In all cultivated crops, each application of cultivation techniques applied in the period from soil preparation to harvest is like the links of a chain. The resulting yield will be proportional to the strength of the weakest link. For example, the yield to be obtained from a field without sufficient fertilizer will decrease in proportion to the insufficient fertilizer, even if every application other than fertilizer is done in full and on time.

Agriculture has been a basic source of livelihood for humanity and cereals have an important place in agricultural production. Cereals play an important role in human nutrition and contribute greatly to the economy of many countries. For this reason, various techniques have been developed to increase the productivity of cereal cultivation. In this article, we will discuss the details and application methods of cereal cultivation techniques.

1- "GOOD TILLAGE" to accumulate the most water in the soil profile and prepare an optimum seedbed,

2- "Sowing" on a good seed bed with well-maintained tools, on time, in optimum quantity and at appropriate depth, with quality seed,

3- "IRRIGATION" to be carried out with the appropriate system in an amount to obtain maximum yield in irrigated agricultural areas,

4- "FERTILIZATION" in accordance with soil moisture, rainfall, plant needs and productivity level and

5- Effective "WEED CONTROL".

Soil Preparation

The process of growing cereals begins with soil preparation. The soil must be properly cultivated and prepared. The purpose of this step is to ensure that the seeds germinate easily and the roots grow healthy. Various techniques can be used to cultivate the soil, including deep plowing, disking, harrowing, etc.

Seed Selection

Choosing the right seed is of great importance in the process of growing cereals. In order to obtain high productivity and quality crops, the appropriate variety must be selected. Various factors should be taken into account in seed selection, including climatic conditions, soil type, disease resistance, etc. Also, certified seeds should be preferred.

Sowing Technique

Planting cereals correctly is a critical step to increase productivity. Factors such as sowing time, seed depth and distance between rows must be set correctly. Using the right sowing techniques ensures that the seeds have the optimum growth environment.

Fertilization and Irrigation

Fertilization and irrigation have an important place in the process of growing cereals. Proper fertilization techniques should be used to increase soil fertility and ensure healthy growth of plants. In addition, regular irrigation should be done to meet the water needs of the plants. Irrigation methods include techniques such as drip irrigation, rain irrigation and pivot irrigation.

Disease and Pest Control

Disease and pest control is important in cereal cultivation. Regular disease and pest controls should be carried out to ensure healthy plant growth. If necessary, chemical or biological control methods can be used.

Harvest Technique

Harvesting cereals is also an important stage. Harvesting time should be determined accurately and harvesting techniques should be applied correctly. Harvested grains should be properly dried and stored.

After all these practices, one of the sine qua non for obtaining the most efficient result is the selection of "HIGH YIELD VARIETY SPECIES" with high yield potential, resistant to cold, diseases and pests.

Here, we will not mention each of the above-mentioned cultivation techniques separately, but I think it would be useful to mention an issue that causes a decrease in the unit price of the product produced by the producer in the sale of the product, which can be prevented without much effort. This application is the "SEED AMOUNT" used in planting.

The habit of using more seed than necessary, which was practiced during the seederless period by saying "to this wolf, to this bird", is still being practiced in many regions.

While it may be sufficient to use between 18 and 22 kg of seed per decare, especially for bread wheat, considering the tillering characteristics of the cultivated variety, it is observed that this amount increases up to 25-30 kg per decare in sowing with certified seed on a well-prepared seed bed in well-treated soil, at the appropriate sowing time, at the appropriate depth.

After this practice, the siblings in varieties with high tillering capacity cannot be fed sufficiently and the grains remain undersized. This decreases the thousand grain and hectoliter weights of the product and thus the yield. In addition to the decrease in yield, this product can easily lose its price in the market since there will be a loss of quality due to the decrease in flour yield. However, avoiding these losses is as easy as an intervention in the seed setting of the seeder.

Although the appropriate sowing date varies according to the region, it is the sowing date that allows the grain to enter the winter in the 3-4 leaf period. If the sowing could not be done at the appropriate time and was late, if it was necessary to sow on a poorly prepared seed bed with clods, if the sowing was done on time but not watered on time, in other words, if the emergence may be late due to lack of appropriate humidity, it is useful to increase the amount of seed to be used in sowing by a few kg.

Excess seed used otherwise means burying the product that can be used as food in the soil unnecessarily, damaging the national economy and wasting money.