Crop Production and Management Questions

CLASS VIII SCIENCE
CROP PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT
Q. What are crops?

Answer: The same kind of plants grown and cultivated at one place on a large scale is called a
crop. For example, wheat, maize, etc
Q. What is the different types of crops grown in India?

Ans: These are:
(i) Kharif Crops : The crops which are sown in the rainy season (from June to September)are
called Kharif crops. Paddy, maize, soya bean, groundnut, cotton, etc., are kharif crops.
(ii) Rabi Crops : The crops grown in the winter season (October to March )are called rabi crops.
Examples of rabi crops are wheat, gram, pea, mustard and linseed.
Q. Why is proper agricultural management and distribution of food necessary?

Answer: In order to provide food for a large populationregular production, proper
management and distribution of food is necessary.
Q. Why can paddy not be grown in the winter season?

Answer: Paddy requires a lot of water. Therefore, it is grown only in the rainy season.
Q. List different agricultural practice?

Answer: The agricultural practices are listed below.
(i) Preparation of soil (ii) Sowing (iii) Adding manure and fertilizers
(iv) Irrigation (v) Protecting from weeds (vi) Harvesting (vii) Storage
Q. Why does the loosening of soil allow the roots to breathe easily?
Answer: The process of loosening and turning of the soil is called tilling or ploughing.This is
CROP PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT (IISDSG) Page 1

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done by using a plough.
The air enters easily through loosen soil and the root can breathe easily even when they go deep
into the soil.
Q. Why earthworms are called farmers friends?

Ans: The loosened soil helps in the growth of earthworms and microbes present in the soil.
These organisms are friends of the farmer since they further turn and loosen the soil and add
humus to it.
Q. Why does the soil need to be turned and loosened before seeds are sown?
Answer: Since only a few centimeters of 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.
Q. What are the purposes of the leveling of soil?

Answer: The ploughed field may have big pieces of soil called crumbs. It is necessary to break
these crumbs with a plank. The field is levelled for sowing as well as for irrigation purposes. The
levelling of soil is done with the help of a leveller.
Q. Why we sometimes add manure to the soil before tilling?

Answer: This helps in proper mixing of manure with soil.
Q. Name some agricultural Implements?

Answer: The main tools used for agriculture purpose are the plough, hoe and cultivator.
Q. How can we separate good, healthy seeds from the damaged ones?
Answer: We put seeds into bucket full of water. Damaged seeds being hollow became lighter
therefore they float on water and remaining good seeds sink at bottom.
Q. Why sowing seeds with seed drill is better than by hand?

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Answer: Practice of sowing seeds by hand is called broadcasting. The seed drill is used for
sowing with the help of tractors. This sows the seeds uniformly at proper distances and depths. It
ensures that seeds get covered by the soil after sowing. This also prevents damage caused by
birds.
Q. Why does the soil need to be turned and loosened before seeds are sown?
Answer: Since only a few centimeters of 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.
Q. What are the purposes of the leveling of soil?
Answer: The ploughed field may have big pieces of soil called crumbs. It is necessary to break
these crumbs with a plank. The field is levelled for sowing as well as for irrigation purposes. The
levelling of soil is done with the help of a leveller.
Q. Why we sometimes add manure to the soil before tilling?
Answer: This helps in proper mixing of manure with soil.
Q. Name some agricultural Implements?
Answer: The main tools used for agriculture purpose are the plough, hoe and cultivator.
Q. How can we separate good, healthy seeds from the damaged ones?
Answer: We put seeds into bucket full of water. Damaged seeds being hollow became lighter
therefore they float on water and remaining good seeds sink at bottom.
Q. Why sowing seeds with seed drill is better than by hand?
Answer: Practice of sowing seeds by hand is called broadcasting. The seed drill is used for
sowing with the help of tractors. This sows the seeds uniformly at proper distances and depths. It
ensures that seeds get covered by the soil after sowing. This also prevents damage caused by
birds.
Q. List three advantages of ploughing soil?

