📖 Chapter Summary
To meet the food requirements of the growing population, it is essential to produce crops in large quantities. Agriculture involves the cultivation of crops using appropriate methods, tools, and technology. In this chapter, we learn about agricultural practices, types of crops, soil preparation, sowing, irrigation, manures and fertilizers, weeding, crop protection, storage, and animal husbandry.
🔑 Key Points
- Agriculture is the practice of cultivating crops in the soil.
- Types of crops – Kharif crops (monsoon season) and Rabi crops (winter season).
- Soil preparation is done using plough, hoe, or tractor.
- Selection of seeds, sowing, irrigation, and use of fertilizers are important steps.
- Manures and chemical fertilizers improve crop yield.
- Weeds are unwanted plants that grow along with crops.
- Weeding is done manually or by using weedicides.
- Harvested crops are stored in dry and cool places.
❓ 30 Questions & Answers
Q1. What is agriculture?
The practice of cultivating crops to obtain food, grains, and other products.
Q2. Give examples of Kharif crops.
Rice, maize, soybean, cotton.
Q3. Give examples of Rabi crops.
Wheat, barley, pea, mustard.
Q4. Why is soil preparation important?
To loosen the soil, remove weeds, and help seeds germinate well.
Q5. What are the types of fertilizers?
Organic manure and chemical fertilizers.
Q6. What are the benefits of organic manure?
Increases soil fertility and does not harm the environment.
Q7. What is important for sowing?
Selecting good seeds, sowing at proper depth and spacing.
Q8. What are weeds?
Unwanted plants that grow along with crops.
Q9. Methods of weeding?
Manual removal and use of weedicides.
Q10. Types of irrigation?
Canals, drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation.
Q11. How are crops protected from pests?
By using pesticides and pest-resistant varieties.
Q12. What should be avoided during storage?
Moisture, pests, and rodents.
Q13. In which season are Kharif crops grown?
During monsoon (June to September).
Q14. In which season are Rabi crops grown?
During winter (October to March).
Q15. Advantage of mixed cropping?
Reduces risk of crop failure and maintains soil fertility.
Q16. How to test seeds before sowing?
By putting them in water – good seeds sink, bad seeds float.
Q17. Use of tractor in agriculture?
For soil preparation, sowing, and harvesting.
Q18. Why do crops need water?
For nutrient transport, photosynthesis, and growth.
Q19. What are hybrid seeds?
Seeds produced by cross-breeding two different varieties.
Q20. Benefits of bio-pesticides?
Safe for environment and leave no harmful residues.
Q21. What is crop rotation?
Growing different crops in sequence on the same land.
Q22. Advantage of crop rotation?
Maintains soil nutrients and reduces pest attack.
Q23. Why is seed treatment done?
To protect seeds from diseases and improve germination.
Q24. What is the use of a plough?
To till and loosen the soil.
Q25. Disadvantage of chemical fertilizers?
Can damage soil in the long run and cause water pollution.
Q26. What is harvesting?
Cutting and collecting crops after they mature.
Q27. What is done after harvesting?
Threshing and storage.
Q28. Benefits of animal husbandry?
Provides milk, meat, wool, eggs, and other products.
Q29. What is drip irrigation?
Supplying water directly to the roots drop by drop.
Q30. Modern tools used in agriculture?
Tractor, harvester, drone, drip irrigation system.