NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science Chapter 15 Improvement in Food Resources

These NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science Chapter 15 Improvement in Food Resources Questions and Answers are prepared by our highly skilled subject experts to help students while preparing for their exams.

Improvement in Food Resources NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science Chapter 15

Class 9 Science Chapter 15 Improvement in Food Resources InText Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What do we get from cereals, pulses, fruits and vegetables?
Answer:

• Cereals provide us with carbohydrates. Also, they are a rich source of energy.
• Pulses give us proteins.
• Fruits and vegetables are a rich source of vitamins and minerals. A small amount of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats are also present in them.

Question 2.
How do biotic and abiotic factors affect crop production?
Answer:
A variety of biotic factors such as pests, nematodes, diseases, etc. can reduce net crop production. A pest causes damage to agriculture by feeding on crops. For example, boll weevil is a pest on cotton. It attacks the cotton crop, thereby reducing its yield. Weeds also reduce crop productivity by competing with the main crop for nutrients, light, and space.

Similarly, abiotic factors such as salinity, temperature, etc. affect the net crop production. Some natural calamities such as droughts and floods are unpredictable. Their occurrence has a great impact on crops sometimes, destroying the entire crop.

Question 3.
What are the desirable agronomic characteristics for crop improvements?
Answer:
The desirable agronomic characteristics for crop improvements are:

• Tallness and profuse branching in any fodder crop.
• Dwarfness in cereals.

These desirable agronomic characteristics help in increasing crop productivity.

Question 4.
What are macro-nutrients and why are they called macro-nutrients?
Answer:
Macro-nutrients are nutrients required in relatively large quantities for growth and development of plants. They are six in number. Since they are required in large quantities, they are known as macro-nutrient. The six macronutrients required by plants are nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulphur.

Question 5.
How do plants get nutrients?
Answer:
Plants require sixteen essential nutrients from nature for their growth and development. All these nutrients are obtained from air, water, and soil. Soil is the major source of nutrients. Thirteen of these nutrients are available from soil. The remaining three nutrients
(carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen) are obtained from air and water.

Question 6.
Compare the use of manure and fertilizers in maintaining soil fertility.
Answer:
Manures increase soil fertility by enriching the soil with organic matter and nutrients as it is prepared by the decomposition of animal excreta and plant wastes. On the other hand, fertilizers are mostly inorganic compounds whose excessive use is harmful to the symbiotic micro-organisms living in soil. Their excessive use also reduces soil fertility. Hence, fertilizers are considered good for only short term use.

Question 7.
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.
Answer:
(c) Farmers using good quality seeds, adopting irrigation, using fertilizers, and using crop protection measures will derive most benefits.

• The use of good quality seeds increases the total crop production. If a farmer is using good quality seeds, then a majority of the seeds will germinate properly, and will grow into a healthy plant.
• Proper irrigation methods improve the water availability to crops.
• Fertilizers ensure healthy growth and development in plants by providing the essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, etc.
• Crop protection measures include various methods to control weeds, pests, and infectious agents. If all these necessary measures are taken by a farmer, then the overall production of crops will increase.

Question 8.
Why should preventive measures and biological control methods be preferred for protecting crops?
Answer:
Preventive measures and biological control methods should be preferred for protecting crops because excessive use of chemicals leads to environmental problems. These chemicals are also poisonous for plants and animals. Preventive measures include proper soil and seed preparation, timely sowing of seeds, intercropping and mixed cropping, usage of resistant varieties of crops, etc.

On the other hand, biological control methods include the usage of bio-pesticides that are less toxic for the environment. An example of bio-pesticides is Bacillus thuringenesis, which is an insect pathogen that kills a wide range of insect larvae. Therefore, both preventive measures and biological control methods are considered eco-friendly methods of crop protection.

Question 9.
What factors may be responsible for losses of grains during storage?
Answer:
During the storage of grains, various biotic factors such as insects, rodents, mites, fungi, bacteria, etc. and various abiotic factors such as inappropriate moisture, temperature, lack of sunlight, flood, etc. are responsible for losses of grains. These factors act on stored grains and result in degradation, poor germinability, discolouration, etc.

Question 10.
Which method is commonly used for improving cattle breeds and why?
Answer:
Cattle farming is commonly used for improving cattle breeds. The purpose of cattle farming is to increase the production of milk and draught labour for agricultural work. Dairy animals (females) are used for obtaining milk and draught animals (males) are engaged in agricultural fields for labour work such as carting, irrigation, tilling, etc. Crossbreeding between two good varieties of cattle will produce a new improved variety.

