Improvement in Crop Yields Questions in English

(N/A) $(i)$ Rabi crops: The crops which are grown in the winter season,typically from November to April,are called Rabi crops.
Examples: Wheat,gram,peas,mustard,and linseed.
$(ii)$ Kharif crops: The crops which are grown in the rainy season,typically from June to October,are called Kharif crops.
Examples: Paddy,soybean,pigeon pea,maize,cotton,green gram,and black gram.

(N/A) Hybridisation refers to the crossing between genetically dissimilar plants. This crossing may be intervarietal (between different varieties),interspecific (between two different species of the same genus),or intergeneric (between different genera).
Advantages of hybridisation:
$(i)$ It makes varieties disease-resistant and improves their response to fertilizers.
$(ii)$ It results in higher yield and improves the quality of the product.

(N/A) The advantages of crops with a shorter duration are as follows:
$1$. It allows for multiple rounds of cropping in a single year,increasing total productivity.
$2$. It reduces the cost of production as the crop requires less time for irrigation,fertilizers,and labor.
$3$. It reduces the risk of crop loss due to pests,diseases,or unpredictable weather conditions during the growth period.
$4$. It provides more economic variety for farmers to choose from.

(N/A) Yes,$I$ agree with this statement. In contrast to the long-term benefits of manures,fertilizers provide only short-term benefits because:
$(i)$ Continuous use of fertilizers in an area can destroy soil fertility by reducing organic matter.
$(ii)$ They harm the beneficial microorganisms present in the soil,which are essential for maintaining soil health.
$(iii)$ They are expensive and can cause water pollution through the process of eutrophication when they leach into water bodies.

(N/A) Organic farming: Production of unpolluted plant products by pursuing a farming system with minimal or no use of chemicals as fertilizers,herbicides,pesticides,etc.,is known as organic farming.
Advantages of organic farming:
$(i)$ In organic farming,there is minimal or no use of chemicals.
$(ii)$ In this farming,micro-organisms present in the soil are replenished.
$(iii)$ It maintains the soil fertility.
$(iv)$ Food obtained by this process is nutritious and unpolluted.

(N/A)

Manures	Fertilizers
$1.$ They are organic in nature.	$1.$ They are inorganic in nature.
$2.$ They are generally insoluble in water.	$2.$ They are generally soluble in water.
$3.$ They are not nutrient specific.	$3.$ They are nutrient specific.
$4.$ They are biodegradable.	$4.$ They are non-biodegradable.
$5.$ They are voluminous and bulky,so difficult to store and carry.	$5.$ They can be easily stored and are easy to carry.
$6.$ They provide humus to the soil.	$6.$ They do not provide humus to the soil.

(N/A) The method is Mixed Cropping.
Advantages of Mixed Cropping:
$(i)$ It reduces the risk of total crop failure.
$(ii)$ It provides insurance against the failure of one of the crops.
$(iii)$ It ensures a variety of produce from the same field.
$(b)$ Two examples of fodder crops are Berseem and Oats.

(N/A)

Intercropping	Mixed cropping
$1.$ It is done to increase production per unit area.	$1.$ It is done to prevent total crop failure.
$2.$ The seeds of different crops are sown in specific rows.	$2.$ Two or more types of seeds are mixed and then sown together.
$3.$ Example: Soybean + maize.	$3.$ Example: Wheat + gram.

Advantages of intercropping over mixed cropping:
$(i)$ In intercropping,it is easy to apply fertilizers or spray pesticides on each crop individually,which is difficult in mixed cropping.
$(ii)$ In intercropping,each crop can be harvested,processed,and sold separately,whereas in mixed cropping,the produce is harvested together and requires separation.

(N/A) Farmer $X$ uses the Intercropping pattern. Farmer $Y$ uses the Crop-rotation pattern.
$(b)$ Advantages of Intercropping (Farmer $X$):
$1$. It ensures maximum utilization of the nutrients supplied to the soil.
$2$. It prevents pests and diseases from spreading to all the plants in the field by acting as a natural barrier.
Advantages of Crop-rotation (Farmer $Y$):
$1$. It helps in the replenishment of soil fertility by alternating crops with different nutrient requirements.
$2$. It helps in controlling weeds and pests,as different crops have different growth requirements and susceptibility to pests.

