NSO chap 1

nso chapter 1 flashcards

where do all living organisms obtain there energy from?

mainly, Food 

What is agriculture

Agriculture is the science that deals with the cultivation of plants and raising livestock for human use.

Is agriculture the most important industry in the world?

yesIt is essential for food production and sustainability.

what is agronomy?

Study and development of techniques for improving agricultural practices.

What is horticulture?

Cultivation of fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants.

What is Animal Husbandry?

Rearing and management of domesticated animals.

What are some of the tremendous developments that happen in agriculture in the past century. which have led to better quality and higher yield crops. 

development of

new varieties of plants and animals, use of fertilisers for better produce, use of pesticides and use of machines such as tractors and harvesters which are labour saving devices.

what did the green revolution lead to and when did it begin.

in 1960 leadibg to the production of food grains to increase several folds. 

What are crop plants(crops)? give examples

The same plant that is grown and harvesteed in large scale fields for profits. eg are cereeals pulses fruits and vegetables.

Cereals Example?

Wheat, paddy (rice), maize, barley, ragi

Pulses exampl

gram, pea, bean

Oil seeds example?

mustard, groundnut, sunflower

Root crops example?

sweet potato, carrot

Tuber crops example?

Potato, Tapioca

sugar crops example?

sugarcane, beetroot

plantation crops example?

Tea, Coffee, Rubber, Coconut

Fibre crops example?

Cotton, jute

Feed crops example?

Oats, Alfalfa

What does paddy require to thrive?

a lot of water

What does cactus require to thrive?

less water

What does Apple require to thrive?

cold climates

What do grains and cereals require to thrive?

specially prepared fields in the plains.

why do most crops grow well in seasons?

the prefer different tempretures, humidities and rainfall.

what the 2 crop categories in india

Kharif and Rabi

What are kharif crops?

Crops grown between June and September as they need more water and are harvested after the monsoon. 

What are rabi crops?

These crops are grown in the winters between october to march.

What are zaid crops?

a 3rd type of crop grown between march to june in the summers.

Are different soil types needed crop to crop?

yes

What are agricultural practices?

activities or tasks which a farmer performs to produce a good crop

What are Implements?

different tools required for agricultural practices.

What is the method of agriculture?

Preparation of soil → Adding manure and fertilisers → Seed selection and sowing → Irrigation → Protection from stray animals, birds, pests and diseases → Harvesting, threshing and winnowing → Storage

When is weeding done in agriculture?

Multiple different stages.

What are wooden or iron ploughs used for?

Ploughing

What are wooden or iron Levellers used for?

Levelling

What are ploughs, hand sowing and seed drills used for?

sowing seeds

How is manuring done?

Manually or with drills

How is irrigation done?

Tubewells, sprinklers, and more

What is a trowel(khurpa) used for?

Weeding

How is used for crop protection?

Sprayers

How is harvesting done?

Sickle or harvesting machine.

How is threshing done?

using threshers or combines?

What is used for Storage?

Jute bags, wooden clay or metal containers.

What part of soil is used to grow crops and why

The upper part as it provides minerals, air and humus to the plants. The growth depends on the fertility though.

What is ideal soil?

It should be balances, well-drained, fertile with a ph between 6-7

How to prepare soil? and why

It is done by ploughing, leveling and manuring to make the soil more fertile and aerated. 

What is ploughing

Loosening or mixing and turning the soil. usually carried by animals or tractors. often made of wood or iron nowadays.

Why is ploughing helpful?

helps reach the root deeper, trapping air in the soil, helps the soil retain moisture helps in bring nutrient rich soil and mis fertilisers while also removing weeds and help the growth of worms and microbes. 

What does a plough look like?

It is a triangular iron strip called a plough share which has a wooden rod attached called a plough shaft, this part is attached to the bulls neck or at times a tractor.

What is a hoe?

It is used for removing weeds and ploughing soil. it is a strong wooden or iron road with a broad, bent plate of iron. this is attached to one of the ends which works like a blade- dragged by an animal. 

What is a cultivator?

it is used for ploughing driven by a tractor, it is a implement which has blade like shovels which can be used to break up soil and remove seeds from it. it can reach deep and can save labour time.

What is crushing the big clods in the soil called and what implement is used?

it is called levelling and is done with the use of levellers which are ordinarily wood or metal.

What are the benifits of levelling?

it helps with irrigation and increase yield and quality.

why are burrowing organisms good?

eat dead plants and loosen/ aerate soil excreating humus, rich in nutrients for plants.

What is manuring?

adding and mixing organic minerals in the soil to increase the fertility.

Why should good quality seeds be sown?

bad seeds can lead to diseased crops and worse crop quality with less yield. it should alwasy be free of disease.

What are 3 things that should be proper with seeds being sown?

proper distance, depth and water.

how can seeds be sowed?

manually or with the implement called a seed drill.

Why is the broadcasting method bad for sowing seeds?

it unevenly spreads the seed at the wrong depth and distance which can lead to overcrowding. 

how does a seed drill work?

it works with a funnel like shape directing the seeds towards ploughs. dig holes, put seed, cover the whole with soil. this evenly spreads the seeds and covers it properly. 

What are nursery beds?

they are where some types of seeds are sowed(eg. paddy, tomato or onion) and then once grown the better seeds are transplanted into the fields allowing healthy seeds to grow with better root growth leading to healthier higher yield crops. 

How to test good seeds at home?

drop in water, the ones that float are bad, the ones that sink are good.

What is the NSC?

National seed corporation which provides good quality seeds and helps with testing seeds. 

