BIOLOGY IMPROVEMENT IN FOOD RESOURCES

Improvement in Food Resources

 Plants and animals are major food sources.
 We obtain food from agriculture and animal husbandry.
 Keeping in mind the population of India, it is necessary to increase India’s production
efficiency of crops and livestock.
 Sustainable management can be defined as the adoption of various farming and
production management techniques to maximise yield in agriculture and animal
husbandry.
 Agriculture is the art and science of cultivating soil, producing crops, rearing animals
for food and useful products.

Improvement in Crop Yields

Plants which are grown by man on a large scale to obtain food, clothing and other useful
products are called crops.

Crops Nutrients we get from crops

Cereals (wheat, maize, millet, sorghum) Carbohydrates
Pulses (gram, pea, black gram, green Proteins
gram,
pigeon pea, lentil)
Oil seeds (ground nut, soya bean, Fats
mustard,
sesame castor, sunflower, linseed)
Vegetables and fruits Vitamins and minerals

Based on the season of cultivation, crops are divided into two categories:

Kharif Crops Rabi Crops

• They are grown in monsoon • They are grown in November
(June) and
and cultivated in autumn are harvested in April.
(October). • Grown in cold and
• Grown in hot and wet nearly dry conditions.
conditions. • Examples: Wheat,
• Examples: Rice, maize, mustard, pea, barley, gram,
tobacco, potato, onion, linseed

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Crop
Variety
Improveme

Ways to Improve
Crop
Yield

Crop Crop
Protection Production
Manageme Manageme
nt nt

Crop Variety Improvement

 It is the technique or the skill of selection of the best varieties of crops for various
desirable characters and incorporating those characters into the crops of the next
generation.

1. Hybridisation
It is the technique of crossing between two genetically dissimilar plants to produce a plant
of a new variety. The variety produced by using this technique is called a hybrid.
Two ways of cross-breeding during hybridisation are

Inter-varietal cross- • A cross between two different varities of

breeding crops

• A cross between two different

Inter-specific cross-
species of the same genus
breeding

The new varieties of crops obtained by hybridisation are called high-yielding varieties or HYV
seeds. Production of HYV seeds has led to an increase in agricultural production,
considerably reduced food shortage and generated more income in the agricultural sector.
This is known as the Green Revolution.

Examples of hybrid varieties are

Wheat Hira-moti, Kalyan sona, Sonora-64

Rice Padma, Jaya, IR-8, Pusa-205, Basmati

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2. Genetically Modified Crops

 A gene responsible for desirable characters is transferred from one crop variety to
another crop variety. The crop into which the gene is introduced to obtain the desired
result is called a genetically modified crop (GMO) or transgenic plant.
 Example: BT cotton

 American Scientist Norman Borlaug is known as the

Father of the Green Revolution.
 M. S. Swaminathan, an Indian agricultural scientist, is
known as the Father of the Green Revolution in India.

Need for Higher Crop Yield

 Higher Yield - Improves the commercial production of crops
 Improved Quality - Improvement in the quality of crops
 Biotic and Abiotic Resistance - Crop varieties resistant to diseases, pests, nematodes,
floods, droughts
 Change in Maturity Duration - The shorter the duration of crop from sowing to harvesting,
the more economical will be the variety of the crop
 Wider Adaptability - It ensures more sustenance under various environmental conditions
 Desirable Agronomic Characteristics - Developing crops with desired agronomic characters
gives higher productivity

Crop Production Management

 Crop production management refers to controlling different aspects of crop production

to obtain the maximum and best yield.

Irrigatio
n

Nutrient Croppin
Manageme g

Crop
Production
Manageme

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1. Nutrient Management
 Plants require 16 different nutrients which are obtained by air, water and soil.

• Nutrients required by plants in large quantities.

Macronutrien • The six macronutrients are nitrogen,
ts phosphorus, potassium, calcium,
magnesium and sulphur.

• Nutrients required by plants in small

quantities.
Micronutrien • The seven micronutrients are iron,
ts manganese, boron, zinc, copper,
molybdenum and chlorine.

 Deficiency of these nutrients retards the growth of plants.

