Improvement in Food Resources – Very Short Answer Type Questions
Class 9 • Biology
Chapter 7: Improvement in Food Resources — 50 Very Short Answer Questions
Instructions: The following 50 very short answer questions cover important points from Chapter 7 (Improvement in Food Resources). Each answer is brief and NCERT-focused for quick revision.
Crop Production & Practices
1. What is crop production?
Crop production is the sequence of operations from soil preparation to harvesting to grow crops for food and other uses.
2. Define ploughing.
Ploughing is turning and loosening of soil to break clods and improve aeration and root penetration.
3. What is sowing?
Sowing is the process of placing seeds in the soil for germination.
4. Give one advantage of using seed drill over broadcasting.
Seed drill ensures uniform depth and spacing, leading to better germination and higher yield.
5. What is transplanting?
Transplanting involves raising seedlings in a nursery and then moving them to the main field for better establishment.
6. Why is weeding important?
Weeding removes unwanted plants that compete with crops for nutrients, water and light.
7. Define irrigation.
Irrigation is supplying water to crops through artificial methods like canals, sprinklers or drip systems.
8. What is the benefit of drip irrigation?
Drip irrigation delivers water directly to roots, reducing wastage and conserving water.
9. What does harvesting mean?
Harvesting is collecting mature crops from fields at the appropriate time.
10. Name one method to prevent post-harvest losses.
Proper drying and storage in clean, dry, pest-free conditions prevents post-harvest losses.
Manures, Fertilisers & Soil Health
11. What is manure?
Manure is organic material (farmyard, compost) added to soil to improve fertility and structure.
12. What are fertilisers?
Fertilisers are chemical substances supplying specific nutrients (N, P, K) to plants for rapid growth.
13. Give one advantage of manure over fertiliser.
Manure improves soil texture and microbial activity, offering long-term soil health benefits.
14. What is green manure?
Green manure is decomposed plant material ploughed into soil to enrich organic content and nutrients.
15. Why should fertilisers be used judiciously?
Overuse causes nutrient imbalance, soil degradation and water pollution (eutrophication).
Crop Protection & Pest Management
16. What is a pesticide?
A pesticide is a chemical used to control pests, including insecticides, fungicides and herbicides.
17. Define biological control.
Biological control uses natural enemies (predators, parasites) to reduce pest populations.
18. What is integrated pest management (IPM)?
IPM integrates biological, cultural, mechanical and chemical methods for sustainable pest control.
19. Give one cultural method of pest control.
Crop rotation disrupts pest life cycles and reduces pest buildup.
20. Why is farm sanitation important?
Farm sanitation removes infected plants and residues, limiting disease spread and pest breeding sites.
Animal Husbandry & Livestock
21. What is animal husbandry?
Animal husbandry is breeding and caring for domestic animals to produce food like milk, meat and eggs.
22. Define breed improvement.
Breed improvement involves selecting or cross-breeding animals to enhance desirable traits like milk yield.
23. What is fodder?
Fodder is plant material (grass, hay) grown or collected to feed livestock.
24. Why is vaccination important in livestock?
Vaccination prevents infectious diseases, reducing mortality and improving productivity.
25. What is pasteurisation?
Pasteurisation is heating milk to kill harmful microbes, making it safe for consumption.
Poultry, Fisheries & Aquaculture
26. What is poultry farming?
Poultry farming is raising birds like chickens for meat (broilers) and eggs (layers).
27. Define aquaculture.
Aquaculture is the farming of fish and aquatic organisms in controlled environments like ponds.
28. Give one benefit of integrated fish farming.
It uses farm resources efficiently by combining fish culture with agriculture or livestock, enhancing productivity.
29. What is feed conversion ratio (FCR)?
FCR is the amount of feed required to gain a unit weight of animal; lower FCR indicates better efficiency.
30. Why is pond preparation important before stocking fish?
Pond preparation ensures suitable water quality, proper bottom condition and reduces predators/diseases for healthy fish growth.
Plant Breeding & Crop Improvement
31. What is selection in plant breeding?
Selection is choosing superior plants from a population for propagation to retain desirable traits.
32. Define hybridisation.
Hybridisation is crossing two genetically different plants to combine desirable traits in offspring.
33. What is a high-yielding variety (HYV)?
HYV is a crop variety bred to give higher productivity under favourable conditions.
34. Give one aim of crop improvement programs.
To increase yield, disease resistance or nutritional quality of crops.
35. What is tissue culture (brief)?
Tissue culture is growing plant cells or tissues in sterile nutrient media to produce clones or disease-free plants (advanced topic).
Sustainable Practices & Conservation
36. What is crop rotation?
Crop rotation is planting different crops in sequence to maintain soil fertility and reduce pests.
37. Define contour ploughing.
Contour ploughing involves ploughing along slope contours to reduce soil erosion.
38. What is organic farming?
Organic farming avoids synthetic chemicals and relies on organic manures and natural pest control methods.
39. How does mulching help crops?
Mulching conserves soil moisture, reduces weed growth and moderates soil temperature.
40. What is terracing?
Terracing creates stepped fields on slopes to prevent soil erosion and conserve water.
Post-Harvest Management & Miscellaneous
41. Why is grading of agricultural produce done?
Grading sorts produce by quality and size to improve market value and storage efficiency.
42. What is value addition?
Value addition involves processing raw produce (e.g., milling, canning) to increase shelf life and market value.
43. Name one mechanical farm implement.
Plough, seed drill or harvester are examples of mechanical farm implements.
44. What is seed treatment?
Seed treatment is applying chemicals or bioagents to seeds to protect them from pests and diseases during germination.
45. Why are quality control and hygiene important in dairy production?
They ensure milk safety, prevent contamination and extend shelf life of dairy products.
46. What is monoculture?
Monoculture is cultivating a single crop species over a large area; it can increase efficiency but may raise pest risk.
47. Give one disadvantage of indiscriminate pesticide use.
It can harm beneficial organisms, cause resistance in pests and contaminate environment.
48. What is the purpose of vaccination in poultry?
Vaccination protects birds from infectious diseases, reducing mortality and production losses.
49. Define sustainable agriculture in one line.
Sustainable agriculture maintains productivity while conserving resources and minimising environmental impact.
50. Suggest one quick revision tip for this chapter.
Make comparison tables (manure vs fertiliser, biological vs chemical control) and practice 2–3 labelled diagrams for fast recall.
All questions follow NCERT Class 9 Biology — Chapter 7: Improvement in Food Resources. Use these very short Q&A for quick revision and CBSE exam practice.