Agriculture Mock Test - 2

Explanation:

Rabi crops:

• Rabi crops or rabi harvest are agricultural crops that are sown in winter and harvested in the spring in India.
• Some example of Rabi crops is wheat, barley, gram, peas, mustard, and linseed.
• States from the north and northwestern parts such as Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh are important for the production of wheat and other rabi crops.
• Availability of precipitation during winter months due to the western temperate cyclones helps in the success of these crops.

Zaid Season:

• It is a short season between Kharif and Rabi season.
• The crops grown during this season are known as Zaid crops.
• Pumpkin, cucumber, watermelon, bitter gourd, etc. are all zaid types of crops. 

Kharif Season:

• Kharif crops also are known as monsoon crops as they are cultivated in the monsoon season.
• Their cropping season starts in June and ends in October.
• These crops are sown at the beginning of the rainy season.
• Rice, maize, bajra, ragi, sorghum, soybean, groundnut, cotton, etc. are all Kharif types of crops.

The Correct Answer is 90-95%. 

Key Points

• Drip irrigation is a type of micro-irrigation system that has the potential to save water and nutrients by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of plants, either from above the soil surface or buried below the surface.
• The goal is to place water directly into the root zone and minimize evaporation.
• Drip irrigation is sometimes called trickle irrigation and involves dripping water onto the soil at very low rates (2-20 litres/hour) from a system of small diameter plastic pipes fitted with outlets called emitters or drippers.
• Unlike other forms of irrigation, such as sprinklers that are only 65-75% efficient, drip irrigation 90-95% efficient at allowing plants to use the water applied. And, it reduces runoff and evaporation.

The correct answer is Wheat.

• Different varieties of Wheat-
  • Sonalika, UP 262, UP 115, HD 2285, Kalyan Sona

Additional Information

• Important crops and improved varieties:
  • Rice- Jaya, Padma, Pankaj, Bala, Ratna, Hema, Hamsa, Sabarmati
  • Mecca- Ganga 101, VL 54, Ranjit, Him-123, Jawahar, Deccan
  • Barley- Amber, Clipper, RD-137. RD-57
  • Millet- Pusa Moti, Malbindro, ICMV-155
  • Arhar- Bahar-1228, Basant No. 1234,NP-15
  • Moong- Mohani, Jawahar-45, Sheela, Amrit Pant
  • Sugarcane- CO 1148, CO 1158, BO-99
  • Mustard & Rapeseed- Sangam, Type-9, Type-36, M-27, B-54

The correct answer is NP-15.

• NP-15 is not the variety of Sugarcane.
• NP-15 is the variety of Arhar.
• While CO 1148, CO 1158, BO-99 is the variety of Sugarcane.​

Additional Information

• Important crops and improved varieties:
  • Rice- Jaya, Padma, Pankaj, Bala, Ratna, Hema, Hamsa, Sabarmati
  • Wheat- Sonalika, UP 262, UP 115, HD 2285, Kalyan Sona
  • Mecca- Ganga 101, VL 54, Ranjit, Him-123, Jawahar, Deccan
  • Barley- Amber, Clipper, RD-137. RD-57
  • Millet- Pusa Moti, Malbindro, ICMV-155
  • Arhar- Bahar-1228, Basant No. 1234,NP-15
  • Moong- Mohani, Jawahar-45, Sheela, Amrit Pant
  • Sugarcane- CO 1148, CO 1158, BO-99
  • Mustard & Rapeseed- Sangam, Type-9, Type-36, M-27, B-54

The correct answer is option 4

Key Points

• Strip cropping is a practice of growing field crops in narrow strips either at right angles to the direction of the prevailing wind, or following the natural contours of the terrain to prevent wind and water erosion of the soil.
• Strip cropping involves planting crops in strips across the slope, with alternate strips of grain and/or forage crops.
• Strip cropping combines the soil and moisture conserving properties of cross-slope farming with the soil building advantages of a crop rotation and is more effective in reducing soil losses.
• It is generally more feasible in larger fields. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• Mulching is the placement of any organic or inorganic material over the top of a soil surface to protect it. 
• Some of the benefits include:
  • reduced soil erosion,
  • less compaction,
  • moisture conservation, soil mulching decreases water loss due to evaporation. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
  • increased control of soil temperature, and
  • a reduction in weed growth.
• In Relay cropping the second crop is planted even before the first crop is harvested. Thus, both crops share some part of the season. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• In India, Rice –cauliflower – onion-summer gourd is one example of relay cropping.