Manures and Fertilisers

 It is a natural substance obtained by the decomposition of dead and decaying
vegetable matter, waste from farms, household waste and excreta of animals.

Compost (Vermicompost) Green Manure

 It is formed by the decomposition of  Farmers grow leguminous plants (e.g.
vegetable groundnuts, soya beans, pulses) in
and animal wastes, domestic waste and between two crops.
eradicated weeds.
 The waste matter is decomposed in pits.  Leguminous plants help to replenish the
This nitrogen content in the soil.
process is called composting.
 Sometimes, organic substances are  Sometimes, before sowing seeds, plants
decomposed by earthworms and are such
converted into humus. This is called as sun hemp or guar are grown and
vermicompost. mulched by ploughing them into the soil.

Advantages of Manures:
 Increase the water-holding capacity of the soil
 Make the soil porous which facilitates the exchange of gases
 Improve the texture of the soil
 Replenish the general deficiency of nutrients

Fertilisers:
 Fertilisers are human-made substances.
 They contain inorganic salts or organic compounds.
 Fertilisers are nutrient-specific so that they can fulfil the specific requirement of nutrients.

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 Fertilisers are costly and prepared in factories.
 Overuse of artificial fertilisers may reduce the fertility of soil. The soil may become
infertile over a period of time.

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Organic Farming
 Organic farming is the kind of farming in which crops are grown without using chemical
fertilisers and pesticides.
 There is a maximum input of organic manure or recycled farm wastes.
 Bio-agents such as blue-green algae are used in the preparation of biofertilisers.
 Neem leaves and turmeric are used as pesticides in grain storage.
 Food grown by organic farming is called organic food.
 In recent years, organic farming has increased. This is because of the increased
awareness in people about the safety related to the environment and food.

2. Irrigation
 In most parts of India, the success of crop yield depends on monsoons and sufficient
rainfall during the growing season. Hence, a poor monsoon causes crop failure.
 Irrigation is the artificial method of supplying water to crops in a field.
 Different kinds of irrigation systems such as wells, canals, river lift system and tanks
are adopted depending on the kinds of water resources available.
 Rainwater harvesting and watershed management are also used. Check dams are built
to increase groundwater levels.

Advantages of Irrigation

Provides moisture to germinating seeds

Facilitates the absorption of nutrients by

minerals

Disadvantages of Irrigation

Excess of water in the soil leads to water logging

Sometimes, it inhibits the process of germination

Roots do not grow properly in a standing water field

Excess irrigation destroys standing crops

It increases the amount of salt on the surface soil as water gets

evaporated

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3. Cropping Patterns

Mixed Cropping Inter-cropping Crop Rotation

• Growing two or • Growing two or • Growing of

more crops more crops different crops on the
simultaneously on simultaneously in the same land in pre-
the same piece of same field in a definite planned succession
land pattern • Allows soil to
• Minimises the • Increases the recover its lost
risk of crop failure productivity per unit nutrients
• Wheat + Gram area • Maize-Mustard-
• Wheat + Mustard • Soyabean + Maize Sugarcane-Fenugreek
• Groundnut + • Finger millet • Maize-Potato-
Sunflower (Bajra) + Cowpea Sugarcane- Pea

Crop Protection Management

1. Weeding
 Wild and undesirable plants which grow in crop fields and compete with the crops for
space, soil, nutrients, water and sunlight are called weeds.
 Some examples of weeds are Xanthium (gokhroo), Parthenium (gajar ghas) and
Cyperinus rotundus (motha).
 Weeding is the process of removal of weeds.

Weeds are removed by various methods:

 Weeds can be pulled out by hand.

 A trowel or small arrow can be used to remove weeds.
 Chemicals generally called weedicides can be used to kill weeds.
Examples: 2,4-D,
MCPA
 Releasing certain insects which destroy weeds. Example: Cochineal insect

Disadvantages of Weeds

 Compete with crops for all the possible resources

 Can be responsible for spreading diseases
 Provide hideouts for rats and snakes

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2. Pest Control
 Almost all crops are affected by insects, mites, small animals, birds and rats. Such
harmful organisms are called pests.
 Pests reduce crop production by cutting roots, sucking cell sap or damaging stems and
fruits.
 Some pests are aphids, grasshoppers and borers.
 Common diseases related to pests: Late blight of potato, root rot, rust and smut of
wheat, gall or tumour
 Pests can be controlled by spraying pesticides and insecticides such as Bordeaux
mixture and BHC.
 Animals which control pests are reared and released in the farm.
 Example: Adults and larvae of ladybird beetles feed on aphids and their eggs.

