i. Soil preparation involves tilling the soil to loosen and aerate it for plant roots to penetrate deeply. Traditional tools like ploughs and hoes are used for tilling. ii. Sowing seeds properly at the right depth and spacing is important for optimal plant growth. Traditional and modern seed drills are used to sow seeds uniformly. iii. Manure and fertilizers are added to replenish soil nutrients removed by continuous cropping, improving soil health and fertility for better crop yields.

3. i. Preparation of soil
ii. Sowing
iii. Adding manure and fertilizers
iv. Irrigation
v. Protection from weeds
vi. Harvesting
vii. Storage

4. It is the first step before growing a crop. It is done to
turn and loosen the soil. This allows the root to
penetrate deep into the soil. This allows the roots to
breathe easily when they go to deep in the soil.
The earthworms and microbes present in soil are
friends of farmers since they turn and loosen the
soil and add humus to it.
A few centimeters of the top layer of the soil supports
plant growth , turning and loosening of soil brings
the nutrient rich soil to the top so that plants can use
this nutrients .Thus it is important to prepare the
soil.

5. The process of loosening and turning the soil is
called tilling or ploughing. This is done by using
a plough. They are made of wood or iron. If the
soil is very dry , it may need watering before
ploughing. The ploughed field may have big
pieces of soil called crumbs. It is leveled for
sowing as well as for irrigation purposes. The
leveling is done with help of a leveler.
The main tools used for the purpose of tilling are
plough , hoe and cultivator.

6. Plough
This is being used since ancient times for
tilling the soil , adding fertilizers to crop ,
removing the weeds , scraping of soil etc.
This implement is made of wood and is
drawn by a pair of bulls or other animals
(horse, camels). It contains a strong
triangular iron strip called ploughshare. The
main part of the plough is a long log of wood
which is called plough shaft. One pair of
bulls can easily operate the plough .

7. Nowadays ploughing is
done by tractor-driven
cultivator. The use of
cultivator saves labour
and time.
It is a simple tool which is
used for removing
weeds and for loosening
the soil. It has a long rod
of wood or iron. A
strong, board and bent
plate of iron is fixed to
one of its bit ends and
works like a blade. It is
pulled by animals.

8. Sowing is the most important part of crop
production. Before sowing , good quality seeds are
clean and healthy seeds of a good variety . Farmers
prefer to use seeds which give a high yield.
Damaged seeds become hollow and are thus lighter.
Therefore , they float on water.
Before sowing seeds one of the important tasks is to
know about the tools used to sowing seeds.
Appropriate distance between the seeds is important
to avoid overcrowding of plants. This allows the
plants to get proper sunlight , nutrients and water.

9. TRADITIONAL TOOLS : The tool used traditionally
for sowing seeds is shaped like a funnel. The seeds
are filled into the funnel, passed through two or
three pipes having sharp ends . These ends pierce
into the soil and places seed there.
SEED DRILL : The seed drill is used for sowing with
the help of tractors. It sows the seeds uniformly
at proper distances and depths. It ensures that
seeds gets covered by the soil after sowing.
Sowing by using it saves labour and time.

10. The substances which are added to the soil in the
form of nutrients for the healthy growth of plants is
called manure or fertilizers.
Continuous growing of crops makes the soil poorer
in certain nutrients . Therefore , farmers have to add
manure to the fields to replenish the soil with
nutrients this process is called manuring.
It is important because farmers grow crop after crop
in same field. The field is never uncultivated or
fallow. So it is important to do manuring.

11. Manure is an inorganic substance obtained by
the decomposition of plant or animal wastes.
Farmers dump plant or animal wastes and allow
it to decompose. The decomposition is caused
by some microorganisms . The decomposed
matter is used as organic manure.
Advantages of Manure :
1. It enhances the water holding capacity of soil.
2. It improves the texture of the soil.
3. It increases the number of friendly microbes.
4. It makes the soil porous due to which exchange
of gases becomes easy.

12. Fertilizers are chemical substances which are
rich in particular nutrient. They are produced in
factories. Some examples of it are urea ,
ammonium sulphate , potash , super phosphate ,
NPK. The use of it has helped farmers to get
better yield of crops. But excessive use of it has
made soil less fertile. It has also became a source
of water pollution. It also does not provide any to
the soil. It is costlier in rate.

13. There are many ways to replenish ( enrich ) the soil ,
that are:
1. The use of manure of fertilizers.
2. By leaving the land uncultivated or fallow for one
season.
3. It can be done by crop rotation. It is done by
growing crops alternately. The crops can be grown
one time leguminous and another time non-
leguminous. Rhizobium bacteria are present in
nodules of roots of leguminous plants. They fix
atmospheric nitrogen.

