Important Questions Class 8 Science Chapter 1

Important Questions Class 8 Science Chapter 1 – Crop Production and Management 

Agriculture is the science which primarily deals with the diverse processes or the methods used to cultivate different varieties of plants and livestock farming or animal husbandry based on human requirements. 

Chapter 1 of Class 8 Science is called ‘Crop Production and Management’. In this chapter, we learn about various agricultural practices in cultivating crops and managing the crops produced after the complete harvesting process.

There are various interesting concepts to learn around the application of how crops are produced after undergoing several processes and their management post-production. About 70% of the population in India practices agriculture. Hence, the development and management of crops is an important aspect of ensuring optimal productivity on farms. The major agricultural practices involved in crop development and management are listed below:

• Preparation of Soil
• Sowing of Seeds
• Addition of Manure and Fertilisers
• Irrigation
• Protection from Weeds
• Harvesting
• Storage

Chapter 1 of Class 8 describes the different practices involved in crop production through modern technology and traditional agriculture. The entire globe depends on agriculture for its food. Therefore, carefully producing and storing the harvested crops is very important. The chapter is important for Class 8 and covers topics on agriculture and its components. By solving the exercise questions given in the NCERT and exemplar questions, students can prepare themselves well for their examinations.

Extramarks is one of the most trusted online learning platforms. Students from Class 1 to Class 12 can access the website and use the various study materials offered by our faculty. This will help students to create a strong foundation for future studies across all streams. Students can comprehend the concepts easily after referring to our NCERT solutions, CBSE revision notes, CBSE past years’ question papers, CBSE sample papers and other study materials developed by the experienced science faculty appointed by Extramarks.

It’s crucial to regularly review the various topics taught in each chapter for students to simplify the learning process during examinations. Students can understand various concepts introduced in this chapter by solving multiple problems. The Extramarks team realises the benefit that students get after revising the chapter by solving multiple questions related to a particular topic in the chapter. This will help students strengthen each portion included in the chapter and cover up the majority of questions that are likely to be asked. 

Hence, our team of experienced Science teachers have prepared Chapter 1 Class 8 Science Important Questions to help students score well and progress in their academics. Students registered with Extramarks will quickly find step-by-step solutions to every question for revising various core concepts covered in the chapter. 

Get Access to CBSE Class 8 Science Important Questions 2022-23 with Chapter-Wise Solutions

You can also find CBSE Class 8 Science Chapter-by-Chapter Important Questions here:

Important Questions Class 8 Science Chapter 1 – With Solutions

To obtain a good score in examinations, students should choose the right study material that is accurate to learn and comprehend various chapter concepts. One of the highly effective known methods for promoting student learning is when they practise questions in the form of active learning. Practising questions is an excellent way to revise concepts and clear any doubts related to them. Our team of expert Science teachers has gathered Important Questions for Class 8 Science Chapter 1 from various sources including NCERT textbooks, NCERT exemplars, past years’ exam papers, etc. Detailed and easy-to-understand stepwise solutions to every question are provided for clarifying the concepts for students. Students can register on the Extramarks website and access the complete list of solutions to chapter-wise questions.

The list is given below consists of a few questions and answers from our Important Questions Class 8 Science Chapter 1:

Q 1. Which one of the following statements is true about the storage of produce?

• Harvested grains have less moisture.

• Farmers store grains in jute bags or metallic bins.

• Small-scale storage of grains is done in silos or granaries.

• Specific chemical treatments are required to protect crops from pests and​ microorganisms

• (2) only

• (1), (2) and (4)

• (2) and (4)
• (3) and (4)

Answer: The correct option is C

Explanation: The true statement about the storage of produced grains is

2. Farmers store grains in jute bags or metallic bins.

• Grains obtained after harvesting have a high moisture content.
• They are prone to get easily infected in a short time. 
• Therefore, grains after harvest should be dried in sunlight to decrease moisture.
• There are various methods to store grains for future use. 
• However, it is best to store grains in jute bags or metallic bins.
• The lid of bins or the bags should be airtight to keep them safe for a long time.
• One should keep an eye on the grains to check for insect pests at least once a month or a week, which completely depends upon the season.
• Moreover, this method also prevents the grains from intoxication caused by harmful chemicals that protect them from pests or other vertebrate pests.