For example, the cross between foreign breeds such as Jersey Brown, Swiss (having long lactation periods) and Indian breeds such as Red Sindhi, Sahiwal (having excellent resistance power against diseases) produces a new variety having qualities of both breeds.

Question 11.
What management practices are common in dairy and poultry farming?
Answer:
Common management practices in dairy and poultry farming are:

• Proper shelter facilities and their regular cleaning.
• Some basic hygienic conditions such as clean water, nutritious food, etc.
• Animals are kept in spacious, airy, and ventilated place.
• Prevention and cure of diseases attire right time is ensured.

Question 12.
What are the differences between broilers and layers and in their management?
Answer:
Layers are meant for egg production, whereas broilers are meant for poultry meat. Nutritional, environmental, and housing conditions required by broilers are different from those required by egg layers. A broiler chicken, for their proper growth, requires vitamin rich supplements especially vitamin A and K. Also, their diet includes protein rich food and enough fat. They also require extra care and maintenance to increase their survival rate in comparison to egg layers.

Question 13.
What are the desirable characters of bee varieties suitable for honey production?
Answer:
Bee varieties having the following desirable characters are suitable for honey production:

• They should yield high quantity of honey.
• They should not sting much.
• They should stay in the beehive for long durations. ‘
• They should breed very well.

Question 14.
What is pasturage and how is it related to honey production?
Answer:
Pasturage is the availability of flowers from which bees collect nectar and pollen. It is related to the production of honey as it determines the taste and quantity of honey.

Class 9 Science Chapter 15 Improvement in Food Resources Textbook Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Explain any one method of crop production which ensures high yield.
Answer:
Crop rotation is one of the methods of crop production that ensures high yield. It is the method of growing two or more varieties of crops on the same land in sequential seasons. A crop utilises some particular nutrients in larger quantities from the soil. Then, if the same crop is grown in subsequent seasons those nutrients will get depleted in the soil. Therefore, crops having different nutrient requirements are rotated.

For example, legumes which have nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their root nodules supply the soil with nitrogen. Therefore, these legumes are rotated with nitrogen requiring cereals such as wheat and maize. This method reduces the need of fertilizers, thereby increasing the overall yield of crops.

Question 2.
Why are manures and fertilizers used in fields?
Answer:
Manures and fertilizers are used in A fields to enrich the soil with the required nutrients. Manure helps in enriching the soil with organic matter and nutrients. This improves the fertility and structure of the soil. On the other hand, fertilizers ensure a healthy growth and development in plants. They are a good source of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. To get an optimum yield, it is instructed to use’s balanced combination of manures and fertilizers in the soil.

Question 3.
What are the advantages of inter-cropping and crop rotation?
Answer:
Inter-cropping and crop rotation both play an important role in increasing the yield of crops. Inter-cropping helps in preventing pests and diseases to spread throughout the field. It also increases soil fertility, whereas crop rotation prevents soil depletion, increases soil fertility, and reduces soil erosion. Both these methods reduce the need for fertilizers. It also helps in controlling weeds and controls the growth of pathogens and pests in crops.

Question 4.
What is genetic manipulation? How is it useful in agricultural practices?
Answer:
Genetic manipulation is a process where the gene for a particular character is introduced inside the chromosome of a cell. When the gene for a particular character is introduced in a plant cell, 9 transgenic plant is produced. These transgenic plants exhibit characters governed by the newly introduced gene.

For example, let us assume there is a wild plant that produces small fruits. If the gene responsible for a larger fruit size is introduced in this plant, this plant becomes transgenic, and starts producing larger fruits. Similarly, genes for higher yield, disease resistance, etc. can be introduced in any desired plant.

Therefore, gene manipulation plays an important role in agricultural practices. It helps in improving crop variety. It ensures food security and insect resistant crops. It also improves the quality and yield of Crops.

Question 5.
How do storage grain losses occur?
Answer:
There are various biotic and abiotic factors that act on stored grains and result in degradation, poor germinability, discolouration, etc. Biotic factors include insects or pests that cause direct damage by feeding on seeds. They also deteriorate and contaminate the grain, making it unfit for further consumption.

Abiotic factors such as temperature, light, moisture, etc., also affect the seed. They decrease the germinating ability of the seeds and make them unfit for future use by farmers. Unpredictable occurrence of natural calamities such as droughts and floods also causes destruction of crops.

Question 6.
How do good animal husbandry practices benefit farmers?
Answer:
Cattle farming is one of the methods of animal husbandry that is most beneficial for farmers. Using this method, better breeds of draught animals can be produced. Such draught animals are engaged in agricultural fields for labour work such as carting, irrigation, tilling, etc.

