EN हिं

NCERT Solutions Curiosity Chapter 10 Interdisciplinary projects — Exploratory Projects

Book page 152 Updated on2026-09-05

Q1.
Develop a bottle garden by planting a growing plant like spider plant or jade plant in a large transparent bottle (Fig. 10.13). After growing the plant properly for some time, seal the mouth of the bottle. Observe the growth of the plant.
Answer

How to make it

  1. Take a large transparent glass jar or bottle with a wide mouth and a lid. Wash and dry it.
  2. Put a layer of small pebbles at the bottom (about 2 cm) for drainage, then a thin layer of charcoal pieces, then 6–8 cm of garden soil mixed with a little compost.
  3. Plant a small spider plant or jade plant in the soil with a spoon and a stick. Firm the soil gently around the roots.
  4. Sprinkle just enough water to moisten the soil — not so much that water collects at the bottom.
  5. Keep the bottle open in bright indirect light for some time so that the plant establishes itself and grows properly.
  6. Now seal the mouth of the bottle. Keep it in a place with good light but not in harsh direct sunlight, and watch it for several weeks.

What to observe and record: new leaves and shoots; the colour of the leaves; mist or water droplets that appear on the inside of the glass in the morning and disappear later; whether the soil stays moist without any watering.

What it shows: if the plant is growing well, the plant is maintaining the exchange of gases inside the sealed bottle — the carbon dioxide produced in respiration is used for photosynthesis, and the oxygen generated in photosynthesis is used in respiration by the same plant.

Why the droplets appear: water vapour given out by the leaves condenses on the cool glass, runs back into the soil and is absorbed again by the roots. Gases and water both keep cycling — a tiny, self-sufficient world.
Tip: if the glass stays permanently fogged and the leaves rot, there is too much water. Open the lid for a day to let the extra moisture escape, then seal it again.
Q2.
How are plant processes like photosynthesis, respiration, and water and food transportation crucial for crop production?
Answer

A crop is simply a plant grown for the food it stores. Everything a farmer does is meant to keep these four processes working well.

ProcessWhy the crop needs itWhat the farmer does about it
PhotosynthesisMakes all the food that ends up in grains, fruits and tubersSows at the right spacing and season so every plant gets sunlight; removes weeds that shade the crop
RespirationReleases the energy the plant needs to grow, flower and fill its grain; roots respire tooPloughs the field so the soil stays loose and airy; drains waterlogged fields so roots do not suffocate
Transport of water and minerals (xylem)Carries water for photosynthesis and minerals for growth to every leafIrrigates at the right times; adds manure and fertilisers that supply minerals
Transport of food (phloem)Moves the food from the leaves into the parts we harvest — grain, potato, sugarcane stemProtects the leaves and stem from pests and diseases so the pathway stays intact

In short: a healthy leaf area, enough water, loose airy soil and undamaged stems together decide the yield. Damage any one process — leaves eaten by pests, a field left dry, or roots standing in water — and production falls.

Find out: ask a farmer near you why fields are ploughed before sowing, and why paddy is drained before harvest. Match the answers to the table above.
Q3.
Visit a greenhouse, if there is one near your place. Observe how people grow plants in a green house. Find out how they regulate the amount of light, water, and carbon dioxide used to grow plants.
Answer

What to observe on the visit

  • What the covering is made of — transparent polythene sheet, fibreglass or glass — and why it must let light through.
  • Whether it feels warmer and more humid inside than outside, and at what time of day.
  • Which crops are grown there (usually tomato, capsicum, cucumber, strawberry, gerbera, rose, orchids and nursery saplings).

What to ask, and the kind of answers you will get

FactorHow it is regulated in a greenhouseWhich process it serves
LightShade nets or whitewash on the roof cut harsh summer light; the sheet is kept clean in winter; artificial lamps are used in some greenhouses to extend day lengthPhotosynthesis
WaterDrip irrigation delivers measured water to each plant's roots; sprinklers and foggers raise humidity; the floor is drained so roots never stand in waterTransport of water and minerals; root respiration
Carbon dioxideVents and exhaust fans bring in fresh air; large commercial greenhouses even release extra carbon dioxide to raise its level around the plantsPhotosynthesis
TemperatureVents, fans and pad-cooling in summer; the closed cover traps warmth on cold nightsAll processes work best in a suitable range
MineralsNutrients are dissolved in the irrigation water (fertigation) in measured amountsGrowth and food-making

Sample conclusion for your report: "A greenhouse works by controlling every factor that photosynthesis and respiration need. Because light, water, carbon dioxide, temperature and minerals are all kept near their best values, crops grow faster, give a higher yield, and can be grown out of season."

If there is no greenhouse near you: a plant nursery, a polyhouse on a farm, or even a seed tray covered with a transparent sheet at home shows the same idea. Compare a covered tray with an uncovered one for a week.
Was this helpful? Report an error