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 Chapter 15 – Improvement in Food Resources
Question 1:
What do we get from cereals, pulses, fruits and vegetables?
Solution:
(i) Cereals are a rich source of carbohydrates. They help meet the energy requirements of the
body.
(ii) Pulses provide us with proteins.
(iii) Fruits and vegetables are a rich source of vitamins and minerals in addition to small
amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats are also present in them.

Question 1:
How do biotic and abiotic factors affect crop production?
Solution:
Biotic factors including pests, nematodes, diseases, etc. affect the net crop production in a variety
of ways. A pest feeds on the leaves or stems of the crops and causes damage. For example, boll
weevil is a pest on cotton. It attacks the cotton crop, thereby reducing its yield. Weeds are
unwanted plants that grow with the main crop and compete for nutrients, light, and space.
Abiotic factors also affect crop productivity in many ways. Abiotic factors like salinity,
temperature, etc.can lead to a loss of grain yield. Natural calamities such as droughts and floods
are unpredictable and can destroy the entire crop causing huge losses.

Question 2:
What are the desirable agronomic characteristics for crop improvements?
Solution:
The desirable agronomic characteristics for crop improvements are:
(i) Tallness and profuse branching are desirable for fodder crops.
(ii) Dwarfness in cereals.
Developing crop varieties with desirable agronomic characters help in increasing crop
productivity.

Question 1:
What are macronutrients and why are they called macronutrients?
Solution:
Nutrients that plants require in larger quantities for their growth are called macronutrients. There
are six are macronutrients required by plants - nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium,
magnesium, and sulphur. Deficiency of these nutrients affects physiological processes in plants
including reproduction, growth and susceptibility to diseases.
 Study Materials
NCERT Solutions for Class 6 to 12 (Math & Science)
Revision Notes for Class 6 to 12 (Math & Science)
RD Sharma Solutions for Class 6 to 12 Mathematics
RS Aggarwal Solutions for Class 6, 7 & 10 Mathematics
Important Questions for Class 6 to 12 (Math & Science)
CBSE Sample Papers for Class 9, 10 & 12 (Math &
Science)
Important Formula for Class 6 to 12 Math
CBSE Syllabus for Class 6 to 12
Lakhmir Singh Solutions for Class 9 & 10
Previous Year Question Paper
CBSE Class 12 Previous Year Question Paper
CBSE Class 10 Previous Year Question Paper
JEE Main & Advanced Question Paper
NEET Previous Year Question Paper

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Question 2:
How do plants get nutrients?
Solution:
Nutrients are supplied to plants by air, water and soil. Plants require sixteen essential nutrients
out of which thirteen are available from soil. The remaining three nutrients (carbon, oxygen, and
hydrogen) are obtained from air and water. Thus, soil is the sink of major nutrients for plants.

Question 1:
Compare the use of manure and fertilizers in maintaining soil fertility.
Solution:
Manure is formed by decomposition of plant waste and animal excreta and contain large quantities
of organic matter. Manures increase soil fertility by enriching the soil with organic matter and
nutrients. Fertilizers are inorganic compounds. They are commercially produced and supply
mainly nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Since, these contain chemicals, their excessive use is
harmful to microorganisms living in the soil. Their excessive use also reduces soil fertility. Hence,
fertilizers are considered good for only short term use.

Question 1:
Which of the following conditions will give the most benefits? Why?
(a) Farmers use high-quality seeds, do not adopt irrigation or use fertilizers.
(b) Farmers use ordinary seeds, adopt irrigation and use fertilizer.
(c) Farmers use quality seeds, adopt irrigation, use fertilizer and use crop protection measures.
Solution:
(c) Farmers using good quality seeds, adopting irrigation, using fertilizers, and using crop
protection measures will derive most benefits.
(i) If a farmer is using good quality seeds, then majority of the seeds will germinate properly, and
give a good crop.
(ii) Lack of proper supply of water can reduce crop yield. Different types of crops have different
water requirements. So, proper irrigation methods improve the water availability to crops.
Drought poses a threat to rain-fed farming areas, where farmers do not use irrigation for crop
production and depend only on rain. So proper irrigation practices help to improve water
availability to crops.
(iii) Fertilizers supply nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. They are used to ensure good
vegetative growth (leaves, branches and flowers), giving rise to healthy plants.
(iv) Crop protection measures include various methods to control weeds, pests, and infectious
agents. Pests and infectious agents affect plant health. Weeds compete for light, space and
nutrients and affect crop growth. Therefore crop protection measures like use of pesticides,
weedicides, etc. if taken by a farmer, the overall production of crops will increase.