Question 7.
What are the benefits of cattle farming?
Answer:
Benefits of cattle farming:

• Good quality and quantity of milk can be produced.
• Draught labour animals can be produced for agricultural work.
• New variety that are resistant to diseases can be produced by crossing two varieties with the desired traits.

Question 8.
For increasing production, what is common in poultry, fisheries and bee-keeping?
Answer:
The common factor for increasing production in poultry, fisheries, and beekeeping is the proper management techniques that are to be followed. Regular cleaning of farms is of utmost importance. Maintenance of temperature and prevention and cure of diseases is also required to increase the number of animals.

Question 9.
How do you differentiate between capture fishing, mariculture and aquaculture?
Answer:
Capture fishing involves the fishing or capturing of fishes from natural water reservoirs using fishing liner or fishing nets. A different varieties of the fishes are ended up being captured in the processes, some are edible while others are not being very young or inedible type hence, disturb the aquatic ecosystem.

Mariculture involves the culturing of fishes in fresh water and brackish water It also involves the culturing for sea food.

Aquaculture involves the culturing of inland fisheries and marine fisheries in which different type of edible fishes are reared and cultured in the artificially made ponds. It also involves the culturing of other aquatic animals like mussels, prawns, oysters, snails for pearls, etc.

Class 9 Science Chapter 15 Improvement in Food Resources Additional Important Questions and Answers

Multiple Choice Question
Choose the correct option:

Question 1.
Which one is an oil yielding plant among the following?
(a) Lentil
(b) Sunflower
(c) Cauliflower
(d) Hibiscus
Answer:
(b) Sunflower

Question 2.
Which one is not a source of carbohydrate?
(a) Rice
(b) Millets
(c) Sorghum
(d) Gram
Answer:
(d) Gram

Question 3.
Find out the wrong statement from the following
(a) White revolution is meant for increase in milk production
(b) Blue revolution is meant for increase in fish production
(c) Increasing food production without compromising with environmental quality is called as sustainable agriculture
(d) None of the above
Answer:
(d) None of the above

Question 4.
To solve the food problem of the country, which among the following is necessary?
(a) Increased production and storage of food grains
(b) Easy access of people to the food grain
(c) People should have money to purchase the grains
(d) All of the above
Answer:
(d) All of the above

Question 5.
Find out the correct sentence
(i) Hybridisation means crossing between genetically dissimilar plants
(ii) Cross between two varieties is called as interspecific hybridisation
(iii) Introducing genes of desired character into a plant gives genetically modified crop
(iv) Cross between plants of two species is called as inter varietal hybridisation
(a) (i) and (iii)
(b) (ii) and (iv)
(c) (ii) and (iii)
(d) (iii) and (iv)
Answer:
(a) (i) and (iii)

Question 6.
Weeds affect the crop plants by
(a) killing of plants in field before they grow
(b) dominating the plants to grow
(c) competing for various resources of crops (plants) causing low availability of nutrients
(d) all of the above.
Answer:
(c) competing for various resources of crops (plants) causing low availability of nutrients

Question 7.
Which one of the following species of honey bee is an Italian species?
(a) Apis dorsata
(b) Apis florae
(c) Apis cerana indica
(d) Apis mellifera
Answer:
(d) Apis mellifera

Question 8.
Find out the correct sentence about manure
(i) Manure contains large quantities of organic matter and small quantities of nutrients.
(ii) It increases fire water holding capacity of sandy soil.
(iii) It helps in draining out of excess of water from clayey soil.
(iv) Its excessive use pollutes environment because it is made of animal excretory waste.
(a) (i) and (iii)
(b) (i) and (ii)
(c) (ii) and (iii)
(d) (iii) and (iv)
Answer:
(b) (i) and (ii)

Question 9.
Cattle husbandry is done for the following purposes
(i) Milk Production
(ii) Agricultural work
(iii) Meat production
(iv) Egg production
(a) (i), (ii) and (iii)
(b) (ii), (iii) and (iv)
(c) (iii) and (iv)
(d) (i) and (iv)
Answer:
(a) (i), (ii) and (iii)

Question 10.
Which of the following are Indian cattle?
(i) Bos indicus
(ii) Bos domestica
(iii) Bos bubalis
(iv) Bos vulgaris
(a) (i) and (iii)
(b) (i) and (ii)
(c) (ii) and (iii)
(d) (iii) and (iv)
Answer:
(a) (i) and (iii)

