Question 1

Consider the following statements regarding agricultural techniques:
1. Aeroponics is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions in water, without soil.
2. Hydroponics is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil or an aggregate medium.
3. Geoponic farming refers to the practice of growing plants in normal soil.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. It provides the definition for Hydroponics, not Aeroponics. Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment. Statement 2 is incorrect. It provides the definition for Aeroponics, not Hydroponics. Hydroponics is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions in water. Statement 3 is correct. Geoponic farming is defined as growing plants in normal soil.

Question 2

With reference to the Revolutions in Agriculture, consider the following pairs:
1. Golden Revolution : Fruit Production
2. Pink Revolution : Prawn Production
3. Yellow Revolution : Oil seeds Production
4. Red Revolution : Potato Production
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Only three pairs. Pair 1 is correctly matched. The Golden Revolution is associated with Fruit Production. Pair 2 is correctly matched. The Pink Revolution is associated with Prawn Production. Pair 3 is correctly matched. The Yellow Revolution is associated with Oil seeds Production. Pair 4 is incorrectly matched. The Red Revolution is associated with Meat/Tomato Production, whereas the Round Revolution is associated with Potato Production. Therefore, only three pairs are correctly matched.

Question 3

Consider the following statements:
1. Silviculture is a discipline of horticulture concerned with the cultivation of flowering and ornamental plants.
2. Olericulture is the science of vegetable growing, dealing with the culture of non-woody plants for food.
3. Arboriculture is the art of cultivating forest trees.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. The cultivation of flowering and ornamental plants is Floriculture. Silviculture is the art of cultivating forest trees. Statement 2 is correct. Olericulture is the science of vegetable growing, dealing with the culture of non-woody (herbaceous) plants for food. Statement 3 is incorrect. The art of cultivating forest trees is Silviculture. Arboriculture is the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants. Thus, only one statement is correct.

Question 4

With reference to the classification of crops based on growing seasons, consider the following statements:
1. Kharif crops require warm, wet weather and a long day length for flowering.
2. Rabi crops, such as wheat and sunflower, are grown from October to March and grow well in cold, dry weather.
3. Zaid crops are grown from March to June and require warm, wet weather for their major growth period.

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. Kharif crops require a short day length for flowering, not a long one. Statement 2 is correct. Rabi crops are grown in the winter season from October to March and thrive in cold and dry weather; wheat and sunflower are cited examples. Statement 3 is incorrect. Zaid crops require warm, dry weather for their major growth period, not warm, wet weather.

Question 5

Consider the following statements regarding the agronomic classification of crops:
1. Millets are annual grasses considered a staple food for poor people, with pearl millet being a staple in Rajasthan.
2. In the processing of sugar crops, the by-product molasses is used for paper making, while bagasse is used for alcohol formation.
3. Pulses are cultivated to enrich the soil and are considered the cheapest source of protein in the Indian diet.

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is correct. Millets are described as annual grasses that serve as a staple food for poor people, and pearl millet is specifically mentioned as a staple food in Rajasthan. Statement 2 is incorrect. The uses of the by-products have been swapped. Molasses is used for alcohol and yeast formation, whereas bagasse is used for paper making and fuel. Statement 3 is correct. Pulses are noted for their role in enriching the soil and for being the most economical source of protein in the Indian diet.

Question 6

Consider the following pairs:
1. Temperate Crop : Jowar
2. Major Millet : Ragi
3. Oil Seed Crop : Soybean
4. Rabi Crop : Cotton
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Only one pair. Pair 1 is incorrectly matched. Jowar is listed as a Tropical crop, not a Temperate crop. Pair 2 is correctly matched. Ragi is listed as Finger millet, which is classified as a Major millet. Pair 3 is incorrectly matched. Soybean is listed under Pulses or Grain Legumes, not Oil Seed Crops. Pair 4 is incorrectly matched. Cotton is listed as a Kharif crop, not a Rabi crop. Therefore, only one pair is correctly matched.

