Agricultural Wealth: Paddy 98 PDF

OUR AGRICULTURAL WEALTH: PADDY (PAGE- 98) VSAQ/SAQ/LAQ 1. What is power-tiller? What is its function? (2+1=3) Ans- Power-tillers are machines used to prepare the soil for planting by turning the soil over with rotating cutting blades. Function: Power-tiller helps in prepari...

OUR AGRICULTURAL WEALTH: PADDY (PAGE- 98) VSAQ/SAQ/LAQ 1. What is power-tiller? What is its function? (2+1=3) Ans- Power-tillers are machines used to prepare the soil for planting by turning the soil over with rotating cutting blades. Function: Power-tiller helps in preparing the soil, sowing seeds, planting seeds, adding and spraying the fertilizers, herbicides and water. 2. What is harvester? (1) Ans- A harvester is a machine (modern device) which is used for cutting and winnowing crops such as paddy. 3. Define harvesting? (2) Ans- Harvesting is the method where the crops are cut, the chaff is separated from the grain and gathered the mature crops in a single place. It is done manually with the sickle or done mechanically by harvester. 4. What is the function of harvester? (2) Ans- The function of a harvester is to cut, thresh, winnow, separating the chaff from the grain and gather the mature crops in a single place. 5. Define ploughing/ tilling? (2) Ans- Ploughing or tilling is the agricultural preparation of soil by breaking, loosening the soil, and turning it over for uprooting weeds and aerating the soil. 6. Why power-tiller is called so? (1) Ans- Power is the ability to do some work. Faster work means more power. The field can be ploughed quickly. So, it is called power-tiller. 7. Define tiller? (1) Ans- The one who farms is known as tiller. 8. What is winnowing? (2) Ans- Winnowing is the method in which heavier components of the mixture are separated from the lighter substances with the help of wind. This method is used for separating grains from husk after the process of threshing. 9. Define threshing? (2) Ans- The process of beating out the grains from the harvested crop such as paddy is known as threshing. It loosens the edible part of the grain (paddy) from the straw to which it is attached. PLOUGH DRAWN BY HUMANS (PAGE- 99) VSAQ/SAQ/LAQ 1. Which animals were used to pull the plough? (1) Ans- Animals like cows, buffalo and horses were used to pull the plough. 2. What is plough? (1) Ans- A plough is a large farming tool with sharp blades which is pulled across the soil to turn it over, usually before seeds are planted. 3. What was the plough made of? (1) Ans- The plough was made of wood. 4. Who first started agriculture? (1) Ans- Agriculture was first started by women. 5. What did men and women do long ago? (1+1=2) Ans- Long ago, men used to hunt animals. Women used to bring fruits and leaves from the forests, as well as looked after the house. 6. How did farming first started? (2) Ans- Agriculture was first started by women used to bring fruits and leaves from the forests, as well as looked after the house. There they observed how plants grow from seeds and decided to cultivate it. In this way, farming first begins long ago. 7. What tool people use long ago to get more crops? (1) Ans- The wooden ploughs were used long ago to get more crops. 8. How was the plough pulled long ago? (1) Ans- During the cultivation of land one person held on tightly the plough and another person pulled it. 9. What measures did people take to produce more crops? (3) Ans- People noticed that the more the field was tilled, the better the crops. Then wooden ploughs were used. One person held on tightly to the plough, and another person pulled it. After some time, humans understood that the same ploughing could be done by other animals like cows, buffalo, and horses. They could be fed with grass, and people would consume the crops. FERTILIZERS AND INSECTICIDES (PAGE- 100) VSAQ/SAQ/LAQ 1. What was used as manure in the agricultural land in the old days? (1) Ans- Cow dung was used as manure in the agricultural land in the old days. 2. In earlier days, why people would not have had animals for ploughing? (1) Ans- In earlier days, people would not have had animals for ploughing because it takes time to domesticate animals. 3. What is manure? (2) Ans- Manure is an organic matter derived from the solid animal wastes, used to improve the soil quality and increase the yield of healthy crops. 4. What are the various sources of manure? (2) Ans- Manure can be obtained from various sources. The different sources of manure are mentioned below: Cattle dung, urine, and slurry from biogas plants. Wastes from human habitation such as human urine, night soil, sludge, sewage, domestic waste.  Droppings of goat and sheep Waste from the slaughterhouses such as bones, meat, horn and hoof meal, fish waste By-products of agricultural industries Crop waste 5. How is manure beneficial to us? (2) Ans- Manure improves the soil profile and its water-holding capacity. It adds nutrients to the soil and makes the soil more fertile. It does not harm the water bodies as well. 6. What is fertilizer? (2) Ans- The nutrient-rich substances that are added to the soil to increase its fertility are known as fertilizers. Fertilizers can be any material, organic or inorganic, natural or synthetic, which supplies one or more of the chemical elements required for the plant growth. 