Question 11.
Which of the following are exotic breeds?
(i) Brawn
(ii) Jersey
(iii) Brown Swiss
(iv) Jersey Swiss
(a) (i) and (iii)
(b) (ii) and (iii)
(c) (i) and (iv)
(d) (ii) and (iv)
Answer:
(b) (ii) and (iii)

Question 12.
Poultry farming is undertaken to raise following
(i) Egg production
(ii) Feather production
(iii) Chicken meat
(iv) Milk production
(a) (i) and (iii)
(b) (i) and (ii)
(c) (ii) and (iii)
(d) (iii) and (iv)
Answer:
(a) (i) and (iii)

Question 13.
Poultry fowl are susceptible to the following pathogens
(a) Viruses
(b) Bacteria
(c) Fungi
(d) All of the above
Answer:
(d) All of the above

Very Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
What is FYM?
Answer:
FYM refers to the farmyard manure. It enriches the soil with nitrogen and phosphorus.

Question 2.
What is vermicompost?
Answer:
The compost prepared because of the action of earthworm in decomposition is called vermiform compost.

Question 3.
What is green manuring?
Answer:
Green manuring involves the sowing of seeds of plants like sun hemp and gaur etc before ploughing. After some time they are mulched into soil by ploughing to improve soil fertility.

Question 4.
Name some of the common irrigation systems used in rural areas of India?
Answer:
Irrigation systems used in rural areas of India include dug well, tube well, rivers, canals and water tanks.

Question 5.
What are weeds?
Answer:
Weeds are the unwanted plants which grow at their own in a field.

Question 6.
Name the Indian breeds of (i) Cow and (b) Buffalo
Answer:
(a) Cow-Red sindhi, Sahiwal and Gir.
(b) Buffalo-Murrah, mehsana and Surti.

Question 7.
What are milch animals?
Answer:
Milch animals include the milk producing female population in cattle farming.

Question 8.
How is concentrate different from roughage in cattle diet?
Answer:
Roughage is meant for growing cattle that is poor in proteins and fats but the concentrate is meant for the lactating females which is rich in protein and fats along with vitamins.

Question 9.
Define the followings:
(a) Mixed cropping
(b) Inter cropping
(c) Mixed farming
(d) Crop rotation
Answer:
(a) Mixed cropping : It refers to the simultaneously growing of two or more crops to avoid the crop failure.
(b) Intercropping: It refers to the growing of two or more crops in a definite row pattern to increase the productivity per unit area.
(c) Mixed fanning: It is the cultivation of a crop or more on a field along with rearing and management of cattle for milk or any other animal food product.
(d) Crop rotation: It involves the growing of different crops on a piece of land in a preplanned succession. Mostly legume crop alternates with the cereal crop.

Question 10.
Which practices does the green revolution intend to be adopted to increase the crop production?
Answer:
Green revolution involves growing of large amount of cereal crops using high yielding plant varieties, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, better practices of irrigation, etc.

Question 11.
What are fumigants?
Answer:
These are chemicals sprayed in field or storage sites that in gaseous state are lethal to pests.

Question 12.
What do you man by the acronym HYV?
Answer:
The acronym HYV stands for High yielding variety.

Question 13.
What steps a farmer needs to take to control diseases in cattle?
Answer:
A farmer needs to vaccinate the cattle and isolate the sick cattle from the herd to prevent further infection.

Question 14.
List some of the common diseases of cattle.
Answer:
Cowpox, anthrax, foot and mouth disease and black quarter.

Question 15.
What is the average diet of a cow?
Answer:
A cow on an average needs 15-20 kg of green fodder and dry grass, 4-5 kg of grain mixture and 30-35 litre of water per day.

Question 16.
Name any four breeds of indigenous fowls.
Answer:
Aseel, Chattisgarh, Burosa and Kadakath

Question 17.
Name the two exotic breeds of fowls.
Answer:
Rhode Island Red and White leghorn.

Question 18.
What is the laving period for a layer in poultry farm?
Answer:
Laying period refers to period of time from sexual maturity to the end of the laying of eggs.

Question 19.
Name two technologies adopted in fishing.
Answer:
To have increased output from fishing, echo sounding and satellite imaging is used these days to locate tire fish shoals in oceans.

Question 20.
Name the three commercial products obtained from the bees in beehive.
Answer:
Honey, bee wax and bee venom.

Question 21.
Name some cultured finfishes.
Answer:
Mullets, Pearl spot and Bhekti.

Question 22.
What is the size of bee-hive made of wood?
Answer:
46 × 23 cm., with chambers for laying eggs and collection of honey.

