Techniques used to manage crops, including crop planning, planting, irrigation, fertilization, pest control, and harvesting.
Soil Science: Understanding the properties and characteristics of soils, including soil texture, structure, fertility, and nutrient management.
Plant Physiology: Understanding the functions and processes within plants, such as photosynthesis, respiration, and growth.
Crop Ecology: Understanding the interactions between crops and the environment, including sustainable agro-ecosystems management.
Water Management: Understanding the principles and practices of water management, including efficient irrigation systems and water use efficiency.
Weed Management: Understanding the principles and practices of weed control in dryland crops.
Insect and Pest Management: Understanding the principles and practices of pest control in dryland crops.
Disease Management: Understanding the principles and practices of disease control in dryland crops.
Crop Genetics: Understanding the principles of crop genetics and breeding for improved crop production.
Agricultural Machinery and Equipment: Understanding the requirements for dryland agriculture machinery and their maintenance.
Climate and Weather: Understanding the principles of weather and climatic factors influencing dryland agriculture.
Soil Testing and Analysis: Understanding the principles and practices of soil testing and nutrient analysis techniques.
Nutrient Management: Understanding the principles and practices of fertilization and nutrient management in dryland crops.
Economic Analysis: Understanding the principles of farm management and the economic analysis of agricultural enterprises.
Marketing: Understanding market analysis and the regulation of the marketing of agricultural products.
Management practices: Understanding the principles of farming techniques like conservation agriculture, sustainable agriculture for crop management.
Land Preparation: Awareness of principles of land preparation, soil conditioning, pest, and disease management before planting crops.
Harvesting and Post-Harvest Management: Understanding the importance of harvesting crops, post-harvest processing, and packaging of the crops.
Entrepreneurship: Understanding the principles, techniques, and skills needed to manage and run a successful dryland crop farm.
Technology: Awareness of the technology used in dryland agriculture, such as soil moisture sensor equipment or drones for measuring crop health.
Government and Regulatory Policies: Understanding government and regulatory policies and their impact on dryland agriculture.
Conservation Agriculture: It involves minimum disturbance of soil for seeding or planting with residues being retained to protect against erosion, improve soil health, and increase water-holding capacity.
Intercropping: This is the practice of growing two or more crops together in the same field. It can improve soil fertility, reduce pesticides' use, and increase yields.
Crop Rotation: The practice of growing different crops in sequential years, in order to help rejuvenate the soil and increase crop yields.
Mulching: A layer of organic material, like straw or leaves, that is spread over the soil to conserve moisture and prevent the growth of weeds.
Irrigation: Applying water to crops to ensure good growth, better yield, and protection against drought.
Nutrient Management: Proper dosage of fertilizers and manure is essential to provide essential nutrients to the crops.
Weed Management: Use of herbicides or other methods to control growth of unwanted plants or weeds that interfere with crops' growth.
Pest Management: Preventing and controlling plant pests and diseases through preventative measures and, where necessary, the use of pesticides.
Cover Cropping: Growing crops to cover fields when they are not in use, improving soil health and fertility.
Tilth Management: Soil structure, biological activity, and soil nutrients management practices to improve soil health and enhanced crop yields.
Precision Agriculture: The use of technology like GPS and sensors to guide the application of inputs and optimize yields.
Agroforestry: Planting orchards, forests or shrubbery on agricultural land, incorporating forestry practice with crop farming.
Water Conservation Agriculture: A combination of crop management techniques designed to reduce water use in agriculture.
Sustainable Agriculture: Managing agricultural practices, ensuring environmental factors related to sustainable economic growth through time.
No-till Farming: No-till is a crop management technique that completely avoids soil inversion and tillage. This method helps increase soil quality, organic matter, and reduces erosion.