1 Crop Production and Management

(6) (a) Sow the seeds (7) (b) Hybridization

Objective Questions
(8) (a) It hardens the soil
Q.1. Choose the correct option: (9) (a) An indirect impact on increase in food production
(1) Weeds are (10) (d) Manures (11) (b) Rhizobium
(a) main crop (b) Insects and pests (12) (b) June to September
(c) unwanted plants growing along the crop Q.2. Select the correct word from the following list and fill in
(d) chemical substances the blanks. (float, water, crop, nutrients, preparation)
(2) Separating chaff from grains is called (1) The same kind of plants grown and cultivated on a large
(a) winnowing (b) weeding scale at a place is called .
(c) tilling (d) harvesting (2) The first step before growing crops is of the
(3) Wheat and gram belong to soil.
(a) Rabi crop (b) Kharif crop (3) Damaged seeds would on top of water.
(c) Both of these
(4) For growing a crop, sufficient sunlight and and
(d) A separate category of crop plants
from the soil are essential.
(4) Combines are used for
Ans. (1) Crop (3) Float (2) Preparation (4) Water, Nutrients
(a) Sowing of seeds (b) harvesting the crops
(c) threshing (d) both (b) and (c) Q.3. Match Column 'I' with Column 'II':
(5) 2, 4-D is a Column 'I' Column 'II'
(a) Insecticide (b) Pesticide (i) Kharif crops (a) Food for cattle
(c) Fungicide (d) Weedicide Urea and super
(ii) Rabi crops (b)
(6) Seed drill is used to phosphate
(a) sow the seeds (b) remove the weeds Animal excreta, cow dung
(iii) Chemical fertilisers (c)
(c) remove the pests (d) mix manure in the soil urine and plant waste
(7) To improve the varieties of crops, the technique employed is (iv) Organic manure (d) Wheat, gram, pea
(a) Transplantation (b) Hybridization (e) Paddy and maize
(c) Broadcasting (d) Cultivation
Ans. (i - e); (ii - d); (iii - b); (iv- c)
(8) Which of the following is not true about ploughing?
(a) It hardens the soil Q.4. Complete the following word puzzle with the help of
(b) It allows easy penetration of roots of plants to grow clues given below.
(c) It loosens the soil Down : (1) Providing water to the crops. (2) Keeping
(d) It aerates the soil crop grains for a long time under proper conditions.
(9) The advantage of using pesticides is (5) Certain plants of the same kind grown on a large scale.
(a) an indirect impact on increase in food production Across : (3) A machine used for cutting the matured crop.
(b) their impact on wildlife (4) A rabi crop that is also one of the pulses. (6) A process
(c) their ability to seep into the soil of separating the grain from chaff.
(d) ease of storage and use Ans. Down : (1) Irrigation (2) Storage (5) Crop
(10) Organic matter composed of dead plants and animal A cross : (3) Harvester (4) Gram (6) Winnowing
waste is called as
(a) NPK fertilisers (b) herbicides 1.1 Agricultural Practices
(c) pesticides (d) manures 1.2 Basic Practices of Crop Production
(11) The bacteria which fixes up nitrogen in leguminous
Q.5. Why do we need to have food?
plants is called
Ans. We need food as it provides us with nutrients and energy.
(a) Lactobacillus (b) Rhizobium
This energy is required by the body for various functions
(c) Azotobacter (d) Nitrosomonas like respiration, digestion and excretion.
(12) Kharif crops are grown from
Q.6. How do green plants synthesize their food?
(a) October to March (b) June to September
Ans. Green plants synthesize food by the process of
(c) January to April (d) May to July
photosynthesis. In this process they take up sunlight by a
Ans. (1) (c) Unwanted plants growing along the crop. green pigment present in their leaves called chlorophyll
(2) (a) Winnowing (3) (a) Rabi crop and make their own food by utilising water and Carbon
(4) (b) both (b) and (c) (5) (d) Weedicide dioxide from the atmosphere.

