Class 8 Exam  >  Class 8 Notes  >  Short Note: Crop Production

Short Note: Crop Production - Class 8 PDF Download

Crop

The same kind of plant grown and cultivated over a large surface area.
Example: Rice is grown over a large area.

Types of Crops

1. Kharif Crops

  • Sown during June and harvested during September i.e. during the raining season because they require a lot of water.  
  • Examples: Gram, Pea, Mustard, Wheat etc.

2. Rabi Crops

  • Sown during October and harvested during March i.e. during the winter season.
    Example: Paddy, Maize, Groundnuts etc. Wheat
    Wheat

Question for Short Note: Crop Production
Try yourself:In which month are the kharif crops sown?
View Solution


Agricultural Practices

Activities are done by farmers during cultivation.
Following activities are called agricultural practices:

  • Preparation of Soil
  • Sowing
  • Adding Manures and Fertilizers
  • Irrigation
  • Weeding
  • Harvesting
  • Storage

1. Preparation of Soil

  • The soil can be loosened by ploughing or tilling by using ploughs that are made up of iron or wood. Loosening of soil helps, the roots to penetrate and respire (breathe). 
  • It also helps in the growth of microorganisms and earthworms, which provide nutrition to the plants. A plough is made of wood with an iron strip called ploughshare at the bottom and is drawn by a pair of bulls. 
  • It is used for tilling the soil, removing weeds, adding fertilizers etc.

PloughPlough

  • A Hoe is used to remove weeds (the process of removing weeds is called weeding) and loosen the soil.
    Hoe
    Hoe
  • Cultivators are Modern-day tilling machines pulled by a tractor. It contains several hard iron blades that can plough a larger area thus reducing labour and time.
    Cultivators 
    Cultivators 

Question for Short Note: Crop Production
Try yourself:What are the advantages of preparing the soil?
View Solution

2. Sowing 

  • Sowing is the method of burying the seeds in the soil. Good quality seeds are used for sowing. Damaged seeds are hollow and lighter, so floats on the water and can be separated from the good seeds.  
  • The traditional method of sowing include a funnel and modern methods use a seed drill that can bury seeds at even distance and depths.
    Traditional Seed Drill
    Traditional Seed Drill

Modern Seed DrillModern Seed Drill

3. Adding Manures and Fertilizers

  • Manure and fertilizers contain nutrients essential for plant growth.

Table: Difference between Manure and FertilizersTable: Difference between Manure and FertilizersAdvantages of Manure:

  • It increases the water-holding capacity of the soil.
  • It makes the soil porous for the exchange of gases.
  • It increases the growth of useful microorganisms.

4. Irrigation

  • Watering the plants at different time intervals during cultivation is called irrigation.
  • Traditional methods of irrigation:
    (i) Moat (pulley system)
    (ii) Chain pump
    (iii) Dhekli
    (iv) Rahat (Lever system) 
  • Modern Methods of Irrigation:
    (i) Sprinkler: Perpendicular pipes with a rotating nozzle are attached to a horizontal main pipeline. It is used on uneven surfaces and in water-scarce regions.
    (ii) Drip Irrigation: Plants are watered at the roots drop by drop. It is used for watering fruit plants, gardens and trees.

5. Weeding

  • Undesirable plants growing along with the crop plant are called weeds. Weeds compete with the crop plant for space, nutrient and light. 
  • The removal of weeds is called weeding. Chemicals that are used to kill weeds are called weedicides. Weeds can also be removed manually using a khurpi or a seed drill.

Question for Short Note: Crop Production
Try yourself:Consider the following statements about weeding and identify the incorrect one.
View Solution

6. Harvesting

  • The cutting of a crop after it matures is called harvesting. Crops are cut manually using a sickle or by a harvester. After the crop has been harvested seeds are separated from the chaff by a process called threshing.
  • Winnowing: It is the process of separating grain from the chaff using wind. 

7. Storage

  • Storing the grains away from moisture, insects, rats and microorganisms. Grains are dried in the sun before storage to prevent germination and spoilage. 
  • Grains are stored in silos and granaries. Some crops such as potato and tomatoes are stored in cold storages.
  • Animal Husbandry: Rearing and caring of animals for their products such as eggs, meat, wool etc. is called animal husbandry.

Question for Short Note: Crop Production
Try yourself:Arrange the following agricultural practices in the order in which they are followed:
  1. Harvesting
  2. Sowing
  3. Storage
  4. Irrigation
  5. Preparation of soil
View Solution

The document Short Note: Crop Production - Class 8 is a part of Class 8 category.
All you need of Class 8 at this link: Class 8

Top Courses for Class 8

FAQs on Short Note: Crop Production - Class 8

1. What are the different agricultural practices involved in crop production?
Ans. The different agricultural practices involved in crop production include land preparation, seed selection and sowing, irrigation, fertilization, pest and weed control, and harvesting.
2. What factors should be considered while selecting seeds for crop production?
Ans. While selecting seeds for crop production, factors such as crop variety, disease resistance, yield potential, suitability to the local climate and soil conditions, and market demand should be considered.
3. How does irrigation play a crucial role in crop production?
Ans. Irrigation plays a crucial role in crop production as it provides water to the crops when there is insufficient rainfall. It ensures that the crops receive the necessary amount of water for their growth and development, resulting in higher yields.
4. How can pests and weeds be controlled in crop production?
Ans. Pests and weeds can be controlled in crop production through various methods such as biological control (using natural enemies of pests), chemical control (using pesticides), cultural control (crop rotation and intercropping), and mechanical control (manual removal of weeds).
5. What are the different harvesting techniques used in crop production?
Ans. The different harvesting techniques used in crop production vary depending on the crop. Some common techniques include hand harvesting (for crops like fruits and vegetables), machine harvesting (for crops like grains), and selective harvesting (picking only ripe fruits or crops).
Download as PDF
Explore Courses for Class 8 exam

Top Courses for Class 8

Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev
Related Searches

study material

,

Exam

,

Objective type Questions

,

Free

,

Important questions

,

Summary

,

pdf

,

Previous Year Questions with Solutions

,

video lectures

,

practice quizzes

,

Short Note: Crop Production - Class 8

,

ppt

,

Short Note: Crop Production - Class 8

,

past year papers

,

Semester Notes

,

Extra Questions

,

Viva Questions

,

shortcuts and tricks

,

Short Note: Crop Production - Class 8

,

mock tests for examination

,

MCQs

,

Sample Paper

;