Disadvantages of Pesticides
 Destroy friendly insects along with pests
 Causes environmental pollution
 Affects nutritional quality of crops
 Animals eating such crops also get affected

Storage of Grain
Harvested crops are stored until they are sold in the market.
Sometimes, rodents, fungi, mites, bacteria and even moisture and temperature changes
damage stored grains. To avoid this, special precautions are taken while storing grains.

 Harvested grains contain a lot of moisture in them. Hence, grains are first
dried.
 Dried grains are stored in granaries.
 Grains are also stored in gunny bags.
 The Government stores grains in large containers or storage towers called
silos.
 Buffer stocks are stored in godowns to meet emergency needs such as
natural
calamities.
 Precautions to be taken while storing grains:
o Need to be stored in a room free from moisture.
o Tin boxes are preferred as they are mice-proof.
o In godowns, chemicals used to prevent rats and insects must be used
carefully in such a way that grains are not contaminated.
o Storage places should be well-ventilated.

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Animal Husbandry

1. Cattle Farming
 The breeding of wild animals for specific purposes is called domestication, and such
animals are called domestic animals.
 Animal husbandry is the branch of biology which deals with feeding, shelter, caring
and breeding of domesticated animals.

Dog was the first domesticated animal. It was

domesticated to help in hunting and guarding.

 Animals domesticated for companionship at home are called pets.

 Animals domesticated to obtain food and other valuable products are called livestock.
 There are three types of animals:

Draught Breeds  They are primarily used for drawing bullock carts,
ploughing land and transport of materials.
 The milk yield is very low.
 The meat is tough.
Dairy Breeds  They are high-milk yielders.
 Their males are poor draughts.
Dual Purpose Breeds  They are good milk yielders.
 The males are good for draught purposes.
 Examples: Haryana, Dangi, Tharparkar

Cattle and Buffaloes

 There are 30 different breeds of cows in India.
 Examples of exotic or foreign breeds: Jersey, Holstein-Friesian, Brown Swiss
 Examples of indigenous breeds: Red Sindhi, Sahiwal, Gir

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Shelter and Feeding

Shelter
 It must be well-lit and well-ventilated.
 Cattle sheds must be properly covered to protect cattle from rain,
heat and
cold.
 The floor should be sloping so that cleaning and keeping the place dry
is easy.
 The shelter must be spacious so that each animal is comfortable and
overcrowding is avoided.
 There should be an arrangement for fresh, clean drinking water.
 A proper arrangement for the disposal of the animal’s urine and
excreta must
be made.
 Shelters should be located away from residential areas and waste
disposal
sites.

Feeding
The animal food which contains essential components needed for the growth,
development and general maintenance of the body is called feed.
a) Roughage  Roughage is a coarse, fibrous substance with low nutrient
contents.
 Animals get their roughage from substances in their feed
such as hay, green fodder, silage, berseem, lucerne and
cowpea.
b)  They are rich in carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals and
Concentrates vitamins.
 Grains and seeds of bajra, maize, rice, jowar and barley
which are rich in carbohydrates.
 Oil cakes formed from cotton, mustard and groundnut.
 Rice bran, gram chaff, wheat bran and molasses.

Diseases in Cattle

Type of Disease Name of Disease Symptoms

Viral Disease Foot and Blisters on feet and
mouth disease mouth Excessive
salivation Reduced
appetite Soreness of
mouth
Fever
Cow pox High fever
Appearance of small nodules over the
body

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Bacterial Disease Anthrax High fever
Swelling on the body, especially neck
Rinderpest High fever
(cattle plague) Excessive
salivation
Redness of eyes
Loss of appetite
Salmonellosis Diarrhoea with blood clot
Mad cow disease is a degenerative disease which affects the central nervous
system.