The correct answer is Okra/Lady finger.

Key Points

• Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR) scientist has developed a new variety of ladyfinger (Bhindi) called Kashi Lalima.
• IIVR is located in (Varanasi) Uttar Pradesh.
• The most important thing about this ladyfinger is that it is red in color instead of green and thus called 'Kashi Lalima'.
• This Ladyfinger is full of the nutrients like anti-oxidant, iron, and calcium.
• Green Ladyfinger consists of chlorophyll while the red Bhindi has 'anthocyanins', which are pigments found naturally in foods, that give red, purple, and blue plants their rich coloring.

The correct answer is Sulphur.

Key Points

• Mustard commonly known as Raya, rai or lahi is an important oilseed crop among the Brassica group of oilseeds.
• Sulphur is also an important nutrient and plays an
  important role in physiological functions like the synthesis of cysteine, methionine, chlorophyll and oil content of oilseed crops. Hence option 2 is correct.
• Nitrogen is the most important nutrient, which determines the growth of the mustard crop and increases the amount of protein and yield.
• Phosphorus and potash are known to be efficiently utilized in the presence of nitrogen.
• Phosphorus and potash promotes flowering, setting of siliqua and increases the size of siliqua and yield. 
• Brassica has the highest sulphur requirement owing to the presence of sulphur-rich glucosinolates.
• The oil content of the yellow mustard seeds ranges from 31- 37 % and 20-40 % protein.

The correct answer is Overdrawing of groundwater.

• Soil conservation is the prevention of loss of the topmost layer of the soil from erosion or prevention of reduced fertility caused by over usage, acidification, salinization, or other chemical soil contamination.

Key Points

• Some measures for soil conservation: 
  • Soil conservation practices are tools the farmer can use to prevent soil degradation and build organic matter.
  • These practices include crop rotation, reduced tillage, mulching, cover cropping, and cross-slope farming. farmers to increase soil organic matter content, soil structure, and rooting depth.
• Strip cropping: 
  • Strip cropping is a method of farming that involves cultivating a field partitioned into long, narrow strips which are alternated in a crop rotation system.
  • It is used when a slope is too steep or when there is no alternative method of preventing soil erosion.
  • In strip cropping, different crops are grown on the same field in different strips or patches, usually alternatively. 
• Shelterbelts: 
  • Shelterbelts are rows of trees, usually along fence lines.
  • They are planted mainly to protect animals or crops from cold winds, but also to give shade in hot weather.
  • In regions such as Canterbury where there is a lot of cultivated land, shelterbelts also reduce wind erosion.
• Terrace cultivation:
  • Terrace cultivation is a method of growing crops on the sides of hills or mountains by planting on graduated terraces built into the slope.
  • Though labour-intensive, the method has been employed effectively to maximize arable land area in variable terrains and to reduce soil erosion and water loss.
• Hence, only overdrawing of groundwater is not a method of prevention of soil erosion.

Confusion Points

• Overdrawing of groundwater: It is a process ofo groundwater depletion that can cause soil erosion.

The correct answer is Kheri - Goat.

• Kheri is a breed of Sheep.

Key Points

• Kheri sheep are medium to large-sized animals and are relatively heavy compared to Marwari sheep.
  • Kheri locally refers to a color pattern consisting of a mixture of black and brown.
  • Animals of this breed have a blackish-brown face, which sometimes extends to the neck and/or has white body spots on the legs.
  • Carpet wool sheep of Rajasthan is believed to have originated from a crossbred base with unknown levels of the heritage of the Marwari, Malpura and Jaisalmer sheep of Rajasthan.
  • The animals of this breed are mainly of migratory type and receive less attention from government organizations and research institutes.
  • Kheri sheep are extensively distributed in the Nagaur, Jodhpur and Tonk districts of Rajasthan.