Question 23.
List some of the common pests of bees.
Answer:
Wasp, wax moths, King crow and Green bee eater.

Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
What are micronutrients and macronutrients? Give examples.
Answer:
Micronutrients: The nutrients required in small quantities by plants are called micro nutrients e.g. zinc, copper, boron, etc.

Macronutrients: The nutrients required in large quantities by plants are called macro nutrients e.g. nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur and potassium.

Question 2.
What are rabi and kharif crops?
Answer:
The crops grown in the winter season are called rabi crops. They are sown in November and harvested in April e.g. wheat, gram, peas, mustard and linseed.

The crops grown in summer season are called kharif crops or crops of monsoon season. They are sown in month of June to be harvested in October e.g. paddy, soyabean, maize and cotton.

Question 3.
How are manures prepared? Give their uses.
Answer:
Manures are prepared by the decomposition of the organic waste that include the plant waste, animal waste like cow dung etc. These wastes are placed ii) a ditch for a period of 1-2 months for decomposition after which they are taken out to be applied in the field.

Manures:

• enrich the soil with organic matter that adds to soil fertility in long rim.
• improves the water holding capacity of the soil.
• help recycle the organic waste produced in a farm.

Question 4.
Differentiate in a manure and fertilizer.
Answer:
A manure is produced naturally by the decomposition of natural plant and animal waste products. It is poor in nutrients but when added to soil, it improves the soil’s water holding capacity.

A fertilizer is industrially manufactured inorganic compound drat is water soluble. When added to soil, it enriches the soil with nutrients but its continuous use leads to soil pollution and in long run leads to a decline in production.

Therefore, fertilizers give only short term benefits but manures give long term benefits.

Question 5.
What precautions should be kept in mind while using fertilizers?
Answer:
The precautions need to be observed when applying fertilizers are

• Apply the fertilizers in terms of proper dose, at proper time after assessing the mineral quantity present in the soil.
• Application of fertilizer must follow proper irrigation, excessive irrigation, may casue their washing away from field.

Question 6.
What is mixed cropping? Give examples.
Answer:
The simultaneous growing of two or more crops on a same piece of land is called mixed cropping. In mixed cropping the common combinations used are:
Maize + Urd bean
Wheat + Chick pea
Ground nut + Sunflower
Cotton + Mung bean
Wheat + Mustard

Question 7.
What do you mean by hybridization? State its types.
Answer:
Hybridization is method of bringing improvement in the varieties of plants for higher yield. It helps produce

• high yielding varieties.
• varieties resistant to pest.
• varieties resistant to drought.

The hybridization is of different types depending upon the selected crop used for the cross pollination by bagging or emasculation. It can be inter-generic, interspecific or inter-species.

Question 8.
Why is there a necessity for the variety improvement?
Answer:
The variety improvement is necessary for

• Higher yield
• Improved quality of agronomic product.
• Biotic and abiotic resistance
• Desirable agronomic characteristics
• Desirable period of maturation time.

Question 9.
What are weeds? How are they controlled?
Answer:
Weeds are the unwanted plants in a cultivated field e.g. a barley or mustard plant in a wheat field. They grow at their own without their cultivation.

These weeds are not good for growing crops because

• they compete with the crop plants for air, water and nutrients.
• they act as alternate host for many pathogens.

Therefore, these weeds need to be removed. Their removal practices involve

• Mechanical method: It involves their manual removal by trowel or hoe.
• Chemical method: It involves the spraying of chemicals called herbicides or weedicides such as 2,4-D and 2,4,5-D.
• Cultural method: It involves proper seed bed preparation, timely sowing of crops, using intercropping or crop rotation practices.

Question 10.
How insect pests harm the crop?
Answer:
Generally, the insect pests harm the crop plants in following ways:

• They cut root, stem or leaf.
• They suck cell sap from different plant parts.
• They bore into stem, root or fruits.

Question 11.
How the diseases of diary animals are classified?
Answer:
The diseases of diary animals are classified as

• Parasitic
• Infectious
• Non-infectious

Parasitic diseases can be caused by the internal parasites like worms or external parasites which cause skin diseases. Infectious diseases are caused by pathogens such as virus, bacteria, fungi, etc.

Question 12.
Name the indigenous and exotic breed of fowls reared in poultry farms.
Answer:
Indigenous breeds of fowl include Aseel, Chattisgarh and Burosa.

Exotic species include Rhode Island Red and White leg horn. Rhode Island Red is a dual type of breed because it has both a good layer and broiler. White leghorn is small size fowl but lay long white egg.