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Answer: (i) allows the roots to penetrate deep into the soil (ii) helps in the growth of earthworms
and microbes (iii) brings the nutrient-rich soil to the top
Q. What are zayed crops? Give examples.
Answer: Zayed crops are crops which are grown between the Kharif and Rabi seasons.
Examples: Watermelon
Q. On soaking seeds in water , some seeds floats on water. Why?
Answer: Damaged seeds become hollow and are thus lighter. Therefore, they float on water.
Q. Why seeds should be shown with right spacing?
Answer: This allows plants to get sufficient sunlight, nutrients and water from the soil.
Q. What precaution does farmer keep in mind before showing seeds?
Answer :(i) Selection of high yield seeds (ii) Selection of disease resistant seeds (iii)Treatment of
seeds with fungicides
Q. How are fertilizers different from manures?
Answer. (1) Fertilisers is an inorganic salts while manures are natural substances obtained by the
decomposition of cattle dung, human waste and plant residues. (2) A fertiliser is prepared in
factories while manure can be prepared in the fields. (3) A fertiliser does not provide any humus
to the soil while manure provides a lot of humus to the soil. (4) Fertilisers are very rich in plant
nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. On the other hand, manures are relatively less
rich in plant nutrients.
Q. What are the advantages of organic manure over fertilizers ?
Answer. Organic manure is considered to be better than fertilisers. It is because of the following
reasons to be :
(1) It enhances the water holding capacity of the soil.
(2) It makes the soil porous, thus making the exchange of gases easy

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(3) It also improves the texture of the soil.
(4) It increases the number of friendly microbes.
Q. List the two modern methods of irrigation?
Answer. Modern methods of irrigation help us to use water economically. The main methods that
are used now-a-days are as given below:
(a) Sprinkler system: Which 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. Then water is allowed to flow through the main pipe under pressure
with the help of a pump. Thus, it escapes from the rotating nozzles and gets sprinkled on the crop
as if it is raining. Sprinkler system is especially useful for sandy soil.
(b) Drip system: In drip system, the water falls drop by drop just at the position of the roots and
so it is called drip system. It is in fact the best technique for watering fruit plants, gardens and
trees. The system provides water to plants drop by drop and because of this season water is not
wasted at all. It is a boon in the regions where availability of water is poor.
Q. Why do farmers have to add manure to the fields?
Answer: 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.
Q. What is the importance of mixed cropping?
Answer: The practice of growing different crops alternately is called mixed cropping. This
helped in the replenishment of the soil with nitrogen. In India we grow legumes as fodder in one
season and wheat in the next season in mixed cropping.
Q. What is the importance of irrigation?
Answer: The regular supply of water to crops at different intervals is called irrigation. Water
helps in germination of seeds. Water helps to transport dissolve nutrient to each part of the plant.

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Water protects the crop from both frost and hot air currents. It maintains the moisture of the soil
for healthy crop growth.
Q. In summer, the frequency of watering is higher. Why is it so?
Answer: it is due to the increased rate of evaporation of water from the soil and the leaves.
Q. List some traditional Methods of Irrigation.
Answer: (i) moat (pulley-system) (ii) chain pump (iii) dhekli, and (iv) rahat (Lever system)
Q. Why are weeds removed from field?
Answer: Undesirable plants grown naturally along with the crop in a field are called weeds. For
example: Amaranthus , Wild Oat(javi), Chenopodium (bathua) .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.
Q. How mechanical method of controlling weeds different from the biological method?
Answer: Mechanical weed control can be defined as any physical activity that prevent unwanted
plant growth. Mechanical, or manual, weed control techniques manage weed populations through
physical methods that remove, injure, kill, or make the growing conditions unfavorable. Some of
these methods cause direct damage to the weeds through complete removal or causing a lethal
injury. The biological method: Bioagent like insects, pathogen etc., and other animals are used to
control weeds. Insect and pathogens infest weeds and they either reduce growth or kill weeds.
Biological control method can reduce weeds but it is not possible to eradicate weeds.
Q. What are biocides?
Answer. The pesticides produced by living organisms which would kill only specific pests
without affecting other organisms, especially humans, are called biocides.
Q. Seeds or grains should be dried properly before storing, why?
Answer: Grains are dried properly to reduce the moisture content, so that insects and microbes
cannot infect easily.

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Q. Why should the harvested grains be protected from moisture?
Answer. The harvested grains should be protected from moisture because it promotes the growth
of moulds (fungi) on grains. Some of the fungi which grow due to moisture on grains may be
poisonous.
Q. How is Field Fallow helpful in replenishing the soil?
Answer. When we leave the field undisturbed without growing any crop on it, a lot of humus
grow in it along with soil bacteria. This way soil becomes rich in nutrients. Thus, vitality of the
soil is regained for the next crop. This way field fallow helps in replenishing the soil.
Q. How does fumigation differ from spraying?
Answer. Fumigation is the most effective method for checking the growth of insects in stored
grain. It kills the insect without affecting the grain. Spraying is more suitable to disinfect the
storage structure before arrival of fresh stock of food material.
Q. What is a Scare-Crow and why is it used for?
Answer. It is an artificial statue like structure made of bamboo sticks to which human clothes are
worn. This looks like a human being and helps in scaring the field from birds (mistaking it to be
a person standing).
Q. Why the pesticides be used with great care?
Answer. Pesticides may irritate the skin and the respiratory system of man, when the pesticides
are used. They reach in the soil and water and absorbed by the plants. These plants, when
consumed by man, the chemicals enter into the system and disturb metabolic activities, as well as
food chain.
Q. Distinguish between pesticides and weedicides.
Answer. Weedicides (like 2,4-D and MCPA or BUtachlor) kill weeds while pesticides kill pests.
Both are useful for the production of crops, but are harmful in its use by farmers.
Q. What precautions the farmers should follow while using weedicide or pesticides?