Additional Information

• Sanchori - Cattle:
  • Cattle of this breed are found in Sanchori of Jalore district, Sirohi and Udaipur.
• Mehsana - Buffalo:
  • ​Mehsana is a dairy breed of buffalo found in Mehsana town in Gujarat and adjoining Maharastra state.
  • The body is mostly black; a few animals are black-brown in color.
  • The breed is supposed to have been evolved out of crossbreeding between the Surti and the Murrah.
• Sonadi - Sheep:
  • Sonadi sheep are found in the districts of Banswara, Bhilwara, Dungarpur, Udaipur and Chittorgarh in Rajasthan.
  • The main feature of this sheep is that it has very long ears.
  • This sheep is the heaviest in the body and weighs up to 45-50 kg.

The correct answer is Rice.

Key PointsRice

• Rice acts as one of the most important staple food in the world and India is one of its largest producers.
• However, its production requires a great quantity of water.
• The rise in population has led to an increase in the demand for food crops; in turn, escalating the amount of water required for irrigating them.
• Traditional farming needs 3,000 to 5,000 liters of water to produce a kilo of rice.
• The crop requires flooded soil for its growth as it suppresses weed growth and increases the uptake of nutrients from the soil for better yield.
• In India, it is grown in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Tamil Nadu, and Haryana.
• Some of the most popular crops today are highly water-intensive. These crops include:
  • Rice
  • Soybeans
  • Wheat
  • Sugarcane
  • Cotton
  • Alfalfa
  • Pasture

Additional Information

Beef

•  It takes approximately 1,847 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of beef — that's enough water to fill 39 bathtubs all the way to the

Chocolate

• It takes 27,000 liters of water to produce one kilo of cocoa beans.
• The cocoa bean needs the most water for the growth of all plants.
• For comparison: With the same amount of water, almost 34 kg of apples can grow. Approximately a third of the water consumption is used for transport and storage.

Banana 

• The total water requirement of banana plants is about 900-1200 mm for their entire life cycle and this can be met both through natural precipitation (rainfall) as well as supplementary irrigation.

The correct answer is Aster yellows disease.

Key Points

• Mycoplasmas known as Joker of the plant kingdom are responsible for Aster yellows disease in many plants.
• Mycoplasmas are the smallest free-living organism.
• It will induce yellowing and restricts plant growth by malformation and reduce flower sterility.
• It affects both quantity and quality of yield.
• It is greatly seen in carrots.
  

Additional Information 1. Crown gall is caused by the bacterial plant pathogen, Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

2. Soft rots are caused mainly by Pectobacterium carotovorum.

3. Fireblight is caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora.

The correct answer is b, c, and d.

Key Points 

• The fundamental difference between subsistence and commercial farming is that, while subsistence farming is one in which the crops are grown for one's own consumption, whereas when the crops are grown for trading purposes, it is known as commercial farming.
• Rice is a commercial crop in Haryana and Punjab, but in Orissa, it is a subsistence crop.
• The selection of crops can be the same in both types of farming Hence, statement a is NOT correct.
• Farm size must be small in subsistence farming as the farmer has to feed a single-family only.
• In commercial farming, produce is to sell in the market, so farms must be large and economically viable. Hence, statements c and d are correct
• The main characteristic of commercial farming is the use of higher doses of modern inputs, e.g. high yielding variety (HYV) seeds, chemical fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides in order to obtain higher productivity. Hence, statement b is correct.
• The degree of commercialization of agriculture varies from one region to another.

Concept:

Soil porosity(%) is given as:

Soil porosity(%) =  100 - (bulk density /particle density × 100)

or  1 - (bulk density /particle density)× 100

Calculation:

Given:

Bulk density = 1.5g/cm3

Particle density = 2.65g/cm3

Percentage of porosity of a soil (Soil porosity%) = ?

Soil porosity (%) =  100 - (bulk density /particle density × 100)

100 - (1.5/2.65 × 100) = 43.4

so the nearby option is 42.

 Additional Information

1. Bulk density-

• It is the ratio of the weight of oven-dry soil to its bulk volume including pore space.
• Bulk density is generally half of the particle density.
• It is determined by multiplying particle density by the volume of solids.
• The bulk density of mineral soils are 1.33g/cm³

2. Particle density-

• It is the density of the oven-dry soil solids when the air is excluded. or
• the weight of individual soil particle per unit volume is particle density.
• The particle density of mineral soils is 2.66g/cm3

Striga spp. is a parasitic weed on pearl millet

Key Points

1. Striga spp. or Witch weed is a semi root parasite.

2. Host plants of Striga are Pearlmillet, Sorghum, Maize, Sugarcane, Sunflower.

Additional InformationSpecies of weeds that usually parasitized the host plants.