Question 7

Consider the following statements regarding different tillage operations:
1. Blind tillage is a type of off-season tillage performed after harvesting a crop to prepare the field for the next season.
2. Wet tillage, or puddling, is a process that creates an impervious layer below the soil surface to reduce deep percolation losses of water.
3. Zero tillage involves intensive mechanical manipulation of soil to incorporate the residues of the previous crop and achieve a fine tilth.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. Blind tillage is not an off-season operation; it is done after seeding or planting the crop, during its pre-emergence or early growth stages, to remove weeds without damaging the crop. Tillage done after harvest is post-harvest tillage. Statement 2 is correct. Puddling consists of repeated ploughing in standing water, which makes the soil soft and muddy and creates an impervious layer to reduce water percolation, which is ideal for planting rice. Statement 3 is incorrect. Zero tillage is the opposite of intensive mechanical manipulation; in this system, a new crop is planted in the residues of the previous crop without any prior soil tillage or seed bed preparation.

Question 8

Consider the following pairs:
1. Primary Tillage : Harrowing and planking to break clods.
2. Sub-soiling : Creating an impervious layer for planting rice.
3. Wet Tillage : Repeated ploughing in standing water.
4. Zero Tillage : Planting a new crop without prior seed bed preparation.

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Only two pairs. Pair 1 is incorrectly matched. Harrowing and planking are operations associated with secondary tillage, which follows primary tillage to create a finer tilth. Primary tillage involves deep opening of compact soil using ploughs. Pair 2 is incorrectly matched. Sub-soiling is the process of breaking a hard pan beneath the plough layer to improve water percolation and increase the soil volume for cultivation. Creating an impervious layer is the function of wet tillage (puddling). Pair 3 is correctly matched. Wet or puddling tillage is defined as the tillage operation done in a land with standing water, involving repeated ploughing until the soil becomes soft and muddy. Pair 4 is correctly matched. Zero tillage is a system where a new crop is planted in the residues of the previous crop without any prior soil tillage or seed bed preparation.

Question 9

With reference to special purpose tillage techniques, consider the following statements:
1. Sub-soiling is a tillage operation recommended annually in fields where heavy machinery is frequently used for operations.
2. A key advantage of sub-soiling is the enhancement of groundwater recharge by allowing excess water to percolate downwards.
3. The practice of zero tillage is contingent upon the effective control of all weeds, typically achieved through the use of herbicides.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is incorrect. Sub-soiling is not an annual operation. It is essential once in four to five years where heavy machineries are used, to break the hard pan that forms due to compaction. Statement 2 is correct. By breaking the hard pan, sub-soiling allows excess water to percolate downward, which can recharge the permanent water table. It also reduces runoff. Statement 3 is correct. Zero tillage is possible when all weeds are controlled by the use of herbicides, as the new crop is planted directly into the residues of the previous crop without any mechanical tillage for weed removal or seed bed preparation.

Question 10

Consider the following statements regarding cropping techniques:
1. In sequential cropping, the succeeding crop is sown immediately before the harvest of the standing crop.
2. Ratoon cropping involves raising a crop from the regrowth of the harvested crop's roots or stocks.
3. Monoculture is the practice of growing more than two crops in a piece of land in a year in orderly succession.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. The practice described, sowing a succeeding crop before the harvest of the standing one, is known as relay cropping. Sequential cropping involves planting the succeeding crop only after the preceding crop has been harvested. Statement 2 is correct. Ratoon cropping is correctly defined as raising a crop from the regrowth coming out of the roots or stocks of a harvested crop, as seen with sugarcane or sorghum. Statement 3 is incorrect. Monoculture is the repetitive growing of the same sole crop on the same land. The practice of growing more than two crops in a year in succession is called multiple cropping or intensive cropping.

