1

Crop Production and Management

Expected Learning Outcomes
Knowledge to be gained: •Crop production •Preparation of soil •Sowing •Application of manures
and fertilisers •Irrigation methods •Weeding •Harvesting •Storage
Skill to be developed: •Basic agricultural practices.
Attitudes to be inculcated: •We should respect and thank our farmers •Agriculture is the backbone
of our economy.
All living organisms need food. Food provides called agriculture. e word ‘agriculture’ is
them with nutrients, which are obtained from, derived from the Latin words ‘ager’, meaning
plants and animals. Plants can make their own ‘ eld ’, and ‘ culture ’, meaning ‘to grow or
food, whereas animals cannot make their own cultivate’.
food. erefore, animals, directly or indirectly, e cultivation of plants for food is called
depend on plants for their food. We cannot farming. When plants of the same kind are
imagine our life without plants. In order to cultivated on a large scale at one place, it is
provide food for a large population, regular called a crop. Crop of paddy means that all the
production, proper management and plants grown on a eld are that of paddy.
distribution of food are necessary. You already know that the crops are of different
types like cereals, vegetables and fruits.
Knowledge Booster Crops can also be classi ed on the basis of the
People were nomadic ll 10,000 B.C.E. They wandered season in which they grow. India is a vast
in groups in search of food and shelter from place to
place. They ate fruits and vegetables. Later, they started country. It has always been primarily an
hun ng animals for their food. They also learned to agricultural country. e climatic conditions like
cul vate land and produce food crops like rice and
wheat. Thus, agriculture was born. temperature, humidity and rainfall vary from
one region to another.
AGRICULTURE AND CROP PLANTS Therefore, all crops do not grow during the same
e science of raising crops and animals is season. Some grow in summer, while others
Crop Production and Management 9
 grow in winter. Depending on their growing BASIC AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES
s e a s o n , c r o p s i n In d i a f a l l i n t o t w o Cultivation of crops involves several activities
categories–––Rabi crops and Kharif crops. undertaken by farmers over a period of time.
Rabi Crops Some of these activities are similar to those
Rabi crops are sown at the beginning of the carried out by a gardener or even by us, when we
winter season in October/November, and are grow ornamental plants in your house.
harvested in March/April. erefore, rabi crops e steps undertaken by the farmers for the
are also called winter crops. Wheat, gram, pea, cultivation of crops are referred to as
mustard and linseed are examples of the winter agricultural practices.
crops. Some of the important steps taken during crop
Wheat Barley production are:
1. Preparation of soil
2. Sowing
3. Application of manures and fertilisers
4. Irrigation
Mustard
5. Weeding
6. Harvesting
7. Storage of grains
Peas PREPARATION OF SOIL
Fig.1 Rabi Crops e preparation of soil is the rst step in the
Kharif Crops growing of crops.
Kharif crops are sown before the beginning of Seeds germinate in the soil. Plants grow and are
the rainy season in June/July, and are harvested anchored in the soil. ey absorb water and
in September/October. erefore, kharif crops minerals from the soil. erefore, the selection
are also called summer crops. ey include of suitable soil for a particular crop, and its
paddy, maize, jowar, bajra, groundnut, pulses,
proper preparation, is essential for obtaining
soybean, cotton, etc.
healthy crops. e preparation of soil involves
Rice Cotton two very important steps. ey are:
u Ploughing
u Levelling
Ploughing (Tilling)
Maize Jute e process of loosening and turning the soil is
called ploughing. Ploughing is done by using
a plough (Fig.4). Plough is an agricultural
implement that is usually made of wood or iron.
is agricultural implement is usually pulled by
Fig.2 Kharif Crops animals or by tractors.
10 Exploring Science-8
 (a) By animals
Fig.3 Ploughing
Necessity and advantages of ploughing/
tilling
u Ploughing allows the roots of plants to
penetrate deep into the soil.
u Ploughing makes the soil aerated. Loose soil
allows the roots to breathe easily.
u e loosened soil helps in the growth of
some microbes, and these microbes add
humus to the soil.
u e turning and loosening of soil brings the
nutrient-rich soil to the top so that plants can
use these nutrients.
Levelling
Levelling is the process of breaking down the
large lumps of soil, and then levelling it by
using a leveller.
A ploughed eld is levelled by pressing it with a
leveller (wooden or iron).
Necessity and advantages of levelling
u Levelling is done, so that the topsoil is not
blown away by wind or drained off by water.
erefore, it prevents soil erosion.
u Levelling the eld is bene cial for sowing as
well as for irrigation. It helps in the uniform
distribution of water in the elds.
u It helps in sowing seeds at a uniform
distance.
Crop Production and Management
(b) By tractor
u Levelling also prevents the loss of moisture
of the soil beneath the surface.
Sometimes, manure is added before tilling and
levelling to increase the fertility of the soil.
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS
Before sowing the seeds, it is necessary to break
soil crumbs to get a better yield. is is done with
the help of various implements, like the plough,
hoe and cultivator.
Handle
Ploughsha
Wooden beam
(placed on neck Ploughshare
of bullocks)
Fig.4 A wooden plough
Plough: A plough is an equipment which has
been used since ancient times for turning the soil
upside down. It is mainly made of wood or iron.
A wooden plough consists of a long log of wood
called the ploughsha. It has a handle at one end
of the plough sha. Below the handle, there is a
triangular iron strip called ploughshare. e
other end of the ploughsha is attached to a
wooden beam. e wooden beam is placed on
the bull’s neck.
e indigenous wooden plough is increasingly
being replaced by iron ploughs nowadays.
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 Hoe: It is a simple tool which is used for
removing weeds and loosening the soil. It has a
long rod of wood or iron. ere is a handle at one
of its ends. A strong, broad and bent plate of iron
is xed to its handle and works like a blade. e
other end is attached perpendicularly to a
wooden beam. It is pulled by animals.
grip
beam
handle
rod
bent plate
Fig.5 A hoe
Cultivator: A cultivator has many ploughshares
attached to a tractor. Nowadays, ploughing is
done using tractor–driven cultivators. e use of
cultivator saves both labour and time.
SELECTION AND SOWING OF SEEDS
Sowing is the process of putting seeds in the
soil. Selection of good quality seeds and their
proper sowing is essential for getting a better
yield of crops.
Seed quality: Seeds should be of good quality,
disease-resistant and free from infection. e
healthy seeds can be separated from the
damaged ones by putting them in plenty of water.
Proper sowing of seeds: Seeds should be sown
in moist soil at proper time, in proper season,
and at proper depth. ere should be proper
spacing between the seeds sown.
Activity-1
Aim: To analyse the quality of seeds.
Materials required: Wheat seeds, a beaker and
water
Procedure: Take a beaker and ll half of it with
water. Now put the wheat seeds in the beaker
and stir well.