Liquorice is also known as Mulethi.

Key Points

• Liquorice is a medicinal crop.
• The botanical name of  Liquorice is Glycyrrhiza glabra.
• Family - Fabaceae.
• In Hindi liquorice is known as 'mulethi'.

Additional Information Liquorice

• Liquorice is also called sweet root as it is sweet in taste.
• In Sanskrit it is called yashtimadhu - 'yashti' meaning 'stem, stalk; and Madhu, meaning 'sweet'.
• The most active compound present in Liquorice is Glycyrrhizin.
• It is cultivated for sweet taproot five times sweeter than sugar.
• the yellow colour of the root is due to isoliqril.

Isabgol

• The botanical name of Isabgol/ Psyllium is Plantago ovata.
• Family- Plantaginaceae
• Economic part - seed and husk.
• The alkaloid present is mucilage.

Ashwagandha 

• Also called 'Indian ginseng'.
• The botanical name of  Ashwagandha Withania somnifera
• Family-Solanaceae.

The correct answer is Banana.

Key Points

• Propping is the process of supporting the heavy weighted unbalance Banana bunches.
• If the wind speed is high, a propping operation must be performed.
• The heavily weighted bunches of banana trees will make it unbalanced and drop on the ground.
• Two bamboos forming a triangle shape are used for propping.
• It will help the banana tree to develop uniform bunches.

The correct answer is Tropical humid.

Explanation:

• Pineapple is a humid tropical plant.
• Pineapple can grow well on both plains under shade and also on elevated lands.
• Pineapple is drought tolerant and is suitable for marginal lands
• Pineapple flowers from February to April and fruits from July to September.

Additional Information 

The correct answer is Fertigation.

Key Points

• Fertigation is made up of two words fertilizer i.e. fertilizer and irrigation which means irrigation.
• In drip irrigation, along with water, the reaching of fertilizers to the plants is called fertigation.
• In drip irrigation, water is given drop by drop by drippers.
• Similarly, fertilizers can be mixed with irrigation water and directly delivered to the plants through drippers with the help of fertilizer injection devices.
• Fertigation is the best and most advanced method of giving fertilizers.

Additional Information

• Benefits of Fertigation -
  • It ensures the regular flow of water and nutrients, which increases the growth rate and quality of plants.
  • Nutrients can be given at the appropriate time according to the demand of the crop through fertigation.
  • It increases nutrient availability and utilization by plant roots.
  • It is a world-class and safe method of fertilizer delivery.
  • Through fertigation, water and fertilizers do not reach the middle of the plants and reach their roots, so weeds grow in less number.
  • It does not cause groundwater pollution.

The correct answer is Individual farming.

• Individual farming is not a type of cooperative farming.

Key Points

• There are four types of cooperative farming -
  • Cooperative advanced farming
  • Cooperative joint farming
  • Cooperative tenancy farming
  • Cooperative collective farming

Additional Information

• Cooperative Advanced Farming-
  • In this system, the land owner's authority and management of the land remain.
  • The members of this committee provide improved seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural implements to the farmers for the progress of agriculture.
  • Each member has to pay the cost of facilities. At the end of the year, each member gets a part of the profit as a dividend.
  • The Cooperative Sugarcane Society and Cooperative Service Society of Uttar Pradesh are examples of this.
• Cooperative Joint Farming-
  • In this system, the land is collected for joint cultivation.
  • The ownership of the land is recognized by each member by paying dividends in proportion to the value of the land.
  • Here farming is done collectively.​
• Cooperative Tenancy Farming-
  • In this arrangement, the ownership of the farm belongs to the committee.
  • But the farming work is done separately by each member.
• Cooperative Collective Farming-
  • In this system, both the management of farming and the ownership of the land belongs to the committee.
  • The committee does joint farming on the entire land. All the members work together and in return, they are given a fixed salary.

