Ch-15: Improvement in Food Resources

Definitions:

1.Hybridisation: Hybridisation refers to crossing between genetically dissimilar plants.

2. Intervarietal Hybridisation: It is a cross between the two same species but with
different varieties.

3. Interspecific Hybridization: It is a cross between two different species but the same
genera.
4. Intergeneric Hybridization: It is a cross between the two intergeneric hybridizations
belonging to different genera.

5. Macronutrients:Among the 13 essential nutrients, 6 are the essential nutrients required

in abundance for the growth and development of plants. These essential nutrients are
collectively called macronutrients.
Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Sulfur (S), and Magnesium
are the macronutrients required by plants.

6. Micronutrients: Among the 13 essential nutrients, 6 are classified into macronutrients

and the other 7 are classified into micronutrients. These nutrients include iron (Fe), boron
(B), chlorine (Cl), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and molybdenum (Mo). They
are required in very small quantities; therefore, they are also called trace minerals.

7. Vermicomposting: The process in which the biological waste material is decomposed

in pits is known as composting. When compost is prepared by using earthworms to
hasten the process, it’s called vermicompost.

8. Green Manure: Prior to the sowing of the crop seeds, some plants like sun hemp or
guar are grown and then mulched by ploughing them into the soil. These green plants
thus turn into green manure, which helps in enriching the soil nutrients.

9. Organic Farming: Organic farming is a farming system with minimal or no use of

chemicals as fertilizers and with a maximum input of organic manures. All resources are
used optimally to get maximum, chemical-free yield.

10. Irrigation: Irrigation is the artificial process of applying water to crops to fulfil their
water requirements.

11. Intercropping: It is a cropping technique in which two or more crops are cultivated
simultaneously on the same piece of land, adhering to a specific row pattern followed by
small farmers who are completely dependent on rainfall for better yield.

12. Crop Rotation: It is a cropping technique which is practiced for growing different
crops on the same land in preplanned succession.
13. Mixed Cropping: It refers to a cropping system where two or more crops are
cultivated on the same piece of land simultaneously followed by farmers as it reduces the
risk of total crop failure because of less rainfall or adverse climatic conditions.

14. Weeds: Weeds are unwanted plants in the cultivated field consuming all the soil
nutrients, finally reducing the crop yield.

15. Animal Husbandry: Animal husbandry is the farming and maintenance of animals
for commercial purposes. Animals are raised for milk, meat and eggs.

16. Poultry Farming: Poultry farming is a form of animal husbandry which is undertaken
to raise domestic fowl for the production of egg and chicken meat.

17. Fishery: Fishery deals with the procurement of fish for consumption. The process of
capturing fish is known as aquaculture

18. Marine Fisheries — Marine fishery deals with fishing in the oceans and seas.

Apart from fish, it also deals with other seafood, such as prawns, lobsters and crabs.

19. Inland Fisheries — Inland fishery deals with fishing in rivers, lakes and tanks.

Rohu, Catla, Mrigal, Grass carp, etc., are very popular varieties of fish reared in
freshwater.

20. Beekeeping: Beekeeping, also called apiculture, is the rearing of bees for the
production of honey and wax.

In-text Question 1.1 Page number: 204

Q1. What do we get from cereals, pulses, fruits and vegetables?

Ans: Cereals are the source of carbohydrates and are the main source of energy.
Pulses provide protein for growth and development.
Vegetables and fruits are loaded with minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins and fats for
overall development.
In-text Question 1.2 Page Number: 205
Q1. How do biotic and abiotic factors affect crop production?
Ans: 2 major factors that affect the crop are:

• Biotic factors like insects, rodents, pests, and many more spread the disease and reduce
crop production.
• Abiotic factors like humidity, temperature, moisture, wind, rain, flood and many more
destroy the crop raised.
Q2. What are the desirable agronomic characteristics for crop improvement?
Ans: The essential agronomic features required for crop improvement are:

• Profuse branching along with tallness in any fodder crop.

• Dwarfness in any cereal.