Glass beaker

Bad seeds
Fig.6 Tractor-driven cultivator
Various agricultural implements used in
different agricultural practices: Good seeds
Agricultural Agricultural Fig.7 Analysis of the quality of seed
practices implements used
Preparation of soil Observation: You will observe that some seeds
(a) Digging the soil Wooden/Iron plough oat on the surface of water, while others settle
1. (b) Tilling the soil Tractor, Cultivator down.
(c) Breaking the crumbs Soil plank Conclusion: e seeds which settle down are
(d) Levelling Wooden/Iron leveller healthy and of good quality. e seeds which
2. Sowing seeds Seed drills oat on the surface of water are unhealthy and
of inferior quality.
3. Application of manure Drill
4. Irrigation Tubewells Methods of Sowing Seeds
5. Weeding Khurpa, Harrow
ere are two methods of sowing seeds—
6. Crop protection Sprayers
manual and mechanical methods.
7. Harvesting Harvesters
8. reshing resher Manual method: It involves scattering of seeds
9. Storage Wooden, Clay, Metal by hand and is also called broadcasting. Seeds of
bins maize, berseem and bajra are sown by this
12 Exploring Science-8
method. is results in unequal distribution and
wastage of seeds. It is the cheapest and the
simplest method of sowing. No skilled farming
labour is required. ere is no proper spacing or
proper depth at which seeds are sown.
Fig.8 Broadcasting
Mechanical method: In this method, sowing is
done by a seed drill. e seed drill makes furrows
in the soil and seeds fall into the furrow at regular
distance and proper depth. Sowing seeds with a
seed drill has the following advantages:
u Seeds are sown uniformly at proper distance
and in regular rows.
u Seeds are sown at proper depth in the furrows
only.
u Seeds get covered with soil. is prevents the
chance of seeds being picked up and eaten by
birds.
u Sowing by seed drill prevents wastage of
seeds due to unequal distribution.
Checkpoint-1
Write True or False
1. e science of raising crops and animals is called agriculture.
2. Rabi crops are harvested in March/April.
3. Wheat and gram are kharif crops.
4. Seeds germinate in soil.
5. Seeds of good quality are disease-resistant.
Crop Production and Management
u Sowing by tractor-driven seed drills saves
both time and labour.
Fig.9 Sowing seeds using tractor-driven seed drill
Transplantation
Most of the crops are grown by sowing the seeds
directly into the soil. However, in crops like
paddy, some vegetables, chillies, tomatoes, etc.,
the seeds are rst sown in the nursery before
transplanting them to the main eld. ey grow
into tiny plants, called seedlings, which are
transferred to the main eld. is is called
transplantation. Transplantation provides
better spacing among the plants, promotes better
development of root and shoot system and
increases yield of the crop.
Fig.10 Paddy being transplanted
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13
 APPLICATION OF MANURE AND
FERTILISERS
The substances which are added to the soil in
the form of nutrients for the healthy growth of
plants are called manure and fertilisers.
Soil supplies minerals and nutrients to the crop
plants. ese nutrients are essential for the
growth of plants. In certain areas, farmers grow
crop aer crop in the same eld. e eld is never
le uncultivated or fallow. Imagine what
happens to the nutrients!
Continuous cultivation of crops makes the soil
poor in nutrients. erefore, farmers have to add
manure to the elds to replenish the soil with
nutrients. Similarly, fertilisers are added to
increase crop production. Manures and
fertilisers are added to the soil to supplement
the soil with nutrients that are de cient in it.
ey are required for the proper growth of the
crop.
Manure
Decomposed plant and animal wastes contain
many organic nutrients in them. Manures are
organic substances obtained from plants and
animal wastes. Manure is the nutrient-rich
organic substance obtaine d from the
decomposition of dead plants and animal
wastes. e process of adding manure is called
manuring.
e organic nutrients from the manure supply
essential nutrients and humus to the soil and
make it more fertile.
Advantages of manuring
1. It makes the soil fertile.
2. It enhances the water-holding capacity of the
soil.
3. It promotes the growth of microorganisms
in the soil.
14 Exploring Science-8
4. It makes the soil porous which helps in
gaseous exchange.
Types of manures
Some commonly used manures are given
below:
u Farmyard manure (FYM): It is prepared
from the cow dung, urine, straw, leaves, etc.
Farmers prepare manure by dumping plants
and animal wastes in some corner of their
eld. ey are allowed to be decomposed by
bacteria and fungi present in the soil.
u Green manure: It is formed by ploughing
green plants and burying them under the
soil.
u Compost manure: It is prepared by the
decomposition of vegetable refuse, kitchen
wastes, sugarcane trash, weeds, sewage and
animal waste by the action of bacteria.
Fertilisers
Fertilisers are chemical substances that
contain one or more nutrients that are
necessary for healthy plant growth.
ey are directly absorbed by plants and increase
crop production.
However, fertilisers can be harmful because they
are soluble in water and can get washed into
water bodies and harm aquatic animals.
Based on the nutrient requirement of the crop
being cultivated, fertilisers containing speci c
chemical compounds can be chosen. Some
examples of fertilisers are—Urea, Ammonium
sulphate, Supersulphate and Potash.
Most fertilisers contain various levels of NPK
(N=Nitrogen, P=Phosphorous, K=Potassium).
NPK are essential nutrients for the proper
growth of the plants.
 Fig.11 Chemical fertiliser Fig.12 Farmer spraying chemical fertiliser

