Food Production And Management 

Exercise 

I. Name the following:

1. Five requirements essential for obtaining good crop production.

Answer: Five requirements essential for obtaining good crop production are:

• Right kind of soil.
• Good quality seeds.
• Required amount of water.
• Protection from weeds and pests.
• Use of proper implements.

2. Two types of fertilizers

Answer: Some types of fertilizers are:

Nitrogen

Phosphate 

Potash

Calcium ammonium nitrate 

Urea

Super phosphate

3. Some chemicals used to protect crops from insects, pests and weeds.

Answer: Chemicals used to protect crops from insects, pests and weeds are insecticides like DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), herbicides like Roundup (Glyphosate), and fungicides like copper sulfate.

4. Some animal products 

Answer: Some animal products are meat, dairy products, eggs, honey, and materials like leather, wool, and silk.

5. Members of a colony of bees

Answer: Members of a colony of bees include the queen, the workers, and the drones

II. Fill in the blanks:

1. A___________ is used to remove weeds from the soil.

2. A___________is used to trowel the soil by breaking the lumps of soil after preliminary ploughing.

3. Kharif crops are sown during the months of __________.

4. ___________ seeds are not sown directly into the soil.

5. Rabi crops are harvested during the months of ________.

6. The practice of taking the seedlings from the nursery to the main field is known as _______ field.

7. Pearls are used in __________.

8. Honey contains _____________ water and _________ sugar with minerals.

9. The hen-houses are called ____________.

10. Murrah and Jaffarabadi are well-known breeds of_______.

Answer:-

1. A trowels (khurpi) is used to remove weeds from the soil.

2. A clod crusher is used to trowel the soil by breaking the lumps of soil after preliminary ploughing.

3. Kharif crops are sown during the months of June and July

4. Paddy seeds are not sown directly into the soil.

5. Rabi crops are harvested during the months of March or April

6. The practice of taking the seedlings from the nursery to the main field is known as trasnplanting.

7. Pearls are used in __________.

8. Honey contains 17% water and 78% sugar with minerals.

9. The hen-houses are called pens

10. Murrah and Jaffarabadi are well-known breeds of buffaloes.

III. Answer the following questions in only one word or in figure:

1. What is the process of turning and loosening the soil called?

Answer: Tilling.

2. Which implement is used for tilling soil?

Answer: Tiller.

3. Which implement is used for breaking up the large lumps of soil?

Answer: Clod crusher.

4. What is the implement used for sowing called?

Answer: Broadcaster and seed drills.

5. What is the top part of the drill called?

Answer: Bowl.

6. What is an egg-lying bird called?

Answer: Broody hen.

7. Name the members of the bee colony?

Answer: Workers, drones and queen.

8. Which material is used to cover the floor of a hen-house?

Answer: Straw.

9. Which is the common food of poultry chicken?

Answer: Grains, oil cakes, green food and limestone.

10. Which bee is responsible for laying eggs?

Answer: Queen.

IV. Give the scientific reasons for the following:

1. Grains, pulses, vegetables and fruits should be used in our daily life?

Answer: Grains, pulses, vegetables, and fruits are vital for a healthy diet due to their rich nutrient content. Grains provide carbohydrates for energy, while pulses offer protein and fiber. Vegetables and fruits are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, crucial for overall health and disease prevention. 

2. The soil should be loosened before seeds are sown?

Answer: The soil should be turned before sowing so that the roots of the young plants can penetrate it easily. This helps the plant to hold firmly on to the soil. Also the roots are well ventilated. Roots and tuber crop plants need loosened soil for proper growth and for a good yield of the product.

3. Seeds should be sown at a proper depth in the soil?

Answer: Seeds should be sown at a proper depth in the soil so that they germinate more easily.

4. Fruits and vegetables should be washed throughly before eating?

Answer: The fruits and vegetables that we buy from the market aften have a coating of pesticides. So they should be washed throughly before eating.