In-text Question 1.3 Page Number: 206

Q1. What are macro-nutrients, and why are they called macronutrients?
Ans: Macro-nutrients are the fundamental elements that are used by plants in more quantity.
Macro-nutrients needed by the plants are
• Macro-nutrients as the constituent of protoplasm.
• Phosphorus, Nitrogen, and Sulphur are present in proteins.
• Calcium exists in the cell wall.
• Magnesium is a significant component of chlorophyll.

Q2. How do plants get nutrients?

Ans: There are 16 basic essential nutrients required by plants to grow. Carbon and Oxygen are
supplied by water, and the remaining nutrients are supplied through the soil.

In-text Question 1.4 Page Number: 207

Q1. Compare the use of manure and fertilizers in maintaining soil fertility.
Ans: Uses of Manure

• Manure improves soil quality with added nutrients.

• Manure provides extra organic matter called humus to the soil and therefore increasing
the water retention capacity of sandy soils and drainage in clayey soil.
• Manures reduce soil erosion.
• They provide food for soil-friendly bacteria, which are helpful in growing crops.

The effects of fertilizers are

 • Fertilizers make the soil become too dry and powdered and raise the rate of soil erosion.
• The organic matter decreases by decreasing the porosity of the soil; hence, the plant
roots do not get oxygen properly.
• The nature of soil changes, either basic or acidic.

In-text Question 1.5 Page Number: 208

Q1. Which of the following conditions will give the most benefits? Why?
(a) Farmers use high-quality seeds; do not adopt irrigation or use fertilizers.
(b) Farmers use ordinary seeds, adopt irrigation and use fertilizer.
(c) Farmers use quality seeds, adopt irrigation, use fertilizer and use crop protection
measures.

Ans: Option (c) will give the most benefits because the use of good quality seeds is not only
sufficient until the soil is properly irrigated, enriched with fertilizers and protected from biotic
factors.
In-text Question 1.6 Page Number: 209

Q1. Why should preventive measures and biological control methods be preferred for
protecting crops?
Ans: Over-exposure to chemicals leads to environmental problems; hence, biological methods
are preferred for protecting crops from pathogens, insects and rodents, along with increasing
production. Since chemicals are harmful to plants and also to the animals which feed on them,
bio-pesticides are used as a safe way of crop protection.
Q2. What factors may be responsible for the losses of grains during storage?
Ans: Biotic and Abiotic factors are responsible for the loss of grains during storage like
Rodents, Pests, Insects, Fungi, Bacteria, Sunlight, Flood, Rain, Temperature, Moisture

In-text Question 1.7 Page Number: 210

Q1. Which method is commonly used for improving cattle breeds and why?
Ans: Cross-breading is generally the best method adopted for improving cattle breed quality. In
this method, breeding between two good cattle breeds results in a new, improved variety of
cattle breeds or offspring. While breeding, care is taken to have a good resultant with a high
yield having resistance to climatic conditions.

In-text Question 1.8 Page Number: 211

Q1. What management practices are common in dairy and poultry farming?
Ans:

• Well-designed Hygienic shelter for dairy animals and poultry birds.

• Good quality proper food and fodder are provided to dairy animals and poultry birds.
• Importance for animal health by prevention and cure of disease caused by bacteria,
viruses, or fungi.
• Sunlight-feasible and airy ventilated shelter for animals.

Q2. What are the differences between broilers and layers and their management?
Ans: Broilers - The poultry bird raised for meat purposes is called a broiler. Broilers feed on
protein-rich adequate-fat food. The level of vitamins A and K is kept high in poultry feeds.
Layers - The egg-laying poultry bird is called a layer. The housing, environmental and
nutritional requirements of broilers vary from those of egg layers. Layers require proper
lighting and enough space.
Q3. Discuss the implications of the following statement: “It is interesting to note that poultry
is India’s most efficient converter of low-fibre foodstuff (which is unfit for human
consumption) into highly nutritious animal protein food.”
Ans: Poultry farming aims to raise domestic birds for egg and chicken meat purposes. These
domestic birds feed on animal feeds which mainly consist of roughages for getting good quality
feathers, eggs, chicken and nutrient-rich manure. For these reasons, it is said that “poultry is
India’s most efficient converter of low-fibre foodstuff into highly nutritious animal protein
food.”

In-text Question 1.9 Page Number: 213

Q1. How are fish obtained?