u Fertilisers can be used to restore the

Commercial Name Mineral Nutrient
de ciency of a speci c nutrient in the soil.
Urea Nitrogen
u Fertilisers can be easily stored, handled and
Diammonium phosphate
Nitrogen and applied.
Phosphorus
Disadvantages of using fertilisers
C a lcium Ammonium
Calcium and Nitrogen u Due to their solubility in water, fertilisers
Nitrate (CAN)
leach out rapidly and can cause water and soil
Nitrogen (N), pollution.
NPK Phosphorus (P) and
Potassium (K) u Too much use of fertilisers can damage the
crop plants by scorching them.
Advantages of using fertilisers u Excessive use of fertilisers may change the
u Fertilisers are the highly concentrated source chemical composition of the soil and make it
of mineral nutrients and they are needed in less fertile.
small quantity. u Regular use of fertilisers damages the soil by
u Being soluble in water, they are easily suppressing the activities of nitrogen- xing
absorbed by plants and utilised immediately. bacteria.
u Fertilisers produce immediate bene ts in the u Since each fertiliser provides only speci c
form of luxuriant growth of healthy plants nutrients to the soil, the fertilisers should be
and improve crop yield. used as per the need of the crop.

Differences between Fertiliser and Manure

Fertiliser Manure
1. Fertiliser is a man-made chemical substance. Manure is a natural substance obtained by the de-
composition of organic substances.
2. Fertilisers are prepared in factories. Manure can be prepared in the elds.
3. Fertilisers do not provide any humus to the soil. Manure provides a lot of humus to the soil.
4. Fertilisers are very rich in plant nutrients like Manure is relatively less rich in plant nutrients.
nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Crop Production and Management 15

 Activity-2
Aim: To observe the effect of manure and fertiliser on the growth of plants.
Materials required: Moong seeds, three empty pots, soil, cow dung and urea.
Procedure: Take moong seeds and germinate them. Select some equal-sized seedlings. Now, take
three empty pots and mark them A, B and C. Add a small amount of soil, mixed with a little cow
dung, in pot A. In pot B, add a small amount of soil, mixed with some urea. In pot C, do not add
anything, except soil. Pour the same amount of water into each pot and plant an equal number of
seedlings in each pot. Keep them in a safe place and water them daily for 7-10 days.

Soil mixed Soil mixed

Soil
with manure A with fertiliser
B C
(a) (b) (c)
Fig.13 Effect of manure and fertiliser on the growth of plants
Observation: You will observe that the plant in pot B shows the fastest growth and the plant in pot
C shows the slowest growth.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that manures and fertilisers help in the growth of plants.

IRRIGATION Rainfall is a major source of water for crops. It is a

All living beings need water to live. Water is
i mp or t ant for t h e prop e r g row t h an d
development of plants. It is absorbed by the plant
roots. Water helps plants to absorb minerals
from the soil. Along with water and minerals,
fertilisers are also absorbed. Water is essential
because the germination of seeds does not take
place under dry conditions. Water also protects
the crop from both frost and hot air currents. To
maintain the moisture of the soil for healthy crop
growth, elds have to be watered regularly.
Water requirements are different for different
crops. Some crops need a lot of water to grow,
while some other crops can grow in dry
conditions with little water demand.
natural source, but it can be uncertain. Some
years are drought years when rainfall is scarce,
and in some years, excessive rainfall can cause
oods.
Crops need to be watered at regular intervals and
in proper amount.
e supply of water to crops at regular
intervals is called irrigation. e time and
frequency of irrigation varies from crop to crop,
soil to soil and season to season. In summer, the
frequency of watering is higher. Why is it so?
Could it be due to the increased rate of
evaporation of water from the soil and the leaves?
Sources of irrigation: Water for irrigation can
be supplied from different sources like, wells,
tubewells, ponds, lakes, rivers, dams and canals.