4. Specific chemical treatments are required to protect crops from pests and​ microorganisms.

• Grain production is seasonal, but its consumption is continuous. 
• They must be protected from unfavourable weather, moulds, harmful microorganisms, moisture, insects, rodents, birds and other contaminants. 
• Hence, using various chemical treatments helps maintain grain quality and quantity for long periods.
• Storage of grains requires chemical treatment, which protects them from pests, microorganisms and moisture and increases their lifespan.

Question 2. What is irrigation? Describe two methods of irrigation which conserve water.

Answer 2: Irrigation supplies water to crops artificially to fulfil their water requirements. The water must be supplied to the plants regularly to ensure maximum productivity. Nutrients can also be provided to the crops through the process of irrigation. Water sources for irrigation are wells, ponds, lakes, canals, tube wells and dams. Irrigation offers moisture required for growth and development, germination and other related functions.

Methods of irrigation that conserve water are:

1. a) Drip Irrigation: The water goes directly into the roots. This method is extremely useful as it conserves the water and helps avoid weeds.
2. b) Sprinkler system: This method is used in mainly uneven land where sufficient water is unavailable. The vertical pipes with rotating nozzles are mainly joined to the main pipeline at estimated regular intervals. It is observed that when water is allowed to flow through the given main pipe when it’s under pressure, it escapes from the spinning nozzles. It then gets sprinkled on the crop as if it is raining.

Question 3. What is the advantage of modern agriculture implements over a traditional one?

Answer 3: There are various advantages of modern agriculture over the traditional such as:

1. Modern agriculture reduces labour work.
2. It takes very less effort as compared to traditional ways.
3. It is known to increase yield compared to the traditional method.
4. Using new variants of organic fertiliser can reduce soil and water pollution.
5. With the growing demand, new varieties are getting introduced in the market.

Traditional farming can only yield limited biomass as food for humans and animals. Better management practices and an increase in acreage can increase yield, but only to a limited extent. Plant breeding as technology has helped increase yield to a very large extent.

Plant breeding is said to be one of the most crucial steps of agriculture. Plant breeding is termed as the purposeful manipulation of plants to develop high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties in wheat, rice, maise etc.

Some very common techniques that are used in plant breeding are:

1. Conventional plant breeding involves the crossing or hybridisation of pure lines followed by artificial selection to produce plants with desirable traits. 
2. Mutation breeding uses induced mutations in plant breeding to develop improved varieties.
3. Plant tissue culture is based on the totipotent nature of plant cells.

All these techniques are approaches to achieving:

1. Increased crop yield and improved quality
2. Increased tolerance to the environment
3. Developing crops resistant to pathogens
4. Crops with increased tolerance to insect pests

Modern agricultural practices save a lot of time and labour for the farmers. Modern agricultural practices impose accuracy and efficiency on farming procedures.

Question 4. Describe three natural methods of manuring.

Answer 4: The three natural methods of manuring are:

• Field fallow
• Crop rotation
• Mixed cropping

1. Field fallow: 

A fallow field is a land that a farmer ploughs but does not cultivate for one or more seasons to make the field more fertile again.

The benefits of leaving land fallow for extended periods are given below:

• Breaking crop pest and disease cycles
• Rebalancing soil nutrients
• Providing a haven for wildlife
• Re-establishing soil biota

2. Crop rotation:

In crop rotation, a different crop is grown every year. This is done because different crops require different nutrients in different quantities, which allows the soil to remain fertile. For example, corn which requires a lot of nitrogen is grown one year, and then in the next year, a leguminous plant like a pea is grown as it restores nitrogen in the soil.

Advantages of crop rotation:

• The soil fertility is well preserved.
• Weeds and pests are not allowed to grow.
• The use of chemical fertilisers is reduced.
• The properties of soil are untouched.

3. Mixed cropping:

When two or more crops are observed to be grown simultaneously on the same land, it is known as mixed cropping. For example, growing wheat and gram on the same land is mixed cropping. This practice minimises the risk of failure of one of the crops and ensures against crop failure due to abnormal weather conditions.

Advantages of mixed cropping are:

• The crop yield increases.
• The pest infestation is minimised.
• Reduction in the risk of crop failure.
• The soil is utilised properly.
• Greater than one variety of crops can be harvested at the same time.