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Answer:(i) Body should be covered properly specially eyes, mouth and nose.(ii) After spraying
the body should be cleaned properly.
Q. What is the best time for the removal of weeds from fields?
Answer: The best time for the removal of weeds is before they produce flowers and seeds.
Q. What is a combine?
Answer: The cutting of crop after it is mature is called harvesting. Harvesting is either done
manually by sickle or by a machine called harvester. In the harvested crop, the grain seeds need
to be separated from the chaff. The process by which the grain seeds from harvested crops are
separated from the chaff is called threshing. Both harvesting and threshing is carried out with the
help of a machine called combine which is in fact a combined harvester and thresher.
Q. What do you mean by animal husbandry?
Answer: The practice of rearing animals on a large scale is called animal husbandry.
Q. How excess irrigation is harmful to the crops?
Answer: Excess irrigation is harmful to the crops in following ways (i) Excess irrigation do not
permit proper aeration to plants. (ii) Excess irrigation increase amount of salt in the soil and
damage soil fertility.
Q. Select the correct word from the following list and fill in the blanks.
(float, water, crop, nutrients, preparation)
(a) The same kind of plants grown and cultivated on a large scale at a place is called
_____________.
Answer: crop
(b) The first step before growing crops is _____________ of the soil.
Answer: preparation
(c) Damaged seeds would _____________ on top of water.
Answer: - Float

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(d) For growing a crop, sufficient sunlight and _____________ and _____________ from the
soil are essential.
Answer: - water and nutrients
Q. Match items in column A with those in column B.
Colulumn A Column B
Kharif crops Food for cattle
Rabi crops Urea and super phosphate
Chemical fertilisers Animal excreta, cow dung, urine and plant waste
Organic manure Wheat, gram, pea
Paddy and maize

Answer:
Colulumn A Column B
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
Q. Give two examples of each.
(a) Kharif crop:
Answer: Paddy and maize
(b) Rabi crop:
Answer: Wheat and gram

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Q. Write a paragraph in your own words on each of the following.
(a) Preparation of soil
Answer: Preparation of soil is the first step of farming. Soil is loosened and turned over. This
helps in making the soil more airy so that roots can breathe in air. Moreover, loosening of soil
also facilitates better penetration of roots into the soil. Seeds can be easily sown in loosened soil.
(b) Sowing
Answer: The method of putting the seeds into soil is called sowing. Traditionally, seed is sown
manually by spreading the seeds by hands. This process is called broadcasting. Seed drills are
used when sowing needs to be done on a large scale.
(c) Weeding
Answer: Removal of weeds is called weeding. Unwanted plants which grow along with the crop
are called weeds. They compete for resources; like sunlight, water and air; with the main crop.
So, it is necessary to remove weeds for proper growth of crops. Weeding is usually done
manually by using hands and sickles. Sometimes weedicides are also sprayed.
(d) Threshing
Answer: Separation of grains from harvested stems is called threshing. For smaller quantity,
threshing is done by hands. For somewhat bigger quantity, threshing is done using animal;
especially bullocks. Animals are made to trample over the harvested stock which helps in
separation of grains. Threshing machines are used for bigger quantities.
Q. Explain how fertilisers are different from manure.
Answer: Fertilisers are synthesized in factories from inorganic materials. On the other hand,
manure is made from organic materials; through the process of decomposition. Excessive use of
fertilisers is not good for soil and may lead to soil pollution. Use of manure is beneficial for soil.
Q. What is irrigation? Describe two methods of irrigation which conserve water.

