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Science Class Viii Chapter 01 Study Material
Science Class Viii Chapter 01 Study Material
AGRICULTURE
The science of farming is called agriculture. Farming includes cultivation of plants and rearing
of animals for food and other beneficial items (like wool, cotton, beverages, etc.) is called
agriculture. Agriculture is the main occupation of majority of people in India. Due to this, most
of the people in India live in rural areas.
CROP
When plants of the same kind are grown and cultivated at one place on a large scale
commercially, they are called a crop. For example, crop of wheat means that all the plants
grown in a field are that of wheat.
Kharif Crops : The crops which are sown in the rainy season are called kharif crops. The rainy
season in India is generally from June to September. Paddy, maize, soyabean, groundnut,
cotton, etc., are kharif crops.
Rabi Crops : The crops grown in the winter season are called rabi crops. Their time period is
generally from October to March. Examples of rabi crops are wheat, gram, pea, mustard and
linseed.
AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES
Various tasks; which a farmer needs to do during cultivation of crops are collectively called
agricultural practices. Activities which are part of agricultural practices are as follows:
Preparation of soil
Sowing
Adding manure and fertilizer
IrrigationProtecting from weeds
Harvesting
Storage
PREPARATION OF SOIL
The first step of cultivation is preparation of soil. This is done by loosening and turning the soil.
A plough is used for this purpose. If the soil becomes too hard then farmer may resort to
watering the soil before ploughing.
Traditionally, animal-drawn ploughs have been used by farmers. Now-a-days, tractor-drawn
ploughs are used for this purpose. A tractor helps in saving time and labour. The soil may
contain many big lumps even after ploughing. The lumps are broken with the help of a hoe.
Sometimes the farmer may add manure before ploughing; in order to properly mix the manure
with soil.
Significance of Ploughing:
Loosening the soil allows the roots to penetrate deep into the soil.
It allows the root tips to breathe easily when they go deep into the soil.
Nutrients from humus get properly mixed into the soil.
It brings nutrients and minerals to the top and thus plants are able to utilize these minerals in
a better way.
Prepared by: M. S. KumarSwamy, TGT(Maths) Page - 1 -
TOOLS FOR LOOSENING AND TURNING OF SOIL
Plough: A plough is composed of ploughshare and ploughshaft. The ploughshare is made of
iron and is triangular in shape. The ploughshaft is made of wood and is very long. It is
harnessed to a pair of bullocks or other cattle with the help of a beam which remains
perpendicular to the ploughshaft.
Hoe: The hoe is used for leveling the soil and for removing weeds. It is made of iron or wood. It
is a long beam with a handle. Sometimes a heavy and flat beam of wood is utilized as a hoe. In
the iron hoe; a sharp blade is fixed on one end. A hoe is usually pulled by animals but
sometimes it is pulled by tractor as well.
Cultivator: A cultivator is composed of a series of iron discs or ploughshare which are fitted on
an iron frame. Cultivator is pulled by tractor. Cultivator helps in tilling a large area in less time.
It is ideal for big-size farm.
Broadcasting: This is a traditional method of sowing seeds. In this method, seeds are sprayed
on the field manually, i.e. by hand. Broadcasting is only effective on plots of small size.
Traditional Seed Drill: A seed drill is composed of a funnel which has a long and pointed
neck. The seed drill is attached to the plough-shaft. When seeds are kept in the funnel they drop
gradually through the neck; when the field is being ploughed. The pointed end of the neck of
seed drill pierces the soil and thus seeds go deep into the soil. Seed drill helps in saving time
when the farmer needs to sow a farm of large size.
Modern Seed Drill: The design of modern seed drill has evolved from the traditional seed drill.
It contains many hollow and pointed tubes which are fitted on a huge frame of iron. All the
tubes are connected to a huge container at top. Seeds are kept in the container so that seeds can
drop through the hollow tubes. Tractor-driven seed drills helps in sowing seeds on large farms
in less time.
MANURE
Manure is prepared by decomposition of plant and animal waste. Farm waste is dumped in the
field and is left to decompose. Sometimes, the farm waste may be covered with a layer of soil to
hasten the process of decomposition. Sometimes, help of earthworm is also taken to hasten the
process. Farmers also make compost pits to prepare manure.
Advantages of Manure:
Manure increases nutrients in soil.
It improves soil texture.
It improves water retaining capacity of soil.
It is free of any toxic material and thus is environment friendly.
