Science (Collins Infinity)

Class 8

Chapter 1

Crop Production and Management

Exercise Answers

A. Choose the correct option.

1. In which month are kharif crops harvested?

Answer: (c) October

2. In which month are rabi crops planted?

Answer: (b) November

3. Which of the following is a part of the process of soil preparation?

Answer: (b) Tilling

4. _________ is the practice of growing two different crops together in the same field.

Answer: (a) Mixed cropping

5. _________ is the process of storing food materials at room temperature.

Answer: (a) Dry storage

1. Crops are the plants cultivated only for food.

Answer: False

2. Manure is not nutrient specific.

Answer: True

3. Continuous growth of crops in the same field enhances the fertility of the soil.

Answer: False

4. Paddy is a Kharif crop.

Answer: True

5. Seed drill is used to remove excess seeds to avoid overcrowding.

Answer: False

6. Plants can use nitrogen directly from the atmosphere.

Answer: False

C. Give two examples for each of the following.

1. Traditional methods of irrigation:

Answer: Rahat and Dhekli

Answer: Wild oat and Grass

3. Methods of sowing:

Answer: Scattering and Using a seed drill

4. Rabi crops:

Answer: Wheat and Barley

D. Give reasons for the following.

1. Drip irrigation system is the best way to irrigate crops.

Answer: In drip irrigation system, water is supplied to the plants more judiciously and this method

avoids soil erosion.

2. Seeds should be sown at appropriate distances and at proper depths.

Answer: This method of sowing seeds provides space to the developing roots to absorb water and

nutrients.

3. Weeds should be removed from the area of crop plants.

Answer: Weeds absorb more nutrients and occupy more space than the crop plants.

4. Granaries should be away from chemical factories and garbage dumps.

Answer: Granaries should be away from chemical factories and garbage dumps to prevent the

grains from chemical and microbial contamination.

Answer: Grains should be dried before storage to remove the moisture content and reduce the risk

of microbial contamination.

E. Answer the following questions briefly.

1. Name two modern irrigation methods and their advantages.

Answer: Sprinkler system - In this system of irrigation, water is distributed systematically by

- Drip irrigation - In this method, water is allowed slowly to drip to the roots of the plants and

wastage of water is very less.

2. What is nitrogen fixation?

Answer: The atmospheric nitrogen is converted to a usable form of nitrogen compounds. This
process is called nitrogen fixation. It happens in nature in a variety of ways such as lightning,
nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil and blue-green algae.

3. How do leguminous plants fix nitrogen?

Answer:

Leguminous plants have nitrogen-fixing bacteria called Rhizobium living in the root nodules that

convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable form. This is induced into the soil and absorbed by the

plants and stored as proteins.

4. What are pests? How are they controlled?

Answer:

Pests are the organisms that destroy crops by causing diseases or eating the plant parts before or

after the harvest of the crops. A few examples are rats, insects, birds, and squirrels. These pests are

controlled by pesticides.
 5. What is animal husbandry? Give two examples of animals reared in farms and the
productsobtained from them.

Answer: Animal husbandry is the rearing of animals for our food and other products.

Examples: Poultry and Sheep.

F. Answer the following questions in detail.

1. Explain the processes that are carried out after the crops mature.

Answer: The process of cutting crops after they mature or ripen is called harvesting.

- Harvesting is done manually by using a sickle or by a machine called harvester.

- After harvesting, the grains or seeds are separated from the husk or straw by a process

calledthreshing.

- The process of threshing is also done with the help of a machine called combine.

- The process of loosening the chaff is called winnowing.

- Hulling is the removal of outer covering of fruits/seeds/grains.

- Grinding grains into flour is called milling.

- Storage at room temperature is called dry storage.

2. Differentiate between fertilizers and manures.

Answer: Manures are animal products, such as animal dung and urine, while fertilizers are chemical
substances that are rich in nutrients.

- Manures are organic, while fertilizers are made with chemicals.

- Manure is nature-friendly, while fertilizers are not completely nature-friendly.

3. Describe the role of nitrogen fixation in agriculture. Answer: Nitrogen is one of the most important
nutrients required in plant nutrition.

- Although nitrogen is abundant in the atmosphere, plants cannot use it directly.

- It is converted into usable forms by processes such as lightning, nitrogen-fixing bacteria

- These usable forms of nitrogen are absorbed by plants for growth.

- Nitrogen cycle also maintains the balance of nitrogen in the atmosphere, soil, and organisms.

4. Mention briefly about the main crops grown in different parts of India.

Answer: In the northern plains like Punjab and Haryana, wheat and rice are the main crops.

- In southern states like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, paddy (rice), sugarcane, and cotton are

grown.

- In western India like Rajasthan and Gujarat, millets, pulses, and oilseeds are common.

- In eastern states like West Bengal and Assam, rice, jute, and tea are major crops.

- In central India like Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, soybean and maize are widely grown.

5. Write a note on Horticulture in India.

Answer: Horticulture is a branch of agriculture that includes growing crops such as fruits, vegetables,
flowers, and ornamental plants.

The word horticulture is derived from the Latin terms hortus meaning garden and cultura meaning

cultivation.

In India, it plays a vital role in providing fresh and nutritious food, beautifying surroundings, and

creating employment opportunities.