Question 1:
Why should preventive measures and biological control methods be preferred for protecting
crops?
Solution:
Excessive use of chemical fertilizers and weedicides or pesticides can damage crops and
environment. These also adversely affect soil fertility because organic matter in the soil is not
replenished and soil microorganisms are killed. Therefore, preventive measures and biological
control methods should be preferred for protecting crops. Preventive methods such as proper
seedbed preparation, timely sowing of crops, intercropping and crop rotation help in weed
control. Prevention of pests is handled by using resistant varieties of crops. Biological control
methods include the usage of biopesticides and biofertilizers that are less toxic for the
environment. An example of bio-pesticides is Bacillus thuringiensis, which is an insect pathogen
that kills a wide range of insect larvae.
Therefore, both preventive measures and biological control methods can be effectively used for
protecting crops without harming the environment.

Question 2:
What factors may be responsible for losses of grains during storage?
Solution:
Factors responsible for loss of grains or crops during storage are attack by insects, rodents, mites,
fungi, bacteria,. Abiotic factors such as inappropriate moisture, temperature, lack of sunlight,
flood, etc. also lead to crop losses . These factors act on stored grains and result in degradation,
poor germination, discolouration, etc.

Question 1:
Which method is commonly used for improving cattle breeds and why?
Solution:
Cattle husbandry is done for two purposes - to increase the production of milk and draught
labour for agricultural work. Dairy animals (females) are used for obtaining milk and draught
animals (males) are engaged in agricultural fields for labour work such as carting, irrigation,
tilling, etc. Cross breeding between two good varieties of cattle i.e. a high milk yielding female
and a tough draught male can give a new improved variety with the best qualities of both parents.
For example, the cross between foreign breeds such as Jersey Brown, Swiss (having long
lactation periods) and Indian breeds such as Red Sindhi, Sahiwal (having excellent resistance
power against diseases) produces a new variety having qualities of both breeds.

Question 1:
Discuss the implications of the following statement:
“It is interesting to note that poultry is India’s most efficient converter of low fibre food stuff
(which is unfit for human consumption) into highly nutritious animal protein food.”
Solution:
Poultry in India is the most efficient converter of low fibre food stuff into highly nutritious
animal protein food. Poultry farming is undertaken to raise domestic fowl for egg production and
chicken meat. Therefore, improved poultry breeds are developed and farmed to produce layers
for eggs and broilers for meat. For this, the fowls are given animal feeds in the form of roughage,
which mainly consists of fibres. Thus, by feeding animals a fibre rich diet, the poultry gives
highly nutritious food in the form of eggs and chicken.

Question 1:
What management practices are common in dairy and poultry farming?
Solution:
Common management practices in dairy and poultry farming are:
(i) Proper shelter facilities with regular cleaning.
(ii) Maintenance of proper hygienic conditions such as clean water, nutritious food, etc.
(iii) Animals are kept in spacious, airy, and ventilated place.
(iv) Prevention and cure of diseases at the right time is ensured.
(v) Proper vaccination of animals
(vi) Providing balanced rations with all nutrients in appropriate proportions to cattle.

Question 2:
What are the differences between broilers and layers and in their management?
Solution:
Poultry farming is undertaken to raise domestic fowl for egg production and chicken meat.
Therefore, improved poultry breeds are developed and farmed to produce layers for eggs and
broilers for meat. Nutritional, environmental, and housing conditions required by broilers are
different from those required by egg layers. The ration (daily food requirement) for broilers is
protein rich with adequate fat. The level of vitamins A and K is kept high in poultry feeds. It also
requires extra care and maintenance to increase its survival rate in comparison to egg layers.

Question 1:
How are fish obtained?
Solution:
Fish is a cheap source of animal protein for our food. There are two ways of obtaining fish. One
is from natural resources, which is called capture fishing. The other way is by fish farming,
which is called culture fishery. Marine fish are caught using many kinds of fishing nets from
fishing boats. Some marine fish of high economic value are also farmed in seawater. Mariculture
is used for meeting the requirements for marine fish. Aquaculture is undertaken for providing
freshwater fish.
Question 2:
What are the advantages of composite fish culture?
Solution:
Composite fish culture system is a practice of growing five or six different species of fish
together in a single fish pond. Both local and imported fish species are used in such systems. An
advantage of composite fish culture is that it increases the yield of fish. Fishes with different
food requirements are chosen so that they do not compete for food among themselves and there
is a complete utilization of food resources in the pond. As a result, the survival rate of fish
increases and their yield also increases.