The correct answer is Reserved Forests

Key Points

• Permanent Forests: Reserved and protected forests are also referred to as permanent forest estates maintained for the purpose of production of wood and other forest products and for protective reasons. Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under permanent forests.
• Reserved Forest: More than half of the total forest land has been declared as Reserved Forest. As far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources is concerned, reserve forests are considered to be the most valuable.
• The first Reserve Forest of India was Satpura National Park. It is located in the Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh.​

Additional Information

• Protected Forest: A protected forest is a land that is a reserved forest, and over which the government has property rights, as declared by the state government under section 29 of the Indian Forest Act 1927.
• Unclassed Forest: Unclassed Forests are forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities. All North-eastern states and parts of Gujarat have a very high percentage of their forests as unclassed forests managed by local communities.

• Community Forest: A community forest provides local community value and benefits from land, access to and rights to forest resources, and participation in management decisions. These forests can be managed for timber production, agroforestry, recreation, and/or watershed conservation.

The correct answer is All above.

Key Points

• The health of the herd is a very important factor as the infected herd may transmit the disease to humans through various modes.
• Unclean animals will contain Salmonella germs and other parasites that affect the person in contact and create a chain of infection.
• An unhygienic dairy environment will produce greenhouse gases from the manure that influences climate change.
• Poor handling of wastes will degrade the water resources.

The correct answer is Pod borer.

Key Points

• BDNG-797 is a desi variety of chickpea resistant to Pod Borer.
• BDNG-797 is also known as Akash.
• It originated in Badnapur in 2007.
• Pod Borer is a notorious pest that affects all parts of the plant from seedling to maturity.​

​

B and C are the correct statements.

Key Points

Jhum cultivation or shifting cultivation 

• It is an agricultural system in which plots of land are cultivated temporarily, then abandoned while post- disturbance fallow vegetation is allowed to freely grow while the cultivator moves on to another plot.
• This system is majorly practiced in northeastern states of India like Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland.
• Traditionally fallow period is 10-20 years but in recent times it has been reduced to 2-5 years.
• It is a non-scientific form of agroforestry

Taungya cultivation:

• Taungya is a system of forest management in which land is cleared and planted initially for food crops.
• It is practiced in states like Kerala, West Bengal, Orissa, Karnataka, and NE states.
• It is scientifically modified shifting cultivation.

 Coconut based agroforestry:

• It is agriculture along with woody component with coconut plant compulsory.
• In India, Coconut based agroforestry is generally found in tropical and subtropical areas and is characterized by high species diversity.

The correct answer is High humidity. Key Points

• The fig is the edible fruit of Ficus carica, a species of small tree in the flowering plant family Moraceae.
• Cracking is caused by high water levels within the entire plant.
• The relatively weak structure of the fig fruit, which is actually an extension of the tree's stem tissue, shows the effects of this high pressure by splitting open.
• Slight splitting is normal in soft, ripe fruit ready for harvest.

Both the statements are false.

• Pisciculture is the breeding, hatching and rearing of fish in pond tanks and artificial reservoirs under controlled conditions.
• The rearing of silkworms to produce raw silk is called sericulture or silkworm rearing.
• Sericulture, or silk farming, is the cultivation of silkworms to produce silk. Although there are several commercial species of silkworms, Bombyx mori (the caterpillar of the domestic silkmoth) is the most widely used and intensively studied silkworm.
• The rearing of silkworms to produce raw silk is called sericulture.

Hence we can say that the above two statements are false.

For checking the sprouting of onion during storage, a Maleic hydrazide (MH) growth regulator is used.

Key Points

• Maleic hydrazide (MH) has been successfully used to inhibit the sprouting of onions during storage.
• Spraying onion with 2500ppm MH two weeks before harvest completely inhibits the sprouting of onion in storage.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Both are incorrect  Key Points

• Sandy soils have a low water storage capacity/ water holding capacity and a high infiltration rate.
• They, therefore, need frequent but small irrigation applications, in particular when the sandy soil is also shallow.
• Under these circumstances, sprinkler or drip irrigation is more suitable than surface irrigation so sandy soils do not require a higher quantity of water for irrigation. 

​

Additional Information

Water holding capacity:

• Plant-available water is the amount of water stored in the soil that plants can take up. 
• Technically, it is the difference in soil water content held between field capacity and the permanent wilting point. 

White colour tag is used on foundation seed bags.

 Key PointsFoundation seed:

• Known as Mother seed 
• Source of Registered and Certified seed classes.
• Genetic purity- 99.9%
• Physical purity- 98%
• It is mainly produced by National Seeds Corporations.
• Denoted by White tag.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Apomixis.