16 Exploring Science-8
Traditional Methods of Irrigation
The water available in wells, lakes and canals is
lied up by different methods in different
regions, for taking it to the elds. Cattle or
human labour is used in these methods. So, these
methods are cheaper but less efficient. e
various traditional ways are:
u Moat, u Dhekli,
u Chain pump, and u Rahat
u Moat (pulley system): In this system of
irrigation, water is drawn out from a well by
using a container which is tied to a long rope. e
container moves over a pulley and the rope tied
to the container is generally pulled by animals.
Farmers pour out the water from the container
into the elds.
Fig.14 Moat
u Dhekli: It is used to li water from shallow
wells by using the principle of a simple lever. In
this system, a long wooden beam is supported
over a vertical support which is xed to the
ground near the well. A container is tied to the
Upper wheel
Chain
Handle
Water to elds
Fig.16 Chain pump
Crop Production and Management
end of the longer lever arm with a rope. A weight
is tied to the shorter lever arm. When the
container is lowered into the well, it gets lled
with water. On releasing the rope, the shorter
lever arm comes down and a water- lled
container comes out of the well. e farmer
pours out the water from the container.
Fig.15 Dhekli
u Chain pump: It is an arrangement to li
water from a source of water. e chain pump
consists of two large wheels. One is xed at the
lower level at the water surface whereas the other
is xed at the higher level above the elds. Both
wheels are connected through a chain. Some
small water buckets are hung on the chain. A
handle connected to one of the wheels is rotated
to move the buckets from the eld to the water
source, where water gets lled in the buckets. e
continuous rotation of the handle also brings the
lled buckets from the water source to the eld.
Empty bucket
Lower wheel
Filled
bucket
17
 u Rahat (Lever system): In this system of
irrigation, a large wheel is xed on an axle above
a shallow well. A long belt, with many metal pots,
is put over the circumference of the wheel. First,
the lower end of the long belt dips into the water,
and then the pots get filled with water. e large
xed wheel is connected to a horizontal handle
through a lever system. e lever system is
designed in such a way that the movement of the
horizontal handle can rotate the xed wheel
placed over the mouth of the well.
When the bullocks move the horizontal handle
of the lever, the wheel xed over the mouth of the
well starts rotating. When the wheel rotates,
water- lled pots go over the wheel. ey come
down and pour water in a channel.
Fig.17 Rahat
Modern Methods of Irrigation
e traditional methods of irrigation utilised
human labour or cattle to li water. ese
methods were cheaper, but less efficient.
ese days, water-saving methods are being
promoted over traditional methods. e
modern methods of irrigation use electricity for
liing water from a water source and focus
towards optimum utilisation of water. Modern
methods of irrigation help us to use water
economically. e main methods used are—
sprinkler and drip system.
18 Exploring Science-8
u Sprinkler system: A sprinkler system
consists of a main pipeline laid above or under
the eld, and have several perpendicular pipes
coming out of it. e perpendicular pipes joined
to the main pipeline have rotating nozzles
attached to their tops.
When water is allowed to ow 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. Sprinklers
are very useful for lawns, coffee plantations and
several other crops. is system is more useful
on uneven lands, where sufficient water is not
available.
Fig.18 Sprinkler system
u Drip system: In a drip irrigation system, a
network of pipes is laid over a eld. ese pipes
have small holes that allow water to leak drop-by
-drop out of them. Sowing is done in such a way
that the plants grow right next to the holes in the
pipe. In this system, the water falls drop by drop
directly near the roots. It is the best technique for
watering fruit plants, gardens and trees. Water is
not wasted at all. Drip irrigation is a boon in the
regions where the availability of water is low.
Fig.19 Drip system
 Irrigation methods called harrow or rake.
u From a standing crop, weeds are removed
Traditional methods
manually by pulling them out by hand or by
Chain
using a trowel (khurpi).
Moat Dhekli Rahat
pump Modern methods

Sprinkler irrigation Drip irrigation

system system

PROTECTION FROM WEEDS Fig.20 Trowel (Khurpi)