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Answer: The process of artificially providing water to growing crops is called irrigation. Two
methods of irrigation which help in water conservation are as follows:
(a) Sprinkler: Sprinkler system is composed of pipelines in which nozzles are fitted at various
locations. Water comes out of the nozzle and is sprinkled on plants. This system helps in saving
lot of water.
(b) Drip Irrigation: For this, small holes are made in pipes which are laid along the rows of crops.
Water slowly drips down on the roots of crops. This system is especially useful for plantations
and also in water scarce areas.
Q. If wheat is sown in the kharif season, what would happen? Discuss.
Answer: The crop of wheat needs mild to moderate temperature and frost free days; along with
irrigation but no water logging. Winters are suitable for growing wheat. In the kharif season;
which coincides with the peak summer months in India, temperature is at its peak which is not
suitable for wheat. Moreover, during rainy season lot of water accumulates in fields which would
be harmful for wheat crop. Hence, if wheat is sown in the kharif season; the productivity would
be minuscule and would not be profitable for the farmers.
Q. Explain how soil gets affected by the continuous plantation of crops in a field.
Answer: Continuous plantation of crops in a field affects soil fertility. Plants utilize all the
nutrients from soil which leads to depletion of nutrients in the soil. As a result, soil fertility
reduces drastically.
Q. What are weeds? How can we control them?
Answer: Unwanted plants which grow along with crops are called weeds. Weeds compete with
crops for natural resources; like sunlight, water and nutrients. Thus, weeds hamper the growth of
crops. Weeds are usually removed manually by hands and by sickles. This process is called
weeding. Sometimes, weedicides are also sprayed to kills weeds.

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Q. Arrange the following boxes in proper order to make a flow chart of sugarcane crop
production.
Sending crop to sugar factory Irrigation Harvesting Sowing Preparation of soil

Ploughing the field Manuring
Answer: Preparation of soil Ploughing the field Manuring Sowing Irrigation

Harvesting Sending crop to sugar factory
Q. Complete the following word puzzle with the help of clues given below.
Down
1. Providing water to the crops.
2. Keeping crop grains for a long time under proper conditions.
5. Certain plants of the same kind grown on a large scale.
Answer: 1: IRRIGATION 2: STORAGE 5: CROP
Across
3. A machine used for cutting the matured crop.
4. A rabi crop that is also one of the pulses.
6. A process of separating the grain from chaff.
Answer: 3: HARVESTOR 4: GRAM 6: WINNOWING

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CLASS VIII SCIENCE

CROP PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT

Q. What are crops?

Q. What is the different types of crops grown in India?

Q. Why is proper agricultural management and distribution of food necessary?

Q. Why can paddy not be grown in the winter season?

Q. List different agricultural practice?

CROP PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT (IISDSG) Page 1

done by using a plough.

Q. Why earthworms are called farmers friends?

Q. What are the purposes of the leveling of soil?

Q. Why we sometimes add manure to the soil before tilling?

Q. Name some agricultural Implements?

Q. Why sowing seeds with seed drill is better than by hand?

CROP PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT (IISDSG) Page 2

Q. What are the purposes of the leveling of soil?

Q. Why we sometimes add manure to the soil before tilling?

Answer: This helps in proper mixing of manure with soil.

Q. Name some agricultural Implements?

Q. Why sowing seeds with seed drill is better than by hand?

Q. List three advantages of ploughing soil?

CROP PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT (IISDSG) Page 3

Q. What are zayed crops? Give examples.

Q. On soaking seeds in water , some seeds floats on water. Why?

Q. Why seeds should be shown with right spacing?

Q. What precaution does farmer keep in mind before showing seeds?

Q. How are fertilizers different from manures?

Q. What are the advantages of organic manure over fertilizers ?

(1) It enhances the water holding capacity of the soil.

CROP PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT (IISDSG) Page 4

(3) It also improves the texture of the soil.

(4) It increases the number of friendly microbes.

Q. List the two modern methods of irrigation?

Q. Why do farmers have to add manure to the fields?

Q. What is the importance of mixed cropping?

Q. What is the importance of irrigation?

CROP PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT (IISDSG) Page 5

Q. In summer, the frequency of watering is higher. Why is it so?

Q. List some traditional Methods of Irrigation.

Q. Why are weeds removed from field?

Q. What are biocides?

Q. Seeds or grains should be dried properly before storing, why?

CROP PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT (IISDSG) Page 6

Q. Why should the harvested grains be protected from moisture?

Q. How is Field Fallow helpful in replenishing the soil?

Q. How does fumigation differ from spraying?

Q. What is a Scare-Crow and why is it used for?

Q. Why the pesticides be used with great care?

Q. Distinguish between pesticides and weedicides.

CROP PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT (IISDSG) Page 7

Q. What do you mean by animal husbandry?

Q. How excess irrigation is harmful to the crops?

(float, water, crop, nutrients, preparation)

(c) Damaged seeds would _____________ on top of water.

CROP PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT (IISDSG) Page 8

Answer: - water and nutrients

Q. Match items in column A with those in column B.

Kharif crops Food for cattle

Rabi crops Urea and super phosphate

Organic manure Wheat, gram, pea

Paddy and maize

Kharif crops Paddy and maize

Rabi crops Wheat, gram, pea

Chemical fertilisers Urea and super phosphate