(N/A) Two initiatives adopted to increase water availability are:
- Rainwater harvesting
- Watershed management
$(b)$ Two advantages of check dams are:
- They increase the groundwater level.
- They reduce soil erosion.
- They prevent rainwater from flowing away.
$(c)$ Canal system: In this system,water is taken from rivers or reservoirs and distributed to crop fields through an extensive network of canals.
River lift system: In this system,water is directly drawn from rivers using pumps to supplement irrigation in areas where canal flow is insufficient or irregular.

(N/A)
Macronutrients: These are essential nutrients required by plants in large quantities for their growth and development.
Micronutrients: These are essential nutrients required by plants in very small or trace amounts.
$(b)$
$(i)$ Formation of Vermicompost: It is produced by the decomposition of organic plant and animal waste (refuse) through the action of earthworms. The earthworms break down the organic matter,resulting in a nutrient-rich compost.
$(ii)$ Formation of Green manure: It is formed by growing leguminous plants like sunhemp or cluster bean (guar) before sowing the main crop. These plants are then mulched into the soil by ploughing. This process significantly increases the nitrogen and phosphorus content of the soil,thereby improving its fertility.

(N/A)

Parameters	Macronutrients	Micronutrients
$(i)$ Functions	These nutrients help in building the plant body and promote growth.	These nutrients are required for various enzymatic activities in plants.
$(ii)$ Amount required	Required in comparatively large quantities.	Required in very small quantities (traces).

$(b)$ Classification:
$(i)$ Nitrogen: Macronutrient
$(ii)$ Zinc: Micronutrient
$(iii)$ Copper: Micronutrient
$(iv)$ Potassium: Macronutrient
$(c)$ Deficiency of these nutrients is harmful because it negatively affects physiological processes in plants,including reproduction,growth,and overall development,while also increasing susceptibility to diseases.

(B) Selecting seeds with wider adaptability allows crops to grow and yield effectively across diverse climatic and soil conditions. This trait is crucial for stabilizing crop production,as it ensures consistent yields even when environmental factors like temperature,rainfall,or soil quality fluctuate.

(N/A) $(i)$ Cultivation practices and crop yield depend upon the following factors:
$(a)$ Availability of high-quality seeds.
$(b)$ Availability of water and fertile soil.
$(c)$ Access to agricultural information and modern technologies.
$(ii)$ The three stages involved in farming practices are:
$(a)$ Selection of seeds for planting.
$(b)$ Nurturing and caring for the crop plants.
$(c)$ Protecting the growing and harvested crops from loss or damage.

(N/A) The seed grains were genetically modified or flood-resistant varieties,which are developed to withstand waterlogging and the damaging effects of floods.
$(b)$ This type of fish farming is known as $Composite$ $Fish$ $Culture$ or $Integrated$ $Fish$ $Farming$.

(N/A) Crops that have been modified to obtain desirable traits by introducing a gene that controls the desired characteristics are called genetically modified crops.
$(b)$ Tallness and profuse branching are desirable characters for fodder crops. Dwarfness is desired in cereals so that fewer nutrients are consumed by these crops,leading to higher grain production.
$(c)$ To ensure modern agricultural technology is adopted by most farmers:
$(i)$ Spread awareness through seminars conducted by agricultural scientists regarding the benefits of modern technology.
$(ii)$ Provide easy access and subsidies for the use of $HYV$ (High Yielding Varieties) seeds.
$(iii)$ Promote sustainable development by utilizing natural resources in a judicious manner,avoiding overexploitation,and preventing environmental pollution.

(N/A) Sunhemp or guar are grown and mulched by ploughing them into the soil prior to sowing of the crop seeds.
These plants act as green manure,which helps in enriching the soil with nitrogen and phosphorus.
They are better than chemical fertilizers because they do not destroy the natural soil fertility over time.
Additionally,they do not cause soil or water pollution,making them an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fertilizers.

(C) The advantages of intercropping are:
$(i)$ It makes better use of the natural resources of sunlight,land,and water.
$(ii)$ It ensures maximum utilization of the nutrients supplied.
$(iii)$ It prevents pests and diseases from spreading to all the plants of one crop in a field.

(N/A)

Mixed Cropping	Intercropping	Crop Rotation
$1.$ Its primary goal is to minimize the risk of total crop failure.	$1.$ Its primary goal is to increase productivity per unit area.	$1.$ Its primary goal is to increase overall productivity within a year.
$2.$ It involves growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land without any specific pattern.	$2.$ It involves growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same field in a definite row pattern.	$2.$ It involves growing different crops on a piece of land in a pre-planned succession.
$3.$ Spraying pesticides for pest control on individual crops is difficult.	$3.$ Pesticides can be easily applied to individual crops.	$3.$ Pesticides can be easily applied to the different crops as they are grown sequentially.

(N/A)

Mixed Farming	Mixed Cropping
$1$. It is the type of farming which combines the system of producing crops and maintaining livestock, simultaneously or alternately on the same land.	$1$. It is the practice of sowing one main crop and one or two subsidiary crops together on the same land.
$2$. By practicing mixed farming, benefits of both the activities are maximized.	$2$. This practice reduces risk and gives some insurance against failure of one of the crops.
$3$. It requires less labor and also helps in restoring soil fertility as animal waste can be used to improve the fertility of soil.	$3$. It helps in checking soil erosion and also helps in maintaining soil fertility by evenly utilizing the nutrients present in the soil.

(N/A) $1.$ Compost and vermicompost: The process in which farm waste,vegetable waste,animal refuse,domestic waste,sewage,straw,and eradicated weeds are decomposed in pits. It is rich in organic matter and nutrients. Compost is also prepared by using earthworms to hasten the process of decomposition of plant and animal refuse; this is called vermicompost.
$2.$ Green manure: Prior to the sowing of crop seeds,some plants like sunhemp or guar are grown and then mulched by ploughing them into the soil. It helps in enriching the soil with nitrogen and phosphorus.

(A) Statement $(i)$ is correct: Hybridisation is the process of crossing between genetically dissimilar plants to combine desirable traits.
Statement $(ii)$ is incorrect: $A$ cross between two varieties is called inter-varietal hybridisation,not interspecific.
Statement $(iii)$ is correct: Introducing genes of a desired character into a plant results in a genetically modified crop $(GMO)$.
Statement $(iv)$ is incorrect: $A$ cross between plants of two different species is called interspecific hybridisation,not inter-varietal.
Therefore,statements $(i)$ and $(iii)$ are correct.

(D) Shorter duration crops are beneficial for farmers for several reasons:
$1$. They allow farmers to grow multiple rounds of crops in a single year,which increases overall productivity.
$2$. They often result in uniform maturity,which makes the harvesting process easier and more efficient.
$3$. Reducing the duration of the crop cycle also minimizes the exposure of the crop to various pests and environmental risks.
Therefore,both options $(b)$ and $(c)$ are correct.

(C) Hybridisation is the process of crossing two genetically dissimilar plants to combine their desirable traits into a single variety.
This technique is widely used in plant breeding to develop high-yielding,disease-resistant,and climate-resilient crop varieties.
Crop rotation,intercropping,and multiple cropping are agricultural practices used for soil management and yield optimization,not for genetic improvement of crop varieties.

(A) Oil-yielding plants are those from which edible or non-edible oils are extracted from their seeds or fruits.
Among the given options,$A$ (Sunflower) is a well-known oil-yielding crop.
$B$ (Cauliflower) is a vegetable.
$C$ (China rose) is an ornamental plant.
$D$ (Lentil) is a pulse (legume) crop used as a source of protein.
Therefore,the correct answer is Sunflower.

(B) Carbohydrates are primarily found in plant-based foods like cereals and grains.
$A$. Rice is a major source of carbohydrates.
$B$. Cream is a dairy product primarily composed of fats and proteins,not carbohydrates.
$C$. Sorghum is a cereal grain rich in carbohydrates.
$D$. Millets are also cereal grains that serve as a significant source of carbohydrates.
Therefore,cream is not a source of carbohydrate.

(C) Fertilizers are commercially produced plant nutrients that supply essential elements like $N$ (Nitrogen),$P$ (Phosphorus),and $K$ (Potassium) to the soil.
These are known as macronutrients.
Calcium is a secondary nutrient,and Iron is a micronutrient.
While fertilizers are primarily designed to provide macronutrients,they typically do not contain Iron as a standard component,as Iron is required by plants in very small quantities and is usually present in the soil naturally.
Therefore,among the given options,Iron is the nutrient that is generally not considered a primary component of standard commercial fertilizers.

(N/A) Wheat is a $Rabi$ crop. It grows best during winter conditions. Therefore,wheat cannot be grown in the rainy season,which is called the kharif season.
$(b)$ Dwarfness is a desirable agronomic character in cereals so that less nutrients are consumed by these crops and they are less prone to lodging.
$(c)$ Yes,$I$ support the suggestion. Two values for which Vinod is worth admiration are social responsibility and community service.

(N/A) $(i)$ Fertilizers are used in a field to replenish the soil with specific essential nutrients like nitrogen,phosphorus,and potassium,which are required for plant growth.
$(ii)$ The decline in yield is likely due to the continuous use of chemical fertilizers,which can destroy soil fertility by killing beneficial soil microorganisms,reducing the soil's organic matter content,and altering the soil $pH$.
$(iii)$ Two values shown by Mahesh are: $1.$ Scientific temper (awareness of sustainable practices) and $2.$ Concern for others (helping a friend in need).

(N/A) $(i)$ Irrigation is the process of supplying water to agricultural land at regular intervals to support crop growth.
$(ii)$ Two different kinds of irrigation systems include: $1$. Wells (dug wells and tube wells) and $2$. Canals.
$(iii)$ Rajan possesses values such as critical thinking,concern for the community,and the ability to apply scientific knowledge to solve real-world problems.

(N/A) $(i)$ Balwinder used $Mixed$ $Cropping$. Kaku suggested $Intercropping$.
$(ii)$ Two advantages of $Intercropping$ are:
$1$. It ensures maximum utilization of nutrients supplied by the soil.
$2$. It prevents pests and diseases from spreading to all plants in the field.
$(iii)$ Two values displayed by Kaku are:
$1$. Scientific temper and application of knowledge.
$2$. Concern for the family's economic well-being and progress.

(N/A) $(i)$ Fertilizers should be applied judiciously for the following reasons:
$(a)$ Excessive use of fertilizers leads to runoff,where they are washed away by water and are not fully absorbed by the plants.
$(b)$ Overuse can destroy soil fertility and disrupt the natural microbial balance.
$(c)$ Fertilizers are costly,and judicious use helps in reducing the economic burden on farmers.
$(ii)$ The two values of Ramdin that impress me are:
$(a)$ Helpful nature: He cares for his community and shares his knowledge to help his friends.
$(b)$ Environmental consciousness: He is an educated individual who understands the importance of sustainable farming practices to reduce environmental pollution.

(N/A) Advantages of using manure:
$1$. Manure increases the organic matter in the soil,which improves soil structure and water-holding capacity.
$2$. It provides essential nutrients to the soil in a balanced way and promotes the growth of beneficial soil microorganisms.
Effect of excessive use of fertilizers on the environment:
$1$. Excessive use of fertilizers leads to water pollution through runoff,which can cause eutrophication in water bodies.
$2$. Continuous use of chemical fertilizers destroys soil fertility by killing beneficial soil organisms and altering the soil pH.
Values depicted by Sitaram:
Sitaram demonstrates environmental awareness,social responsibility,leadership,and a concern for sustainable agricultural practices.

(N/A)
$(i)$ Social responsibility.
$(ii)$ Environmentally conscious.
$(iii)$ Analytical and inquisitive nature.
$(b)$ In areas where canal flow is insufficient due to inadequate reservoir release,the river lift system is more rational. Water is directly drawn from the rivers for supplementing irrigation in areas close to rivers,ensuring a consistent supply for crop growth.