Question 11

Consider the following pairs:
1. Banana : One plant crop followed by two ratoon crops.
2. Lucerne : A single ratoon crop is taken after the first cutting.
3. Pineapple : Extensively ratooned crop.
4. Sorghum : Harvested once and not suitable for ratooning.
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Only two pairs. Pair 1 is correctly matched. For bananas, it is normal to have one plant crop followed by two ratoon crops. Pair 2 is incorrectly matched. Lucerne fodder can have many ratoons, with the first cutting at 70 days and subsequent cuttings every 35-40 days. Pair 3 is correctly matched. The pineapple crop is described as being extensively ratooned. Pair 4 is incorrectly matched. Sorghum is explicitly mentioned as a crop where many ratoons can be taken for fodder.

Question 12

With reference to agricultural practices, consider the following statements:
1. A cropping system is defined as the yearly sequence and spatial arrangement of crops and fallow on a given area.
2. The primary objective of mixed cropping is to provide insurance against total crop failure.
3. In intercropping, there is typically competition between the component crops as all are given equal importance.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. A cropping system is not merely the sequence and arrangement of crops. It is a broader concept that includes the cropping pattern and its interactions with farm resources, other farm enterprises, and available technology, which determine the system's makeup. The definition provided actually describes a 'cropping pattern'. Statement 2 is correct. The main objective of mixed cropping is insurance against crop failure, ensuring some secured income even if one crop does not perform well. Statement 3 is incorrect. The condition described, where there is competition between component crops of equal importance, is a characteristic of mixed cropping. In intercropping, the main objective is to utilize the space between rows of a main crop, and there is no competition between the main crop and the subsidiary intercrop.

Question 13

Consider the following statements regarding agricultural practices:
1. Alley cropping involves growing two or more crops simultaneously in wide strips that permit independent cultivation but are narrow enough for interaction.
2. In synergistic cropping, the combined yield of the intercropped species is higher than the yield of their pure crops grown on the same unit area.
3. Mixed cropping is characterized by growing two or more crops simultaneously in distinct row arrangements to meet subsistence needs.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. The system described is Strip intercropping. Alley cropping is a system where food crops are grown in alleys formed by hedge rows of trees or shrubs. Statement 2 is correct. Synergistic cropping is defined as a system where the yields of both crops are higher than their pure crops on a unit area basis. Statement 3 is incorrect. Mixed cropping involves growing crops simultaneously intermingled without any row arrangement.

Question 14

Consider the following pairs:
1. Sodic soil : Characterized by a pH of more than 8.5
2. Alfisol : A mineral soil found in deserts with an aridic moisture regime
3. Laterite soil : Formed in arid regions with low annual rainfall
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Only one pair. Pair 1 is correctly matched. Sodic soils are defined by having an exchangeable sodium percentage exceeding 15 per cent and a pH of more than 8.5. Pair 2 is incorrectly matched. Aridisols are the mineral soils found in deserts with an aridic moisture regime, whereas Alfisols are formed under forest or savanna vegetation. Pair 3 is incorrectly matched. Laterite soils are found in high-clay regions like the Malabar hills of Kerala, which are high-rainfall areas. Alkaline soils, not laterite soils, are often found in arid regions.

Question 15

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Mixed cropping is a prevalent agricultural strategy in the dryland tracts of India, primarily aimed at ensuring minimum yields and avoiding complete crop failures.
Statement-II: This practice involves sowing seeds of multiple crops, such as sorghum and cowpea, intermingled together without a defined row arrangement, often through broadcasting.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.. Statement-I is correct. Mixed cropping is a common practice in India's dryland tracts with the objective of avoiding complete crop failures and securing minimum yields. Statement-II is also correct. It accurately describes the method of mixed cropping, where seeds of different crops are mixed and sown without a row arrangement, as exemplified by sorghum, bajra, and cowpea. Statement-II provides the mechanism (planting a diverse mix of crops that can withstand varied conditions) that explains how the objective in Statement-I (risk mitigation) is achieved. Therefore, Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

Question 16

With reference to agricultural inputs, consider the following statements:
1. Inorganic fertilizers are known to improve soil texture and stimulate beneficial bacterial and fungi.
2. Organic fertilizers typically supply only a limited number of nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus.
3. The production and application of inorganic fertilizers are associated with the release of nitrous oxide (N2O), a greenhouse gas.

