NCERT 8th Class (CBSE) Social Science: Major Crops And Agricultural

Question: Describe the geographical environment for farming in the Prairies.

Answer: USA is a prosperous country. It is blessed with vast fertile plains and extensive grasslands. The Prairies in USA stretch from the Rocky mountains in the west to the Great Lakes in the east. The Prairies are located in the interior of the continent and thus experience continental type of climate.

Question: Write the temperature and rainfall conditions required for the cultivation of rice, sugarcane, cotton, jute and coffee.

Answer: Rice:

1. High temperature, about 25°C, during the growing season.
2. High humidity and rainfall, about 150 cm to 200 cm.
3. Alluvial clayey soil which can retain water.
4. Flooded fields when the plants are growing.

Sugarcane:

1. Hot and humid climate.
2. Level land well-drained fertile soil.
3. No accumulation of water in the filed.

Cotton:

1. High temperature of about 27°C during the growing period.
2. Rainfall of about 60 cm to 100 cm in frequent showers.
3. Fertile, well-drained soil, capable of retaining moisture, like the ‘black cotton soil’ of the Deccan plateau of India.
4. Dry, clear and sunny weather during the time of ripening of the cotton bolls.

Jute: 

1. Jute grows well in warm and wet climate. Alluvial soil, rich in salts, is suitable.

Question: What are the geographical conditions necessary for the cultivation of wheat and millet?

Answer: Wheat is the mid-latitudes and in the dry subtropical regions. Wheat plant needs:

1. Rolling or undulating plain areas.
2. Moderate temperature of abut 15°C.
3. Moderate rainfall of about 75 cm during the growing season.
4. Bright and sunny weather during the time of harvest.
5. Well-drained loamy soil is good, but black soil produces excellent quality grain.

The main wheat producing regions are temperate grasslands. In India, wheat is grown in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh during the winter season.

These crops are grown in areas of high temperature, low rainfall and less fertile and sandy soil. The semi-arid parts of the tropical and subtropical regions are best suited for millet cultivation. The main millet producing countries are India, China, USA, Brazil, Nigeria, Niger and Egypt. Millet is used as fodder for domestic animals in USA.