(3)
(3)
4 Teacher's Handbook Firefly QRBOOK Science (Std. VIII)

Q.7. Where do animals get their food from? the nutrient rich soil to the top, so that plants can use
Ans. Animals cannot make their own food. Some animals these nutrients. Thus loosening of soil is very important
obtain their food from plants and some animals obtain for cultivation of crops.
their food by eating other animals. Q.13. Explain why plough is used as an agricultural
Q.8. What do you mean by a crop? implement and describe its parts.
Ans. When plants of the same kind are grown and cultivated at Ans. Plough : This is being used since ancient times for tilling
one place on a large scale, it is called a crop. For example, the soil, adding fertilisers to the crop, removing the
crop of wheat means that all the plants grown in a field weeds, scraping of soil, etc. This implement is made of
are that of wheat. wood and is drawn by a pair of bulls or other animals
(horses, camels, etc.) It contains a strong triangular iron
Q.9. Explain and give at least four examples each: strip called plough share. The main part of the plough is
(i) Kharif crops (ii) Rabi crops a long log of wood which is called a ploughshaft. There is
Ans. (i) Kharif Crops : The crops which are sown in the a handle at one end of the shaft. The other end is attached
rainy season are called Kharif crops. The rainy to a beam which is placed on the bulls necks. One pair
season in India is generally from June to September. of bulls and a man can easily operate the plough. The
Examples :- Paddy, maize, soyabean, groundnut indigenous wooden plough is increasingly being replaced
cotton, etc. are Kharif Crops. by iron plough nowdays.
(ii) Rabi Crops : The crops grown in the winter season are Q.14. Draw a neat labelled diagram of a hoe.
called rabi crops. Their time period is generally from
Ans. Beam
October to March. Example:- Wheat, gram, pea, mustard Grip
and linseed. Handle

Q.10. Enlist various agricultural practices.

Ans. The various agricultural practices include :
Bent plate
(i) Preparation of Soil. (ii) Sowing (iii) Adding manure and Rod
fertilisers (iv) Irrigation (v) Protecting from weeds (vi)
Harvesting (vii) Storage A Hoe
Q.15. Explain why hoe is used as an implement in agriculture.
1.3 Preparation of soil
Ans. Hoe is a simple tool which is used for removing seeds and
for loosening the soil. It has a long rod of wood or iron. A
Q.11. How is the preparation of soil done? OR
strong, broad and bent plate of iron is fixed to one of its
Write a paragraph on soil preparation.
ends and works like a blade. It is pulled by animals.
Ans. Preparation of soil :
It is the first step before growing a crop. One of the
1.4 Sowing
most important tasks in agriculture is to turn the soil
and loosen it. The softening of soil allows the deep Q.16. Explain modern methods of sowing the seeds. Also
penetration of roots into the soil. This loose soil allows explain why is it better than the traditional one.
the roots to breathe easily and also allows the growth of Ans. The modern method of sowing seeds involves the use of
earthworms and microbes in the soil. Preparation of soil seed drill. A seed drill to sows seeds in the soil, with the
includes ploughing, levelling and manuring. help of tractors. Seed drill helps in uniform distribution
(i) Ploughing helps in loosening and turning of the soil. It is of seeds at proper distance and depths. It also ensures
done with the help of a plough. that seeds are covered with soil after sowing. This can
(ii) Levelling the soil breaks all the big clumps and is save both time and labour whereas in traditional method
beneficial for sowing as well as irrigation. It is done with of sowing seeds the tool used is shaped like a funnel
the help of a leveller. and seeds are filled into the funnel which is passed
down through two or three pipes having sharp ends.
(iii) Manuring is the process of mixing manure with soil. This
This method of sowing involves more labour and time
helps in moistening of soil.
than modern mehtod of sowing. This modern method of
Q.12. Why is the soil loosened up before sowing the seeds? sowing ensures appropriate distance between the seeds,
Ans. The first step before growing a crop plant is the preparation enough sunlight, nutrients and water from soil.
of soil for sowing the seeds. The soil has to be loosened Q.17. Explain with the help of an activity, how healthy seeds
so that the roots of plants may penetrate deep into the are separated from damaged seeds.
soil. The loosening of soil allow the roots to earthworms
Ans. The following activity helps in separating healthy seeds
breathe easily, because loosened soil promotes growth of
from damaged seeds :
organisms like earthwoms and microbes present in the
soil. These organisms are friends of the farmer, since they Take a beaker and fill half of it with water. Put a handful
further loosen the soil and add humus to it. Only a few of wheat seeds and stir well put a handful of wheat seeds
centimetres of the top layer of soil supports plant growth, and stir well. Wait for some time It will be observed that
therefore turning and loosening of soil is done to bring some seeds floats and some seeds sink, because damaged
Crop Production and Management 5

