Veena Bhargava Textbook Solutions: Agriculture in India - II : Food Crops

Multiple Choice Questions

The rice crop thrives in average temperatures of 24°C, with an optimal range of:

1. 10°C to 15°C
2. 16°C to 32°C
3. 21°C to 27°C
4. 24°C to 35°C

Ans: (b)

Explanation: Rice is a tropical crop and grows best in warm, humid conditions. An optimal temperature range of 16°C to 32°C allows good vegetative growth and grain formation, making option (b) the correct choice.

Gram is best cultivated in:

1. Red soil
2. Loamy soil
3. Black soil
4. Laterite soil

Ans: (b)

Explanation: Gram (chickpea) requires well-drained soils with moderate fertility. Loamy soils provide a good balance of drainage and moisture retention, making them most suitable for gram cultivation.

Wheat is the primary staple food in:

1. North
2. South
3. East
4. West

Ans: (a)

Explanation: Wheat is a rabi crop that thrives in the cooler winters of North India. The climatic and soil conditions in the North favour large-scale wheat production, so option (a) is correct.

In the described method of cultivation, seeds are dropped at intervals in furrows made by tools like ploughs-this method is known as:

1. Drilling method
2. Broadcasting method
3. Dibbling
4. Transplantation

Ans: (c)

Explanation: Dibbling involves placing seeds at regular intervals in small holes or shallow furrows. This ensures even spacing and better germination compared with scattering. Hence option (c) is appropriate.

Diseases affecting rice crops can severely impact yields, with the most common being:

1. Rust
2. Loose smut
3. Black point
4. Stem rot

Ans: (d)

Explanation: Stem rot is a common disease in rice that attacks the stem and can cause wilting and lodging, leading to significant yield loss. Therefore option (d) is correct.

Rice crops require an average rainfall of:

1. 100 cm to 150 cm
2. 150 cm to 200 cm
3. 50 cm to 100 cm
4. 50 cm to 150 cm

Ans: (b)

Explanation: Rice needs abundant water for paddy fields. An average annual rainfall of 150 cm to 200 cm provides the moisture necessary for good rice growth, making option (b) correct.

The leading producer of Jowar is:

1. Punjab
2. Maharashtra
3. West Bengal
4. Uttar Pradesh

Ans: (b)

Explanation: Jowar (sorghum) is widely grown in the drier regions of Maharashtra where the crop suits the climate and soils, so Maharashtra is the leading producer.

Millets require temperatures ranging from:

1. 25°C to 35°C
2. 10°C to 15°C
3. 26°C to 33°C
4. 20°C to 27°C

Ans: (c)

Explanation: Millets are warm-weather crops that grow well in relatively high temperatures. A range of 26°C to 33°C is suitable for their growth and grain development, so option (c) is correct.

Wheat grows best in:

1. Red soil
2. Alluvial soil
3. Black soil
4. Laterite soil

Ans: (b)

Explanation: The fertile, well-drained alluvial soils of the Indo-Gangetic plains provide ideal conditions for wheat cultivation, making option (b) the correct choice.

The crop known for being hardy and drought-resistant is:

1. Pulses
2. Wheat
3. Millets
4. Rice

Ans: (c)

Explanation: Millets are hardy crops adapted to low rainfall and poor soils. Their drought resistance makes them suitable for dry regions, so option (c) is correct.

What do you understand by the term 'cereals'?

Ans: Cereals are plants cultivated for their edible grains, which form staple foods for humans and animals. Common examples are wheat, rice, maize and barley. These grains are rich in carbohydrates and provide a major part of daily diets in many regions.

List the different methods of sowing rice.

Ans: The methods used for sowing rice include:

1. Broadcasting or scattering
2. Dibbling
3. Drilling
4. Transplantation
5. Japanese method of cultivation

Which method is considered the best for growing rice?

Ans: The Japanese method of cultivation is considered the best for rice because it saves seeds, uses nursery beds for healthy seedlings and can give much higher yields - often up to three times more than some traditional methods.

