1. Importance Of Food-
ü All living organisms require food for their survival.
ü The energy from food is utilized by an organism for carrying out its various life processes such as digestion, respiration and excretion all together called metabolic processes.
ü Plants can make their food themselves, thus called autotroph, but animals including humans can’t.
ü Humans get their food from plants or animals, or from both.
2. Categories Of Crops Grown In India-
ü Kharif Crops- The crops which are grown in the rainy season i.e. from June to September are called Kharif crops. For example- Paddy, maize, soybean, groundnut, and cotton are Kharif crops.
ü Rabi Crops- The crops are grown in the winter season i.e. from October to March are called rabi crops. For examples- wheat, gram, pea, mustard and linseed.
ü Zaid Crops- The crops grown in the summer season are called zaid crops. For example- Moong, muskmelon, watermelon, cucumber, gourd and bitter gourd.
3. Cultivation Activities-
ü Soil Preparation- It involves loosening and tilling of the soil (i.e., ploughing and watering).
ü Sowing- Sowing is the process of putting seeds in the soil.
ü Adding Manure and Fertilizers- The substances, which are added to the soil in the form of nutrients to improve the production of the crops and fertility of the soil are called manure and fertilizers.
ü Irrigation- Supply of water to crops at appropriate intervals is called irrigation.
ü Protection from Weeds- Weeds are the unwanted plants that grow along with the crops. Its removal is a must for the better growth of the crops. These can be controlled by spraying certain chemicals, called weedicides. For example 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and metolachlor.
ü Harvesting- The cutting of the crop after it is mature is called harvesting.
ü Storage- If the crop grains are to be kept for a longer time, they should be safe from moisture, insects and rats.
ü Humus- Humus is the top layer of the soil formed by decaying or decomposition of organic matters like animal remains, shed leaves, the dung of cattle.
ü Pests- Pests are the insects or rodents that destroy most of our crop yield. Thus, it is necessary to save crops from pests.
4. Tools Of Cultivation Process-
Figure 01- Tools of cultivation process
ü Plough- This is used for tilling the soil, adding fertilizers to the crop, removing the weeds, scraping of soil, etc. This implement is made of wood and drawn by a pair of bulls.
ü Hoe- It is used for removing weeds and for loosening the soil.
ü Cultivator- Used for ploughing. It is driven by a tractor. Use of cultivator saves labour and time.
ü Traditional Tool- The tool used traditionally for sowing seeds is shaped like a funnel.
ü Seed Drill- Used for sowing with the help of tractors. This tool shows the seeds uniformly at a proper distance and depth.
ü Sickle- Used for manual harvesting.
5. Sowing-
ü Farmers should use good-quality seeds that are clean, healthy and give high yield.
ü Selection of the right variety of seeds depends on the soil, climate, irrigation method, and other regional factors.
ü The Ministry of Agriculture in India has set up a national-level organization called the National Seeds Corporation (NSCC) that tests the quality of seeds.
ü State Seeds Corporations and Agricultural Universities have also set up seed testing laboratories throughout India.
ü These labs test seeds for their- purity, resistance to diseases and pests, germination and vigour, suitability to regional climatic conditions, and general seed health.
ü Precautions should be taken while sowing-
n Seeds are healthy and of high quality.
n They are planted at correct distance from each other so that they can get proper light, water and nutrients from soil.
n They must be sown deep enough to protect them from animals and birds (which might eat them) and wind but not so deep that they may not get enough air to germinate.
6. Manure and Fertilizers-
ü When crop after crop is grown in the same field, the soil becomes poor in certain nutrients. Manure and fertilizers are added to the soil to replenish it with nutrients to ensure healthy growth of plants.