Explanation

• Apomixis is a form of asexual reproduction that occurs via seeds, in which embryos develop without fertilization.
• Apomixis is derived from two Greek words Apo and Mixis in which Apo means away from and Mixis means the act of mixing or mingling.
• In some species of plants, an embryo develops from the diploid cells of the seed and not as a result of fertilization between ovule and pollen. This type of reproduction is known as apomixis and the seedlings produced in this manner are known as apomicts.
• In apomictic species, sexual reproduction is either suppressed or absent.
• When sexual reproduction also occurs, the apomixes is termed facultative apomixis.
• When sexual reproduction is absent, it is referred to as obligate apomixis.
• Apomixis produces embryos or seed progeny that are exact genetic replicas of the mother plant.
• The main advantage of apomixis over sexual reproduction is the possibility to select individual plants with superior characteristics and propagate them clonally through seeds.
• Apimoxis is classified into Recurrent Apomixis, Non -recurrent Apomixis, Adventive Embryony, and Vegetative apomixes.

The correct answer is 1, 2 and 3Key Points

• Biofertilizers are substances that contain microbes, which help in promoting the growth of plants and trees.
• It increases the supply of essential nutrients to the plants thus promoting growth.
• It comprises living organisms which include mycorrhizal fungi, blue-green algae, and bacteria.
• When applied to seeds, plant surfaces, or soil, colonize the rhizosphere or the interior of the plant and promotes growth
• The amount of chemical fertilizers can be reduced by applying the biofertilizers.
• One can use both chemical fertilizers and biofertilizers with knowledge of compatible fertilizers.

Additional InformationFrankia

• It is a genus of nitrogen-fixing bacteria that live in symbiosis with actinorhizal plants
• Similar to the Rhizobium bacteria found in the root nodules of legumes in the family Fabaceae.
• Frankia also initiates the forming of root nodules

​ Classification of biofertilizers

The correct answer is Boll formation.

• The critical stage is the growth stage of the plant which is most sensitive to water requirements. 
• Cotton: botanical name: Gossypium barbadense
• Family: Malvaceae

Additional Information

The correct answer is Atmospheric pressure.
Key Points

•  A barometer is a scientific instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure, also called barometric pressure.
• The barometer works by balancing the weight of mercury in the glass tube against the atmospheric pressure, much like a set of scales.

Additional Information

The correct answer is The surface tension of water film.

Key Points

• Surface tension is the tendency of surface to liquid that is in rest to shrink to its minimum surface area. 
• Water is held in the soil in the form of water films around all the soil particles and aggregates are called available water.
• Available water present in soil pores is held by the surface tension of water and also depends on pore size.
• Large pores will drain the water fastly, as the surface tension is low.
• When the soli particles or aggregates are closer, the size of the pore is small and surface tension is high to hold the particle.

Additional Information Surface tension of water at 20 °C is 72.86 m-Newtons per meter.

The correct answer is Only (I), (II) and (III) is correct Key Point

• There are basically 3 types of seedbeds: flat beds, raised beds, and sunken beds.
• The best type to use depends much more on the particular climate and soil conditions than on the crop.

Flat Beds

• Flat beds are used where water availability is adequate and there are no drainage problems.
• In some areas, crops like maize, sorghum, beans, and potatoes are started out on a flat bed
• As the season progresses, the soil is thrown into the crop row to mound up the plants; this is called "hilling-up".

Raised Beds

• Crops can also be grown on raised-up beds or ridges.
• They are especially advantageous for clayey soils under high rainfall or wherever else drainage is likely to be poor.
• Where crops are furrow irrigated, raised beds or ridges are essential so that the water can flow down the furrows between them.
• Height of raised beds: Raised beds are usually 10-30 cm high. 
• Width of raised beds: Typically they are 100-130 cm wide.

​

Sunken Beds

• In dry regions, especially on sandy soils with low water-holding capacity, vegetables can be planted in sunken beds (i.e. shallow basins) about 100-130 cm wide and 2-5 cm below the surrounding soil level.
• Sunken beds don't have the exposed sides of raised beds from where considerable moisture can be lost by evaporation.
• None of the applied water is lost by runoff.

