Crop Production and
Management (Part -1)
Class VIII – Chapter 1
St. John’s High School
Why do we need food ?
Energy from the food is utilized by organisms for
carrying out their various body functions, such as
digestion, respiration and excretion.
Crop - When plants of the same kind are
cultivated at one place on a large scale.
Cropping Patterns
Agricultural Practices Several activities undertaken
by farmers over a period of time for cultivation of crops .
Preparation of soil
• The loosened soil helps in the growth
of earthworms and microbes present
in the soil. These organisms are
friends of the farmer since they
further turn and loosen the soil and
add humus to it.
• Allows the roots to penetrate deep
into the soil. The loose soil allows the
roots to breathe easily even when they
go deep into the soil.
• Sometimes, manure is added to the
soil before tilling. This helps in proper
mixing of manure with soil.
Agricultural Implements
PLOUGH
CULTIVATOR
Sowing – Act of scattering seeds on land so that
they may grow
One day I saw my mother put some
gram seeds in a vessel and pour some
water on them. After a few minutes
some seeds started to float on top. I
wonder why some seeds float on
water!
Damaged seeds become
hollow and are thus lighter.
Therefore, they float on
water. This is a good
method for separating
good, healthy seeds from
the damaged ones.
Ways of Sowing
Replenishment of Nutrients in the soil
Excessive use of
fertilizers
• make the soil less
fertile.
• become a source of
water pollution.
• Therefore, we
have to substitute
fertilizers with
organic manure or
leave the field
uncultivated
(fallow) in
between two
crops.
Advantages of Manure
Crop rotation - practice of growing a series of dissimilar
or different types of crops in the same
area in sequenced seasons.
ADVANTAGES
• soil of a field is not used for
only one set of nutrients.
• It helps in reducing soil
erosion
• Helps in the replenishment of
the soil with nitrogen.
• increases soil fertility and
crop yield.
WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNT
• In order to provide food to our growing population, we
need to adopt certain agricultural practices.
• Same kind of plants cultivated at a place constitute a
crop.
• In India, crops can be broadly categorised into two types
based on seasons - rabi and kharif crops.
• It is necessary to prepare soil by tilling and levelling.
Ploughs and levellers are used for this purpose.
• Sowing of seeds at appropriate depths and distances
gives good yield.
• Good variety of seeds are sown after selection of
healthy seeds.
• Sowing is done by seed drills.
• Soil needs replenishment and enrichment through the
use of organic manure and fertilisers.
• Use of chemical fertilisers has increased tremendously
with the introduction of new crop varieties.
Crop Production and
Management (Part -2)
Class VIII – Chapter 1
St. John’s High School
Irrigation - The supply of water to crops
at regular intervals
Modern means of
Irrigation
Weeding –Removal of undesirable plants (weeds)
growing naturally along with the crop.
Weeding is necessary as
• weeds compete with the crop
plants for water, nutrients,
space and light.
• affect the growth of the crop.
• Some weeds interfere even in
harvesting and may be poisonous
for animals and human beings.
.
Harvesting - The cutting of crop after it
is mature
Manual
Combine
In the harvested The separation of grain
crop, the grain seeds and chaff is done by
need to be separated winnowing
from the chaff. This
process is called
threshing
Storage of Harvested crop - If the harvested grains
are to be kept for longer time, they should be safe from
moisture, insects, rats and microorganisms.
Additional Information
Animal Husbandry
WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNT
• Supply of water to crops at appropriate intervals is called
irrigation.
• Weeding involves removal of unwanted and uncultivated plants
called weeds.
• Harvesting is the cutting of the mature crop manually or by
machines.
• Separation of the grains from the chaff is called threshing.
• Proper storage of grains is necessary to protect them from pests
and microorganisms.
• Food is also obtained from animals for which animals are reared.
This is called animal husbandry.