Class 8 Chapter 1 Crop Production and Management
- Question: Who can make their own food?
Answer: Green plants can make their own food through the process of photosynthesis by using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water. - Question: Who cannot make their own food?
Answer: Animals and humans cannot make their own food; they depend on plants or other animals for their food. - Question: Why do we consume food?
Answer: We consume food because it provides energy for various life activities like respiration, digestion, and movement. - Question: In which processes do living beings use the energy obtained from food?
Answer: Living beings use the energy obtained from food for processes like respiration, growth, reproduction, digestion, and movement. - Question: What is a crop?
Answer: When the same type of plants are grown over a large area, it is called a crop. For example, in a wheat crop, all the plants are wheat plants. - Question: What is meant by a wheat crop?
Answer: A wheat crop refers to the cultivation of wheat plants over a large area of farmland. - Question: How many types can crops be classified into?
Answer: Crops can be classified into two types based on the season:
(i) Kharif crops
(ii) Rabi crops - Question: What are Kharif crops? Give examples.
Answer: Kharif crops are those that are sown in the rainy season (June to September). Examples: Paddy, maize, soybean. - Question: When does the rainy season occur in India?
Answer: The rainy season in India generally occurs from June to September. - Question: What are Rabi crops? Give examples.
Answer: Rabi crops are those that are sown in the winter season (October to March). Examples: Wheat, mustard. - Question: When are pulses and vegetables grown?
Answer: Pulses and vegetables are grown during both Kharif and Rabi seasons. - Question: Why can’t paddy be grown in winter?
Answer: Paddy cannot be grown in winter because it requires a warm climate and abundant water, which are available during the rainy season. - Question: What are agricultural practices?
Answer: The various methods and processes used for growing crops are called agricultural practices. - Question: What are the main agricultural practices?
Answer: The main agricultural practices are:
(i) Preparation of soil
(ii) Sowing
(iii) Adding manure and fertilizers
(iv) Irrigation
(v) Weeding
(vi) Harvesting and storage - Question: What is the first step in growing crops?
Answer: The first step in growing crops is soil preparation, where the soil is loosened and made fertile. - Question: What is the most important task in agriculture?
Answer: The most important task in agriculture is loosening and preparing the soil for better crop growth. - Question: Why is soil loosened?
Answer: Soil is loosened to allow air to reach the roots easily, facilitating better plant growth. - Question: How does loose soil help plant roots in respiration?
Answer: Loose soil contains air spaces that allow plant roots to respire easily. - Question: Why is an earthworm called a farmer’s friend?
Answer: Earthworms are called farmers’ friends because they help make the soil loose and fertile. - Question: Why is it necessary to loosen and turn the soil?
Answer: Loosening and turning the soil is necessary to mix nutrients evenly and improve soil fertility.
- Question: What is plowing?
Answer: Plowing is the process of turning and loosening the soil using a plow to prepare it for sowing seeds. - Question: What are plows made of?
Answer: Plows are typically made of wood or iron. - Question: Why is soil watered before plowing in some cases?
Answer: Soil is watered before plowing to soften it, making it easier to turn and loosen. - Question: Why is leveling the field necessary?
Answer: Leveling the field is necessary to ensure even distribution of water and nutrients across the field. - Question: What tool is used to level the field?
Answer: The field is leveled using a leveller or a plank. - Question: Why is manure sometimes added before plowing?
Answer: Manure is added before plowing to enhance soil fertility and improve crop yield. - Question: Which tools are used to make the soil loose?
Answer: Tools like plows, hoes, and cultivators are used to make the soil loose. - Question: What is the use of a plow?
Answer: A plow is used for loosening soil and preparing it for sowing seeds. - Question: What is a plow made of?
Answer: A plow is made of wood and iron. - Question: What is a fruit?
Answer: A fruit is the part of a plant that develops from a flower and contains seeds. - Question: What is plow shift?
Answer: Plow shift refers to moving the plow to different directions to ensure uniform soil preparation. - Question: What is the purpose of plow shift?
Answer: The purpose of plow shift is to prepare all parts of the field evenly. - Question: What does a hoe look like?
Answer: A hoe looks like a sharp, flat tool attached to a handle, used for digging and loosening soil. - Question: What is the use of a hoe?
Answer: A hoe is used for removing weeds, loosening soil, and preparing the field. - Question: What is a cultivator?
Answer: A cultivator is a machine used to plow and loosen soil efficiently. - Question: What is the use of a cultivator?
Answer: A cultivator is used for soil preparation and is often attached to a tractor for efficient plowing. - Question: What is the important stage in crop production?
Answer: The important stage in crop production is soil preparation and sowing. - Question: What kind of seeds do farmers select before sowing?
Answer: Farmers select high-quality, disease-resistant, and healthy seeds before sowing. - Question: Why do some seeds sink and others float when placed in water?
Answer: Healthy seeds sink because they are dense, while damaged or hollow seeds float due to their low weight. - Question: What is the shape of the traditional tool used for sowing seeds?
Answer: The traditional sowing tool is pointed at the end and long, resembling a tube-like structure. - Question: What is the use of a seed drill?
Answer: A seed drill is used to place seeds at the correct depth and maintain proper spacing during sowing. - Question: Why is it important to maintain proper spacing between seeds while sowing?