The unwanted plants that grow naturally,
along with crop plants, are called weeds. e Chemical methods
removal of weeds from the eld, without e chemical substances, called weedicides, are
harming the crop plants is called weeding. used to kill common weeds. e weedicides kill
the weeds, but do not harm the crop plants. One
Tilling before sowing of crops helps in uprooting
major disadvantage of chemical method is that it
and killing the weeds. e best time for the
may be harmful to the farmers. Therefore, it is
removal of weeds is before they produce owers
suggested that farmers should cover their mouth
and seeds.
and nose while spraying it. e common
Necessity of Weeding weedicides are:
u Weeding is necessary because weeds
u 2, 4-D (2, 4, dichlorophenoxyacetic acid).
compete with the crop plants for nutrients,
u MCPA (2-Methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic
water, sunlight and space, and affect their
acid).
growth badly.
u Butachlor
u Weeds may produce toxic substances that
interfere with the growth of crop plants, and
thus affect the harvest.
u Weeds may be poisonous to humans and
domestic animals.
u Weeds attract pests and spread them to the
crop plants.
Methods of Weeding
e following methods are adopted for
removing weeds from a crop eld: Fig.21 Weedicide being sprayed
u Manual method
Biological control methods
u Chemical method
In biological control, some natural enemies of
u Biological control method weeds, like some insects, are released in the eld,
Manual methods which feed on weeds and destroy them. For
u Weeding from the soil, before sowing seeds, example, the cochineal insect is used to eliminate
is done by using a big comb-like implement, prickly pear (Opuntia) from the crop plants.

Crop Production and Management 19

 PROTECTION OF CROPS FROM
PESTS AND DISEASES
e crops in the elds are to be protected from
stray animals, birds, insects and disease-causing
microbes.
u Protection from stray animals: Crops can
be protected from stray animals, like cows
and buffaloes, by raising wire fence all
around the eld.
u Protection of crops from pests: Pests are the
organisms that damage crop plants and lower
the crop production. e common pests are
insects like grasshoppers, termites, and
moths and rodents like rats. Chemical
pesticides, insecticides and fungicides are
used to kill the pests, their eggs and larvae
without damaging the crop plants.
u Protection from birds: Birds can be scared
away from elds by placing scarecrows or by
beating drums.
Fig.22 Scarecrow
HARVESTING
Harvesting of a crop is an important task. e
cutting of crop, aer it is matured, is called
harvesting. It usually takes 3 to 4 months for a
cereal crop to mature. Aer which they are
pulled out or cut close to the ground.
Harvesting in our country is done either
manually by sickle or by a machine called
harvester. In the harvested crop, the grain seeds
20 Exploring Science-8
need to be separated from the chaff.
Threshing: It is the process through which the
grain seeds are separated from the chaff. If we
recall, we have studied threshing in Class VI. We
studied how farmers beat the piles of cereal stalks
(stems) on a wooden board to separate the food
grains that are attached to the tops of the stalks.
Nowadays, machines are used for threshing.
This is carried out with the help of a machine,
called combine, which is, in fact, a harvester as
well as a thresher.
Fig.23 Manual threshing
Fig.24 Combine
Winnowing: It is the process through which the
separation of grain and chaff is done. We also
studied about winnowing in Class VI. We
studied that in the process of threshing, the chaff
which is stuck to the grains, gets separated. The
chaff is lighter and the grains are heavier. So,
when chaff and grains are dropped slowly from a
height, the chaff blows further with the wind and
the grains fall directly below.
 Fig.25 Winnowing machine
Nowadays, a winnowing machine is used to do
the same process. Farmers use this process with
small holdings of land.
STORAGE
e storage of food grains is an important task, if
we want to keep them for a longer time.
Proper storage of food grains keeps them
safe from microorganisms, insects, rats and
moisture.
Before storing them, they should be dried in the
sun. is reduces the moisture and prevents the
growth of fungus and moulds in food grains.
Farmers generally store their grains in jute bags
or metallic bins. e storage of food grains is
done in two ways—in gunny bags and in grain
silos.
In gunny bags, food grains are lled and the
mouth of the bags is stitched lightly. ese bags
are then kept one over the other in big godowns.
e grain silos are another method of storing
food grains. ey are big and tall cylindrical
structures. e large-scale storage of grains is
done in silos and granaries.
Pesticides, insecticides and fungicides are used
to protect the food grains stored in silos and
granaries from pests and rodents, like rats. ey
also protect the food grains from other
unwanted microorganisms.
Crop Production and Management
Fig.26 Grain silos
Dried neem leaves are used while storing food
grains at home.
FOOD FROM ANIMALS
Like plants, animals also provide us with
different kinds of food. Milk, ghee, meat and eggs
are the kinds of food that we get from animals.
ere are two types of animals which provide us
with food:
u Milk-yielding animals.
u Meat and eggs yielding animals.
Examples of milk-yielding animals are—cows,
buffaloes, goats, etc.
Examples of eggs and meat yielding animals
are—hens, ducks, chickens, etc.
Fish is also an important source of animal food.
e people living in coastal areas consume sh as
a part of their diet.
Animal Husbandry
e rearing, management and caring of
animals for food is called animal husbandry.
e following practices are necessary for raising
animals:
u Providing sufficient food to the animals.
u Proper shelter of animals.
u Proper breeding of animals.
u Cure of animal diseases.
21
 Keywords
Agriculture : Science of raising crops and animals.
Farming : Cultivation of plants for food.
Crop : Cultivated plant grown on a large scale at one place.
Rabi crop : Crops that are sown in October/November and harvested in March/April.
Kharif crop : Crops that are sown in June/July and harvested in September/October.
Implements : Tools.
Ploughing : Method of loosening the soil.
Plough : A large farming implement used for tilling the soil.
Sowing : The process of putting seeds into the soil.
Broadcasting : Scattering of seeds by hand.
Seedlings : Growing of tiny plants in the nursery before transplanting to the main eld.
Manure : An organic substance obtained from plants and animal wastes.
Fertiliser : Man-made chemical that is added to soil to enrich it with a particular nutrient.
Irrigation : The supplying of water to crops at regular intervals.
Harvesting : e cutting of crops aer they have matured.
Weed : e unwanted plants that grow naturally along with crop plants.
Weedicides : The chemical substances which are used to kill weeds.