Question 13.
What are broilers? How are they produced?
Answer:
The fowls reared and managed for the purpose of flesh in a poultry farm are called broilers. The broilers chickens are raised for 6-7 weeks in a poultry farm. During this time, they are fed on diet rich in proteins, vitamin-A and vitamin-k and proper care is taken to avoid mortality, feathering and carcass quality. Once they are 750 g to 1.5 kg, they are marketed for flesh.

Question 14.
What are layers? List the factors which have the favourable effect on laying out put.
Answer:
The fowls reared and managed for the purpose of eggs in a poultry farm are called layers. The laying out put refers to the period from the sexual maturity till the end of egg laying period. It is affected by number of factors such as:

• Feeding of the chickens, the feed needs to be rich in vitamins, minerals and micronutrients.
• Feed needs to contain grains of limestone to prevent the laying of shell less eggs.
• The intensity and duration of light is also known to have direct effect on the laying output of eggs.
• Presence of sand bath for chickens to help them get rid of ticks or mites on their skin surface.

Question 15.
What causes diseases to the chicken in a poultry farm? How these diseases can be prevented?
Answer:
In a poultry farm, the different type of pathogens such as virus, bacteria, fungi, etc can cause diseases along with their malnutrition. These diseases can be prevented by

• Proper cleaning and sanitation of the farm.
• Spraying of disinfectants.
• Timely vaccination of chickens.

Question 16.
Give examples of some Indian carps and some marine fishes.
Answer:
Indian carps: Rohu, Catla and Mrigal
Marine fishes: Sardine, Bombay duck, Hilsa, Salmon and Flying fish.

Question 17.
List the quality of the good variety of fishes.
Answer:
The qualities of the good variety of fishes include:

• Good flesh quality.
• Fast growing
• Early maturity.
• Not prone to infections.

Question 18.
State the importance of honey.
Answer:
Honey extracted from beehives

• has value especially indigestion disorders and some liver ailments.
• rich source of calcium and iron along with other minerals and vitamins.
• used as source of sugar in confectioneries.

Question 19.
What are indigenous and exotic breeds of honey bees?
Answer:
Indigenous breeds: Apis cerenana Indica, Apis florae, Apis dorsata
Exotic breeds: Apis mellifera Apis mellifera is the species known for the higher yield of good quality honey.

Question 20.
Which milk will you prefer for making curd, milk of cow or buffalo? Why?
Answer:
The milk from a buffalo is of superior quality because it is richer in fats, tocopherols, proteins, calcium and phosphorus and has low percentage of sodium, potassium and cholesterol. Therefore, for making the dairy products like curd, khoa, ghee and cheese etc, buffalo milk is preferred to cow milk.

Question 21.
What determines the quality of an egg?
Answer:
The quality of an egg is determined by its

• Weight and size.
• Shape
• Shell quality
• Internal structure.

Question 22.
Why ovaprim is used in pisciculture?
Answer:
In pisciculture, to get the good quality of seedlings( very young fishes), hormones extracted from the pituitary gland of carps were used in the process called hypophysation. These days, the hormonal extract has been replaced by synthetic inducing agent containing hormones. This is called ovaprim. It is used to improve the breed of fish synthetically. The use of ovaprim leads to induced breeding of fish.

It is during breeding time of fishes from July to August which is the rainy season.

Question 23.
What is the use of nursery pond and rearing ponds in fish culture?
Answer:
Nursery pond has size of 0.02-0.04 hectare with depth of about one metre. Fish eggs are placed in this pond which has circulating or flowing water to ensure the 100% hatching of the eggs. The eggs after hatching are called fries which are latqr transferred to other pond.

Rearing pond is of size of 0.04 hectare to 0.08 hectare with depth of about 1.5 metre. These are the ponds in which fries are transferred. Here, a they are fed with nutritious food for early maturity.

Question 24.
Enlist some of the advantages of beekeeping.
Answer:
The advantages of beekeeping include

• It is source of honey known for its medical value and source of sugar in confectionaries.
• It is source of bee wax, royal jelly and bee venom,
• It helps in cross pollination of flowers in pasturage,
• It is a type of cheap investment as farmer along with cultivation can involve himself in apiculture to boost his income.

Question 25.
Is water harvesting during monsoon season a better exercise? If yes, why?
Answer:
Yes; water harvesting during rainy season is a good exercise. It involves the storage of water in tanks or in small dams constructed below the higher elevation of catchment area. These dams are local specific but play an important role in

• recharging the underground water level.
• Providing water during times of water scarcity to the local people and cattle.

