CHAPTER 12 IMPROVEMENT IN FOOD RESOURCES
Improvement In Crop Yields
Factors that lead to storage losses of crops are:
Biotic Factors: Like insects, fungi, bacteria, rodents and mites
Abiotic Factors: Like excessive temperature and moisture.
Organic Farming
Fertilizers are commercially produced plant nutrient that enriches the soil fertility and increases the crop
yield. They supply nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Manure is a natural fertilizer. They are the bulky sources of organic substances of animal or plant origin that
is added to the soil to increase its fertility and structure are called manures.
The nutrients that are required in large quantities are called Macronutrients. The nutrients that are required
in small quantities by the plants are called Micronutrients.
Activities that lead to improvement in the crop yield:
Crop Variety Improvement
Crop Production Improvement
Crop Production Management
White Revolution: Increasing the growth of milk production by introducing dairy development programs.
Green Revolution: The introduction of modern technology and equipment, usage of fertilizers and high-
quality seeds.
The efficiency of crops and livestock is required in India because:
The population of India is growing at a faster rate hence more amount of food is required to meet the
rising demand.
The agricultural land is limited as compared to the growing population.
Main sources of food:
Plants: obtained from agriculture
Animals: obtained from animal husbandry
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, All living organisms need food because:
It provides carbohydrates, fats vitamins and minerals
It allows development of the organisms
It is needed to gain energy for everyday tasks
Different types of crops and their Nutritional Value
Crop Examples Value
wheat, rice, maize, millets,
Cereals Carbohydrates
sorghum
gram, black gram, green gram,
Pulses Proteins
pigeon pea, lentil
soybean, groundnut, sesame, castor,
Oilseeds Fats
mustard, sunflower
Vegetables, Spices Minerals, vitamins and small amounts of
carrot, cinnamon, orange, spinach
and Fruits Carbohydrates, fats and proteins
Fodder crops berseem, oats, sudan grass Food for Livestock
Kharif Crops: The crops grown during the rainy season (June to October) are called kharif crops. Example-
paddy, maize, millet, groundnut, soyabean, etc.
Rabi Crops: The crops grown during the winter season (November to April) are called rabi crops. Example-
wheat, barley, gram, mustard, etc.
Hybridisation - In this process, genetically different plants are crossbred.
They can be three types of crossing
i. Intervarietal- Between two varieties of a plant
ii. Interspecific- Between two species belonging to same genus
iii. Inter Generic- Between species of different genus
Advantages of manure:
They enrich the soil with nutrients. They replenish the general deficiency of nutrients in the soil. Since
they contain less nutrients so they are needed in large quantities.
They add organic matter to the soil which restores the soil texture, for better retention of water and
aeration of soil.
The organic matter in manure provides food for soil organisms, which help in providing nutrients to
plants.
The process of recycling farm waste material by decomposing it is called Composting. The product formed
on decomposition is called Compost.
Compost Vermicompost
A manure prepared from waste materials such as cow dung, A manure that is prepared by using
sewage, vegetable wastes and domestic waste. Earthworms
Takes around 1 to 2 months in
Takes around 3 to 6 months in formation
formation
Earth worms reduce the matter and
The microbes decay the matter and manure is formed
compost is formed
Features of Fertilizers
Fertilizers provide important nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus to the soil.
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Improvement In Crop Yields
Factors that lead to storage losses of crops are:
Biotic Factors: Like insects, fungi, bacteria, rodents and mites
Abiotic Factors: Like excessive temperature and moisture.
Organic Farming
Fertilizers are commercially produced plant nutrient that enriches the soil fertility and increases the crop
yield. They supply nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Manure is a natural fertilizer. They are the bulky sources of organic substances of animal or plant origin that
is added to the soil to increase its fertility and structure are called manures.
The nutrients that are required in large quantities are called Macronutrients. The nutrients that are required
in small quantities by the plants are called Micronutrients.
Activities that lead to improvement in the crop yield:
Crop Variety Improvement
Crop Production Improvement
Crop Production Management
White Revolution: Increasing the growth of milk production by introducing dairy development programs.
Green Revolution: The introduction of modern technology and equipment, usage of fertilizers and high-
quality seeds.
The efficiency of crops and livestock is required in India because:
The population of India is growing at a faster rate hence more amount of food is required to meet the
rising demand.
The agricultural land is limited as compared to the growing population.
Main sources of food:
Plants: obtained from agriculture
Animals: obtained from animal husbandry
1/5
, All living organisms need food because:
It provides carbohydrates, fats vitamins and minerals
It allows development of the organisms
It is needed to gain energy for everyday tasks
Different types of crops and their Nutritional Value
Crop Examples Value
wheat, rice, maize, millets,
Cereals Carbohydrates
sorghum
gram, black gram, green gram,
Pulses Proteins
pigeon pea, lentil
soybean, groundnut, sesame, castor,
Oilseeds Fats
mustard, sunflower
Vegetables, Spices Minerals, vitamins and small amounts of
carrot, cinnamon, orange, spinach
and Fruits Carbohydrates, fats and proteins
Fodder crops berseem, oats, sudan grass Food for Livestock
Kharif Crops: The crops grown during the rainy season (June to October) are called kharif crops. Example-
paddy, maize, millet, groundnut, soyabean, etc.
Rabi Crops: The crops grown during the winter season (November to April) are called rabi crops. Example-
wheat, barley, gram, mustard, etc.
Hybridisation - In this process, genetically different plants are crossbred.
They can be three types of crossing
i. Intervarietal- Between two varieties of a plant
ii. Interspecific- Between two species belonging to same genus
iii. Inter Generic- Between species of different genus
Advantages of manure:
They enrich the soil with nutrients. They replenish the general deficiency of nutrients in the soil. Since
they contain less nutrients so they are needed in large quantities.
They add organic matter to the soil which restores the soil texture, for better retention of water and
aeration of soil.
The organic matter in manure provides food for soil organisms, which help in providing nutrients to
plants.
The process of recycling farm waste material by decomposing it is called Composting. The product formed
on decomposition is called Compost.
Compost Vermicompost
A manure prepared from waste materials such as cow dung, A manure that is prepared by using
sewage, vegetable wastes and domestic waste. Earthworms
Takes around 1 to 2 months in
Takes around 3 to 6 months in formation
formation
Earth worms reduce the matter and
The microbes decay the matter and manure is formed
compost is formed
Features of Fertilizers
Fertilizers provide important nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus to the soil.
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