5. Grains are dried thoroughly before they are stored?

Answer: Grains are dried before storage to prevent spoilage and ensure long-term viability. Drying reduces moisture content, which is crucial because high moisture levels can lead to microbial growth, germination, and insect infestation, all of which can degrade the grain's quality and make it unsuitable for consumption or planting. 

V. Answer the following questions: 

1. What are the requirements of farming which would lead to high yields of crops?

Answer: The requirements of farming to ensure high yields are:

• Right kind of soil
• Good quality seeds 
• Required amount of water 
• Protection from weeds and pests
• Use of proper implements 

2. What is tilling? How is it done?

Answer: Turning over the soil by a few inches either by plough or tiller is known as tilling. This is done by the following methods:

• Hand-operated: Using tools like shovels, hoes, and rakes for small-scale tilling in gardens.
• Draft-animal powered: Using plows drawn by animals like oxen or horses.
• Mechanized: Using tractors or tillers with rotating discs or other devices for larger areas.

3. Write a short note on the process of sowing?

Answer: There are two methods of sowing. The first method is by scattering seeds in the field by hand. This is known as broadcasting. Now a days a machine called broadcaster is used for sowing.

The second method of sowing is by using seed drills. The simplest seed drill consists of vertical tube with a seed bowl.

4. What are manures? Discuss their important types.

Answer: Manures are organic materials which supply all the elements a plant needs in small amounts. The manures add organic matter to the soil which increases water-holding capacity in sandy soil and drainage in clayed soil.

The important types of manures are farmyard manure (FYM), green manure, compost, sea manure and poultry manure.

5. What are fertilizers? Explain its importance.

Answer: Fertilizers are inorganic materials that are used mainly to increase the essential elements in the soil. For example, nitrogen, phosphate and potash. Fertilizers are added to the soil in the form of NPK fertilizers. Other fertilizers are calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), urea, super phosphate, etc.

6. What are broadcasting and transplanting?

Answer: Broadcasting: Scattering seeds in the field by hand or by machine (broadcaster) is known as Broadcasting.

Trasnplanting: The practice of taking the seedlings from the nursery to the main field is known as transplanting.

7. What is the difference between manure and fertilizers?

Answer:

Manures	Fertilizers
They are not soluble in water. So they are not easily absorbed by the roots of the plants.	They are soluble in water and are easily absorbed by plants.
Manures are organic.	Fertilizers are inorganic.
They provide humus to the soil. Their excess amount does not harm the soil	Excess amount can change the chemical composition of the soil. They also pollute water.
They restore the soil texture and help in water retention.	They can damage the soil texture.
These are nutrient specific.	These are not nutrient specific.

 

8. Why are weeds harmful? What is used to remove them?

Answer: Weeds are the undesirable plants in crop fields. They compete with the crop plants for nutrients and sunlight and thus, grow at the expense of crop plants. This reduces the yield.

The weeds are removed from the field either manually with the help of trowels (khurpi), hoe or harrow or by spraying weedicides.

9. What are insecticides? Give examples.

Answer: Insecticides are the chemicals used to check the insects. The insecticides kill the pests as well as their larvae but the plants are not affected by them. Some common insecticides are, malathion, dimecron and polythion.

10. How do insecticides protect crops?

Answer: Insecticides protect crops by killing or controlling insect pests that can damage or destroy them, ultimately increasing crop yields and improving food security. They work by interfering with the insect's nervous system or other vital processes, making them unable to feed, reproduce, or survive. Insecticides can be applied through various methods, including spraying, dusting, or applying to the soil.

11. Which are the two main seasons in India for cultivating crops?

Answer: The two main cropping seasons are Rabi and Kharif:

i Rabi crops are sown in winter from October to December and harvested in summer from April to June. ii Kharif crops are sown with the onset of monsoon in different parts of the country and harvested in September-October.

12. Name some harvest festivals of India.

Answer: Several harvest festivals are celebrated across India, including Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Baisakhi, Onam, and Lohri. These festivals mark the culmination of the harvest season and are celebrated with various cultural traditions and festivities. 