Question 26.
Mention some of the factors which have helped increase the food production.
Answer:
Some of the factors which have contributed in increasing the food production include

• Use of high yielding varieties of crops.
• Use of manures, fertilizers and adoption of the practices like crop rotation and intercropping.
• Protection of crops from pests and timely eradication of weeds.
• Timely irrigation of field with required amount of water.
• Better storage practices.

Question 27.
Preventive measures needs to be adopted to reduce the incidences of diseases in animals. Explain.
Answer:
The incidences of diseases in animals can be reduced if proper preventive measures are followed such as

• Well desired shelter with proper sanitation and ventilation facilities.
• Proper good nutritious food and good facility for drinking water.
• Keeping the surrounding of the area clean to prevent growth of mosquitoes or othejr pathogens.
• Frequent bathing of animals help reduce skin infections.
• Timely vaccination of animals.

Question 28.
What is crop production? What are the different types of crops?
Answer:
The act of growing number of useful plants in a given area without causing any environmental disturbances is Called crop production. Different types of crops grown are:
Cereals : Wheat, maize, rice, sorghum, millets, etc.
Pulses: Gram pea, black gram, pigeon pea, lentil, kidney beans, etc.
Oil seeds : Mustard, sesame, soyabean, groundnut, sunflower, etc.
Vegetables : Potato, spinach, cabbage, carrot, radish, etc
Fruits: Mango, papaya, grapes, litchi, apple, pine apple, etc.
Fodder: Barseam, oat, etc Beverages: Tea, coffee, tobacco, etc.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Write down the differences between mannure and fertilizers.
Answer:
The differences between mannure and fertilisers are given below.
Mannure:

1. This is a mixture of organic and inorganic substances.
2. This is prepared from vegetable and animal wastes by the action of microbes on decomposition.
3. It has low concentration of nutrients.
4. It is not specific in nature.
5. It is bulky hence not easy to store and transport.
6. It adds to water holding capacity of soil.

Fertilizers:

1. This is an inorganic substance.
2. These are synthesised from chemical substances.
3. It has high concentration of nutrients.
4. It is specific in nature e.g. nitrogenous or phosphatic.
5. It is easy to store and transport.
6. It has no effect on water holding capacity of soil.

Question 2.
Explain the role of workers in a honey bee colony.
Answer:
Workers the infertile female in the colony are the most active member. They have almost all responsibilities on their shoulders. In fact, they all are female by instinct but being the infertile female do not have the property to reproduce. Worker in their first half of life cycle do all indoor activities such as cleaning of the hive, taking care of hive as well as the queen.

In the second half of their life cycle they work as field workers i.e. collects the nectar, pollen, propolis. They also act as the security force of the colony i.e. work as the guards of colony. When any enemy comes, they sting it and then die off.

Question 3.
What are the preventive and control measures used before grains are stored for future use.
Answer:
Following are some control measures used before the grains are stored for future use:

1. Drying: The grains should be properly dried in sun followed by drying in shade. So that the moisture contents in the grains should be less than 14%.
2. Maintenance of Hygiene: Godowns and stores should be property cleaned Le., all sorts of dust, dirot, rubbish, webbing etc. of the previous grains should be swept away.
3. Cracks and Holes in the wall, floor or ceiling should be properly sealed.
4. New gunny bags should be used. If the old gunny bags are being used, then clean them properly, turn inside out and expose to the sun or fumigate them.
5. If earthen pots are used then they should also be cleaned and properly exposed to the sun.
6. Fumigation: Chemicals which can exist in gaseous state in sufficient concentration to be lethal against the pest are known as fumigants. These should be used according to the prescribed dose as Aluminium Phosphide can be used at the rate of 2 tablets per tonnes of grain.

Question 4.
What are the objectives of crop-varietal improvement?
Answer:
Common objectives of crop-varietal improvement are as follows:
1. Improved yield: The aim is to improve the productivity of economic produce. This improvement can be brought about by developing high yielding varieties.

2. Better Quality of agronomic products.

3. Biotic and Abiotic resistance: Crops suffer due to bioitic stress under different situtations. Developing varieties which have resistance to these stresses can bring significant improvement in crop production.

4. Early and uniform maturity: Early maturing varieties can make the crop fit into double and multiple cropping systems. This will also reduce the cost of production of crop. Uniform maturity will make the harvesting process easy and reduce the loss of produce harvesting.

5. Desirable Agronomic Traits: Tallness, high tillering and profuse branching are desirable characters for fodder crops. Drawfness is desired in cereals. Thus, developing varietis of desired agronomic traits will help increase the productivity.

6. Water Adaptability: This property will help in stablising the crop production under different environmental conditions.

