A farmer performs following eight major steps from crop selection to harvesting: crop selection, land preparation, seed selection, seed sowing, irrigation, crop growth, fertilizing and harvesting.
Agricultural Practices
The main steps for agricultural practices include preparation of soil, sowing, adding manure and fertilizers, irrigation, harvesting and storage.
Step Farming
Step farming, also known as terrace farming, is a method used in hilly or mountainous regions to prevent soil erosion by water currents down the slopes. It involves constructing a series of steps, known as terraces, along the hillside for growing crops.
When starting an agricultural farm there must be a list of present resources. Farming begins with preparing the field by plowing to create an ideal seedbed for seeds to germinate. Seeds are then sown and manures applied to provide nutrients to growing plants. Irrigation plays a role in thermoregulation and supplying nutrients to plants from soil. Weeding removes unwanted plants that hinder crop growth. Timely harvesting produces quality harvest and storage extends produce shelf life.
Terraces provide a physical barrier to slow down rainwater, reducing soil erosion and allowing heavy soil particles to settle instead of being washed away. This allows more intensive cropping on hilly land compared to traditional methods. Terraces also enable adjustment of steep slopes into arable land.
Key advantages of step farming include soil conservation, less downstream sedimentation and water pollution, increased food production by making elevated areas farmable, and regulation of water for crops. Steps with outlets channel water from upper to lower levels, preventing crop damage. The terracing agricultural technique has made farming viable in hilly and mountainous topographies across Asia and beyond, supporting civilizations’ growing need for grains, poultry, livestock, and more.