NCERT Solution: Improvement in Food Resources
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.
Inter cropping is a method of crop production which ensures high yield. It is a practice of growing two or more crops simultaneously. in the same field in rows. In inter cropping definite row patterns are followed such as one row of main crop of is followed by two row of intercrop.
In inter cropping there is greater utilisation of the interspaced area, light, nutrients, water and air. As a result productivity per unit area increased.
Manures and fertilizers are used in fields to enrich the soil with the required nutrients. Manure helps in enriching the soil with organic matter and nutrients. This improves the fertility and structure of the soil. On the other hand, fertilizers ensure a healthy growth and development in plants. They are a good source of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. To get an optimum yield, it is instructed to use a balanced combination of manures and fertilizers in the soil.
Inter-cropping and crop rotation both are used to get maximum benefit on limited land. Inter-cropping helps in preventing pests and diseases to spread throughout the field. It also increases soil fertility, whereas crop rotation prevents soil depletion, 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.
Genetic manipulationis a process where the gene for a particular character is introduced inside the chromosome of a cell. When the gene for a particular character is introduced in a plant cell, a transgenic plant is produced. These transgenic plants exhibit characters governed by the newly introduced gene.
Genetic manipulation is useful in developing varities with Higher yield, Good Quality, Biotic and Abiotic resistance, short maturity period, wider adaptability and desirable agronomic characteristics
There are various biotic and abiotic factors that act on stored grains and result in degradation, poor germinability, discolouration, etc.
Biotic factors include insects or pests that cause direct damage by feeding on seeds. They also deteriorate and contaminate the grain, making it unfit for further consumption.
Abiotic factors such as temperature, light, moisture, etc., also affect the seed. They decrease the germinating ability of the seeds and make them unfit for future use by farmers. Unpredictable occurrence of natural calamities such as droughts and floods also causes destruction of crops.
Cattle farming is one of the methods of animal husbandry that is most beneficial for farmers. Using this method, better breeds of draught animals can be produced. Such draught animals are engaged in agricultural fields for labour work such as carting, irrigation, tilling, etc.
Benefits of cattle farming:
→ Good quality and quantity of milk can be produced.
→ Draught labour animals can be produced for agricultural work.
→ New variety that are resistant to diseases can be produced by crossing two varieties with the desired traits.