GSEB Class 8 Science Solutions Chapter 1 Crop Production and Management

Question 1. 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 __________.
(b) The first step before growing crops is __________ of the soil.
(c) Damaged seeds would __________ on top of water.
(d) For growing a crop, sufficient sun-light, __________ and __________ from the soil are essential.
Answer:
(a) crop
(b) preparation
(c) float
(d) water, nutrients
In simple words: When many similar plants grow together in a large area, it's called a crop. Before planting, preparing the soil is the initial step. Bad seeds will float on water. For good crop growth, plenty of sunlight, water, and nutrients from the soil are very important.

Exam Tip: Understand the basic terms and steps of crop production. Words like 'crop,' 'preparation,' 'float,' 'water,' and 'nutrients' are key vocabulary for agriculture.

Question 2. Match items in Column A with those in Column B.
Answer:

In simple words: This table links different types of crops and substances to their correct categories. Kharif crops like paddy and maize grow in the rainy season, while rabi crops such as wheat, gram, and pea grow in winter. Chemical fertilizers are made in factories (like urea), but organic manure comes from natural sources such as animal waste and plant remains.

Exam Tip: Memorize examples for each crop type (Kharif and Rabi) and distinguish between the sources of chemical fertilizers and organic manure.

Question 3. Give two examples of each: in the soil that increases crop yields.
(a) Kharif crop
(b) Rabi crop
Answer:
(a) Paddy and maize.
(b) Wheat and gram.
In simple words: Kharif crops grow during the monsoon season, and good examples are paddy (rice) and maize (corn). Rabi crops grow during the winter season, and common examples include wheat and gram (chickpeas).

Exam Tip: Remember at least two examples for both Kharif and Rabi crops, as this is a common question to test basic agricultural knowledge.

Question 4. Write a paragraph in your own words on each of the following:
(a) Preparation of soil
(b) Sowing
(c) Weeding
(d) Threshing
Answer:
(a) Preparation of soil: The soil is made ready before planting the seeds. The soil is loosened to help it take in more water and manure. Loosening soil particles adds valuable humus and important nutrients, which improves crop yields. Tilling, or loosening the soil, is often done by a plough pulled by bulls. Tractors with cultivators are also used to loosen the soil.
(b) Sowing: After the soil is prepared, it is ready for planting seeds. It's important to choose healthy and clean seeds. Sowing can be done using a seed drill or funnel-shaped tools. A seed drill is a modern tool that helps plant seeds at the right depth and distance.
(c) Weeding: Unwanted plants that grow among the crops are called weeds. These weeds slow down the growth of crops by taking nutrients from the soil. So, it is important to remove them, as they can make the soil nutrient deficient. The process of removing weeds is called weeding. This can be done by hand or with machines. Some chemicals like 2,4-D can also be used to remove them.
(d) Threshing: Separating grains from the chaff (husks) is called threshing. Once the crop is mature, it is harvested and cut along with its stalks. The grains are then separated from the chaff using a winnowing machine.
In simple words: Soil preparation means getting the soil ready for planting. Sowing is putting seeds into the prepared soil. Weeding is taking out unwanted plants that grow with the crops. Threshing is separating the valuable grains from the rest of the plant.

Exam Tip: For descriptive answers, define the term clearly and then explain the process, including methods and tools used for each agricultural practice.

Question 5. Explain how fertilisers are different from manure.
Answer:

• Manures are organic substances, while fertilisers are chemical substances.
• Manures are made in fields, while fertilisers are made in factories.
• Manures provide all types of nutrients, while fertilisers are rich in only specific nutrients.
• Manures offer humus to the soil, while fertilisers do not give it.

Exam Tip: When comparing fertilisers and manure, focus on their origin (natural vs. synthetic), place of production (field vs. factory), nutrient content (broad vs. specific), and impact on soil (humus formation).

Question 6. What is irrigation? Describe two methods of irrigation which conserve water.
Answer: The process of watering crop plants is called irrigation. Two methods of irrigation that save water are:
(i) Sprinkler System: Sprinklers work like fountains. This system has long, upright pipes with holes at regular distances. When water flows through, it comes out of these holes and sprinkles over the field. These holes have spinning nozzles that spray water in all directions, which helps to reduce water waste.
(ii) Drip System: This system also saves water by letting water flow slowly, drop by drop, directly to the plant roots. It is an excellent method for watering fruit plants, garden plants, and trees. With this method, no water is wasted at all.
In simple words: Irrigation is how we give water to crops. Sprinkler systems spray water like rain, and drip systems slowly drop water right onto the plant roots, both helping to use less water.

Exam Tip: Define irrigation clearly and then explain two water-conserving methods with a brief description of how each works to save water.

Question 7. If wheat is sown in the kharif season, what would happen? Discuss.
Answer: Wheat does not need a huge amount of water for its growth. On the contrary, during the kharif season, rains are very frequent and heavy. Therefore, wheat should not be planted in the kharif season; otherwise, too much water might destroy the crop.
In simple words: Wheat needs less water. If you plant wheat in the rainy kharif season, the excessive rain could ruin the crop.

Exam Tip: Remember the specific water requirements of different crops and the typical weather conditions of each growing season (Kharif/Rabi) to explain why certain crops are suited for certain times.

Question 8. Explain how soil gets affected by the continuous plantation of crops in a field.
Answer: Planting crops in a field continuously for many years can make the soil infertile because the soil loses its nutrients and does not get enough time to replace them. This makes the soil less productive for future crops.
In simple words: If farmers keep planting crops in the same field year after year, the soil runs out of nutrients and cannot refresh itself, making it less fertile.

Exam Tip: When explaining soil depletion, emphasize the loss of nutrients and the lack of recovery time as key factors leading to infertility.

Question 9. What are weeds? How can we control them?
Answer: Weeds are unwanted plants that grow alongside crops. They compete with the main crop for essential nutrients and water. The process of managing the growth of weeds is called weeding. Weeding can be done by hand using tools like a khurpi or by using mechanical machines. Weeds can also be controlled using some chemical substances, such as 2,4-D. These chemicals are known as weedicides and are used to kill and remove the weeds.
In simple words: Weeds are unwanted plants that steal food and water from crops. Weeding, done by hand, machines, or special chemicals called weedicides, helps get rid of them.

Exam Tip: Define weeds clearly, explain why they are harmful, and list various methods of weed control (manual, mechanical, chemical).

Question 10. Arrange the following boxes in proper order to make a flow chart of sugarcane crop production.
Answer: The correct order for sugarcane crop production is:
1. Preparation of soil
2. Ploughing the field
3. Manuring
4. Sowing
5. Irrigation
6. Harvesting
7. Sending crop to sugar factory
In simple words: The steps to grow sugarcane are: first, get the soil ready, then plough it, add manure, plant the seeds, water the plants, gather the crop, and finally, send it to the sugar factory.

Exam Tip: For flow chart questions, identify the logical sequence of operations, starting from soil preparation and ending with the final use or processing of the crop.

Question 11. Complete the following word puzzle with the help of clues given below. Down (1) 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. 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 grains from chaff.
Answer:
**Down:**
1. IRRIGATION
2. STORAGE
5. CROP
**Across:**
3. HARVESTER
4. GRAM
6. WINNOWING
In simple words: For the puzzle, "Down" clues lead to words like Irrigation (for watering), Storage (for keeping grains), and Crop (many same plants). "Across" clues lead to words like Harvester (for cutting crops), Gram (a pulse), and Winnowing (for separating grains).

Exam Tip: Read each clue carefully and think of the relevant agricultural term. Pay attention to whether the answer is for "Down" or "Across" and the number of letters required.