7. Differentiate between manure and fertilizers? (2) Ans- Differences between manure and fertilizers are as follows— MANURES FERTILIZERS 1) Manure is obtained naturally by the 1) Fertilizers are chemical substances decomposition of dead plants and and are not typically natural. animals. 2) It is not very rich in nutrients. 2) It is rich in soil nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. 3) It is slowly absorbed by the plants. 3) It is easily absorbed by plants. 4) It provides a lot of humus to the soil. 4) It does not provide any humus to the soil. 5) They are prepared naturally in the 5) They are prepared in the factories. fields. 6) These do not improve the physical 6) These improve the physical condition conditions of the soil relatively of the soil. 7) Does not adversely affect the plant or 7) Adversely affects the soil and the the soil if supplied in large quantities. plant if supplied in large quantities. 8. Why is manure considered over fertilizer? (2) Ans- Manure adds nutrients to the soil without affecting its fertility. It does not damage crops and produces healthy plants. Fertilizers are chemicals which lower the fertility of the soil if used regularly. They also damage the crops and make them unhealthy for consumption. 9. How could people know that manure increases crop productivity? (2) Ans- People could have understood it while ploughing with cows. May be there was a resting place for the cows which was later used for farming where crops grew better. From there they understood that cow dung can be used as manure. 10. How in the olden days people learnt the same things in different ways? (2) Ans- In olden days, people live in groups. May be one group of people have cultivated crops and they are not aware about the existence of other groups. In this way people learnt the same things in different ways in olden days. 11. What are insecticides? (2) Insecticides are chemicals used to control insects by killing them or preventing them from engaging in undesirable or destructive behaviours. 12. What are the disadvantages of insecticides? (2) Ans- The disadvantages of insecticides are— Non-target organisms– Insecticides can kill more than intended organisms and are risky to humans. Also, when insecticides mix with water sources, they harm aquatic wildlife. When birds drink such contaminated water and eat affected insects, they die. Resistance– Insects when repeatedly exposed to insecticides build up resistance until finally; they have little or no effect at all. 13. In the olden days, what was used for killing insects? (1) Ans- In the olden days, Neem leaves were used for killing insects. 14. Write the name of some fertilizers? (1) Some examples of fertilizers are Potash and NPK, etc. 15. Write the name of some insecticides? (2) Ans- Name of some common insecticides includes aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, mirex and toxaphene. PRICE OF RICE INCREASES FOURFOLD (PAGE- 101) VSAQ/SAQ/LAQ 1. What are different types of fertilizers? (3) Ans- There is many different types of fertilizer available today, though all fertilizers fall under two broad categories. 2. Define Chemical fertilizers? (2) Ans- Chemical fertilizers are substances that are applied to soils or directly to plants in order to give nutrients that are optimal for their growth and development. These fertilizers contain essential minerals including nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium (NPK), as well as additional nutrients in smaller amounts, all in a form that plants can easily absorb and use. Example- Ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, urea, ammonium chloride, and other chemical fertilizers are examples. 3. Define Organic fertilizers? (2) Ans- Organic fertilizer means any substance composed of animal or vegetable matter used alone or in combination with one or more nonsynthetically derived elements or compounds which are used for soil fertility and plant growth. Example- Commonly used organic fertilizers include composted animal manure, compost, sewage sludge, food processing wastes, and municipal biosolids. 4. State advantages and disadvantages of chemical fertilizer? (2+2=4) Ans- ADVANTAGES: The advantages of chemical fertilizers are as follows— Quick solution to problems: as they act in the short term, this type of fertilizers are very useful in critical situations, when plants do not seem to be developing properly or when there is a shortage of food due to crop erosion. Soil adjustment: whether the soil has a very high or low acidity level, it can be adjusted with chemicals to get the most out of it. Increased productivity: the goal of using these chemicals is to get more, better and bigger food. With nitrogen or potassium, injected directly into the soil, you get the best vegetables. Low costs: compared to the other more natural options available, such as organic or bio fertilizers, chemical fertilizers have lower costs, but only when using those with only one main nutrient (compound fertilizers