Points to Remember
u e cultivation of plants for food is called farming. When plants of the same kind are cultivated
on a large scale at one place, it is called a crop.
u Rabi crops are sown in October/November and harvested in March/April.
u Kharif crops are sown in June/July and harvested in September/October.
u It is necessary to prepare the soil by tilling and levelling. Ploughs and levellers are used for this
purpose.
u e main implements used for ploughing the eld are the plough, hoe and cultivator.
u Sowing is the process of putting seeds into the soil.
u e process of adding manure to the elds, to replenish the soil with nutrients, is called
manuring.
u Fertilisers are chemical compounds that are manufactured industrially and provide speci c
nutrients.
u e supply of water to crops, at regular intervals, is called irrigation.

22 Exploring Science-8
u Wells, tubewells, ponds, lakes, rivers, dams and canals are sources of irrigation.
u e transfer of seedlings to the main eld is called transplantation.
u e cutting of the crop, aer it is matured, is called harvesting.
u Food is also obtained from animals for which animals are reared. is is called animal husbandry.

Exercise
A. Tick (3) the Correct Option
1. Which of the following is a Rabi crop?
(a) Wheat (b) Paddy
(c) Maize (d) Jowar
2. Rabi crops are also called:
(a) summer crops (b) winter crops
(c) autumn crops (d) none of these
3. Which of the following is a Kharif crop?
(a) Wheat (b) Gram
(c) Pea (d) Cotton
4. Which manure is formed by the decomposition of vegetable refuse and kitchen wastes?
(a) Green manure (b) Farmyard manure
(c) Compost manure (d) Industrial manure
5. e supply of water to crops, at regular intervals, is called:
(a) farming (b) irrigation
(c) sowing (d) ploughing
6. In ______________ system, the water falls drop-by-drop directly near the roots.
(a) sprinkler (b) drip
(c) tubewell (d) none of these
7. Which of the following is not a traditional method of irrigation?
(a) Moat (b) Chain pump
(c) Rahat (d) Drip system
8. e process of beating out grains from the harvested crop is called:
(a) crushing (b) weeding
(c) sieving (d) threshing