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. The improvement of soil texture and stimulation of beneficial bacteria and fungi are characteristics of organic fertilizers, not inorganic ones. Statement 2 is incorrect. The supply of a limited number of nutrients (usually nitrogen and phosphorus) is a characteristic of inorganic fertilizers, not organic ones. Statement 3 is correct. The production, transport, and application of inorganic fertilizers require large amounts of energy and result in the release of nitrous oxide (N2O).

Question 17

Consider the following statements regarding the role of specific nutrients in plant growth:
1. Nitrogen (N) is primarily responsible for water regulation and uptake, enhancing a plant's resistance to frost and drought.
2. Phosphorus (P) is an integral part of chlorophyll and imparts a vigorous vegetative growth and dark green colour to plants.
3. Calcium (Ca) is a component of cell membranes and is vital for pollen growth and preventing leaf fall.

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. The functions described, such as water regulation and resistance to frost and drought, are attributed to Potassium (K), not Nitrogen. Statement 2 is incorrect. Being an integral part of chlorophyll and imparting a dark green colour are functions of Nitrogen (N), not Phosphorus. Phosphorus is important for stimulating root growth and is a part of nucleic acids. Statement 3 is correct. Calcium is required for plant growth, is a component of cell membranes, and is vital for pollen growth and to prevent leaf fall.

Question 18

Consider the following statements differentiating manures and fertilizers:
1. Fertilizers are essentially plant and animal wastes that release nutrients slowly following their decomposition.
2. Manures are industrially manufactured chemicals that contain a high concentration of nutrients released almost immediately.
3. Organic manures must be incorporated before sowing because their nutrient content is higher than that of chemical fertilizers.

Accepted Answer

None. Statement 1 is incorrect. This statement describes manures, not fertilizers. Fertilizers are industrially manufactured chemicals. Statement 2 is incorrect. This statement describes fertilizers, not manures. Manures are derived from plant and animal wastes. Statement 3 is incorrect. While organic manures should be incorporated before sowing, the reason provided is false. They are incorporated early due to the slow release of nutrients, and their nutrient content is lower, not higher, than that of fertilizers.

Question 19

With reference to non-symbiotic microorganisms in agriculture, consider the following statements:

1. Azotobacter is a type of blue-green algae used in agriculture.
2. Nostoc and Anabaenopsis are classified as blue-green algae.
3. Closteridium is an example of a facultative anaerobe bacterium.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. Azotobacter is classified as an aerobic bacterium, not a blue-green alga. Statement 2 is correct. Nostoc and Anabaenopsis are listed as examples of blue-green algae. Statement 3 is incorrect. Closteridium is classified as an anaerobic bacterium, whereas Bacillus and Eisherichia are listed as facultative anaerobes.

Question 20

Consider the following statements regarding the beneficial effects of weeds:

1. Weeds can be utilized as a source of fuel and as fodder for animals.
2. Certain weeds have therapeutic properties and are used in medicine.
3. Weeds contribute to soil health by acting as manure and as soil binders.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

All three. Statement 1 is correct. Weeds can be used as both fuel and fodder. Statement 2 is correct. Many weeds possess great therapeutic properties and find use as medicine. Statement 3 is correct. Weeds can be used as manure and also function as soil binders, which are beneficial effects.

Question 21

Consider the following pairs:

1. Azospirillum : Anaerobic bacterium
2. Bacillus : Facultative anaerobe
3. Chlorobium : Aerobic bacterium
4. Anabaena : Blue green algae

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Only two pairs. Pair 1 is incorrectly matched. Azospirillum is listed as an aerobic bacterium. Pair 2 is correctly matched. Bacillus is listed as a facultative anaerobe. Pair 3 is incorrectly matched. Chlorobium is listed as an anaerobic bacterium. Pair 4 is correctly matched. Anabaena is listed as a blue-green alga. Therefore, only two pairs are correctly matched.

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