Crops

Cereals form the basic diet of mankind.

Explanation. Cereals are the plants of the grass family that is cultivated for their edible components. Their starchy edible seeds form the major source of diet for more than half of the world’s population. They form the staple diet for a large number of people. Rice, wheat, barley, millets, oats, and maize are the major cereal crops grown throughout the world.

The world’s best wheat comes from the temperate grasslands.

Explanation.

Wheat is an important cereal crop that is grown mainly in the temperate areas of the world. It forms the major component of food in the temperate regions. Since wheat requires warm and moist conditions in its early stages and dry, sunny conditions in the later stages of its growth, temperate areas provide the ideal prerequisites for its cultivation. Loamy soil is the composition of the sand, silt and smaller amount of clay. It is rich in minerals. The loamy soils and its organic and biological components in the temperate areas also add to its high production in the region.

Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu are important cotton producing states in India.

Explanation. Cotton is an important fiber crop that grows in the tropical and the sub-tropical region. It is an important component of the textile industry throughout the world, and cotton fabrics are always in high demand. A hot, humid and moist condition is required for the excellent growth of the crop. It gives the best yield in the black and alluvial soil that contains a high composition of phosphorus, ammonia and other components as a result of the constant deposition and settlement of soil. Cotton cultivation is mainly found in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and parts of Rajasthan.

Rice is a tropical crop.

Explanation. Rice is the staple diet crop especially for the regions surrounding the tropical areas of the world. A hot, humid and moist condition is required for the excellent growth of the crop. It gives the best yield in the alluvial soil that has rich nutrients because of the deposition by the flow of rivers and water bodies over time. It results in the formation of river beds and ensures the development of smooth and fertile soil where water can be held stagnant making it ideal for cultivation. Since it requires an average temperature of 24 ̊ and an average rainfall of 150cm, it can be considered as a tropical crop grown in the kharif season between July and October.

Rice is the staple diet crop especially for the regions surrounding the tropical areas of the world. A hot, humid and moist condition is required for the excellent growth of the crop. It gives the best yield in the alluvial soil that has rich nutrients because of the deposition by the flow of rivers and water bodies over time. It results in the formation of river beds and ensures the development of smooth and fertile soil ideal for cultivation. Since it requires an average temperature of 24 ̊ and an average rainfall of 150cm, it can be considered as a tropical crop. Asia, being in the tropical zone is the largest producer of rice that accounts for 98% of the global production. The main centres of production are China, India, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

Wheat is an important cereal crop that is grown mainly in the temperate areas of the world. It forms the major component of food in the temperate regions. Since wheat requires warm and moist conditions in its early stages and dry, sunny conditions in the later stages of its growth, temperate areas provide the ideal prerequisites for its cultivation. Loamy soil is the composition of the sand, silt and smaller amount of clay. It is rich in minerals. The loamy soils and its organic and biological components in the temperate areas also add to its high production in the region. In India wheat is a rabi crop grown between October and March in the northern states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana.

Tea is an important cash crop that is grown both in the tropical and the sub-tropical regions. It is a perennial shrub whose leaves are used for the production of tea dust and tea. A hot, humid and moist condition is required for the excellent growth of the crop. It requires a temperature of 21 ̊ and an average rainfall of 150 cm. Since the shrub requires a cooler, rainy and tropical climate for its growth, it is majorly cultivated in the hilly regions. It is extensively grown in the hilly regions of China, India and Sri Lanka.

Cotton is an important fibre crop that grows in the tropical and the sub-tropical region. It is an important component of the textile industry throughout the world, and cotton fabrics are always in high demand. A hot, humid and moist condition is required for the excellent growth of the crop. It gives the best yield in the black soil that contains a high composition of phosphorus, ammonia and other components as a result of the constant deposition and settlement of soil. Cotton cultivation is mainly found in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and parts of Rajasthan.

Jute is an important fibre crop that is grown in the tropical regions of the world. It is also known as the golden fibre. It is an important component of the textile industry throughout the world. The cultivation of jute requires a high temperature, high rainfall, and fertile, alluvial soil. Thus the tropical zone of the world is ideal for its production. It is majorly cultivated in the floodplains of West Bengal and Bangladesh where the soil is highly rich and fertile. It gives the best yield in the alluvial soil that has rich nutrients because of the deposition by the flow of rivers and water bodies over time. It results in the formation of river beds and ensures the development of smooth and fertile soil ideal for cultivation. Almost two-thirds of the jute production is carried out in India and Bangladesh.