14. FERTILIZERS MANURE
1) A fertilizer is an inorganic
salt.
2) A fertilizer is prepared in
factories.
3) A fertilizer dose not
provide any humus to the
soil.
4) Fertilizer are very rich in
plant nutrients like
nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium.
1) Manure is a natural
substance obtained by
the decomposition of
cattle dung, human
waste and plant residues.
2) Manure can be prepared
in the fields.
3) Manure provides a lot of
humus to the soil.
4) Manure is relatively less
rich in plant nutrients.

15. Water is important for proper growth of flowers ,
fruits and seed of plants. It is absorbed by the
plant roots. Along with it , minerals and
fertilizers are also absorbed. Plants contains
nearly 90 % of it. It is essential because
germination of seeds does not take place under
dry conditions. Nutrients dissolved in it get
transported to each part of the plant . It also
protects crop from both frost and air currents. To
maintain the moisture of the soil for healthy
crop , fields have to be watered regularly.

16. The supply of water to the crops at different
intervals is called irrigation. The time and
frequency of it varies from crop to crop , soil to
soil and season to season. In summer , the
frequency of watering is higher.
Sources of irrigation : Wells, tube wells , ponds ,
lakes , rivers , dams and canals.

17. Cattle or human labour is used in the methods
are cheaper but less efficient . The traditional
ways are :
1. Moat ( Pulley system )
2. Chain Pump
3. Dhekli
4. Rahat ( Lever System )
Pumps are commonly used for
lifting water.

18. This is more useful on the uneven land where
sufficient water is not available. The perpendicular
pipes , having rotating nozzles on top , are joined to
the main pipeline at regular intervals. When water is
allowed to flow through the main pipe under pressure
with help of a pump , it escapes from the rotating
nozzles. It gets sprinkled on the crop as if it is raining.
It is very useful for sandy soil.

19. In this , the water falls drop by drop just at position of
roots. It is best technique for watering fruit plants ,
gardens and trees. Water is not wasted at all. It is boon
in regions where availability of water is poor.

20. In a field many other undesirable plants may grow
naturally along with the crop. These undesirable plants are
called weeds. The removal of weeds is called weeding.
Weeding is necessary since weeds compete with the crop
plants for water , nutrients , space and light. Thus , they
affect the growth of crop. Some weeds interfere even in
harvesting and may be poisonous for animals and human
beings.
Farmers adopt many ways to remove weeds and control
their growth. Tilling before sowing of crops helps in
uprooting and killing of weeds , which may dry up and get
mixed with the soil. The best time for removal of weeds is
before they produce flowers and seeds . The manual
removal includes physical removal of weeds by uprooting
or cutting them close to the ground, from time to time .
This is done with the help of a khurpi. A seed drill is also
used to uproot weeds.

21. Weeds are controlled by using certain chemicals called
weedicides like 2,4-D . These are sprayed in the fields
to kill the weeds . They do not damage the crops . The
weedicides are diluted with water to the extent
required and sprayed in the fields with a sprayer .
The weedicides are sprayed during the vegetative
growth of weeds before flowering and seed formation .
Spraying of weedicides may affect the health of farmers
. So they should use these chemicals very carefully .
They should cover their nose and mouth with a piece
of cloth during spraying of these chemicals .

22. Harvesting of crop is an important task . The cutting of
crop after it is mature is called harvesting. In
harvesting, crops are pulled out or cut close to the
ground. It usually takes 3 to 4 months for a cereal crop
to mature. In our country it is either done manually by
sickle or by a machine called harvester.
In the harvested crop , the grain seeds need to be
separated from the chaff which is called as threshing.
This is carried out with help of a machine called
combine which is an in fact a combined harvester and
thresher.

23. Farmers with small holdings of land do the separation
of grain and chaff by winnowing.
Harvest Festivals
After 3 or 4 months of hard works there comes the day of
harvest. The sight of golden fields of standing crop , laden
with grain, fills the hearts of farmers with joy and a sense of
well-being. The efforts of the past season have borne fruit
and it is time to relax and enjoy a little. The period of
harvest is, thus, of great enthusiasm. Special festival
associated with the harvest season are Pongal, Baisakhi,
Holi, Diwali, Nabanya and Bihu.

24. Storage of produce is an important task. If the crop
grains are kept for longer time , they should be safe
from moisture , insects , rats and microorganisms. The
fresh crop has more moisture. If freshly harvested
grain ( seeds ) are stored without drying , they may get
spoilt or attacked by organisms , losing their
germination capacity. Hence , before storing them , the
grains are properly dried in the sun to reduce in them.
It prevents the attack by insect pests , bacteria and
fungi. Farmers store grains in jute bags or metallic
bins. The large storage of grains is done in silos and
granaries to protect them from pests like rats and
insects.

26. Animals are reared at home or in farms , have to be
provided with proper food , shelter , and care .
When this is done on a large scale , it is called
animal husbandry .

27. MADE BY : AYUSH SINGH
VIII / A