Question 1:
What are the desirable characters of bee varieties suitable for honey production?
Solution:
Bee varieties having the following desirable characters are suitable for honey production:
(i) They should yield high quantity of honey.
(ii) They should not sting much.
(iii) They should stay in the beehive for long durations.
(iv) They should breed very well.

Question 2:
What is pasturage and how is it related to honey production?
Solution:
Pasturage is the availability of flowers from which bees collect nectar and pollen. It is related to
the production of honey as it determines the taste and quantity of honey.

Question 1:
Explain any one method of crop production which ensures high yield.
Solution:
Method of growing crops alternatively on the same land is called crop rotation. In this method, a legume
crop is sown between two successive cereal crops. Root of legume plants harbor Rhizobium bacteria in
their root nodules. These bacteria help to fix nitrogen in the soil and make it available to the plants. Thus,
growing a legume crop helps in replenishment of nutrients in soil. This way soil fertility is maintained
and land gets utilized in a better way.nitrogen requiring cereals such as wheat and maize. This method
reduces the need of fertilizers, thereby increasing the overall yield of crops and decreasing soil pollution.

Question 2:
Why are manures and fertilizers used in fields?
Solution:
Manures and fertilizers are used in fields to enrich the soil with the required nutrients. Manure is Manure
helps in enriching the soil with organic matter and nutrients and provides a lot of humus to soil. This
improves the fertility and structure of the soil. Fertilizers are manufactured in factories and are a good
source of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Manure is better than fertiliser in terms of soil health, as it
adds humus and improves fertility and overall soil quality. On the contrary, although quicker in action,
fertilisers are bad for soil health in the long run because of their chemical nature. To get an optimum yield,
it is advisable to use a balanced combination of manures and fertilizers in the soil.

Question 3:
What are the advantages of intercropping and crop rotation?
Solution:
Inter-cropping is growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same field in a definite
pattern. This ensures maximum utilisation of nutrients by plants, and also prevents pests and
diseases from spreading to all the plants belonging to one crop in a field. Crop rotation is the
method of growing crops alternatively on the same land. Crop rotation increases soil fertility and
reduces soil erosion. Both these methods reduce the need for fertilizers. It also helps in
controlling weeds and controls the growth of pathogens and pests in crops.

Question 4:
What is genetic manipulation? How is it useful in agricultural practices?
Solution:
Genetic manipulation is a process where the gene for a desired character from one plant can be
introduced in another plant (cell). The plants formed as a result of genetic manipulation are
called transgenics. This transgenic plant has the new gene in its DNA and exhibits characters
governed by the newly introduced gene. Genetic manipulation of crops is desirable for producing
better yielding varieties, disease and pest resistant plants. Scientists have also developed plants
resistant to drought and nutrient rich crops. Golden rice is a vitamin A rich rice which was
developed with genetic manipulation. It was developed to fight vitamin A deficiency.
Therefore, gene manipulation plays an important role in agricultural practices. It helps in
improving crop variety. It ensures food security and insect resistant crops. It also improves the
quality and yield of crops.

Question 6:
How do good animal husbandry practices benefit farmers?
Solution:
Cattle husbandry is done for two purposes— milk and draught labour for agricultural work such
as tilling, irrigation and carting. Good animal husbandry practices like keeping the cattle celean,
providing the cattle with proper food, providing them with food additives, etc. keeps the cattle
healthy. Proper diet also leads to increased milk production. Proper care improves the overall
health of cattle and produces sturdy animals for agricultural work. By hybridisation i.e crossing
of superior breeds, better breeds of draught animals can be produced.

Question 7:
What are the benefits of cattle farming?
Solution:
Benefits of cattle farming:
(i) Better quality of milch cattle can be obtained.
(ii) Good health of draught animals can be maintained
(iii) New breeds that are resistant to diseases can be produced by crossing two varieties with the
desired traits.

Question 8:
For increasing production, what is common in poultry, fisheries and bee-keeping?
Solution:
The common factor for increasing production in poultry, fisheries, and bee keeping is the proper
management techniques that are to be followed. Regular cleaning of farms, maintaining hygiene,
proper and timely feed, nutritious feed is of utmost importance. Maintenance of proper living
conditions like ambient temperature and proper ventilation keeps the cattle healthy. Timely
vaccination of animals is required for prevention and cure of diseases.

Question 9:
How do you differentiate between capture fishing, mariculture and aquaculture?
Solution:

Capture fishing Mariculture Aquaculture

It is the method of obtaining
fish from natural resources.
It is the culture of marine fish
for commercial use.
It involves the production of
aquatic animals that are of
high economic value such as
prawns, lobsters, fish, crabs,
etc.
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