Fertilizer | Manure |
Fertilizer is a man-made inorganic salt. | Manure is a natural substance obtained by the decomposition of cattle dung and plant residues. |
Fertilizer is prepare in factors. | Manure provides a lot of humus to the soil. |
Fertilizer does not provide any humus to the soil. | Manure provides a lot of humus to the soil. |
Fertilizers are very rich in plant nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. | Manure is relatively less rich in plant nutrients. |
ü Bio-fertilizers- These are the nitrogen-fixing organisms that are widely used in organic farming and make agriculture sustainable. These include Rhizobium, Azotobacter, blue-green algae, and Mycorrizae (a type of fungi that increases phosphorus uptake in fruit crops like papaya and citrus fruits).
ü Vermi-Compost- It is a type of compost which is made using earthworms.
7. Three Methods Of Replenishing The Soil With Nutrients-
ü Adding organic manure to the soil
ü Adding chemical fertilizers to the soil
ü Leaving the field uncultivated (or fallow) between two crops, and
ü Crop rotation, in which different crops are grown alternately to allow the soil to replenish with different nutrients.
8. Methods of Irrigation-
ü Traditional Methods - Ones that use cattle and human labour: They are cheaper but less efficient. These include- pully system, chain pump etc. To lift water, pumps can be powered by - diesel, biogas, electricity, and solar energy.
ü Modern Methods - They are best for saving water.
ü Two main irrigation methods in use today are -
n Sprinkler System- It has perpendicular pipes, with rotating nozzles on top, joined to the main pipeline at regular intervals. Water flows through the main pipeline under pressure. it escapes from rotating nozzles and sprinkles on the crop like rain. This method is best for places where land is uneven and sufficient water is not available.
n Drip System- Mostly best for places where availability of water is poor. water falls drop-by-drop directly near the roots of the crop. there is no wastage of water at all. often used in fruit plants, gardens, and trees.
9. Harms Of Over-Irrigation-
ü Water evaporates more which leads to accumulation of salt which in turn damages soil fertility,
ü Seeds do not germinate properly as they do not get sufficient air to respire,
ü Roots do not grow properly due to lack of proper soil aeration,
ü Roots do not go deep in soil and hence, plants are not able to get full nutrients from the soil. Roots are also unable to anchor the plants properly and the crop can easily get damaged by strong winds.
10. Harvesting -
ü Process of cutting of crop after it matures is called Harvesting. Cereal crops usually take 3-4 months to mature.
ü In India, many festivals are associated with harvesting, such as Pongal, Baisakhi, Holi, Diwali, Nabanya and Bihu.
ü Harvesting can be done manually using sickle or by machine called as Harvester.
ü Threshing- It is separating chaff from grain by beating the crop against a stone or wooden bar. In this process, grains fall from the stalk due to force.
ü Winnowing- It separates the husk from the seeds by blowing air through it. In this process, the husk which is lighter flies away and the seeds which are heavier fall down.
ü There is a machine called ‘Combine’ which works as a harvester as well as a thresher.
11. Storage Of Food Grains-
ü Grains (seeds) are dried in the sun to reduce their moisture.
ü At small scale, grains are stored in jute bags or metallic bins.
ü At large scale, they are kept in silos and granaries.
ü Dried neem leaves are used at home to protect food grains.
ü In big godowns, chemical treatments are done to protect the large quantities of grain.
ü Precautions that should be taken during storage of grains-
n Grains should be dried properly or they might rot easily.
n They should be stored in completely dry gunny bags.
n The bags should be kept in a place which is completely moisture-free.
n Storage areas should be well-ventilated.
n In larger godowns, care should be taken that chemicals used to repel or kill insects and rats do not contaminate food grains.
12. Green Revolution in India -
ü Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second Prime Minister of India, started the Green Revolution in India with the slogan 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan'. His vision was that the soldiers bear the responsibility of making the country powerful from security point of view while farmers bear the responsibility to make the country self-sufficient in terms of food and other agricultural produce.
ü Increase in Crop Yield per Hectare- Use of modern agricultural implements increased the yield or production of crops per hectare.