seeds become hollow and are thus lighter, therefore, they Q.21. Explain traditional methods of irrigation and enlist at
float on water. Healthy seeds are heavier therefore they least four methods.
sink. This is a good method for separating good, healthy Ans. Traditional methods of irrigation : The water available in
seeds from damaged ones. wells, lakes and canals is lifted up by different methods
in different regions, for taking it to the fields. Cattle or
1.5 Adding Manure and fertilisers human labour is used in these methods. So these methods
are cheaper but less efficient. The various traditional ways
Q.18. Write any four points of difference between fertiliser are (i) moat (pulley-system) (ii) chain pump (iii) dhekli
and manure. and (iv) rahat (Lever system). Pumps are commonly
used for lifting water. Diesel, biogas, electricity and solar
Ans. Fertiliser Manure
energy is used to run these pumps.
(i) Fertiliser is an Manure is a natural
organic salt substance obtained by the Q.22. What is irrigation?
decomposition of cattle Ans. The supply of water to crops at different intervals is
dung, human waste and called irrigation. Irrigation is essential for proper growth
plant residues. of plants as without water no physiological activity is
(ii) Fertiliser is Manure can be prepared possible in living beings.
prepared in in the fields.
factories. Q.23. Describe two methods of irrigation which conserve
water.
(iii) Fertilisers do not Manure provides a lot of
provide any humus humus to the soil. Ans. The two methods of irrigation which conserve water are :
to the soil (i) Sprinkler System : This system is useful in even land
(iv) Fertilisers are Manure is relatively less where sufficient water is not available. The perpendicular
very rich in rich in plant nutrients. pipes having rotating nozzles on top are joined to the main
plant nutrients pipeline at regular intervals. When water flows thought this
like nitrogen, pipe at high pressure, it escapes through the nozzles and
phosphorus and Sprinkle in all directions.
potassium
(ii) Drip System : In this system water falls drop by drop
just at the position of roots. It is mainly used for watering
Q.19. Why does a farmer rotate crops in the fields. Explain
fruit plants, gardens and trees. In this method water is not
how soil gets affected by the continuous plantation of
wasted at all. It is mainly used in water deficient areas.
crops in a field.
Ans. If the same crop is grown in the field year after year, it will
lead to the deficiency of certain minerals. It is due to the
1.7 Protection from Weeds
fact that the same crop requires same type of nutrients. Q.24. What are weeds? How can we control them?
To solve this problem, farmers grow one crop of pulses Ans. Weeds are unwanted plants which may grow naturally
in between two cereal crops in the field. Pulses are maily with the crop. Weeds can be controlled by using any of
leguminous plants and the roots of legumes have mainly the following method :
nodules which contain nitrogen fixing bacteria. These
(i) Manual method : It includes physical removal of weeds
convert free atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates and
by uprooting or cuttingthem close to the ground.
increase the fertility of the soil.
(ii) Chemical method : By using certain chemicals called
1.6 Irrigation weedicides, like 2,4 – D
(iii) Biological method : By growing crops along with main
Q.20. Write in brief the different methods of irrigation. crop which do not allow the growth of weeds such as
Ans. Different methods of irrigation are : mustard, garlic, onion, etc.

Traditional methods : The water available in wells lakes

1.8 Harvesting
and canals is lifted up by different methods in different
regions for taking it to the fields. Cattle or human labour
Q.25. What is winnowing? How is it done?
is used in these methods. So these methods are cheaper
but less efficient. The various traditional ways are : Ans. Winnowing is a method of separating grain from chaff.
Old method of winnowing was done by 'beating' the
(i) moat (pulley - system) (ii) chain pump (iii) dhekli and
(iv) rahat (lever system) grain with a "flial", this part is actually called threshing.
Some type of scoop or bucket is used to throw the grain-
Modern methods of irrigations : Modern methods of
chaft mixture up into the air while the wind is blowing.
irrigation help us to use water economically The main
methods used are as follows : This causes the higher chaff to blow away and the heavier
grains falls back down. In modern time separation
(i) Sprinkler System : This system is more useful on the
of grains and chaff is done with the help of a machine
uneven land where sufficient water is not available.
called 'Combine' which is a combination of harvester and
(ii) Drip System : In this system the water falls drop by drop
thresher.
just at the position of the roots. So it is called drip system.
6 Teacher's Handbook Firefly QRBOOK Science (Std. VIII)