What type of soil is most suitable for rice cultivation?

Ans: Deep, fertile clayey soils or friable loams and some black lava soils are most suitable for rice because they retain water well. Good water retention is important for paddy cultivation.

Name the leading rice-producing state in India.

Ans: West Bengal is the leading rice-producing state in India.

Identify a state in India where rice is grown as a non-food crop.

Ans: In Punjab, rice is often grown as a non-food or commercial crop, produced largely for sale rather than local consumption.

Where in India is rice cultivated using 'Shifting Cultivation'?

Ans: Rice is grown under shifting cultivation in the North-East region of India, where forest clearings are used temporarily for farming before being left fallow.

What are the reasons for low rice yield in India?

Ans: Factors responsible for low rice yields include:

1. Poor farmers often lack access to high-yielding varieties of seed.
2. Pests and diseases reduce yields, and many farmers lack effective control measures.
3. Dependence on irregular monsoon rains can cause droughts or floods that damage crops.
4. Many farmers do not adopt modern agricultural practices and technologies.

What climatic conditions are favorable for wheat cultivation?

Ans: Wheat grows best under the following climatic conditions:

1. Temperate climate with moderate rainfall.
2. Average temperatures of about 10°C to 15°C at sowing time and warmer temperatures (around 20°C to 25°C) during ripening.
3. Annual rainfall of roughly 50 cm to 100 cm is suitable, supplemented by irrigation where needed.

Is wheat categorized as a rabi or kharif crop?

Ans: Wheat is classified as a rabi crop because it is sown in winter and harvested in spring.

Which state is the leading wheat producer in India?

Ans: Uttar Pradesh is the leading wheat-producing state in India.

List two natural and two man-made factors that aid in wheat cultivation.

Ans:

Natural factors include:

1. Wheat is a temperate crop suited to the cooler winter climate of North India.
2. The fertile, well-drained alluvial soils of the Indo-Gangetic plains favour good wheat growth.

Man-made factors include:

1. Availability of high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds and use of chemical fertilisers.
2. Extensive irrigation systems, such as canal networks, that support winter cultivation.

What are the key characteristics of the 'Green Revolution'?

Ans: The main features of the Green Revolution are:

1. Introduction and adoption of improved crop varieties.
2. Large increases in production of high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice.
3. Wider use of chemical fertilisers and better irrigation, leading to higher yields.
4. Use of pesticides and herbicides to reduce crop losses and improve productivity.

In which season is wheat sown, and why?

Ans: Wheat is sown in the rabi season because it is a temperate crop that requires cool temperatures (about 10°C to 15°C) at sowing for proper growth.

Is maize a rabi or kharif crop? Mention three leading maize-producing states.

Ans: Maize is primarily a kharif crop, although in some regions (for example Tamil Nadu) it may be grown in rabi as well. Major maize-producing states include Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

Why are millets referred to as dry crops?

Ans: Millets are called dry crops because they are hardy and tolerant of drought and high temperatures. They perform well in areas with low rainfall and are therefore suited to dry regions.

What factors contribute to the widespread cultivation of millets?

Ans: Millets are widely cultivated because they are drought-resistant, grow in a variety of soils, and can be cultivated in plains as well as elevated areas up to about 1,200 metres. Their low water requirement and adaptability make them suitable across many regions.

What are two innovative uses of maize?

Ans: Two modern uses of maize are:

1. As processed food products - for example corn-flour used in confectionery and maize flakes used as breakfast cereals.
2. Production of biofuels from maize-based starch and sugars.

What is a common characteristic of all millets?

Ans: All millets are generally kharif crops that grow well in warm weather. They are hardy and drought-resistant, able to grow with low rainfall and on a wide range of soils.

Identify the most important rotation crop and explain its benefit for soil health.

Ans: Pulses are the most important rotation crop because they are legumes that form root nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria. These bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into forms usable by plants, thereby enriching soil nitrogen content and improving soil fertility for the following crops.

Agriculture in India - I: Introduction

Agriculture in India - III: Cash Crops

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