Answer: Proper spacing ensures that plants get sufficient nutrients, water, and sunlight for optimal growth. - Question: What are manure and fertilizers?
Answer: Manure is organic matter derived from plant or animal waste, while fertilizers are chemical substances that provide essential nutrients to the soil. - Question: Why do farmers add manure to their fields?
Answer: Farmers add manure to improve soil fertility and increase crop yield. - Question: What is meant by manuring?
Answer: Manuring is the process of adding organic substances like compost or manure to the soil to enrich it. - Question: What materials are used as manure?
Answer: Materials like cow dung, dry leaves, crop residues, and organic waste are used as manure. - Question: Why should we use organic manure instead of fertilizers?
Answer: Organic manure is eco-friendly, improves soil structure, and prevents water pollution, unlike chemical fertilizers. - Question: What is crop rotation?
Answer: Crop rotation is the practice of growing different types of crops in a particular sequence on the same field to maintain soil fertility. - Question: Why are seeds covered with soil after sowing?
Answer: Seeds are covered with soil to protect them from birds and to retain the moisture required for germination. - Question: Where are Rhizobium bacteria found?
Answer: Rhizobium bacteria are found in the root nodules of leguminous plants. - Question: What is the function of Rhizobium bacteria?
Answer: Rhizobium bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for plants. - Question: How is fertilizer different from manure?
Answer: Fertilizers are chemical substances that act quickly, whereas manure is organic and improves soil gradually. - Question: Which part of the plant absorbs water and minerals?
Answer: The roots of the plant absorb water and minerals. - Question: What percentage of water is present in plants?
Answer: About 90% of a plant’s body consists of water. - Question: What is irrigation?
Answer: Irrigation is the process of supplying water to crops as per their requirements.
- Question: What are the sources of irrigation?
Answer: The sources of irrigation are rivers, canals, ponds, lakes, and underground water. - Question: What are the traditional methods of irrigation?
Answer: The traditional methods of irrigation include moat, chain irrigation, and water transportation using bullock carts. - Question: What are the modern methods of irrigation?
Answer: The modern methods of irrigation are:
(i) Sprinkler system
(ii) Drip system - Question: Write a note on the sprinkler system.
Answer: In the sprinkler system, water is distributed through pipes with nozzles, which spray water uniformly across the field, simulating rainfall. - Question: Write a note on the drip system.
Answer: In the drip system, water is delivered directly to the roots of plants in the form of droplets through narrow pipes, reducing water wastage. - Question: What is a weed?
Answer: Unwanted plants that grow along with crops and compete for nutrients, water, and sunlight are called weeds. - Question: What is weeding?
Answer: Weeding is the process of removing weeds from the field to prevent them from competing with the main crop. - Question: Why is weeding necessary?
Answer: Weeding is necessary to ensure that weeds do not consume the nutrients, water, and sunlight meant for the main crop. - Question: What is the best time for weeding?
Answer: The best time for weeding is during the early stages of crop growth, soon after germination. - Question: What are weedicides?
Answer: Weedicides are chemical substances used to kill or control the growth of weeds. - Question: How are weedicides sprayed in fields?
Answer: Weedicides are sprayed in fields by mixing them with water and using a spray pump for application. - Question: When should weedicides be sprayed?
Answer: Weedicides should be sprayed during the initial stages of weed growth, before flowering or seed formation. - Question: What precautions should be taken while spraying weedicides?
Answer: While spraying weedicides, one must wear protective clothing, avoid spraying during strong winds, and prevent contact with skin and eyes. - Question: What is harvesting?
Answer: Harvesting is the process of cutting fully grown and mature crops. - Question: What is a harvester?
Answer: A harvester is a machine used to harvest crops by cutting and collecting them. - Question: What is threshing?
Answer: Threshing is the process of separating grains from the harvested crop by beating or shaking. - Question: What is the function of a combine machine?
Answer: A combine machine performs harvesting, threshing, and cleaning of crops in a single operation. - Question: What is a combine machine a combination of?
Answer: A combine machine is a combination of a harvester and a thresher. - Question: What is winnowing?
Answer: Winnowing is the process of using wind or air to separate lighter chaff and husk from heavier grains. - Question: Why is the harvest season celebrated with joy?
Answer: The harvest season is celebrated with joy because it marks the successful completion of farmers’ hard work and a good yield of crops. - Question: Which festivals are celebrated during the harvest season?
Answer: Festivals like Pongal, Lohri, Baisakhi, and Onam are celebrated during the harvest season. - Question: Why are seeds dried in sunlight before storage?
Answer: Seeds are dried in sunlight before storage to reduce moisture content and prevent spoilage due to pests or fungal growth. - Question: What is a silo?
Answer: A silo is a large storage container used to store grains under controlled conditions to prevent spoilage. - Question: What is the staple food of people living in coastal areas?
Answer: The staple food of coastal people is mainly fish and other seafood. - Question: What is animal husbandry?
Answer: Animal husbandry is the practice of breeding and raising animals for products like milk, meat, wool, and other purposes. - Question: What type of oil do we get from fish?
Answer: We get fish oil from fish, which is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids.