RBSE Prav Voc Agriculture key terms

The branch of agricultural science that studies field crop production and how soils, water, and climate are managed to grow crops profitably and sustainably.

The number of crops harvested from the same field in one agricultural year, expressed as a percentage of the net sown area; it measures how intensively land is used.

The yearly sequence and spatial arrangement of crops grown on a farm, decided by rainfall, soil type, irrigation availability, and market demand.

Growing two or more crops together in the same field in a definite row arrangement during the same season, so that both crops are harvested from the same land.

Growing different crops in a planned sequence on the same field over successive seasons to maintain soil fertility, interrupt pest cycles, and reduce weed pressure.

The recommended set of field operations for a crop in a region, covering variety selection, seed rate, sowing time, fertilizer dose, irrigation, and plant protection.

The growth stage at which water shortage causes the greatest loss in yield, such as crown root initiation in wheat or flowering in most crops.

The relative proportion of sand, silt, and clay particles in a soil, which controls water holding, drainage, aeration, and ease of tillage.

The way individual soil particles group together into aggregates, determining pore space, root penetration, infiltration, and resistance to erosion.

The amount of water a soil retains after excess water has drained away by gravity, usually one to three days after heavy rain or irrigation.

A measure of soil acidity or alkalinity on a scale of 0 to 14, which governs nutrient availability and the choice of crops and amendments.

The quantity of liming material needed to raise an acid soil to a target pH suitable for the planned crop, determined by soil testing.

Laboratory analysis of a soil sample for pH, organic carbon, available nutrients, and texture, used to frame fertilizer recommendations for a field.

Meeting crop nutrient needs through a balanced combination of chemical fertilizers, organic manures, biofertilizers, and crop residues to sustain yield and soil health.

Growing a quick-growing legume or other leafy crop and ploughing it into the soil while still green to add organic matter and nitrogen.

A pest control strategy that combines cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical methods, using pesticides only when pest numbers cross the economic threshold.

The pest population density at which control measures should begin to prevent the pest from reaching the level that causes economic loss.

Suppressing a pest population using its natural enemies such as predators, parasitoids, and pathogens, either by conserving them or by releasing them.

A monitoring or mass-trapping device that uses a synthetic sex attractant to lure male insects, helping decide when spraying is actually needed.

A hoofed animal with a four-compartment stomach and rumen microbes that can digest fibrous fodder, including cattle, buffalo, sheep, and goats.

A feed mixture supplying energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins in the proportions an animal needs for maintenance and a stated level of production.

Depositing semen collected from a selected bull into the reproductive tract of a cow or buffalo at the right stage of heat, without natural mating.

The interval of about sixty days before calving when a cow or buffalo is not milked, allowing the udder to rest and prepare for the next lactation.

The total milk produced by a cow or buffalo from calving until she is dried off, usually expressed in litres for a standard 305-day lactation.

Freshly cut forage crops such as maize, sorghum, berseem, and lucerne fed to livestock to supply digestible nutrients and carotene at low cost.

Preserved green fodder produced by controlled anaerobic fermentation in a pit or silo, retaining moisture and feed value for lean seasons.

Growing vegetable or fruit seedlings in a protected, well-managed bed before transplanting them to the main field to get uniform, healthy plants.

Moving seedlings raised in a nursery into the main field at the correct age and spacing so that they establish quickly and yield well.

Removing selected branches, shoots, or roots of a perennial plant to shape it, admit light, remove diseased wood, and regulate flowering and fruiting.

The reduction in quantity or quality of produce between harvest and consumption, caused by poor handling, inadequate storage, pests, and lack of processing.

A written estimate of the costs and returns of a farm plan or enterprise for a season, used to compare alternatives before committing resources.

Gross income from an enterprise minus its variable costs; it shows the return left to cover fixed costs and profit.

The total expenditure incurred in raising a crop, including seed, fertilizer, labour, irrigation, machinery, and interest on working capital.

A price announced by government for specified crops to protect farmers from a sharp fall in market rates, with agencies buying at that floor.

Replacing manual and animal power with machines such as tractors, seed drills, threshers, and pumps to raise timeliness, output, and labour productivity.

An implement that places seed in furrows at a controlled depth and row spacing and often applies fertilizer simultaneously, giving better germination than broadcasting.

A service unit that owns farm machinery and rents it to smallholders for a fee, giving them access to equipment without buying it.

A non-formal process of taking research-based farm technology to rural people through demonstrations, field days, and visits, and carrying their problems back to researchers.

A field trial laid out on a farmer's field with the latest recommended practice, used to show a visible yield gap against local practice.

The decision by a farmer to use a new practice continuously after learning about it, judging it on his own field, and accepting it as normal.

The detachment and removal of topsoil by wind or water, which reduces fertility, silts reservoirs, and lowers long-term crop yields.

A production system that relies on compost, green manure, crop rotation, and biological pest control while avoiding synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

Processing or packaging a raw farm product into a higher-value form such as flour, oil, pickle, or dairy product, raising income and reducing spoilage.

An unbroken series of refrigerated handling, storage, and transport steps that keeps perishable produce fresh from harvest to the consumer.