Grade 8 Biology

Reference Questions/Answers
Crop Production and Management
1. Define the given terms:

a) Crop: When plants of the same kind are grown and cultivated at one place on a large scale, it is called
a crop.

b) Irrigation: The supply of water to crops in the fields at different intervals is called irrigation.

c) Weeding: The removal of weeds is called weeding.

d) Harvesting: The cutting of crop after it is mature is called harvesting.

e) Animal husbandry: Animals reared at home or in farms, have to be provided with proper food,
shelter and care. When this is done on a large scale, it is called animal husbandry.
f) Tilling: The process of loosening and turning of the soil is called tilling or ploughing.

Q2. Why paddy cannot be grown in the winter season?

Ans. Paddy requires a lot of water, so it can only be grown during rainy season.

Q3.What is meant by agricultural practices?

Ans. The activities undertaken by farmers over a period of time for cultivation of crops are known as
agricultural practices.

Q4. Name the tool used for tilling of soil.

Ans. A plough is used for tilling of soil.

Q5. What are crumbs?

Ans. A ploughed field may have big pieces of soil called crumbs.

Q6. Levelling of soil done is done by which agricultural implement?

Ans. Levelling of soil is done with the help of a leveller.

Q7. What is meant by sowing?

Ans. Sowing is the process of putting seeds in the soil.

Q8. What is the advantage of sowing seeds with a seed drill?

Ans. The advantage of sowing seeds with a seed drill is that the seeds are sown at a proper depth under
the soil and the distance between them is uniform.

Q9. What is organic manure?

Ans. Manure obtained from animal or plant waste such as cattle dung, droppings are called organic
manure.

Q10.Earthworms are friends of the farmer. Give reason for the same.

Ans. They further turn and loosen the soil and add humus to it.

Q11.What is the drip system of irrigation?

Ans. Falling of water drop by drop at the roots of the plant is called drip irrigation.
Q12. Write the difference between: Rabi and Kharif crops.

Ans.

Kharif crops Rabi crops

The crops which are The crops grown in the winter

sown in the rainy season are called rabi crops.
season are called
Their time period is generally
kharif crops.
from October to March.
The rainy season in
Examples of rabi crops are
India is generally
wheat, gram, pea, mustard
from June to
and linseed.
September.
Examples: Paddy,
maize, soyabean,
groundnut, cotton,
etc., are kharif
crops.

Q13. Turning and loosening of soil is important Why?

Ans. The top layer of soil supports plant growth, turning and loosening of soil brings the nutrient-rich
soil to the top so that plants can use these nutrients.
Q14. Why does the loosening of soil allow the roots to breathe easily?
Ans. One of the most important tasks in agriculture is to turn the soil and loosen it. This allows the roots
to penetrate deep into the soil. The loose soil allows the roots to breathe easily even when they go deep
into the soil.

Q15. Write a short note on: seed drill.

Ans. It is used for sowing with the help of tractors. This tool sows the seeds uniformly at proper distances
and depths. It ensures that seeds get covered by the soil after sowing. This prevents damage caused by
birds. Sowing by using a seed drill saves time and labour.
Q16.What is manuring?

Ans. Continuous growing of crops makes the soil poorer in certain nutrients. Therefore, farmers have to
add manure to the fields to replenish the soil with nutrients. This process is called manuring. Improper
or insufficient manuring results in weak plants.

Q17. What are fertilizers? Name few fertilizers.

Ans. Fertilizers are chemical substances which are rich in a particular nutrient.

Fertilizers are produced in factories. Some examples of fertilizers are— urea, ammonium sulphate, super
phosphate, potash, NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium).

Q18. Give two disadvantages of using fertilizers excessively.

Ans. Disadvantages of using excessive fertilizers:

• Soil fertility is reduced.

• It becomes a source of water pollution.

Q19. The organic manure is considered better than fertilizers. Give reasons.

Ans. This is because:

(i) It enhances the water holding capacity of the soil.
 (ii) It makes the soil porous due to which exchange of gases becomes easy.
(iii) It increases the number of friendly microbes.
(iv) It improves the texture of the soil.

Q20.Write notes on Plough and hoe

Ans. Plough :
This implement is made of wood and is drawn by a pair of bulls or other animals.
• It contains a strong triangular iron strip called ploughshare. The main part of the plough is a
long log of wood which is called a plough shaft.
• There is a handle at one end of the shaft. The other end is attached to a beam which is placed
on the bulls’ necks. One pair of bulls and a man can easily operate the plough.
• The indigenous wooden plough is increasingly being replaced by iron ploughs nowadays.
• It is used for tilling and loosening the soil.
Hoe :
• It is a simple tool which is used for removing weeds and for loosening the soil.
• It has a long rod of wood or iron.
• A strong, broad and bent plate of iron is fixed to one of its ends and works like a blade. It is
pulled by animals.