​

The correct answer is the Ultimate wilting point.

• The moisture content at which wilting is completed and the plant is dying is called The Ultimate wilting point.
• Ultimate wilting point is denoted as UWP.
• At UWP the soil moisture tension is as high as -60 bars.

Additional Information 

• Soil moisture tension is defined as a measurement of tight water clings in soil and expressed in bars.

The correct answer is Fe toxicity.

• Browning of Rice: Iron toxicity in rice is known as browning of rice.
•  Iron toxicity is the major problem for rice production in the waterlogged acid-sulfate conditions of ultisols and oxisols soil order.
• Phalguna variety is tolerant of  Iron toxicity.

Additional Information

• Because of Zn deficiency in rice plants affected with the Khaira disease.
• Symptoms: Initially yellow color spots appear on leaves which later on turn to brown spots.
• These spots will appear on the upper side of the leaves.
• This disease will appear both in the nursery and main field. 

The correct answer is Tobacco.

• De-suckering is an important operation in Tobacco.
• Removal of lateral branches or suckers/ auxiliary buds is called  De- suckering.
• The main aim of De- suckering is to divert energy and nutrient from the flower head to the leaves.

Additional Information

• Tobacco: Botanical name:  Nicotiana tabacum
• Family: Solanaceae
• Chromosome number: n = 24.

The correct answer is Banana.

• Apple of paradise is Epithet for banana.
• Epithet: it is can be defined as an adjective or a phrase to express the quality of a person or thing that is mentioned.

Additional Information

• Banana: Botanical Name: Musa sp.
•  Family: Musaceae.
• Chromosome number: 2n = 3x = 33

Both Statements I and II are true.

Key Points

Statement I: Weeding, earthing up, and rouging are the types of intercultural operations- This is the correct statement.

Intercultural operations: All lighter and finer operations carried out on soil, between sowing and harvest is known are termed Intercultural operations.

Weeding: The act of removal of unwanted plants infield is known as weeding.

Earthing up: It is the technique in agriculture and horticulture where piling soil up around the base of the plant. It helps in giving a good anchor to the plant.

Rouging: It is the act of identifying and removing plants with undesirable characteristics from the agricultural field.

Statement II: All lighter and finer operations carried out on soil, between sowing and harvest, are termed Intercultural operations- It is the correct answer.

Intercultural operations: All lighter and finer operations carried out on soil, between sowing and harvest is known are termed Intercultural operations.

Advantages of Intercultural operations:

• It helps in keeping the soil moist during the dry season.
• It suppresses the weed growth and population.
• It keeps the soil cool during the dry and hot seasons.
• Reduces the competition among plants for water and nutrients.

The correct answer is Only (II), (III) and (IV)  is correct Key PointsRayungans method and Tjeblock method of planting are related to sugarcane. 

Seasons for sowing of paddy

1. For AUS rice: April- May.
2. Aman/ Kharif:  June- July
3. Boro/ spring : November- December

​Seed rate for wheat

• Normal sowing - 100kg/ha
• Late or broadcasted- 125 kg/ha
• Dibbling- 25-30 kg/ha

Seed rate for maize

• For composites 15-20 kg/ha in the Kharif crop
• For hybrids- 25kg/ha
• For fodder purpose- 40-50kg

Additional Information Rayungan Method:

• It is the Indonesian term meaning-a developed cane shoot with a single sprouted bud
• Seed stalks are decapitated (topped off) for about 4 to 6 weeks, before planting time.
• Lateral shoots developed into tailed Rayungan and they are cut off and planted out in the trench 30 cm deep trench.
• The vertical position is about 40-50 cm apart. At least 2-3 nodes must be underground.

Tjeblock Method: Improved over Rayungan method because it takes care of proper availability of energy and nutrient to all the, buds.

The correct answer is Cauliflower.

• Blindness is an important physiological disorder of Cauliflower.
• Blindness is also found in other cole crops like cabbage.
• Symptom: Plants don't show terminal bud
• plants fail to form any curd
• Causes: Damage in early stage by insects, low temperature, and frost.
• Important Points
• Cauliflower: Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea var botrytis
• Family: Brassicaceae

The correct answer is Iridaceae.