Question 5. The system of irrigation, wherein water is supplied drop by drop near the roots of plants, is called ___________.

• pulley system

• drip system

• sprinkler system
• lever system

Answer 5: The correct option is B.

Explanation: A type of localised irrigation in which drops of water are delivered at or near the plants’ roots. In this specific type of irrigation, evaporation and runoff are minimised. Drip irrigation is one of the most efficient water and nutrient supply systems for growing crops. It supplies water and nutrients straight to the plant’s roots in the right amounts. In principle, there are two types of drip irrigation:

• Subsurface drip irrigation: Water is applied below the soil surface.
• Surface drip irrigation: Water is applied directly to the soil surface.

The pulley system is a traditional irrigation method where water is lifted from a well, or other water sources and crops are watered. This is done by using a pulley chain and human labour or animals.

In the sprinkler system, vertical pipes have rotating nozzles on top joined to the central pipeline at timely intervals. When water is allowed to flow through the pipe under great pressure with the help of a pump, it manages to escape from the rotating nozzles. It later gets sprinkled on the crops as if it is raining.

The lever system is a traditional irrigation method where humans or animals lift the water from its source. This is a less efficient irrigation method.

Question 6. Why do you think the removal of weeds is essential? Write any one method to control weeds. 

Answer 6: Weeding means the removal or cutting down of unwanted plants or weeds. It is necessary because they affect the plant’s growth and the nutrients supplied to the soil. Weeds and plants compete not only for space but also for water and nutrients. As weeds absorb nutrients from the soil, they damage the main crop because they cannot get the proper nutrition from the soil. Similarly, it damages the main plant in case of light, water absorption, and space occupied by the weeds. Weeding also helps loosen the soil if the process of handpicking does it. Weeding can also be done using chemicals such as MCPA, 2,4-D. Some common weeds include grass, algae, amaranthus, chenopodium, Xanthium, parthenium, choices rotundus, etc.

Question 7. Explain in detail what are agricultural implements used during the preparation of soil.

Answer 7: Agriculture is a labour-intensive process that cannot be done by hand. Therefore, using tools and machines to carry out agricultural processes is necessary. These are known as agricultural implements or tools. Agricultural implements are the tools which are required to carry out agricultural practices. Several agricultural implements are used in present-day farming activities. In general, these different implements are of mainly five types.

Types of Agricultural Implements:

Given below are the different types of agricultural implements generally used by the farmers to facilitate easy production of crops:

• Irrigation Machinery:

It includes the central pivot irrigation systems and different pump units. It also helps in the watering of crops at appropriate and accurate levels.

• Soil Cultivation Implements:

These implements are used to plough the soil and prepare it for cultivation. For example, disk harrows, spike, drag, and others.

• Planting Machines: 

Planting machines are used to plant saplings and seeds over a large land area after the cultivation of the soil is completed. This is done by using transplanting equipment, broadcast seeders, precision, air seed, and other such methods.

• Harvesting Implements:

Harvesting implements are used to harvest matured crops. For example, trailers, diggers, pickers, etc.

• Other Agricultural Equipment: 

These are used in agricultural activities like hay-making, loading, shredding, and many more.

• Agricultural Tools:

To make the agricultural process more efficient, faster, and productive, farmers have started to use agricultural tools such as plough, sickle, hoe, drills, etc. There are a large variety of agricultural tools that farmers use for cultivation purposes.

Following are the various types of agricultural tools used in the agricultural practice of farming:

1. Plough:

It is generally derived from wood and is pulled primarily by two bulls. The plough has been used since ancient times for tiling, turning the soil and adding fertilisers. It consists of a long wooden log that is called a ploughshaft. Plough has a strong triangular iron strip called a ploughshare. The other end of the plough is connected to a beam on the bull’s neck. However, the wooden ploughs used since ancient times are now substituted by iron ploughs drawn by modern tractor vehicles.

2. Hoe:

Hoe has been in use since ancient times for various cultivation purposes. It mainly consists of a long rod of wood pulled by the animals. It is pulled by the animals and used to loosen the soil and remove weeds. It has a strong, bent broad plate of iron which works as a blade.

3. Cultivator:

A plough attached to a tractor is known as the cultivator. This reduces labour and also saves time. It stirs the soil present around the maturing crop to promote growth and destroy weeds.

