9th Class Science Improvement in food resources Improvement in Food Resources

Improvement in Food Resources

Synopsis

• Food supplies all the required nutrients for the development, growth and health of the body.

• Cereals like wheat, provide carbohydrates, pulses (grams) provide proteins and oil seeds provide fats.

• Hybridization is the crossing between genetically dissimilar plants.

• Improvement of agriculture is done for higher yield, biotic and abiotic resistance, improved quality grade, adaptability and other factors.

• Macronutrients are those that are required in large quantities by the plants (N, R K, Ca, Mg,S, etc.).

• Micronutrients are those that are required in small quantities (Mn, B, Zn, etc.).

• Manure contains organic matter and supplies nutrients to the soil. It is prepared by the decomposition of animal excreta and plant waste.

• The process in which waste material is decomposed is known as composting. Compost prepared by using earthworms is called vermin compost.

• Organic farming is a farming system with minimal or no use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides etc. and with a maximum input of organic manures, recycled farm waste and bio-agents with healthy cropping system.

• Mixed cropping is growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land. For example wheat and mustard are often grown together.

• Inter cropping is growing of two or more crops in the same field but in a definite pattern. For example maize and soya bean crops are grown alternately.

• Milk producing animals are called milch animals and those that are used for farm labour are called draught animals.

• Poultry is undertaken to increase the production of meat and eggs.

• Five or six species of fish are raised (grown) in a single pond in order to reduce competition for food. This is called composite fish culture. For example catlas (surface feeders), rohas (middle zone) and mrigals (bottom feeders) are raised together.
• Rearing of honeybees for honey and wax is called bee-keeping or apiculture.

• Italian bees have high honey collection capacity.