CH 12 Bio
CH 12 Bio
CH 12 Bio
1. infestation of insects
2. weight loss
3. poor germination ability
4. degradation in quality
5. discolouration
6. poor market price
Question 2. What are the desirable agronomic characteristics for crop improvements?
Answer: Desirable agronomic characteristics for crop improvements are:
(a) Tallness and profuse branching are desirable characters for fodder crops.
(b) Dwarfness is desired in cereals, so that less nutrients are consumed by these crops.
Question 1. What are macro-nutrients and why are they called macro-
nutrients?
Answer: Macro-nutrients are the essential elements which are utilised by plants in
large quantities. Many macro-nutrients are required by the plants for the following
functions:
1. By the continuous use of fertilizers, the soil becomes powdery, dry and rate of
soil erosion increases.
2. By the use of fertilizers, the organic matter decreases which further decreases
the porosity of soil and the plant roots do not get oxygen properly,
3. The nature of soil changes to acidic or basic.
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.
Answer: In this, (c) Farmers use quality seeds, adopt irrigation, use fertilizer and use crop
protection measures.
Use of any quality seeds is not sufficient until they are properly irrigated, enriched with
fertilizers and protected from biotic factors. Hence, option (c) will give the most benefits.
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Abiotic factors like moisture (present in food grains), humidity (of air) and
temperature.
Biotic factors like insects, rodents, birds, mites, bacteria and fungi.
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Question 1. Which method is commonly used for improving cattle breeds and why ?
Answer: Cross breeding is a process in which indigenous varities of cattle are crossed by
exotic breeds to get a breed which is high yielding. During cross breeding, the desired
characters are taken into consideration. The offspring should be high yielding, should have
early maturity and should be resistant to climatic conditions.
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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”.
Answer: The basic aim of poultry farming is to raise domestic fowl for egg production and
chicken meat. These poultry birds are not only the efficient converters of agricultural by-
products, particularly cheaper fibrous wastes (which is unfit for human consumption but can
be formulated into cheaper diets for poultry birds) into high quality meat and also help in
providing egg, feathers and nutrient rich manure. For this reasons, it is said that, “poultry is
India’s most efficient converter of low fibre food stuff into highly nutritious animal protein
food”.
1. Shelter: Dairy animals and poultry birds require proper shelter, i.e., well
designed dairy and hygienic shelter.
2. Feeding: To get good yield of food product, proper feed is provided to dairy
animals and poultry birds.
3. Caring for animal health: Animal and birds must be protected from diseases
caused by virus, bacteria or fungi.
Question 2. What are the differences between broilers and layers and in their
management?
Answer: The poultry bird groomed for obtaining meat is called broiler. The egg
laying poultry bird is called layer.
The housing, nutritional and environmental requirements of broilers are somewhat
different from those of 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 the poultry feeds while layers require enough
space and proper lightning.
uestion 1. Explain any one method of crop production which ensures high
yield.
Answer: One method used for crop production which ensures high yield is plant
breeding. It is the science involved in improving the varieties of crops by breeding
plants. The plants from different areas/places is picked up with desired traits and
then hybridisation or cross-breeding of these varieties is done to obtain a plant/crop
of desired characteristic.
The high yielding crop variety shows the following characteristics:
High yield, early maturation, less water for irrigation, better quality seeds are
produced, less fertilizers required, adapts itself to the environmental conditions.
Increased yield
Better quality
Shorter and early maturity period
Better adaptability to adverse environmental conditions
Desirable characteristics
1. Abiotic factors like moisture (present in foodgrains), humidity (of air) and
temperature.
2. Biotic factors like insects, rodents, birds, mites and bacteria.