4. Seed Drill:

The seed drill is used for sowing seeds. This process is done with the help of vehicles like tractors. It ensures that the seeds sown are at equal distances and depths and covered with the soil. This allows plants to receive sufficient soil sunlight, nutrients, and water. This saves labour and time and protects the seeds from being eaten by birds or other animals in the surroundings.

5. Traditional Tools:

The conventional tool to sow seeds is shaped like a funnel. It is filled with seeds. The seeds are usually passed through two or three pipes that have sharp ends. These ends enter the soil easily, and the seeds are then placed there. Sickle, spade, and axe are some common agricultural implements that farmers use. It is a labour and time-intensive farming practice.

Question 8. Explain how soil gets affected by the continuous plantation of crops in a field. 

Answer 8: The minerals in the soil, such as potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients, are depleted due to the persistent soil plantation. It also takes up all the plant nutrients, which require a long time to replenish. These ions are very important for all plants’ proper growth and development. If the continuous plantation is done, these minerals won’t get time to replenish, and the crop yield decreases immediately.

Question 9. What is the importance of the storage of food?

Answer 9: Food is the most basic requirement for all living entities as food supplies all the nutrients our body needs to grow, develop and repair the body in case of any damage. The increasing demand in the food supply has led to an increase in the crop yield resulting in the storage of food grains in warehouses. However, hunger and malnutrition cannot be combated with this measure alone, as food security is influenced by availability and access. Field crops are known to accommodate many insect pests, weeds and diseases. If these are not kept under control, they can cause severe damage to yield.

Storage losses can also go very high. Factors contributing to losses are various biotic components such as fungi, mites, bacteria, insects, rodents etc. Abiotic components that affect storage losses include unfavourable temperatures, improper storage techniques, etc. It can cause the following:

• Degraded quality of food
• Poorly germinated seeds
• A loss in the weight of crops
• Discoloured produce

Importance of food storage:

It is very important to store food. Given below is a list of a few points highlighting the same:

• Storing food is termed economical to the consequences that may be caused otherwise.
• Food Corporation of India(FCI) buys grains from the farmers and stores these grains in warehouses to supply food. Hence, meeting the ever-growing demand.
• Storage increases the shelf-life of a food item. There are different ways of storing food items. For example, food items such as meat must be stored in the refrigerator as they tend to decay quickly because of their high moisture content.
• Appropriate storage enables uniform distribution of the product throughout the year.
• Storage is useful in case of emergencies such as famines, floods etc.

Question 10. What is a crop? What are its types?

Answer 10: A crop may be defined as plants of a similar type grown and cultivated as a food source. This is done on large cultivable land. There are also various types of crops cultivated by farmers. These different types of crops are:

• Rabi Crops: 

These crops are grown during winter, from October to March.

• Kharif Crops: 

These crops are usually sown during the rainy season, from July to October.

Benefits of Solving Important Questions Class 8 Science Chapter 1

Students can benefit differently by referring to and practising the Science Class 8 Chapter 1 important questions on the Extramarks website. MCQs, short and medium format question and answer, and long answer questions are provided with step-by-step solutions. After referencing these study materials, students get well versed with various questions regarding the chapter appearing in the CBSE examination. 

A few of the benefits of referring to Important Questions Class 8 Science Chapter 1 are:

• The questions are collated after referring to various genuine sources that mainly include NCERT textbooks, NCERT exemplar books, past years’ question papers and various other sources. Hence students will find a complete variety of all the questions to prepare themselves well for the examination.
• By practising different advanced level questions provided in the Important Questions Class 8 Science Chapter 1, students can thoroughly brush up on the concepts given in the chapter. This will help them revise the concepts again and give them a chance to analyse their shortcomings and overcome them before they face the final examinations.
• The solutions to all the questions in important Questions Class 8 Science Chapter 1 follow the latest CBSE syllabus and NCERT guidelines. Experienced Science faculty members prepare our detailed answers. Students can fully rely on our study materials available on the website of Extramarks.

After a student has registered on the Extramarks website, they will get access to answers given in Important Questions Class 8 Science Chapter 1. 

Furthermore, students can also get access to different other study materials from Classes 1 to 12 by clicking on the links provided below:

CBSE Revision Notes

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Important formulas 

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