are more expensive). DISADVANTAGES: The disadvantages of chemical fertilizers are as follows— Increased acidity level: the more it is used the more acidic the soil in which it is grown becomes, which prevents us from planting in it again, or at least for a long period of time. Soil degradation: Excessive use of fertilizers can significantly raise acidity levels, create macronutrient saturation, or change it to the point where the soil loses sensitivity and absorbency to various nutrients. Groundwater contamination: Applying excessive doses of fertilizer may leak into the area below the root zone and reach the groundwater. Salt burns: These burns indicate excessive use of chemical fertilizers. Fertilizers with a high saline index and chemicals like sodium nitrate are the ones that get the most attention or follow-up to avoid salt burns. Excessive growth: Because of the excessive and uncontrolled application of chemical fertilizers, the proportions and growth of the plants may exceed typical criteria. When this point is reached, the harvest and survival of the plants are jeopardized, rather than improving productivity. 5. State advantages and disadvantages of organic fertilizer? (2+2=4) Ans- ADVANTAGES: The advantages of organic fertilizers are as follows— Soil Structure: Because of the organic matter present in organic fertilizer, soil structure is improved and as a result the soil’s ability to hold onto water and nutrients increases.  Microbes Thrive: Organic fertilizer is rich in organic matter, which helps microbes thrive. Organic fertilizer contains carbon as part of its chemical makeup; and it is the carbon, along with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that feeds microbes and enables them to make nutrients available for plants in a naturally occurring biological process. Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly: Organic fertilizers do not run off as easily (if at all) and are associated with soil structure. Organic fertilizer also increases species biodiversity by 30% compared with synthetic fertilizer. Cheaper: Organic fertilizer is potentially a cheaper option than chemical alternatives. Reduced soil erosion: A higher proportion of organic material in the soil will also prevent soil erosion. Since organic fertilizers are inherently "found" materials - like manure, vegetable scraps, aggregates, seaweed - they build soil structure as they hold and release nutrients to the plants. DISADVANTAGES: The disadvantages of organic fertilizers are as follows— Limited nutrient availability: The level of nutrients present in organic fertilizer is often low. Labour-intensive: Organic fertilizers can be bulky, messy materials. This means that applying fertilizer on a large scale can be more difficult, as heavy manure or blood meal granules are less suitable for mechanical spreaders. Expensive: Commercial organic fertilizers are often more expensive per unit than comparable chemical products. 6. Differentiate between chemical and organic fertilizers? (3) Ans- Differentiate between chemical and organic fertilizers are as follows— CHEMICAL FERTILIZER ORGANIC FERTILIZER NPK Ratio 20 to 60% About 14% Example Ammonium sulfate, ammonium Cottonseed meal, blood meal, fish phosphate, ammonium nitrate, urea, emulsion, and manure and sewage ammonium chloride and the like. sludge, etc. Advantages Chemical fertilizers are rich equally in Adds natural nutrients to soil, three essential nutrients that are increases soil organic matter, needed for crops and always ready forimproves soil structure and tilth, immediate supply of nutrients to improves water holding capacity, plants if situation demands. reduces soil crusting problems, reduces erosion from wind and water, Slow and consistent release of nutrients. Disadvantages Several chemical fertilizers have high Have slow release capability; acid content. They have the ability to distribution of nutrients in organic burn the skin. Changes soil fertility. fertilizers is not equal. Rate of Immediate supply or slow release Slow release production About Chemical fertilizers are manufactured Organic fertilizers are made from from synthetic material materials derived from living things. Preparation Artificially prepared. Prepared naturally. One can prepare  organic fertilizers, themselves or can also buy. Nutrients Chemical fertilizer has an equal Have unequal distribution of distribution of three essential essential nutrients. nutrients: phosphorous, nitrogen, potassium. Cost Chemical fertilizers turn out to be Organic fertilizer may be cheaper per cheaper because they pack more pound but works out to be more nutrients per pound of weight. expensive over all because more of it is needed for the same level of nutrients. 7. When the use of chemical fertilizers and insecticides was on the rise? (1) Ans- Around 40-45 years ago, the use of chemical fertilizers and insecticides was on the rise. 8. What will be the harmful effects of chemical insecticides on biodiversity? (1) Ans- The chemical insecticides will kill the friendly insects living in soil. The economically useful insects like the honey-bees and silkworms would be lost. 9.