Explanation

1. Ginning is the process used to separate the cotton fibres from the cotton seeds. Perfect ginning operation would be performed if the separation of fibres from the seed was done without the slightest injury to either seeds or the fibre.

2. Retting is the process that involves the action of the microorganisms and moisture on plants to dissolve or rot away the cellular tissues so that it facilitates the separation of the fibre from the stem. This is mostly used in the jute to separate the fibres from the woody tissues.

3. Loamy soil is the composition of the sand, silt and smaller amount of clay. It is rich in minerals. Therefore this soil makes ideal for growing wheat. Other than wheat there are much more crops grown in loamy soil, they are cotton, jute, sugarcane, pulses, and oilseeds.

4. Alluvial soil is fertile soil rich in potassium. It is the best fit soil for agriculture. The crops which are grown in alluvial soil are paddy, sugarcane, and plantain. Paddy is the most used crop in alluvial soil field.

5. Sugarcane is species of tall perennial grass native of warm temperature to tropical regions. The plant is two to six metre tall. This makes them as tall tropical grass which is most suitably grown in the tropical region.

Cereals are the plants of the grass family that is cultivated for their edible components. Their starchy edible seeds form the major source of diet for more than half of the world’s population. They form the staple diet for a large number of people. Rice, wheat, barley, millets, oats, and maize are the major cereal crops grown throughout the world.

Wheat is an important cereal crop that is grown mainly in the temperate areas of the world. It forms the major component of food in the temperate regions. Since wheat requires warm and moist conditions in its early stages and dry, sunny conditions in the later stages of its growth, temperate areas provide the ideal prerequisites for its cultivation. It requires a temperature of 15 ̊ - 20 ̊ and rainfall of 50-60 cm. Loamy soil is the composition of the sand, silt and smaller amount of clay. It is rich in minerals. The loamy soils and its organic and biological components in the temperate areas also add to its high production in the region. Wheat requires highly mechanised and automated cultivation. It is mainly grown in the open, undulating areas in the world.

The highest producers if wheat in the world is USA, China, Ukraine, Canada, Argentina, Australia, India, and Pakistan. In India wheat is a rabi crop grown between October and March in the northern states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana.

Ginning is the process of separating the soft and fluffy ball of cotton fibre from its seeds. Ginning is the process used to separate the cotton fibres from the cotton seeds. Perfect ginning operation would be performed if the separation of fibres from the seed was done without the slightest injury to either seeds or the fibre. Before ginning, the cotton seeds are first dried in the sunlight to remove any moisture content from them. Any organisms, leaves, stems and other particles are removed from them before ginning.

Before the invention of gins, cotton ginning was done by hand. It was highly labour intensive and required many days to separate the fibre and the seeds. But after the invention of gins, the process was highly mechanised. It also helps to prevent wastage to some extent and ensures the collection of seed and seedless cotton separately.

The crops grown for the extraction of fibres from them are the fibre crops. Before the introduction of synthetic fibres, they were highly used for many purposes. The large quantities of cellulose found in them give them the strength, thus making them ideal for their use in making paper, clothes, and ropes. Cotton, jute, and bamboo are some fibre crops.

Cotton is an important fibre crop that grows in the tropical and the sub-tropical region. Cotton is predominantly a shrub. It is an important component of the textile industry throughout the world, and cotton fabrics are always in high demand. A hot, humid and moist condition is required for the excellent growth of the crop. It requires in the regions having temperatures ranging between 20 ̊ - 30 ̊ and an excellent rainfall of 50-100 cm. It gives the best yield in the black and alluvial soil that contains a high composition of phosphorus, ammonia and other components as a result of the constant deposition and settlement of soil.

The important producers of cotton in the world are USA, Uzbekistan, Brazil, and Pakistan. Cotton cultivation is mainly found in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and parts of Rajasthan of India.

Retting is the process that involves the action of the microorganisms and moisture on plants to dissolve or rot away the cellular tissues so that it facilitates the separation of the fibre from the stem. This is mostly used in the jute to separate the fibres from the woody tissues.

The traditional methods of retting involve the soaking of the stem in water and dew and exposing the stem to moisture for 14 to 28 days. This will allow the stem to soften by the action of the microorganisms and the moisture content and helps the extraction of the fibre from the barks. But it is a labour intensive method involving long duration and requiring large quantities of fresh water. The developments in technology have led to the introduction of many modern means of separating the fibre through heat, chemicals, and enzymatic treatments.