• Gladiolus belongs to the Iridaceae family.
• Botanical name: Gladiolus hybridus
• Center of origin: Africa 
• Propagation : seeds, corms, and cormels

The correct answer is Treading.

• The process of mating in poultry is referred to as Treading.
• In process of treading, the rooster stands back of the hen and inseminates the chickens.

Additional Information

•  Mating in poultry: Treading
• Mating of pigs: Coupling
• Mating of sheep: Tupping

The correct answer is Facultative weeds.

• Weeds that are grown both as wild and in cultivated habits are known as Facultative weeds.
• Examples: Argemone mexicana, Euphorbia hirta

•  Obligate weeds: These are the weeds that occur only in cultivated or disturbed areas.
• Examples: Chenopodium, Convolves arvensis
• Noxious weeds: These weeds are undesirable troublesome and difficult to control.
• Examples: Cyperous rotandus, Echornnia craspes.

The correct answer is All the above.

• Heera, Moti, Arjun are the Triple gene dwarf varieties of wheat.
• Mainly  Rht1 (Rht-B1b) and Rht2 (Rht-D1b) genes are play important role in the dwarf nature of the wheat.
• Above mentioned genes are derived from the Japanese variety that is Norin - 10.

• Triticum aestivum is the scientific name of Wheat.
• Family: Poaceae
• Wheat is the second most-consumed cereal after rice.
• Wheat is also known as the " King of cereals".

The correct answer is Jute.

• Retting is an important practice in Jute.
• It is a microbial process in which aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and fungi loosen the fiber by decomposing and dissolving the pectin, hemicellulose, and other cementing agents.
• It completes within 8-30 days
• Slow-moving clear water is best for good retting.
• The optimum temperature required for getting is about 34^oC

Additional Information

• Jute: Botanical Name: Corchorus capsularis  
• Family: Malvaceae
• Chromosome number: 2n = 8, 14, 16, 28

The correct answer is Foot and mouth disease.

• Foot and mouth disease is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of cattle. 
• It also affects sheep, goats, deer, swine, and other cloven-hooved ruminants.
• FMD is not recognized as a zoonotic disease.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Scalding.

• Erosion by the combination of both wind and water is known as Scalding.

Types of water erosion are:

• Splash or Raindrop erosion.
• Sheet erosion
• Rill erosion 
• Gully erosion

Types of wind erosion

• Saltation
• Surface creep
• Suspension

Additional Information

• The permissible limit of soil loss in India is 12 t/ha/year
• The rate of soil erosion in India per hectare is 16.4 t/ha 

The correct answer is Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

Key Points

• In drip irrigation, the application uniformity is high and efficiently adjusts to irregular-shaped planting zones.
• Orchard crops like Grapes, Banana, Pomegranate, Orange, Citrus, Mango and Lemon are irrigated more frequently (usually every 1-3 days).
• Drip irrigation saves  20% to 50% of water and can irrigation more frequently by effective supply. 
• Crop grows consistently, healthier and matures fast by drip irrigation as the soil moisture level is optimum in drip system.
• Early crop maturity will results in faster and higher returns on investment.​

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(a), (b) and (c) are the correct answers.

Ploughing, harrowing, and inter-culturing are the broad groups of tillage operations.

Key Points

Tillage: It is the mechanical manipulation of soil with tools and implements for obtaining conditions ideal for seed germination, seedling establishment, and growth of the crop.

Objectives of tillage:

• To create conditions in the soil suited for better growth of crops.
• To control weeds effectively.
• To make the soil capable of absorbing more rainwater.
• To mix up manure and fertilizers effectively in the soil.
• Providing adequate seed-soil contact permit water flow to seed and seedling roots.

Primary tillage:

• The operations are performed to open up any cultivable land to prepare a seedbed for growing crops known as primary tillage.
• Animal-drawn implements in primary tillage mostly include MB-plough.
• Tractor-drawn implements include MB-plough, disc plough, subsoil plough, chisel plough, and other similar implements.

Secondary tillage

• Lighter or finer operations performed on the soil after primary tillage is known as secondary tillage.
• Harrowing is to be done to a shallow depth to crush the clods and to uproot the remaining weeds and stubbles.
• Seedbed preparation and intercultural operations are done up to a depth of 15 cm.
• Secondary tillage implements: Disc harrow, spike tooth harrow, spring tooth harrow, acme harrow, etc.