What do farmers do to avoid seeds being attacked by fungicides?

they dip in chemicals and fungicides which protects the seed from microorganisms. 

How can fields nutrient level be replenished after time?

by natural methods or adding manures and fertilisers to the soil.

What are some natural methods for fields ot regain nutrients?

Leaving the field empty for a season, rotating crops that realise certain nutrients and need certain nutrients giving enough time. 2 crops can also be planted at the same time also known as intercropping. Usually this is not enough though. 

What are some commonly used manures?

Farmyard manure which is mixing animal excretion in soil, Green manure is mixing crops into the soil, Composting which is decaying green materials in soil converting it into humus, it is a great recycler in nature. Manure has many advantages as it improves soil texture, replenishes nutrients and makes it more aerated. Finally there is vermicompost which is broken down my earthworms.

What is the most common fertiliser?

NPK-nitrogen, phosphorus and salts

What are fertilisers?

Fertilisers are chemical substances which one or multiple nutrients required for plant growth. They can also largely increase crop growth and yield. They can also be absorbed directly in plants and are water soluble. 

What is a negative factor about chemical fertilisers?

They degrade the soil quality and can go into water bodies or ground water 

which can affect human health, excessive use should be avoided. 

What mineral does Urea provide?

Nitrogen

What minerals does Superphosphate of lime provide?

Phosphate and calcium

What mineral does Diammonium phosphate(DAP) provide?

nitrogen and phosphorus.

What nutrient does Calcium ammonium nitrate(CAN) provide?

Calcium and nitrogen

What is irrigation?

Irrigation is supplying water to field for crop growth. While many farmers have to rely on rain for natural irrigation as they can not afford other methods. Those who can, use natural water sources and through electric/diesel pumps direct water into fields which then flow in channels.  

Why is irrigation done?

Water is needed for every stage of a plants growth as water is needed for germination, photosynthesis, absorption of minerals and elongation of roots. 

What percent of farmers get proper irrigation or rely on rain for irrigation.

only 18% of farmers get proper irrigation in there fields though 58% rely on rainfall.

What are some traditional methods of irrigation?

Moat- water is removed from a well manully and distributed through channels, Chain pump- a chain rotating around 2 tires which have multiple buckets attached, they pickup water and empty it out as it is set on a angle.

Dhekli- removing water from a well and manually have to be poured into fields, uncommon method now. Rahat- a big wheel has multiple buckets attached and it rotates through a stream picking the water and dropping it to flow in the fields. usually pulled by moving cattle. 

What are some modern methods of irrigation?

Sprinkler method- Water pumps through high pressure rotating nozzles efficiently using water acting like rain. Drip irrigation - water drops through small holes in pipes with low pressure right near plants, very water efficient.

What is the right amount of water?

The right amount of water is very important as less water can ruin the soil making it dry but more water is going to rot roots and cuts oxygen supply.

What are weeds?

Weeds are a type of plant which take the nutrients out of soil competing for nutrients and space with the crop. At times they can be poisonous to humans and animals and attract pests in the area. 

How can weeds be manually removed?

Through the help of a trowel by hand they have to carefully be uprooted so they cannot continue to spread. Before sowing the next round of seeds weeds have to be used through hoe’s or ploughs aswell. 

How can weeds be chemically removed?

Chemicals such as herbicides/weedicides are spread in the field killing weeds without affecting the crop. Nowadays natural herb weedicides are also being produced which dont harm organisms or humans. 

How can crops be protected?

Large stray animals can be avoided by adding wired fencing around the fields. flying animals can be scared by audio such as drums or scarecrows. Smaller pests can be avoided by spraying pesticides, insecticides or rodenticides. 

What are some disadvantages of weedicides / pesticidies?

Excessive consumption of crop containing weedicides can effect human health as traces of poisonous chemicals have been found. 

How can harvesting be done manually?

First it gets cut by a sickle, then to remove the crop it can be hit against a hard surface or be trampled by animals. Once the grain is seperated it has to be winnowed removing excess chaff which can be done by droping it from a height where the wind removes excess chaff. Finally it can be dried and packed. 

How can harvesting be done mechanically?

Machines called combines both cut the crop and seperate it from the stem. They can then be moved to a winnowing machine which removes excess shaft. finally it can be neatly dried and stored avoiding microbes or pests. 

What was the green revolution?

It was between 1960-80 where india saw great improvements in its crop and become self sufficient for food. Dr. M.S Swaminathan a agricultural science started it introducing high yield varieties of seeds and developing new crops and better methods for agricultural production. 

Who started the green revolution?

While Norman E. Borlaug is known as the father of the green revolution Dr. M.S Swaminathan is know as the father of green revolution in india for his work.

What is Domestication?

Domestication is the process of domesticating animals for there various products. Breeding them, feeding them and taking care of them all fall under animal husbandry. These animals usually have multiple uses. They can also provide us with types of proteins plants cant. 

What are the animals that provide us with milk called?

Milch animals- reared in large scale dairy farms

What are the animals raised for meat and eggs called?

They are called poultry birds which provide both meat and eggs, this is called poultry farming. birds raised mainly for meat are called broilers, 

What is large scale fish farming called?

It is known as pisciculture where fish are reared for food.

What is the process or raisign bees for honey called?

Raising bees for honey on a large scale is called apiculture. Honey is a mix of water, minerals, sugar and enzymes.

What is rearing silkworms for silk called?

Raising silkworms for silk is called sericulture.

What is Operation flood or White revolution?

The increase of milk product by cross breeding better yield milch animals.