Crop Production and Management 23

 B. Fill in the Blanks with Suitable Words
1. Cultivation of the same kind of plants on a large scale is called ______________.
2. e rst step before growing crops is ______________ of the soil.
3. Transplantation provides better ______________ among the plants.
4. Scattering of seeds by hand is called ______________.
5. e cutting of the crop, aer it is matured, is called ______________.
6. Pesticides are used to protect the crop from ______________.
C. Very Short-Answer-Type Questions
1. De ne agriculture.
2. De ne crops.
3. What is ploughing?
4. What is levelling?
5. Give two examples of agricultural implements.
6. What is manure?
7. Name four traditional methods of irrigation.
8. What is irrigation?
9. Name two nutrients which are present in a chemical fertiliser.
10. What is animal husbandry?
D. Short-Answer-Type Questions
1. Why are kharif crops called summer crops and rabi crops called winter crops?
2. What are agricultural practices? Name the seven basic agricultural practices.
3. Why is the ploughing of soil necessary?
4. What is transplantation? Why is it used in the cultivation of certain crops?
5. Mention three major disadvantages of the excessive use of fertilisers.
6. What is broadcasting? What is its disadvantage?
7. What are the advantages of sowing the seeds with a seed drill?
8. Why is weeding necessary?
9. How are crops protected from pests? Give examples of a few common pests.
10. What practices should be followed while raising animals?
E. Long-Answer-Type Questions
1. Describe the various methods of sowing the seeds, in brief.
2. Differentiate between manure and fertiliser.
3. Write short notes on the following systems of irrigation:
(a) Sprinkler system (b) Drip system

24 Exploring Science-8
 4. Explain the various methods of weeding.
5. Write short notes on the following harvesting processes:
(a) reshing (b) Winnowing
6. How are harvested grains stored?

HOTS
1. It is suggested to use manure instead of chemical fertilisers. Why?
2. Farmers oen irrigate the crop eld before sowing the seed. Why do you think it is important to
do so?
3. Why is the frequency of irrigation of crops higher in the summer season?

Activity Zone
A. Complete the following word puzzle with the help of clues given below.
1 2
Down

Ë
I S
3 1. Providing water to the crops.
H
2. Keeping crop grains for a long time under
proper conditions.
5. Certain plants of the same kind are grown
on a large scale.
4
G
Across Ë
3. A machine used for cutting the matured
5
C crop.
4. A rabi crop that is also one of the pulses.
6 6. A process of separating the grain from the
W
chaff.

Project Work
B. Arrange the following boxes in proper order to make a ow chart of sugarcane crop production.
Sending crop to sugar factory Irrigation Harvesting Sowing
1 2 3 4
Preparation of soil Ploughing the eld Manuring
5 6 7
C. Collect ve different varieties of seeds and put them in small transparent bags. Label them. Find
out how and when they should be sown. Paste each packet on a chart and write all the
information that you can nd about each variety of seed, next to the respective packet. Also, try
to nd out which type of soil is best for their growth.

Crop Production and Management 25

Science Excursion
D. Visit an agricultural farm with your friends. Request the farmers for an interview. Take pictures
with their permission and try to nd out the following:
(i) Which crops are they planning to cultivate in the next season?
(ii) How would they prepare the soil for crop cultivation?
(iii) What kinds of seeds do they prefer?
(iv) How much do they rely on manures and fertilisers?
(v) Which method of irrigation do they use?
(vi) What is the effect of extreme cold and extreme hot weather on the crops?
(vii) What is the effect of continuous rain on the crops?
Make a report of all your ndings in your notebook. Remember to paste the photos that you took
during the visit.

Memory Map
STEPS DURING
CROP PRODUCTION

Ploughing steps involved

Preparation of soil
Levelling
Manual
methods
Sowing of seeds
Mechanical
Manure Chain
Manuring Moat pump Dhekli Rahat
Fertilisers
Traditional methods
Harvesting Weeding Irrigation
methods Modern method

Storage Manual Chemical Biological Sprinklers Drip irrigation

control

e-Resources
Please visit the link given below or scan the QR code for more resources on
this chapter:
https://www.megamindpublication.com/s-5-science/b-4-exploring-science-8/c-45/crop-
production-and-management.html
26 Exploring Science-8