FERTILISERS
Fertilizers are chemicals which contain a specific plant nutrient. Fertilizers are made in factories
and a pack of fertilizer may contain any one nutrient or a mixture of more than one nutrient.
Urea, ammonium sulphate, super phosphate, potash and NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and
Potassium) are examples of fertilizers.
Advantages of Fertilisers:
Fertilizers give faster results compared to manure.
Use of fertilizers helps farmers in significantly improving farm yield.
Disadvantages of Fertilisers:
Excessive use of fertilizers can make the soil unfertile.
Harmful chemicals in fertilizers pollute the soil and groundwater.
Fallow Field: When the field is left uncultivated for a season, it is called fallow land. Leaving
the field fallow allows the soil to recuperate nutrients through natural processes.
Crop Rotation: This is time tested method and has been used by farmers since a long time.
This involves growing a legume crop between two successive cereal crops. Rhizobium bacteria
live in the root nodules of legume plants. These bacteria help in nitrogen fixation in soil. Thus,
legume plant facilitates replenishment of nutrients in soil.
IRRIGATION
Plants need plenty of water to grow. Farmers need to supply water to crops at regular intervals.
This practice is called irrigation. Different types of crop require different amount and frequency
of irrigation. Kharif crops need more water than rabi crops.
Moat (Pulley System): This is composed of a pulley and a rope. A bucket is tied to one end of
rope. Another end of rope is pulled through over the pulley in order to draw water.
Dhekli: Dhekli is composed of a long wooden beam which turns around a lever. A bucket is
fitted at the longer end of the beam. The shorter end is pressed and raised by foot to fill and lift
water.
Manual pumps: Manual pumps are now being replaced by motor-driven pumps. Such motors
are powered either by electricity or by diesel engine.
Drip Irrigation: In this system, pipes are laid near the base and along the queue of plants. The
pipes have small holes at frequent gaps. The holes facilitate gradual dripping of water on the
base of plants. This method is ideal for areas which are suffering from shortage of water.
Weeding: Removal of weeds is called weeding. Weeding is usually done manually or by using
a trowel. Weeds are also removed during ploughing. Weedicides are the chemicals which
destroy weeds. 2, 4 – D is an example of weedicide. Weedicides are sprayed before flowering
and seeding in weeds. A farmer needs to take precautions to prevent any harm from weedicide.
The farmer needs to wear protective cloths and masks while spraying a weedicide.
Harvesting
Harvesting involves cutting the mature crop. Traditionally, harvesting is done manually by
using sickles. Combine harvesters are used on large farms. A combine harvester does harvesting
and threshing at one go.
Winnowing: Separation of grains and chaff is called winnowing. Winnowing is done manually
or by machines.
STORAGE
Proper storage of harvested crop is necessary to prevent damage from moisture and pests.
Grains are generally dries in the sun before being stored. Silos of different sizes are used for
storing grains. Fruits and vegetables and other perishable items are stored in cold storage.
Pesticides are also used while storing grains.
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 sunlight and _____________ and _____________ from
the soil are essential.
Ans: (a) crop, (b) preparation, (c) float, (d) water, nutrients
3. Give two examples of each. (a) Kharif crop (b) Rabi crop
Ans: (a) Kharif crop → Paddy, maize
(b) Rabi crop → Wheat, gram
(b) Sowing: Seeds are sown in the field after ploughing. A farmer needs to separate
damaged seeds from good seeds. The seeds should be sown at proper gaps and at proper
depth. Proper gap between seeds and proper depth in soil ensures adequate sunlight,
moisture, air and nutrients to the growing plants.
(c) Weeding: Removal of weeds is called weeding. Weeding is usually done manually or by
using a trowel. Weeds are also removed during ploughing. Weedicides are the chemicals
which destroy weeds. 2, 4 – D is an example of weedicide. Weedicides are sprayed before
flowering and seeding in weeds. A farmer needs to take precautions to prevent any harm
from weedicide.
8. Explain how soil gets affected by the continuous plantation of crops in a field.
Ans: We know that plants take nutrients from soil and thus exhaust the soil of most of the
nutrients with passage of time. Thus, continuous plantation of crops in the field results in
loss of fertility for the soil. The soil may become infertile in the long run.
4. The term used for the process of separation of grains from chaff is
(a) sieving (c) winnowing
(b) threshing (d) hand picking
6. Which of the following tools would a farmer use to remove weeds from the field?
(a) Hoe (b) Axe (c) Plough (d) Cultivator
8. Given below are statements about the harmful effects of weeds on crop plants.
(i) They interfere in harvesting.