Example : Urea, ammonium sulphate, potash, etc. Manure

1.9 Storage is a natural substance prepared from decomposition of
plant and animal wastes (cow dung, animal bones dead
Q.26. What will happen if the seeds are not dried up in leaves, dead insects and vegetable wastes) by the action
sunlight before storage? of microbes.
Ans. The fresh crop has more moisture. If freshly harvested (iv) Irrigation : Supply of water to crops at appropirate
grains are stored without drying, they may get spoilt or intervals is called irrigation, Method of irrigation; (a)
attacked by organisms, losing their germination capacity. Tradition methods of irrigation : Moat, Chain, Pump,
Hence before stocking them, the grain are properly dried Dheki, Rahat (b) Modern methods of irrigation : Sprinkler
in the sun to reduce moisture in them. This prevent the system, Drip System.
attack by insects, pests, bacteria and fungi. (v) Protetion from weeds : Weeding involves removal of
unwanted and uncultivated plants called weeds.
1.10 Animal Husbandry (vi) Harvesting : Harvesting is the cutting of the mature crop
manually or by machines.
Q.27. Enlist any six food materials which can be obtained by
animal husbandry. (vii) Storage : Proper storage of grains is necessary to protect
them from pests and microorganisms. Large scale of
Ans. Six food materials which can be obtained by animal storage of grains is done in silos and granaries to prodec
husbandry are meat, milk, eggs, fish, butter, ghee. them from pest like rats and insects.
Q.33. Discuss what would happen if wheat is sown in the
Miscellaneous Kharif season.
Q.28. What are manures and fertilisers? Why are they used? Ans. Kharif crops need a lot of rainfall, whereas wheat needs
winter season and not heavy rainfall. So, if wheat were
Ans. The substances which are added to the soil in the form
sown in Kharif season, the crops will get damaged due to
of nutrients for the healthy growth of plants are called
heavy rainfall and water logging in the field will occur.
manure and fertiliser. Soil supplies mineral nutrients to
the crop. These nutrients are essential for the growth of Q.34. Give two examples of each: (i) kharif crop (ii) Rabi crop
plants. In certain areas farmers grow crop after crop in Ans. (i) Kharif Crop : Paddy, maize
the same field. Continuous growing of crops makes the (ii) Rain Crop : Wheat, gram
soil poorer in certain nutrients. Therefore, farmers have Q.35. Arrange the following boxes in proper order to make a
to add manure to the fields to replenish the soil with flow chart of sugarcane crop production.
nutrients. Fertilisers are chemical substances which are
Ans.
rich in a particular nutrient.The use of fertilisers has
helped farmers to get better yield of crops. Preparation Ploughing Sowing Manuring Irrigation
of soil the field
Q.29. What are the harmful effects of fertilizers?
Ans. There are several harmful effects of chemical fertilisers.
These include waterway pollution, chemical burn to
crops, increased air pollution, acidification of the soil and
mineral depletion of the soil. Excessive use of fertilisers Sending crop to sugar Harvesting
factory
also makes the soil less fertile.
Q.30. Name two vessels where food grains are stored. Q.36. Take three glasses and label them as A, B and C. Put
equal amount of soil in each glass and plant seedlings of
Ans. Two vessels where food grains are stored are silos and same size in them. Now add cow dung manure in glass
granaries. A, Urea in glass B, and leave glass C as it is. Observe
Q.31. Name two animal sources of vitamin D. the growth of seedlings in three pots and discuss the
observation in your class. Also discuss with your
Ans. Two animal sources of vitamin D are fish and egg
teacher in-spite of lesser growth in A as compared to B,
Q.32. Explain in detail the various agricultural practices. why organic manure should be preferred over chemical
Ans. Basic agricultural practices of crop production : fertilizers like urea.
(i) Preparation at soil : One of the most important tasks in Ans. Observation
agriculture is to turn the soil and loosen it. The process A B C
of loosening and turning of the soil is called tilling or
ploughing. Manure Urea –
(Cow dung)
(ii) Sowing : Sowing of seeds at appropirate depths and distances
give good yield. Good variety of seeds is sown after selection Lesser growth Most growth Least growth
of healthy seeds. Sowing is done by seed drills. Conclusion : Inspite of lesser growth is A as compared to B,
(iii) Adding manure and fertilisers : Soil needs replenishment organic manure should be prefered over chemical fertilisers
and enrichment through the use of organic manure due to the following disadvantages of chemical fertilisers.
and fertilisers. Use of chemical fertilisers has increased (i) Water way pollution
tremendously with the introduction of new crop varieties.
(ii) Chemical burn to crops
Fertilisers are the inorganic compounds contaning
(iii) Makes soil infertile
nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
(iv) Increase air pollution
lll