Q21. Why should watering be increased during summer?

Ans. The frequency of watering is higher in summer due to the increased rate of evaporation of water
from the soil and the leaves.

Q22. What are the three steps involved in the preparation of soil?
Ans.

• Ploughing the soil to loosen it.

• Levelling the soil to ensure uniform distribution of water and nutrients.
• Manuring to provide nutrients to the soil.

Q23. How is organic manure obtained?

Ans. Farmers dump plant and animal waste in pits at open places and allow it to be decomposed by
microorganisms. This decomposed material is converted into organic manure.

Q24.Name and explain the modern methods of irrigation.

Ans. Sprinkler System:

• This system is more useful on the uneven land where sufficient water is not available.
• The perpendicular pipes, having rotating nozzles on top, are joined to the main pipeline at regular
intervals.
• When water is allowed to flow through the main pipe under pressure with the help of a pump, it
escapes from the rotating nozzles.
• It gets sprinkled on the crop as if it is raining.
• Sprinkler is very useful for sandy soil

Drip system :

• In this system, the water falls drop by drop just at the position of the roots. So, it is called drip
system.
• It is the best technique for watering fruit plants, gardens and trees.
• The system provides water to plants drop by drop.
• Water is not wasted at all. It is a boon in regions where availability of water is poor.

Q25. What are weeds?

Ans. The undesirable plants may grow naturally along with the crop. These undesirable plants are
called weeds.
Q26.What is weeding and why is it necessary?

Ans. The removal of weeds is called weeding. Weeding is necessary since weeds compete with the crop
plants for water, nutrients, space and light. Thus, they affect the growth of the crop. Some weeds
interfere even in harvesting and may be poisonous for animals and human beings.

Q 27. What is the manual method of removing weeds?

Ans The manual removal includes physical removal of weeds by uprooting or cutting them close to the
ground, from time to time. This is done with the help of a khurpi. A seed drill is also used to uproot
weeds.
Q28.Write two points note on harvesting.

Ans. The cutting of crop after it is mature is called harvesting. In harvesting, crops are pulled out or
cut close to the ground.
It usually takes 3 to 4 months for a cereal crop to mature. Harvesting in our country is either done
manually by sickle or by a machine called harvester.
Q 29. Nowadays ploughing is done by tractor driven cultivator. Is there any advantage of it?
Ans.. Yes, the use of cultivator saves labour and time.

Q30. What are pesticides?

Ans. Pesticides are chemicals used to protect crops from harmful organisms called pests.

Q31.Name the traditional methods of irrigation. And why are these methods cheaper?

Ans. The various traditional ways are:

(i) moat (pulley-system)
(ii) chain pump
(iii) dhekli, and
(iv) rahat (Lever system)

Cattle or human labour is used in these methods. So these methods are cheaper, but less efficient.

Q32. Spraying of weedicides may affect the health of farmers. Why?

Ans. Once the weedicides are breathed in, they can cause major harm to the respiratory tract. The
nose, throat and lungs might be influenced, causing major harm to health of farmers.

Q33. Leguminous plants do not require nitrogenous fertilizers. Give reason.

This helped in the replenishment of the soil with nitrogen. Rhizobium bacteria. These are present in the
nodules of the roots of leguminous plants. They fix atmospheric nitrogen.
Q34. Storage of produce is an important task. Give reasons.

Ans.

• If the crop grains are to be kept for longer time, they should be safe from moisture, insects, rats
and microorganisms.
• The fresh crop has more moisture. If freshly harvested grains (seeds) are stored without drying,
they may get spoilt or attacked by organisms, losing their germination capacity.
• before storing them, the grains are properly dried in the sun to reduce the moisture in them.
• This prevents the attack by insect pests, bacteria and fungi.
Q35. How do the grains are stored?

Ans. Farmers store grains in jute bags or metallic bins.

 large scale storage of grains is done in silos and granaries to protect them from pests like rats
and insects.
Q36. Explain the process of storage of grains.

• The fresh crop has more moisture. Hence, before storing them, the grains are properly dried in the
sun to reduce the moisture in them. This prevents the attack by insect pests, bacteria and fungi.
• Farmers store grains in jute bags or metallic bins. However, large scale storage of grains is done
in silos and granaries to protect them from pests like rats and insects.
• Dried neem leaves are used for storing food grains at home. For storing large quantities of grains
in big godowns, specific chemical treatments are required to protect them from pests and
microorganisms.
Q37.What will happen: If freshly harvested grains (seeds) are stored without drying.
Ans. If freshly harvested grains (seeds) are stored without drying, they may get spoilt or attacked by
organisms, losing their germination capacity.
Q38. An appropriate distance between the seeds is important. Give reason.
Ans. To avoid overcrowding of plants. This allows plants to get sufficient sunlight, nutrients and water
from the soil. Sometimes a few plants have to be removed to prevent overcrowding.

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