13. Name four factors responsible for the improvement of a crop.

Answer: Four key factors responsible for crop improvement are higher yield, improved quality, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, and change in maturity duration. These factors help enhance crop productivity, nutritional value, and adaptability, ultimately contributing to a more resilient and sustainable food supply. 

14. Write short note on the process of harvesting.

Answer: Harvesting is the process of gathering mature crops from a field, involving cutting and collecting the produce. This process can be done manually using tools like sickles or mechanically with machines like combine harvesters. A key part of harvesting is separating the desired product (like grain) from the rest of the plant material, which is often done through threshing.

15. Why does a farmer rotate crops in the fields?

Answer: Farmers rotate crops to maintain healthy soil, manage pests and diseases, and improve yields. By planting different crops in a field each season, farmers can replenish nutrients, break pest and disease cycles, and improve soil structure.

16. What do you understand by mixing cropping?

Answer: When two or more crops are grown on the same land simultaneously, it is known as mixed cropping. For eg., growing wheat and gram on the same land at the same time is mixed cropping. This practice minimizes the risk of failure of one of the crops and insures against crop failure due to abnormal weather conditions.

The crops to be grown together should have a different maturation time and different water requirements. One tall and one dwarf crop should be grown together. The nutrients required by one crop should be less than those required by the other. One crop should have deep roots, other’s should be shallow. All these criteria lead to a successful mixed cropping pattern.

17. Why are fields sometimes allowed to remain fallow?

Answer: Fields are sometimes left fallow to allow the soil to recover its fertility, prevent erosion, and disrupt pest cycles. Fallowing involves leaving the land uncultivated for a period, allowing it to naturally replenish nutrients and retain moisture. This practice is crucial for sustainable agriculture and maintaining healthy soil ecosystems.

18. List the importance of fish in our daily life?

Answer: Here are some key points showing the importance of fish in our daily life:

1. Nutritional Value: Fish is a rich source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins (like D and B2), and minerals (like calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, and iodine).

2. Health Benefits: Eating fish regularly supports brain function, improves heart health, and reduces the risk of diseases like stroke and arthritis.

3. Livelihood: Millions of people depend on fishing for their income, including fishermen, sellers, and workers in fish processing industries.

4. Economic Contribution: Fish contributes significantly to the economy through trade, export, and aquaculture.

5. Food Security: In many parts of the world, fish is a primary and affordable source of food.

6. Cultural Significance: In various cultures and religions, fish plays an important role in traditions, festivals, and rituals.

7. Environmental Balance: Fish play a key role in aquatic ecosystems by maintaining the balance of the food chain.

19. What is nutrient value of honey?

Answer: Honey is a natural sweetener with several nutrients and health benefits. Here’s a breakdown of its nutritional value (per 100 grams):

1. Calories: Around 304 kcal

2. Carbohydrates: 82.4 grams (mainly fructose and glucose)

3. Sugars: Natural sugars like fructose (~38%) and glucose (~31%)

4. Protein: 0.3 grams

5. Fat: 0 grams

6. Vitamins: Small amounts of B vitamins like B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5, B6, and vitamin C

7. Minerals: Trace amounts of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc

8. Antioxidants: Contains phenolic acids and flavonoids, which help fight oxidative stress.

20. How are domesticated animals useful to us?

Answer: Domesticated animals are very useful to humans in many ways. Here are some key points:

1. Source of Food: Animals like cows, goats, chickens, and buffaloes provide milk, meat, and eggs.

2. Agricultural Support: Oxen and buffaloes help in plowing fields and transporting goods.

3. Economic Benefits: Selling animal products like wool, leather, milk, and eggs helps people earn a livelihood.

4. Companionship: Pets like dogs and cats provide emotional support and companionship.

5. Security: Dogs are often used for guarding homes and livestock.

6. Clothing Materials: Sheep provide wool; animals like cows and goats provide hides used in leather products.

7. Manure: Animal dung is used as a natural fertilizer and even as fuel in some areas.