Amity International School
Sector-43 Gurgaon
Science Class -8
Chapter 1 Crop Production and Management
Cultivation of crops involves the following activities:
In our country three categories of crops are grown:
• Kharif Crops: The crops which are grown in the rainy season (i.e., from June to
September) are called Kharif crops. Paddy, maize, soybean, groundnut, and cotton are
Kharif crops.
• Rabi Crops: The crops are grown in the winter season (i.e., from October to March) are
called rabi crops. Examples of rabi crops are wheat, gram, pea, mustard, and linseed.
• Zaid Crops (or Summer Crops): The crops grown in the summer season are ( called zaid
crops. Moong, muskmelon, watermelon, cucumber, gourd and bitter gourd are
examples of zaid crops.
• Cultivation of crops involves the following activities:
• Soil Preparation: It involves loosening and tilling of the soil (i.e., ploughing
and watering).
• Sowing: Sowing is the process of putting seeds in the soil.
• Adding Manure and Fertilisers: The substances, which are added to the soil in
the form of nutrients to improve the production of the crops and fertility of the
soil are called manure and fertilisers.
• Irrigation: Supply of water to crops at appropriate intervals is called irrigation.
• Protection from Weeds: Weeds are the unwanted plants that grow along with
the crops. Its removal is a must for the better growth of the crops. These can
be controlled by spraying certain chemicals, called weedicides, like 2, 4-D.
• Harvesting: The cutting of the crop after it is mature is called harvesting.
• Storage: If the crop grains are to be kept for a longer time, they should be safe
from moisture, insects and rats.
Humus: Humus is the top layer of the soil formed by decaying or decomposition of
organic matters like animal remains, shed leaves, the dung of cattle.
Pests: Pests are the insects or rodents that destroy’much of our crop yield. Thus, it
is necessary to save crops from pests.
• Important agricultural tools:
Plough: This is used for tilling the soil, adding fertilisers to the crop, removing the weeds,
scraping of soil, etc. This implement is made of wood and drawn by a pair of bulls.
• Hoe: It is used for removing weeds and for loosening the soil.
• Cultivator: Used for ploughing. It is driven by a tractor. Use of cultivator saves
labour and time.
• Traditional Tool: The tool used traditionally for sowing seeds is shaped like a
funnel.
• Agricultural practices: There are various activities that have to be performed,
before sowing and up to harvesting. These are called agricultural practices.
• Animal husbandry: Animals reared at home or on a farm, have to be provided
with proper food, shelter and care, when this is done on a large scale it is
called animal husbandry.