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Symptoms of sick cattle

Cattle
 Stop feeding
 Become inactive and dull
 Have drooping ears and lips
 Pass loose dung and coloured urine
 Produce less milk

2. Poultry
 Poultry is the raising of chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese for meat and eggs.
 The egg-laying chickens are called eggers or layers.
 Rhode Island leghorns and white leghorns are good layers.
 The chickens reared for obtaining meat are called broilers.
 The following breeds are found in Indian poultry:
o Indigenous breed: Aseel
o Exotic breeds: White Leghorn, Rhode Island Red

New varieties of fowls are developed for the following desirable traits:

Number and quality of chicks

Developing dwarf broiler parent for commercial chick production

Tolerance to high temperature

Small-sized egg-laying bird to use diets formed by using agriculture by-

products

Low-maintenance requirements

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Poultry Care

 Chickens are raised in wire cages.

 Birds should not be kept open or overcrowded.
 Feeding trays and egg trays are kept in front of the cage.
 The place should be well-ventilated.
 Clean drinking water must be provided.
 Dropping fall on the ground, so it must be cleaned at intervals.
 Bird dropping from poultry farms is an excellent source of nitrogen for plants.
 Egg production is related to day-length; artificial lighting is done to
increase the day
length in winter.
 The feed of poultry birds contains maize, soy, rice bran, cereals and
groundnut cakes.
 For broilers, a thick layer of sawdust is provided in the sheds to absorb
droppings.
 Feed and water are kept at regular intervals for easy access to all birds.
 After raising one batch, sawdust is cleared, the area is sterilised and
again fresh
sawdust is spread to raise another batch.

Poultry Diseases

Viral diseases Fowl pox, Ranikhet

Bacterial Fowl cholera, salmonellosis, diarrhoea of chick, coryza
diseases
Fungal diseases Aspergillosis

Timely vaccinations prevent chickens from these diseases.

3. Pisciculture (Fish Production)

Marine Fishery
 India has a coastline of 7500 km and deep seas.
 Fish are caught by using fishing nets and other gear.
 Echosounders and satellites are used to locate a large population of fish under the sea.
 Some of the popular marine fish varieties are Pomfret, Bombay duck, mackerel, snapper
and mullet.
 Fish reared in pisciculture are Catla, Mrigal, Tilapia and Singhi.
 Marine fish reared in pisciculture are Pomfret, Bombay duck, snapper and mackerel.

Inland Fisheries
 Fish reservoirs such as canals, ponds, rivers, estuaries and lagoons are used for fisheries.
 The fish yield is not so high.
 Fishing is also done in paddy fields.
 In this system, local and imported species of fish, usually 5–6, are used in a single pond.
 This is done to avoid any competition for food and space.

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 Some of the fish cultured by using inland fishery techniques are Rohu, Catla, Mrigal and
Tilapia.

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Purpose of Fish Production

 Fish is an important source of human food. It is highly proteinaceous.
 Shark liver oil and cod liver oil are rich in vitamins A and D.

4. Beekeeping
Beekeeping or apiculture is the artificial rearing of honey bees or the maintenance of colonies
of honey bees by humans to obtain honey and other commercially important products.
The place where bees are kept is called a bee yard or apiary.

Apis
cerana
indica
(Indian
bee)

Apis Varietie Apis

mellifera s of dorsata
(Italian bee) bees (Rock
used bee)

Apis florae
(Little bee)

Italian bees
 High honey collection capacity
 Stay in given bee hive for long periods
In nature, honey bees live in colonies in a beehive made of wax which they
produce. The three types of individuals found in a honey bee colony are
drone, queen and worker.

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Quee
n
(Lays
eggs)

Colony of
Honey
Bee
Worker
Drone
s
s
(Steril
(Males

In beekeeping, one or more boxes are mounted on a stump which is

about 5 feet high.

Each setup has a narrow opening which allows only worker bees to
enter or exit the setup.

There are frames inside the box on which workers

construct hives.

When the cells in a hive are filled with honey, the frames are removed
and honey is extracted by centrifugation.

The frame with intact hive is then put back to collect more honey.

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