ü Increase in Overall Crop Production- The new implements and agricultural methods not only increased the production of food grains but also of commercial crops such as jute, cotton, oilseeds etc. Due to Green revolution, the country has become less-dependent on imports for food and its exports have increased which means that our country is more self-sufficient now.
ü Commercialization of Agriculture- The status of agriculture increased from being just a means of livelihood to a profit-making enterprise. This led to rapid development in this field.
ü Increased Use of Fertilizers and Insecticides- The scientific knowledge about new agricultural practices helped farmers adopt use of chemical fertilizers and insecticides which increased the quantity and quality of their crops.
ü Increase in Irrigation Facilities- Emphasis was laid on making irrigation accessible to everyone and hence, India has a total irrigated crop area of 82.6 million hectares which is largest in the world.
ü Less dependence on Monsoons- Earlier, farmers used to depend on monsoons to be able to produce a good crop. Natural calamities, pests, diseases, and hails and storm used to damage crops easily. Now, more and more farmers are using new scientific methods to produce a healthy crop and keeping it safe.
ü Multiple Crop Program- Since 1867-68, the multiple crop program has been introduced which ensures that farmers can produce more than one crop every year increasing their income considerably.
ü Rural Electrification- Under Green Revolution, more than 70% of rural India has already been electrified. The Rural Electrification Corporation was established to make sure that electricity is provided to farmers for agricultural purposes and the quality of rural life improves in general.
13. Animal Husbandry-
ü Animal husbandry includes taking care of animals, breeding them, and domesticating them for different purposes such as meat, wool, milk, eggs, honey etc.
ü Types of animal husbandry popular in India include-
n Beekeeping or Apiculture
n Cattle farming
n Dairy farming
n Fish Farming or Aquaculture
n Poultry farming
n Sheep farming
ü Breeding means mating animals with superior characters to create a new breed or offspring that is more useful to us than its parents.
ü Breeding can be of two types- Inbreeding and Outbreeding
ü Inbreeding- It allows us to eliminate the harmful recessive genes in a breed and selectively choose and nurture superior genes. In the case of cattle, a superior female produces more milk per lactation while a superior male produces superior progeny than other males.
ü However, continuous inbreeding can reduce the fertility and productivity of animals that are bred. This is called inbreeding depression. It can be overcome by outbreeding.
ü Out breeding include the following-
n Out-crossing- When animals of the same breed are mated together but they have no common ancestors (on either side of the pedigree) for four to six generations, it is called Outcrossing. The resultant offspring is called Outcross.
n Cross Breeding- When superior males of one breed are mated with superior males of another breed, it is called Cross Breeding. This helps scientists to combine the desirable qualities of the two breeds. In Punjab, Bikaneri ewes were mated with Marino rams to create a new breed of sheep called Hisardale.
n Interspecific Hybridization- When a male and a female of two different species of animals are mated together, it is called Hybridization. For Example, when a donkey and a horse is mated, a new breed called Mule is born.
NCERT PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. Select the correct word from the following list and fill in the blanks.
float, water, crop, nutrients, preparation
(a) The same kind of plants grown and cultivated on a large scale at a place is called _____________.
(b) The first step before growing crops is _____________ of the soil.
(c) Damaged seeds would _____________ on top of water.
(d) For growing a crop, sufficient sunlight _____________ and _____________ from the soil are essential.
Ans.- (a) crop. (b) preparation (c) float (d) water and nutrients
2. Match items in column A with those in column B.
Ans.-
(i) Kharif crops. | (e) Paddy and maize. |
(ii) Rabi crops. | (d) Wheat, gram, pea. |
(iii) Chemical fertilizers. | (b) Urea and superphosphate. |
(iv) Organic manure. | (c) Animal excreta, cow dung urine and plant wastes. |
3. Give two examples of each.
(a) Kharif crop (b) Rabi crop
Ans.- Kharif crops- Maize and Paddy, Rabi crops- Wheat and Pea
4. Write a paragraph in your own words on each of the following-
(a) Preparation of soil (b) Sowing (c) Weeding (d) Threshing
Ans.-
a) Preparation of the soil is the first step in agriculture. Preparation of the soil is done to loosen the soil, which is essential for the root penetration into the soil. This allows the roots to breathe easily. Loosening of the soil allows the growth of earthworms and microorganisms, which will help to keep the soil fertile by adding humus to the soil. Loosening of soil also brings nutrient-rich soil to the top layer, which is essential for the growth of plants.