(ii) They help crop plants to grow healthily.
(iii) They compete with crop plants for water, nutrients, space and light.
(iv) They affect plant growth.
Choose the correct combination of statements.
(a) i, iii, iv (c) iii, iv (b) iii only (d) i, ii, iii, iv
15. Which of the following is used for tilling the land by cultivator?
(a) Tractor (b) Bullock (c) Buffalo (d) Horse
18. Which of the following crops would enrich the soil with nitrogen ?
(a) apple (b) pea (c) paddy (d) potato
23. One of the following crop is not cultivated by sowing its seeds directly into soil. This one is
(a) wheat (b) gram (chana) (c) paddy (d) maize (makka)
25. Which of the following cannot be provided to the soil by a chemical fertiliser?
(a) nitrogen (b) humus (c) potassium (d) Phosphorus
28. The process of beating out grains from the harvested wheat crop is called :
(a) healing (b) crushing (c) threshing (d) weeding
30. The Government Agency responsible for purchasing grai.ns from the farmers, safe storage
and distribution is :
(a) CB1 (b) FBI (c) FCI (d) FDI
31. The process of removing unwanted plants from a crop field is called :
(a) breeding (b) weeding (c) transplanting (d) harvesting
32. Which of the following is not a correct statement for sowing seeds ?
(a) seeds should be sown at right intervals
(b) seeds should be sown at right depth
(c) seeds should be sown in dry soil
(d) seeds should not be sown in highly wet soil
33. Which of the following system of irrigation is preferred for the uneven land ?
(a) chain pump irrigation system (b) drip irrigation system
(c) sprinkler irrigation system (d) river irrigation system
34. The two crops which are not grown by sowing their seeds directly into the soil in large
fields are :
A. Peas B. Tomatoes C. Chillies D. Maize
(a) A and B (b) B and C (c) A and C (d) only C
35. The best technique of watering the fruit plants and trees is:
(a) chain pump system (b) sprinkler system (c) moat (pulley system) (d) drip system
36. Define the terms : (i) harvesting, (ii) threshing, and (iii) winnowing.
37. (a) What are the two ways in which food grains are stored on a large scale ?
(b) What is the advantage of storing food grains in gunny bags?
38. Name two traditional methods of irrigation and two modern methods of irrigation.
39. What is a ‘combine’ which is used in agriculture? State its functions.
40. What is ‘animal husbandry’?
41. What are the various practices necessary for raising animals for food and other purposes ?
42. (a) What is meant by kharif crops? Give two examples of kharif crops.
(b) What is meant by rabi crops? Give two examples of rabi crops.
43. (a) What is meant by ‘sowing’? What are the various methods of sowing the seeds?
(b) What precautions should be taken in sowing the seeds?
2. What name is given to the cutting and gathering of a food crop like wheat or paddy?
Answer: The cutting and gathering of mature food crop like wheat or paddy is known as
harvesting.
3. Name the process of beating out the grains from harvested crop.
Answer: The process of beating out the grains from the harvested crop plants is called
threshing.
4. Name the machine used in recovering the grain from already cut crop.
Answer: A machine called combine is used for harvesting and threshing (Cutting of
standing crop and recovering grains).
5. Name the process in which grains are separated from chaff and hay with the help of wind.
Answer: The process in which grains are separated from chaff with the help of wind is
called winnowing.
7. What name is given to that branch of agriculture which deals with feeding, shelter, health
and breeding of domestic animals?
Answer: The branch of agriculture which deals with feeding, shelter, health and breeding of
domestic animals is called animal husbandry.
8. Which crop is generally grown between two cereals crops in crop rotation to restore the
fertility of soil?
Answer: Leguminous crops like pulses, beans, peas are generally grown between two
cereals crops in crop rotation to restore the fertility of soil.
9. State one advantages of growing a leguminous crop between two cereals crops.
Answer: Rotation of crops (leguminous and non-leguminous crops) in the same field
replenishes the soil with nitrogen naturally and increases the soil fertility.
10. Name the nitrogen-fixing bacteria present in root nodules of leguminous plants.
Answer: The nitrogen-fixing bacteria present in root nodules of leguminous plants is
rhizobium bacteria.
15. Name the two types of substances which are added two the fields by the farmers to maintain
the fertility of soil.
Answer: Manure and fertilizers are added to the fields by the farmers to maintain the
fertility of soil.