With reference to the harvesting and processing of Jute, consider the following statements: 1. The jute plant is normally harvested when it is at the flowering stage. 2. The stems of harvested plants are dried in the sun immediately to separate fibres. 3. The fibres are separated from the rotted stems exclusively by mechanical threshers. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the harvesting and… - NCERT Class 6 Science MCQ

NCERT Class 6 Science — Chapter 1: Fibre to fabric

mcqmedium

With reference to the harvesting and processing of Jute, consider the following statements:

The jute plant is normally harvested when it is at the flowering stage.
The stems of harvested plants are dried in the sun immediately to separate fibres.
The fibres are separated from the rotted stems exclusively by mechanical threshers.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

NCERT textbook question

From NCERT Science - class 6 · Page 20

Options

A1 only
B2 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3

Did you get this right?

Solution

The correct option is (a).

Explanation

Jute is a natural fibre obtained from the stem of the jute plant (genus Corchorus). The quality of the fibre depends significantly on the timing of the harvest and the biological extraction process known as 'retting'.

Statement 1 is Correct: The jute plant is normally harvested when it is at the flowering stage. If the plant is allowed to mature further to the seed-bearing stage, the fibre becomes coarse, hard, and lacks the characteristic lustre, thereby reducing its commercial quality.

Statement 2 is Incorrect: The harvested stems are not dried in the sun immediately. Instead, they are tied into bundles and immersed in stagnant water for several days. This process is called retting. During retting, bacteria decompose the gummy matter (pectin) that holds the fibres to the inner woody core, facilitating separation.

Statement 3 is Incorrect: After the stems have rotted sufficiently, the fibres are separated from the stalk primarily by hand (manual stripping). The statement that they are separated "exclusively by mechanical threshers" is false. Manual stripping is the dominant method in major jute-producing regions to ensure the fibres remain long and unbroken.

Key Takeaway: High-quality jute is harvested at the flowering stage and extracted through retting (microbial decomposition in water), followed by manual stripping of the fibre.

Your note

More from Chapter 1: Fibre to fabric

With reference to the cotton boll, consider the following statements: 1. It is the root of the cotton plant. 2. It bursts open upon maturing. 3. It contains seeds covered with silk fibres. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

easy

With reference to devices used for spinning, consider the following statements: 1. A takli is a power-operated device used for spinning. 2. The charkha was popularised by Mahatma Gandhi to promote homespun cloth. 3. Spinning of yarn on a large scale is done with the help of spinning machines. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

medium

The process of separating cotton fibres from seeds by combing is technically referred to as:

easy

With reference to Flax, consider the following statements: 1. Flax is a plant that yields synthetic fibres. 2. In ancient Egypt, it was cultivated near the river Nile. 3. It was used for making fabrics in ancient times. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

medium

Consider the following statements regarding the process of Weaving: 1. It involves arranging a single yarn to make a fabric. 2. Weaving of fabric is done on looms. 3. Looms are exclusively hand-operated devices and cannot be power-operated. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

easy

Keep practising Chapter 1: Fibre to fabric

Work through every question from this NCERT chapter.

Browse all NCERT Class 6 Science chapters