Ans: Fishes are obtained in two ways:
Capture fishing: Obtaining fish from natural resources.
Culture Fishery: Culturing of fishes in freshwater ecosystems, like rivers, ponds and lakes, also
including marine.
Q2. What are the advantages of composite fish culture?
Ans: The advantages of composite fish culture are

• In a single fish pond, a combination of 5 or 6 types of fish species can be cultured since
they do not compete for food among themselves
• Food resources can be completely utilised
• Survival of the fish also increases
• More yield

In-text Question 1.9 Page Number: 213

Q1. What are the desirable characteristics of bee varieties suitable for honey production?
Ans: The desirable characteristics of bee varieties for honey production are:

• The variety of bees should yield a large amount of honey.

• The bees should stay for a longer period in bee hives.
• The bees should not sting much.
• Bees should be disease resistant.

Q2. What is pasturage, and how is it related to honey production?

Ans: Pasturage refers to the availability of flowers to the bees for easy accessibility for pollen
collection and nectar. The kinds of flowers available will determine the taste of the honey;
hence, Pasturage is the main reason for good quality honey.

Exercise Questions 1.1 Page Page Number: 214

Q1. Explain any one method of crop production which ensures high yield.
Ans: Plant breeding is one of the methods adopted for high-yield plant breeding and is
implemented to improve the varieties of crops by breeding plants. Plants from various
places/areas are picked up with preferred traits, and then the process of hybridisation or cross-
breeding is done among these diversities to get a crop/plant of anticipated characteristics.

Q2. Why are manure and fertilisers used in fields?

Ans: Manures and fertilisers are used to enrich the soil quality and improve the yield. They also
help in controlling diseases. Manure and fertilisers replenish the soil by supplying nutrients to
the soil. They are excellent sources of potassium, phosphorous and nitrogen which assist in the
healthy development of plants. Manures and fertilisers mainly improve the fertility of the soil.

Q3. What are the advantages of inter-cropping and crop rotation?

Ans: Inter-cropping

• Checks pests and rodents and hence decreases the chances of the spoiling of whole crops
• Decreased chances of soil erosion
• Reduced loss of crops with high yield
• Less water requirement

Crop rotation
• Farmers can grow two or three crops annually
• Pulses take nitrogen directly from the atmosphere and hence require a minimal amount
of fertilisers
• Both fruits and vegetables can be grown easily
• Best use of land with a proper supply of nutrients
Q4. What is genetic manipulation? How is it useful in agricultural practices?
Ans: Genetic manipulation is a process in which the transfer of genes takes place from one
organism to another. Here, a gene of a particular character is introduced inside the chromosome
cell, resulting in a transgenic plant.
Example: BT Cotton is a genetically modified crop which carries bacterial genes that protect this
plant from insects. These are used in plants like brinjal, cabbage, rice, cauliflower, and maize
crops to get protection from insects.
Q5. How do storage grain losses occur?
Ans: Storage grain losses occur due to various abiotic and biotic factors.

• Abiotic factors: Humidity, Air, Temperature, Flood, Wind

• Biotic factors: Insects, Rodents, Pesticides, Bacteria, Mites, Birds

Q6. How do good animal husbandry practices benefit farmers?

Ans: Good practice of animal husbandry benefits farmers in the following ways:
• Yields in good quality cattle
• Better quality of milk production
• Use in agriculture for carting, irrigation and tilling

Q7. What are the benefits of cattle farming?

Ans: The benefits of cattle farming are

• Cattle are used for agricultural purposes

• Generation of good quality cattle
• Milking and meat purpose
• The skin of cattle is used for the leather and wool industry

Q8. For increasing production, what is common in poultry, fisheries and bee-keeping?
Ans: For increasing production, cross-breeding techniques are used adopted in poultry,
fisheries and bee-keeping. Along with these techniques, regular and proper maintenance
methods are useful in improving production.

Q9. How do you differentiate between capture fishing, mariculture and aquaculture?
Ans: Capture fishing: It is a technique in which fish are captured from various sources of
natural resources like sea, rivers, lakes and ponds.
Mariculture: Culturing of fish in marine fishes like prawns, oysters, bhetki and mullets in
marine water for commercial use.
Aquaculture: Involved in culturing of fish in both marine and freshwater.
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