Question 5.
What is artificial insemination? What are its advantages?
Answer:
Artificial insemination: It is the process of collection of the semen of male animal of desired quality by artificial means. Then its examination, preservation, transportation later it is injected into the vagina of female animals.

This is used only to improve the livestock found at distant places.
Advantages: 1. Artificial insemination makes the selective breeding of animals easier, because the semen from a desired high yielding breed of bull can be transported to distant places for impregnating cows.

2. This process is economical. Semem from a single bull can be used to impregnate 3000 cows at distant places. Thus is because semen of the bull is preserved, packed and sent for artificial insemination.

Question 6.
What practices are employed for rearing of diary animals? Describe essential feature of any two of these practices and their effects on the health and yield of animals.
Answer:
Practices for raising diary animals include:

1. Proper feeding
2. Proper shelter
3. Protection from diseases
4. Breeding

1. Proper feeding: Animals also require balanced diet in adequate quantity according to their work, special conditions, age and health. Animal requirements is of two types (1) Roughages (2) Concentrate. Green fodder, berseem, maize, jowar, bajra, provide them with some minerals. Cereals, grains, cotton, seeds, oil cakes and gram provide them with concentrate consisting proteins, fats and vitamins at the time of lactation.

Effect of Proper feeding. The poor quality of food material is the main .reason for the overall low yield. Their deficiency may cause diseases and affect the general health of the animals. Proper feeding maintain general health as well as raises the yield of the animal product.

2. Breeding: It is also very important factor for rearing dairy animals. Our indigenous varieties yield low milk, eggs and meat evert on their proper feeding Traditional breeds of animals are improved by crossing them, with high yielding breeds.

Question 7.
What is the important points to remember in poultry farming?
Answer:
The important points to remember in poultry farming are following:

1. Thr iMpNiwiii poultry breeds should be developed and fanned to produce layers for eggs and broilers for meat.
2. We should improve their breed by cross breeding the indigenous with exotic breeds according to their use (layers or broilers).
3. Their housing, shelters and feed should be kept in mind as layers require enough space as compared to broilers, layers also need proper light. Food is also different for broilers towhom we have to supply more protein rich diet with adequate fat. The layers are fed with vitamins, minerals and micronutrients.
4. The keeper should practice proper sanitation, spraying of disinfectant at regular intervals to avoid the spread of diseases.
5. Appropriate vaccination to reduce loss of poultry during an out break of disease, so, keeper should also keep in mind the vaccination process.

Question 8.
How bee colony works? What values can be seen in organisation of colony?
Answer:
Bees, live in a colony and show the best example of teamwork. The colony has three types of bees (1) Queen (2) Drones (3) Workers.

1. Queen: Is only one in one colony. Works as a mother of the colony, is responsible for laying eggs. In each season 2000 eggs are laid per day, eggs are fertile as well as.unfertile. Queen and workers emerges from fertile teggs where as drones come out of unfertile eggs.

2. Drones: They work as male in colony and mate with the queen. They live., sleep and eat in the colony. Their role is only in the breeding season hence, they are made to leave the colony after the breeding seasons. They are hundreds in number in one hive.

3. Workers: These are the most active members of the colony. They are female by instinct but unable to reproduce. During their first half life period, they perform the indoor duty as cleaning of hive etc. In the second half of their life, they have to do the outdoor duties such as collection of nectar, pollen, bee glue and protection of the queen. They are the security guards hence, sting the enemies and die off. They are 40,000 to 100,000 in a hive.

Question 9.
Explain what will happen if in a cultivated field only mannures are supplied and in another field only fertiliser are supplied while keeping all other conditions similar.
Answer:
In a cultivated field if we supply the manures, it will enrich the soil with nutrients as well as with organic matter. Manures increase the water holding capacity of the soil but in clayey soil the organic matter of manure helps in drainage and avoid water logging. Manure protect our environment and by applying it, we recycle the farm waste which is of so costly. But manure supply the small quantities of nutrients. The result would be slow plant growth.

In the another field we supply only fertilisers, the plants then have the healthy vegetative growth giving rise to healthy plants. Fertilisers are commercially produced for giving nutrients to plants and can supply only Nitrogen, Phosphorus or potassium (NPK). We can obtain high yield but only in high cost farming practices. We have also to keep in mind the pre and post application precautions for their utilization. Fertiliser is to be applied in terms of proper dose and time.

This results that when the farmer apply only fertiliser, he will get better cultivation and high yield as compared to when we only the manures. However, fertilizers if applied in excess would promote desertification.