Before sowing the crop seeds, the soil of fields is loosened and overturned. This process is called ploughing or tilling. For sowing, farmers obtain certified seeds from State Agriculture Department and Seed Corporation. Sometimes, farmers also select seeds from their own crop. Nowadays ploughing is done by a tractor driven cultivator as shown in the figure below. The use of cultivator saves labour and time. A farmer does ploughing and simultaneously releases seeds from the funnel. Seeds thus released pass through iron pipe to the soil furrows which are formed by the plough. Read the passage and try to answer the below questions:

(a) Name the process shown in the figure.
(b) Explain the process shown in the given figure.
(c ) How does ploughing affect soil fertility?
(d) Why turning and loosening is very important for cultivation of crops?

Explanation

(a) Modern method of ploughing by tractor.
(b) Ploughing is used in farming for initial cultivation of soil in preparation for sowing seed or planting to loosen or turn the soil.
(c) Ploughing breaks up the blocky structure of the soil which can aid in drainage and root growth.
(d) The turning and loosening will bring the deep nutrient-rich soil to the top and nutrients can be transferred to the plants.