NCERT Solutions for Science Class 8 Chapter 1 "Crop Production and Management". The Solutions are written by our subject experts. So, feel free to access this Solution.
Exercises, Page - 13
1. Select the correct word from the following list and fill in the blanks.
float, water, crop, nutrients, preparation
(a) The same kinds 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 _________ and __________ from the soil are essential.
Answer:
(a) crop
(b) preparation
(c) float
(d) water, nutrients
2. Match items in Column A with those in Column B.
| A | B |
|---|---|
| (i) Kharif Crops | (a) Food for cattle |
| (ii) Rabi crops | (b) Urea and super phosphate |
| (iii) Chemical fertilisers | (c) Animal excreta, cow dung urine and plant waste |
| (iv) Organic manure | (d) Wheat, gram, pea |
| (e) Paddy and maize |
Answer:
- Kharif crops - Paddy and Maize
- Rabi crops - Wheat, gram, pea
- Chemical fertilisers - Urea and super phosphate
- Organic manure - Animal excreta, cow dung urine and plant waste
3. Give two examples of each.
(a) Kharif crop
(b) Rabi crop
Answer:
(a) Kharif crop : Paddy and Maize
(b) Rabi crop : Wheat and gram
4. Write a paragraph in your own words on each of the following.
(a) Preparation of soil
(b) Sowing
(c) Weeding
(d) Threshing
Answer:
(a) Preparation of soil - Soil preparation is necessary before growing crop. It involves tilling and loosening the soil. This allows the roots to penetrate deep in the soil and to breathe easily even when they are deep.
(b) Sowing - The process of putting seeds into the soil is called sowing. The tool used traditionally for sowing seeds is funnel-shaped. Nowdays a seed drill is used for sowing with the help of tractors. This tool sows the seed uniformly at a proper distance and depth.
(c) Weeding - Some undesirable plants grow along with crop and these unwanted plants are called weeds. The process of removing these unwanted plants is called weeding.
(d) Threshing - The process of separating the grain seeds from the chaff is called threshing.
5. Explain how fertilisers are different from manure.
Answer:
| Fertiliser | Manure |
|---|---|
| Fertiliser is a man - made inorganic salt. | Manure is a natural substance obtained by the decomposition of cattle dung and plant residues. |
| Fertiliser is prepared in factories. | Manure can be prepared in the fields. |
| Fertiliser does not provide any humus to the soil. | Manure provides a lot of humus to the soil. |
| Fertilisers are very rich in plant nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. | Manure is relatively less rich in plant nutrients. |
Answer:
The artificial method of watering the plants for assisting in their growth is called irrigation. Main sources of irrigation are wells, tube-wells, ponds, lakes, rivers.
Two methods which help us to conserve water are :
- Sprinkler irrigation system : This irrigation system has an arrangement of vertical pipes with rotating nozzles on the top. It is more useful in the uneven and sandy land where sufficient water is not available.
- Drip irrigation system : This irrigation system has an arrangements of pipes and tubes with very small holes in them to water plants drop by drop just at the base of the root. It is very efficient as water is not wasted at all.
7. If wheat is sown in the Kharif season, what would happen ? Discuss.
Answer:
Wheat crop is sown from November/December to March/April. It is grown in winter and requires less water. If wheat is sown in Kharif season; its production will be decreased considerably.
8. Explain how soil gets affected by the continuous plantation of crops in a field.
Answer:
Continuous plantation of crops makes the soil poorer in certain nutrients as the crops take up nutrients from the soil. The soil becomes infertile. It does not get enough time to replenish the nutrients.
9. What are weeds ? How can we control them ?
Answer:
The undesirable and unwanted plants which grow naturally along with the crop are called weeds. The growth of weeds can be controlled by adopting many ways. Tilling before sowing of crops helps in the uprooting and killing of weeds, which may then dry up and get mixed with the soil. Weeds are also controlled by using certain chemicals, called weedicides. Weedicides are sprayed in the fields to kill the weeds.
10. Arrange the following boxes in proper order to make a flow chart of sugarcane crop production.
Answer:
- Preparation of soil
- Ploughing the field
- Sowing
- Manuring
- Irrigation
- Harvesting
- Sending crop to the sugar factory