Question

Bhola and Rajni, who are studying in Class IX, were travelling in a train. Rajni observed field with two crops growing simultaneously in a definite pattern. While Bhola was busy playing with a velocity game, Rajni noticed that rows of bajra and lobia were grown in alternate rows.

a) Why Bajra and Lobia are grown together?

b) State any two values in Rajni's behaviour here that differentiate her from Bhola.

Answer 1

(a) Lobia is a legume and is a subspecies of the cowpea. On the other hand, Bajra is a staple in most developing countries not only because it is easy to grow but also because it is packed with nutrients and good for the human body. The pair of these crops is best suited for the strip farming. This is because when a single crop is grown in one field for many years in a row, the crop will cause the depletion of particular nutrients from the soil. This depletion of nutrients leads to poor plant health and lower crop yield. With strip rotation, particular nutrients are replenished depending on the crops that are planted. For example, a simple rotation between a heavy nitrogen using plant (here Bajra) and a nitrogen depositing plant (Lobia in this case) can help maintain a healthy balance of nutrients in the soil .

(b) Rajni is a keen learner & applies her knowledge in every field. She's a curious girl and wants to know about the working of everything. Bhola, on the other hand, is a lazy boy who doesn't care about his surroundings and is only interested in his virtual world.