Improvement in Food Resources — Practice

Question 1

Differentiate kharif and rabi crops. Give one example of each.

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Kharif crops.
  Sown in June (with the SW monsoon), harvested in October-November. Examples: rice, maize, cotton, sugarcane, soybean.

Step 2 — Rabi crops.
  Sown in November (after monsoon retreats), harvested in March-April. Examples: wheat, gram, mustard, peas, lentil.

✦ Answer: Kharif crops (June-October, monsoon-dependent) include rice and maize. Rabi crops (November-April, winter cereals) include wheat and gram.

Question 2

Give two advantages of manure over chemical fertilisers.

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Manure benefits.
  (i) Improves soil texture, water-holding capacity, and aeration — the chemical fertiliser does NOT.
  (ii) Provides organic matter and many micronutrients; sustainable and cheap; environmentally friendly.
  (Also: slow release → less leaching; supports soil microbial life; made locally on farm.)

Step 2 — Choose any two for the answer.

✦ Answer: (i) Improves soil structure and water retention; (ii) provides organic matter + micronutrients sustainably without chemical pollution.

Question 3

Why is crop rotation considered good practice? Give two reasons.

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Reason 1: Soil nutrient preservation.
  Different crops use different nutrients. Rotating prevents depletion of any single nutrient. Legumes (pulses) actually ADD nitrogen to the soil via root-nodule bacteria (Rhizobium).

Step 2 — Reason 2: Pest and disease management.
  Many pests and diseases are crop-specific. Rotating crops breaks the pest's life cycle — fewer pesticides needed.

(Also: prevents soil erosion, varies microclimate, allows farmers to manage workload across seasons.)

✦ Answer: (i) Different crops use different nutrients — rotation prevents nutrient depletion. (ii) Crop rotation breaks pest and disease life cycles, reducing the need for pesticides. (Bonus: legumes in rotation fix atmospheric nitrogen and enrich the soil.)

Question 4

What does HYV stand for in agriculture?

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — HYV = High-Yielding Variety.

HYV seeds are bred (or engineered) to produce significantly more grain per hectare than traditional varieties. They typically require more inputs (water, fertiliser).

✦ Answer: HYV = High-Yielding Variety. Examples: Pusa Basmati 1 rice, Kalyan Sona wheat — backbone of the Indian Green Revolution.

Question 5

Give two distinguishing features between layers and broilers.

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Layers vs broilers.

Layers: chickens kept for EGG PRODUCTION. Live longer (kept for 18+ months). Examples: Leghorn, Rhode Island Red.
  Broilers: chickens raised for MEAT. Reach market weight in 6-8 weeks. Examples: Cornish Rock, Plymouth Rock crosses.

Step 2 — Highlight two contrasts.

(i) Purpose: Layers → eggs; Broilers → meat.
  (ii) Lifespan: Layers live 18+ months in production; Broilers slaughtered at 6-8 weeks.
  (iii) Feed: Layers eat balanced feed for egg production; Broilers eat protein-rich feed for rapid muscle growth.
  (iv) Genetics: Layers selected for laying frequency (250+ eggs/year); Broilers selected for fast growth + meat yield.

✦ Answer: (i) Purpose — layers produce eggs; broilers produce meat. (ii) Lifespan — layers kept 18+ months; broilers slaughtered at 6-8 weeks.

Question 6

Name three biotic factors that affect crop yield. Suggest one control method for each.

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Three biotic factors and their controls.

(i) Weeds (e.g., Parthenium, Xanthium):
  Compete with crops for water, nutrients, sunlight.
  Control: manual weeding, herbicides (chemical), mulching (suppresses weed seedlings).

(ii) Insect pests (e.g., locust, stem borer):
  Eat plant tissues; transmit viruses.
  Control: biopesticides (Bt sprays, Neem oil), chemical insecticides, integrated pest management (IPM).

(iii) Diseases (e.g., wheat rust, potato blight):
  Caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses.
  Control: resistant varieties, fungicides, crop rotation, removing infected plants.

✦ Answer: Weeds (controlled by hand-weeding or herbicide), Insect pests (controlled by biopesticides or chemical insecticides), Diseases (controlled by resistant varieties + fungicides + crop rotation).

Question 7

Explain three modern irrigation techniques. Mention which is best for water-scarce regions.

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Modern techniques.

(i) Drip irrigation:
  Water dripped slowly at the root zone via narrow tubes.
  Saves 30-70% water vs flooding.
  Best for: water-scarce regions, vegetables, fruit orchards.

(ii) Sprinkler irrigation:
  Water sprayed like rainfall through perforated pipes.
  Best for: level land with sandy soil where flooding would cause excessive seepage.

(iii) Furrow irrigation:
  Water flows in narrow channels between crop rows.
  Cheaper than drip or sprinkler but less water-efficient.
  Best for: row crops like maize, cotton, vegetables.

Step 2 — Best for water-scarce regions.
  DRIP IRRIGATION clearly — uses 30-70 % less water than other techniques and delivers water precisely to roots.

✦ Answer: Three techniques: drip (most water-efficient), sprinkler (good for sandy/level land), furrow (cheap, less efficient). Best for water-scarce regions: drip irrigation.

Question 8

Why are leguminous plants (pulses) considered good for soil health? Give two reasons.

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Reason 1: Nitrogen fixation.
  Roots of leguminous plants have NODULES containing Rhizobium bacteria. These bacteria capture atmospheric N₂ and convert it to ammonia (NH₃) — a form plants can use. The plant uses this nitrogen AND leaves residual nitrogen in the soil after harvest.

Step 2 — Reason 2: Organic matter.
  Leguminous crops contribute organic matter to soil (residues after harvest). This improves soil structure and water-holding capacity.

Additionally: when ploughed back into soil (as green manure), legumes add a significant boost of organic + nitrogen-rich material.

Step 3 — Practical impact.
  Crop rotation alternating cereal-legume reduces fertiliser N needed by the next crop by 30-50 %. Soil quality improves over years.

✦ Answer: (i) Legumes harbour nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium bacteria in root nodules, enriching the soil with bioavailable nitrogen. (ii) They add organic matter (especially when used as green manure). Both effects make crop rotation including pulses sustainable and economically rewarding.

Question 9

What is composite fish culture? Why is it more productive than single-species farming?

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Definition.
  Composite fish culture = farming 5-6 fish species TOGETHER in one pond, each species occupying a different ecological niche.

Step 2 — Niche assignment (typical).
  • Surface feeders: Catla (eats plankton at surface).
  • Mid-water feeders: Rohu (eats midwater plants/insects).
  • Bottom feeders: Mrigal, Calbasu (eat decaying matter at the bottom).
  • Weed feeders: Grass Carp (eats aquatic weeds).
  • Detritus feeders: Common Carp (eats fish food + waste).

Step 3 — Why more productive.
  In a single-species pond, only ONE feeding niche is exploited; the rest of the pond's resources are wasted. In composite culture, all niches are exploited — pond yield can be 3-5× higher than monoculture.

Step 4 — Practical benefits.
  • Lower per-unit-output cost (no waste of resources).
  • Better pond health (each species' waste is feed for another).
  • Reduced disease risk (species-specific diseases don't spread across species).

✦ Answer: Composite fish culture = 5-6 species farmed together, each at a different feeding niche (surface, mid, bottom). Pond resources are fully utilised, giving 3-5× higher yield than single-species farming.

Question 10

Why is bee-keeping commercially important even though honey is just one of its products?

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Direct products of bee-keeping.
  • Honey (food, medicine).
  • Beeswax (candles, cosmetics).
  • Royal jelly, propolis (health supplements).

Step 2 — Indirect (bigger) economic value: POLLINATION.
  Bees pollinate ~ 75 % of the world's food crops (mustard, apples, almonds, sunflower, cotton, etc.).
  Without bees, these crops would have dramatically lower yields. Some estimates put pollination's value at 20-30× the value of honey production.

Step 3 — Bee-keeping species in India.
  Indian bee (Apis cerana indica) — gentle but lower honey yield.
  Italian bee (Apis mellifera) — commercially used; higher yield.

✦ Answer: Bees produce honey + wax, but their REAL economic value is POLLINATION of crops — ~75 % of food crops worldwide depend on bee pollination. Bee-keeping is essentially an agricultural service industry, not just a honey industry.

Question 11

What is Bt cotton? Explain its mechanism, advantages, and concerns.

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Definition.
  Bt cotton is genetically modified cotton that contains genes from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). The inserted gene codes for a protein called Cry toxin.

Step 2 — Mechanism.
  The Bt cotton plant constantly produces small amounts of Cry toxin in its leaves and bolls. When a target insect (e.g., bollworm, the most damaging cotton pest) eats the plant, the toxin is activated in the insect's alkaline gut, breaks the gut wall, and kills the insect within days.
  Importantly, Cry toxin is INACTIVE in mammalian (acidic) digestive systems, so it doesn't harm humans, livestock, or non-target insects (like bees, ladybugs).

Step 3 — Advantages.
  • 40-50% reduction in chemical insecticide use → environmental benefit + cheaper for farmers.
  • Higher cotton yields → more income.
  • Targeted protection (only against gut-feeding caterpillars).

Step 4 — Concerns.
  • Pest resistance: continuous exposure may lead to Bt-resistant bollworm strains. (Indian farmers manage this by planting 'refuge crops' of non-Bt cotton.)
  • Effects on non-target insects (some debate).
  • Seed cost: Bt cotton seeds are more expensive than traditional seeds; farmers depend on seed companies.
  • Long-term ecosystem impact: still being studied.

✦ Answer: Bt cotton has a B. thuringiensis gene inserted; it produces a protein that kills caterpillar pests (especially bollworm). Advantages: less pesticide, higher yields. Concerns: pest resistance, seed cost, debated ecological effects.

Question 12

List four common diseases that affect cattle in India and their preventive measures.

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Common cattle diseases.

(i) Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD):
  Viral; causes blisters in mouth and on feet, fever, lameness.
  Prevention: Annual vaccination, quarantine of infected animals, foot baths.

(ii) Anthrax:
  Bacterial; rapidly fatal. Sudden death with bleeding from natural orifices.
  Prevention: Annual vaccination, prompt isolation, careful disposal of carcasses (do NOT cut open).

(iii) Blackleg:
  Bacterial; clostridial; sudden lameness and death.
  Prevention: Vaccination (blackleg-anthrax combined vaccine), pasture rotation.

(iv) Brucellosis:
  Bacterial; causes abortion in pregnant cows and chronic milk production loss; also human disease.
  Prevention: Vaccination of heifers, removing infected animals.

(v) Mastitis (udder inflammation):
  Bacterial; causes painful, swollen udder and reduced milk yield/quality.
  Prevention: Hygienic milking, teat dipping after milking, treatment with antibiotics if infected.

Step 2 — Common prevention principles.
  • Annual vaccination as recommended by veterinary authority.
  • Quarantine new or sick animals.
  • Good hygiene (clean shed, clean drinking water).
  • Balanced feed and regular health checks.

✦ Answer: Four common diseases: foot-and-mouth disease, anthrax, blackleg, and brucellosis. Prevention: annual vaccination, isolation of sick animals, good hygiene, clean shelter and feed. Mastitis (udder inflammation) is also very common in dairy cattle.

Question 13

Despite the success of the Green Revolution, why has India shifted focus toward 'sustainable' agriculture? Give four reasons.

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Reason 1: Soil degradation.
  Decades of intensive chemical fertilisation have depleted soil organic carbon and micronutrients. Many Punjab and Haryana fields show salinity, alkalinity and reduced fertility.

Step 2 — Reason 2: Groundwater depletion.
  HYV rice and wheat are water-intensive. Tubewell irrigation has dropped groundwater tables by 1+ m/year in Punjab. By 2030, many districts could exhaust shallow aquifers.

Step 3 — Reason 3: Pesticide pollution.
  Heavy pesticide use has contaminated water (rivers, ponds), killed beneficial insects (bees, ladybugs), and shown links to human health issues (cancer, neurological disorders) in farming communities.

Step 4 — Reason 4: Climate change.
  Rising temperatures, erratic monsoons, increased extreme weather threaten the entire HYV-fertiliser-irrigation Green Revolution model. Climate-resilient crops + diverse cropping patterns are needed.

Step 5 — Reason 5 (bonus): Farmer income stagnation.
  Despite rising yields, smallholder farmer income has stagnated due to rising input costs (seed, fertiliser, pesticide). Sustainable, lower-input agriculture can be more profitable.

✦ Answer: Four key reasons: (i) soil degradation from over-fertilisation; (ii) groundwater depletion from water-intensive HYV crops; (iii) pesticide pollution affecting environment and health; (iv) climate change making current models unsustainable. The Evergreen Revolution aims to address all four.

Question 14

A farmer has 1 hectare of land. He grows maize alone and gets 4000 kg yield. Another farmer with the same land grows maize + soybean intercropped — 3500 kg maize + 1200 kg soybean. Calculate which farmer earned more if maize sells at Rs. 15/kg and soybean at Rs. 40/kg.

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Farmer 1 revenue.
  4000 kg × Rs. 15 = Rs. 60,000.

Step 2 — Farmer 2 revenue.
  Maize: 3500 × Rs. 15 = Rs. 52,500.
  Soybean: 1200 × Rs. 40 = Rs. 48,000.
  Total = Rs. 1,00,500.

Step 3 — Compare.
  Farmer 2 earned Rs. 1,00,500, which is Rs. 40,500 MORE than Farmer 1.

Step 4 — Why intercropping wins.
  Even though maize yield dropped a bit (3500 vs 4000), the soybean ADDS another high-value crop that wouldn't otherwise exist. The system uses sunlight, soil, water, and labour MORE efficiently. Additionally:
  • Soybean fixes nitrogen, improving soil for the next maize crop.
  • Risk is spread across two crops.

✦ Answer: Farmer 1 earned Rs. 60,000. Farmer 2 earned Rs. 1,00,500 — about 67 % more. Intercropping was clearly more profitable AND more sustainable.

Question 15

Why does India encourage rooftop rainwater harvesting? Explain three direct benefits.

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Benefit 1: Reduces groundwater extraction.
  Indian cities and farms rely heavily on groundwater. Tubewells are depleting aquifers faster than they recharge. Captured rainwater (instead of being lost to runoff) recharges these aquifers — slows the depletion.

Step 2 — Benefit 2: Provides clean drinking/irrigation water.
  Rooftop-collected rainwater (after first-flush diversion) is cleaner than groundwater in many areas. In cities, it reduces dependence on municipal water (which is often supplied at high energy cost from distant sources).

Step 3 — Benefit 3: Reduces urban flooding.
  In cities, paved surfaces send most rain to drains, causing flooding. Rainwater harvesting captures rain at source — less runoff, less drain overflow, less waterlogging.

Step 4 — Bonus: Cost-effective.
  A simple rooftop collection + ground recharge system costs ~ Rs. 30,000 for a typical home and can collect 1+ lakh litres in a monsoon. Pays back quickly in water-bill savings.

✦ Answer: (i) Recharges groundwater (reducing aquifer depletion). (ii) Provides clean water for drinking, irrigation, or household use. (iii) Reduces urban flooding by capturing rainfall at source. Bonus: economically viable for individual homes.

Practice — Improvement in Food Resources

Sign in to save attempts to your dashboard and track your accuracy over time

Find a verified tutor

Join a live course

Browse coaching centres

About

Categories

Support

Documentation

Get Study Tips & Updates

Download Our App

Download for iOS

Download for Android

Popular Cities