b) Sowing is an important process in crop production. First, healthy seeds are selected before sowing. After selecting healthy seeds sowing is done by either traditional methods or by using equipment’s seed drill.
c) Removal of unnecessary plants from the field is called weeding. Weeds compete with crop plants for nutrients and water. This will reduce the yield of the desired crops. Weeds also interfere while harvesting and gets mixed with crops. Some weeds are poisonous to animals and humans. Tilling is a common method which helps removal of weeds before sowing crops, manual methods like physical removal of plants are used to remove weeds. Weedicides are sprayed to get rid of weeds, but this method may affect the health of farmers because of chemicals used as weedicides.
d) Process of separating the chaff from the crop is known as threshing. Threshing is carried by a machine called ‘combine’ which is a harvester as well as a thresher. Threshing is also done by winnowing where to blow of wind is used to separate the chaff from crops.
5. Explain how fertilizers are different from manure.
Ans.-
Fertilizer | Manure |
Fertilizer is a man-made inorganic salt. | Manure is a natural substance obtained by the decomposition of cattle dung and plant residues. |
Fertilizer is prepare in factors. | Manure provides a lot of humus to the soil. |
Fertilizer does not provide any humus to the soil. | Manure provides a lot of humus to the soil. |
Fertilizers are very rich in plant nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. | Manure is relatively less rich in plant nutrients. |
6. What is irrigation? Describe two methods of irrigation which conserve water.
Ans.-
ü Traditional Methods - Ones that use cattle and human labor: They are cheaper but less efficient. These include- pully system, chain pump etc. To lift water, pumps can be powered by - diesel, biogas, electricity, and solar energy.
ü Modern Methods - They are best for saving water.
ü Two main irrigation methods in use today are -
n Sprinkler System- It has perpendicular pipes, with rotating nozzles on top, joined to the main pipeline at regular intervals. Water flows through the main pipeline under pressure. it escapes from rotating nozzles and sprinkles on the crop like rain. This method is best for places where land is uneven and sufficient water is not available.
n Drip System- Mostly best for places where availability of water is poor. water falls drop-by-drop directly near the roots of the crop. there is no wastage of water at all. often used in fruit plants, gardens, and trees.
7. If wheat is sown in the Kharif season, what would happen? Discuss.
Ans.- Wheat crops may get destroyed if sown in Kharif season because of unfavorable temperature, pests and adaptable conditions for the plants to grow.
8. Explain how soil gets affected by the continuous plantation of crops in a field.
Ans.- Plants require nutrients for their growth. Without optimum nutrients plants will die. Continuous plantation of crops results in depletion of certain nutrients like Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium etc. This results in the decrease of yield due to loss of nutrients hence there should be a gap between crops in order to get a good yield.
9. What are weeds? How can we control them?
Ans.- Weeds are the unwanted plants that grow along with the crops. Its removal is a must for the better growth of the crops. These can be controlled by spraying certain chemicals, called weedicides. For example 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and metolachlor.
10. Arrange the following boxes in proper order to make a flow chart of sugarcane crop production.
Ans.-
11. Complete the following word puzzle with the help of clues given below.
Ans.-
Junior Science Topic - Crop Production And Management. Chapter notes, video lectures, power point presentation and NCERT exercise solution. (Class 8, CBSE syllabus, chapter 01)
By - EduPorm India - The Educational Platform
.png)
){kind=link}