Fertilizers & Manures Test - 1

The correct answer is (i) and (iv) only.

• Biopesticides are certain types of pesticides derived from such natural materials as animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals.
• Neem is regarded as the most effective and eco-friendly bio-pesticide.
• Neem sucking and chewing a variety of insects.
• Turmeric also has bio-pesticide properties.

Important Points

• Biopesticides are usually inherently less toxic than conventional pesticides.
• The Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division in the Office of Pesticide Programs to facilitate the registration of biopesticides.
  • This division promotes the use of safer pesticides, including biopesticides, as components of IPM programs.

Additional Information

• Canola oil and baking soda have pesticidal applications and are considered biopesticides.
• RNAi (RNA interference) pesticides, some of which are tropical and some of which are absorbed by the crop.

The correct answer is Compost.

• Fertilizers are used by farmers for the better crop growth. Normally compost is considered as the balanced fertilizer as it does not harm plants and increase productivity.
  • But considering artificial fertilizers a balanced fertilizer is chosen which have a balanced amount of NPK.
  • Generally, nitrogen is used by plants to produce green growth and potassium for flower and fruit development.
  • A balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 of NPK is a good choice for vegetables and other high-nutrient plants.
    Additional Information
•  A balanced fertilizer is a fertilizer which has three numbers which are about the same, like a 10-10-10.
  • The problem with balanced fertilizers is that they are much higher in phosphorus than what most plants need — at least in relation to the amount of nitrogen and potassium which plants need.

• The amounts of each macro-nutrient are identical in the formula which may sound like a perfect fit for all-around plant feeding but actually may contain too much of one of the nutrients for individual plants. It is best to perform soil tests and know individual plant needs before using a balanced fertilizer.

• Nitrogen drives foliar development while phosphorus develops vital root systems, fuels flower growth and eventually fruit production. Potassium is responsible for healthy cell development and plants that are strong enough to withstand any stress.

The correct answer is Sesamum.

• Nutrient content of commonly used concentrated manures:

The correct answer is 100 kg/ha.

• Fertilizer application in maize:
• Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendation as far as possible.
• If soil test recommendation is not available adopt a blanket recommendation of 135:62.5:50 NPK kg/ha.
• Apply quarter of the dose of N; full dose of P2O5 and K2O basally before sowing.
• In the case of ridge planted crop, open a furrow 6 cm deep on the side of the ridge, at two thirds the distance from the top of the ridge.
• Apply the fertilizer mixture along the furrows evenly and cover to a depth of 4 cm with soil.
• If bed system of planting is followed, open furrows 6 cm deep at a distance of 60 cm apart.
• Place the fertilizer mixture along the furrows evenly and cover to a depth of 4 cm with soil. 
• When Azospirillum is used as seed and soil application, apply 100 kg of N/ha (25% reduction on the total N recommended by soil test).

Both Statements I and II are false.

Key Points

Statement I: Fertilizers that are incorporated into the soil prior to planting; to increase the soil's biological fertility are known as top dressing- it is a wrong statement.

• Basal dose: Fertilizers that are incorporated into the soil prior to planting; to increase the soil's biological fertility is known as the basal dose of fertilizer application.
• Topdressing: Addition of fertilizer to crops during the growing period in order to improve plant nutrition and boost yields.

Statement II: Phosphorus is most commonly used as top dressing fertilizers- It is a wrong statement.

• Nitrogen fertilizer is most commonly used as top dressing fertilizers.
• Ammonium nitrate is a very widely used fertilizer for top dressing.
• Mineral fertilizers that are quickly water-soluble in water are most often used for topdressing.

The correct answer is 75, 25 and 37.5 kg/ha.

1. Dry seeded rainfed un-puddled lowland rice:

• It is called as semi-dry rice.
• Crop establishment is as that of rainfed rice but the rain water collected in village tank (Kanmai) is supplemented to protect the crop during peak vegetative and reproductive phases.
• Interaction between applied nutrients and crop is positive here due to better moisture availability than rainfed rice.
   

2. Manures and fertilizer application​:

• Blanket recommendation: 75:25:37.5 kg N:P₂O5:K₂O /ha.
• Apply a basal dose of 750 kg of FYM enriched with fertilizer phosphorus at 25 kg/ha.
• Apply N & K in three splits at 20-25, 40-45 and 60-65 days after germination.
• Each split may follow 25 kg N and 12.5 kg K₂O.
• If the moisture availability is substantial, split application at panicle initiation may be done with 40 kg N and 12.5 kg K₂O.
• Basal application of ZnSO₄ at 25 kg/ha and FeSO₄ at 50/ha is desirable wherever Zinc and iron deficiency were noted.

The correct answer is Rock phosphate.

• Rock phosphate used as a raw material in the manufacture of inorganic phosphorus fertilizers.
• It is used as organic phosphorus fertilizers when applied directly to the soil.
• Direct application of rock phosphate increases crop yield and soil phosphorus levels.
• It is more beneficial in acidic soils than alkaline soils; this is because rock phosphate is more soluble in acidic soils (pH <5.5).
• Phosphorus is a soluble form that is available for uptake by plant roots.
• To make phosphorus available in alkaline soils rock phosphate is partially acidified with inorganic acids before application.

The correct answer is Growing green crops of Leguminous plants.

Key Points

•  Green manures are the crops which are grown primarily for building and maintaining soil fertility and structure.
• Green manure crops should be such that it can be grown quickly.
• It means growing green crops of Leguminous plants i.e nitrogen fixer.
• ​Leguminous green manure crops:
  • Sunhemp, Dhaincha, Blackgram, Mung, Cowpea, Khesri, Berseem, Azolla, Rice bean, Soyabean, Lentil, Pea.
• The best time at which the crop should be incorporated in the soil as green manure is when it reaches the flowering stage.

• Characteristics of Green Manuring Crops :
  • Tolerant to adverse climatic conditions such as drought, waterlogging, high and low
  • Temperature etc and tolerant to pests and diseases.
  • Should possess adequate Rhizobium nodulation potential and must be effective nitrogen fixer.
  • Should be capable of growing very fast and capable of accumulating sufficient fixed Nitrogen in 4-6 weeks.
  • Easy to incorporate and quickly decomposable.

• Some of the reasons to grow green manures are:-
  • Supplying nitrogen and other nutrients for a crop.
  • Preventing the leaching of soluble nutrients from the soil.
  • Providing ground cover to prevent damage to soil structure.
  • Bringing crop nutrients up from lower soil profiles.
  • Getting rid of weeds and preventing weed seedling growth.
  • Aids in the reclamation of saline and alkaline soils by the release of organic acids.

The correct answer is High analysis fertilizer.

• The fertilizer which contains more than 30% of the total primary nutrient is referred to as High analysis fertilizer.
• Example for High analysis fertilizer: Urea

Additional Information:

• Low analysis fertilizer: The fertilizer which contains less than 30% of the total primary nutrient is referred to as Low analysis fertilizer
• Example for Low analysis fertilizer: SSP
• Complete fertilizer: The fertilizer having all three primary major nutrient 
• Example for Complete fertilizer: NPK

Key Points