Cash crops are agricultural crops produced for their market value. They are commercially valuable crops mainly cultivated for its sale in the market. It is mainly cultivated and grown with the objective of making profits. Tea, pepper, rubber, sugarcane, and spices are some important cash crops.

Sugarcane is an important cash crop grown in the tropical regions of the world. It forms part of the grass family cultivated in the tropical and sub-tropical zone of the world. A hot, humid and moist condition is required for the excellent growth of the crop. It requires a hot, dry climate throughout the year with an average temperature of 24 ̊ and a very good rainfall of 130 cm. It gives the best yield in the well-drained fertile soil that has rich nutrients because of the deposition by the flow of rivers and water bodies over time. It results in the formation of river beds and ensures the development of smooth and fertile soil ideal for cultivation.

The regions of Latin America, Southern, and Eastern Asia are the leading producers of sugarcane in the world. India, Pakistan, Brazil, and Indonesia are the important countries involved in the production of the crop.

Cereals are the plants of the grass family that is cultivated for their edible components. Their starchy edible seeds form the major source of diet for more than half of the world’s population. They form the staple diet for a large number of people. Rice, wheat, barley, millets, oats, and maize are the major cereal crops grown throughout the world.

Cash crops are agricultural crops produced for their market value. They are commercially valuable crops mainly cultivated for its sale in the market. It is mainly cultivated and grown with the objective of making profits. Tea, pepper, rubber, sugarcane, and spices are some important cash crops.

Tea is an important cash crop that is grown both in the tropical and the sub-tropical regions. It is a perennial shrub whose leaves are used for the production of tea dust and tea. The cultivation of tea involves the constant trimming and maintenance of the shrub to facilitate the growth of new, fresh leaves ideal for making tea dust. A hot, humid and moist condition is required for the excellent growth of the crop. It requires a temperature of 21 ̊ and an average rainfall of 150 cm. Since the shrub requires a cooler, rainy and tropical climate for its growth, it is majorly cultivated in the hilly regions. It gives the best yield in the well-drained fertile soil that is rich in nutrients.

It is extensively grown in the hilly regions of China, India and Sri Lanka. In India, Assam, West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have extensive tea estates and is involved in the production and export of the crop.

Jute is an important fibre crop that is grown in the tropical regions of the world. It is also known as the golden fibre. It is an important component of the textile industry throughout the world. The cultivation of jute requires a high temperature, high rainfall, and fertile, alluvial soil. Thus the tropical zone of the world is ideal for its production. It is majorly cultivated in the floodplains of West Bengal and Bangladesh where the soil is highly rich and fertile. It gives the best yield in the alluvial soil that has rich nutrients because of the deposition by the flow of rivers and water bodies over time. It results in the formation of river beds and ensures the development of smooth and fertile soil ideal for cultivation. Almost two-thirds of the jute production is carried out in India and Bangladesh.

Jute majorly used for making clothes, sacks, carpets, rugs, coverings and many other items. It is also being used as furniture, accessories and for other handicrafts

a. Ginning

b. Retting

c. Cereals

d. Millets

e. Weeding

f. Transplanting

g. Topography

a. The main ingredients of the food were cereals, vegetables, fruits, fish and meat. They differ according to the region in which the student belonged.

b. All the food items came from either plant or from animals. Cereals, vegetables, and fruits came from plants and agricultural sources while chicken and fish from animals.

c. The food differed according to the differences in regions from which the student hailed- southern India (Asha’s home), northern India (Ranveer’s home), eastern India (Nunmaii’s home) and Western India (Vani’s home)

The menu at both the places in different because of the differences in food habits and the differences in the crops cultivated.

Northern India is the wheat bowl of the country. Nearly 90% of the wheat production is concentrated in the northern states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. This makes wheat the staple diet of the population. This explains the porotta and chapathi in their menu. Even though rice is also consumed by them, it does not form their staple food. They consume only lesser amounts of rice and gives more importance to wheat and other cereals like corn and millets.

Conversely, in southern India, ice is the staple diet of the majority of the population. It includes rice and other batters made out of rice like idly and dosa. Southern India is the rice bowl of the country, especially states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Here the staple food of the people is rice and other derived products. This explains the predominance of rice, idly and dosa in their menu. The consumption of wheat in the households is negligible and can be seen very rarely. Being the coastal belt, their consumption mainly includes rice and fresh fish.