Masanobu Fukuoka that seeks to follow Nature by minimizing human interference: no chemical cultivation, no synthetic fertilizers or prepared compost, no weeding by tillage or herbicides, no dependence on chemicals. Neutrophi

Macronutrients These chemical elements are required in large quantities for the healthy growth of plants. They are applied in the form of fertilizers or limiting material. The macronutrients are Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, Calcium, Sulphur and Magnesium.

Land Capability Classification Land capability classification is based on the assumption that every hectare of land should be used in accordance with its capability and limitations. Land is classified according to the most suitable, sustained from erosion or o

Kernel Edible seed portion of rice, maize, sorghum etc. Kharif Crops Crop grown during the main monsoon (April to September) such as Kharif sorghum, maize, bajra, rice, cotton, etc. Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) The schemes on KVK were launched by the ICAR, Govt

June budding A season of budding exists between late may and early June in the northern hemisphere and November to December in the southern hemisphere. June drop The final post-bloom shedding of fruits, often occur in late May or June. Juvenile phase The phase

Indeterminate growth The flowers are borne on lateral branches, the central stem continuing vegetative growth with blooming continued for a long period like in cotton. Integrated pest management (IPM) Integrating chemical, biological, and cultural controls in

Herbicide (i) A chemical used for killing or reduces the negative effects of weeds. Hill placement Method of applying fertilizer either in bands or near the plants. This method is usually employed when relatively small quantities are to be applied in pinches a

Girdling Removing a strip of bark from branches or stem which blocks the downward translocation of carbohydrates, hormones beyond that constriction and rather accumulate above it. Grafting The process of putting a shoot or bud from one tree or plant into slit

Fallow Cropland left idle during the growing season. Forage Herbaceous plants or plant parts fed to domestic animals. Forestry The science, art, and practice of managing and protecting tree and forest resources for human benefit. Fallow land Land left unframed

Entomology The study of insects and their environments. Evergreen tree A tree that retains some or most of its leaves, or needles, throughout the year. Ewe A female sheep of any age. Exotic species A non-native plant or animal species introduced by humans, eit

Deciduous tree A tree that sheds or loses its leaves during winter. Disk An tractor-drawn implement with circular plates arranged at an angle with the soil. Used to prepare the soil for seeding. Dormant / dormancy A biological process in which a plant ceases m

Calf Crop The number or percentage of calves produced in a herd within a given year relative to the number of cows and heifers exposed to breeding. Canopy The uppermost layer in a forest, formed collectively by tree crowns. Chisel A farm implement used to brea

Biological control Controlling plants, diseases, and animal pests using natural enemies; or inhibiting the reproduction of pests by methods that result in the laying of infertile eggs, etc. Biological Diversity Richness and abundance of species, and variety of

Absolute Humidity is the absolute or actual quantity of water vapour by weight present in given volume of air.

Home | Seasons & Varieties | Nutrient Mgmnt | Irrigation Mgmnt | Weed Mgmnt | Crop Protection | Cost of Cultivation | Photobank Related Information :: Glossary Click the respective alphabet for Glossary | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | | N