Important Points and Formulas: Improvement in Food Resources | Science Class 9 PDF Download

 Page 1


1 
 
IMPROVEMENT IN FOOD RESOURCES 
 
 
• The two major source of our food are plants and animals. 
 Types of crops  
• There are three categories of crops: Food crops, Fodder crops and Commercial crops. 
The food crops give us carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. 
• On the basis of seasonal variations, the crops of India can be classified as : 
 (i) Rabi 
 It is winter crop grown from November to April. Examples are wheat, gram, peas, etc. 
 (ii) Kharif 
 It is a rainy season crop grown from June to October. Paddy, soyabean, maize, cotton, 
etc. 
 (iii) Zaid   
 It is a summer season crop grown from April to June. Cucumbers, melons, etc are zaid 
crops. 
• The science of improvement in genotype of plants by improving their genetic 
potentialities is called plant breeding. 
• The methods of improving plants by breeding are introduction, selection, hybridisation 
and genetic engineering (Recombinant DNA Technology). 
 Manures and Fertilizers  
• There are sixteen nutrients, which are essential for plants. Carbon and Oxygen are 
supplied by air; Hydrogen is supplied by water and remaining 13 elements are supplied by 
soil. 
• Out of 13 essential elements supplied by soil, 6 are required in larger amounts. They 
are called macronutrients. The remaining 7 are required in minor amounts. They are called 
micronutrients. 
• The major materials which are added into the soil to improve and maintain its fertility 
are grouped under two categories: 1. Manures and 2. Fertilizers. 
 Differentiate between manure and fertilizer 
  
S. No. Manure Fertilizer 
1. Manure is a natural substance. It is 
obtained by the decomposition of 
animal wastes such as dung (gobar) 
of cattle and buffaloes and plant 
residues. 
A fertilizer is a man made substance. 
It is an inorganic salt or an organic 
compound. 
Page 2


1 
 
IMPROVEMENT IN FOOD RESOURCES 
 
 
• The two major source of our food are plants and animals. 
 Types of crops  
• There are three categories of crops: Food crops, Fodder crops and Commercial crops. 
The food crops give us carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. 
• On the basis of seasonal variations, the crops of India can be classified as : 
 (i) Rabi 
 It is winter crop grown from November to April. Examples are wheat, gram, peas, etc. 
 (ii) Kharif 
 It is a rainy season crop grown from June to October. Paddy, soyabean, maize, cotton, 
etc. 
 (iii) Zaid   
 It is a summer season crop grown from April to June. Cucumbers, melons, etc are zaid 
crops. 
• The science of improvement in genotype of plants by improving their genetic 
potentialities is called plant breeding. 
• The methods of improving plants by breeding are introduction, selection, hybridisation 
and genetic engineering (Recombinant DNA Technology). 
 Manures and Fertilizers  
• There are sixteen nutrients, which are essential for plants. Carbon and Oxygen are 
supplied by air; Hydrogen is supplied by water and remaining 13 elements are supplied by 
soil. 
• Out of 13 essential elements supplied by soil, 6 are required in larger amounts. They 
are called macronutrients. The remaining 7 are required in minor amounts. They are called 
micronutrients. 
• The major materials which are added into the soil to improve and maintain its fertility 
are grouped under two categories: 1. Manures and 2. Fertilizers. 
 Differentiate between manure and fertilizer 
  
S. No. Manure Fertilizer 
1. Manure is a natural substance. It is 
obtained by the decomposition of 
animal wastes such as dung (gobar) 
of cattle and buffaloes and plant 
residues. 
A fertilizer is a man made substance. 
It is an inorganic salt or an organic 
compound. 
2 
 
2. A manure contains small amounts of 
essential plant nutrients such as 
nitrogen, phosphorus, K, Na, Fe, 
etc. 
Fertilizers are very rich in plant 
nutrients such as nitrogen, 
phosphorus and potassium. 
3. A manure adds a great amount of 
organic matter in the form of humus 
in the soil 
A fertilizer does not add any humus 
to the soil. 
4. Manure is voluminous and bulky so 
it is inconvenient to store, transport, 
handle and apply to the crop. 
A fertilizer is compact and 
concentrated so it is easy to store, 
transport and apply to the crop. 
 
• Organic farming is a kind of farming in which the harmful chemicals such as herbicides, 
pesticides and fertilizers are either not used or used only in minimum amounts. This farming 
recommends the use of organic manures, biofertilizers, biopesticides, resistant varieties, crop 
rotation and intercropping. 
 Irrigation  
• Irrigation is the application of water to the soil for the purpose of supplying moisture 
essential for plant growth especially during stress periods. 
• Some common irrigation systems are: (i) Irrigation from wells; (ii) Canal system; (iii) 
River lift system; and (iv) Tanks. 
 Cropping Patterns  
• In order to get maximum benefit from the piece of land, operated as a unit for the 
production of agricultural products, different patterns of growing crops are followed. 
• Practice of cultivating two or more corps simultaneously on the same piece of land is 
called mixed cropping.  
• In inter-cropping pattern, two or more crops are grown simultaneously on the same 
field but they are not mixed. 
• The practice of growing two or more different kinds of crops on a piece of land in a pre-
planned succession is called crop rotation. 
• There are three major biological enemies of crops plants: weeds, insect pests and 
disease causing agents (such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc.). 
• Proper storage of grains is the most important economic issue of agriculture. 
Irregularities may spoil the entire agriculture produce. 
 Animal Husbandry  
• Animal husbandry is the farming or management of animal livestock, which includes 
various aspects such as animal’s shelter, feeding, breeding, health and disease control. 
• Cattle farming are done mainly for two purposes: 
 (i) Dairy (for obtaining milk) 
 (ii) Draught (animals used in agriculture and transport purposes). 
• Poultry farming includes housing, rearing, sanitation, disease-control and marketing of 
poultry birds (chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guinea-fowls, pigeons, etc.). 
 Layers  Broilers 
Page 3


1 
 
IMPROVEMENT IN FOOD RESOURCES 
 
 
• The two major source of our food are plants and animals. 
 Types of crops  
• There are three categories of crops: Food crops, Fodder crops and Commercial crops. 
The food crops give us carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. 
• On the basis of seasonal variations, the crops of India can be classified as : 
 (i) Rabi 
 It is winter crop grown from November to April. Examples are wheat, gram, peas, etc. 
 (ii) Kharif 
 It is a rainy season crop grown from June to October. Paddy, soyabean, maize, cotton, 
etc. 
 (iii) Zaid   
 It is a summer season crop grown from April to June. Cucumbers, melons, etc are zaid 
crops. 
• The science of improvement in genotype of plants by improving their genetic 
potentialities is called plant breeding. 
• The methods of improving plants by breeding are introduction, selection, hybridisation 
and genetic engineering (Recombinant DNA Technology). 
 Manures and Fertilizers  
• There are sixteen nutrients, which are essential for plants. Carbon and Oxygen are 
supplied by air; Hydrogen is supplied by water and remaining 13 elements are supplied by 
soil. 
• Out of 13 essential elements supplied by soil, 6 are required in larger amounts. They 
are called macronutrients. The remaining 7 are required in minor amounts. They are called 
micronutrients. 
• The major materials which are added into the soil to improve and maintain its fertility 
are grouped under two categories: 1. Manures and 2. Fertilizers. 
 Differentiate between manure and fertilizer 
  
S. No. Manure Fertilizer 
1. Manure is a natural substance. It is 
obtained by the decomposition of 
animal wastes such as dung (gobar) 
of cattle and buffaloes and plant 
residues. 
A fertilizer is a man made substance. 
It is an inorganic salt or an organic 
compound. 
2 
 
2. A manure contains small amounts of 
essential plant nutrients such as 
nitrogen, phosphorus, K, Na, Fe, 
etc. 
Fertilizers are very rich in plant 
nutrients such as nitrogen, 
phosphorus and potassium. 
3. A manure adds a great amount of 
organic matter in the form of humus 
in the soil 
A fertilizer does not add any humus 
to the soil. 
4. Manure is voluminous and bulky so 
it is inconvenient to store, transport, 
handle and apply to the crop. 
A fertilizer is compact and 
concentrated so it is easy to store, 
transport and apply to the crop. 
 
• Organic farming is a kind of farming in which the harmful chemicals such as herbicides, 
pesticides and fertilizers are either not used or used only in minimum amounts. This farming 
recommends the use of organic manures, biofertilizers, biopesticides, resistant varieties, crop 
rotation and intercropping. 
 Irrigation  
• Irrigation is the application of water to the soil for the purpose of supplying moisture 
essential for plant growth especially during stress periods. 
• Some common irrigation systems are: (i) Irrigation from wells; (ii) Canal system; (iii) 
River lift system; and (iv) Tanks. 
 Cropping Patterns  
• In order to get maximum benefit from the piece of land, operated as a unit for the 
production of agricultural products, different patterns of growing crops are followed. 
• Practice of cultivating two or more corps simultaneously on the same piece of land is 
called mixed cropping.  
• In inter-cropping pattern, two or more crops are grown simultaneously on the same 
field but they are not mixed. 
• The practice of growing two or more different kinds of crops on a piece of land in a pre-
planned succession is called crop rotation. 
• There are three major biological enemies of crops plants: weeds, insect pests and 
disease causing agents (such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc.). 
• Proper storage of grains is the most important economic issue of agriculture. 
Irregularities may spoil the entire agriculture produce. 
 Animal Husbandry  
• Animal husbandry is the farming or management of animal livestock, which includes 
various aspects such as animal’s shelter, feeding, breeding, health and disease control. 
• Cattle farming are done mainly for two purposes: 
 (i) Dairy (for obtaining milk) 
 (ii) Draught (animals used in agriculture and transport purposes). 
• Poultry farming includes housing, rearing, sanitation, disease-control and marketing of 
poultry birds (chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guinea-fowls, pigeons, etc.). 
 Layers  Broilers 
3 
 
1. Layers are egg-laying birds, managed 
for the purpose of getting eggs.  
1. Broilers are maintained for getting 
meat.  
2. Layers start producing eggs at the age 
of 20 weeks. So they are kept for longer 
period depending upon laying period 
(approx. 500 days).  
2. They are raised upto 6-7 weeks in 
poultry farms and then sent to market 
for meat purposes.  
3. They require enough space and 
adequate lighting.  
3. They require conditions to grow fast 
and to have low mortality.  
4. They need restricted and calculated 
feed with vitamins, minerals and 
micronutrients.  
4. The daily food requirement (ration) for 
broilers is rich in protein and vitamins A 
and K. The fat contents should also be 
adequate.  
 
• Fish serves as the common man’s food and a cheap source of animal protein that is 
easily digestible. 
 
• There are two different sources of obtaining fish: Natural resources (i.e., oceans, seas, 
inland water bodies) and Fish farming (culture fishery). 
 
• Fish farming is concerned with feeding, breeding and production of fish. 
 
• Fish farming is generally done by using composite fish culture and integrated fish 
culture.  
 
• Bee-keeping or apiculture is done to get honey, wax, propolis and poison.