ISBN - ISCA

ii

A To Z

OBJECTIVE AGRONOMY

By

Dr. A.Ramachandran

Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy,

Mother Terasa College of Agriculture, Mettusalai, Illuppur (Po),

Pudukkottai - 622102. TamilNadu, India

E-mail : [email protected]

Dr. R. Jeyajothi

Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy,

College of Agricultural Technology, Gullapuram,

Theni – 625562. Tamil Nadu, India

E-mail: [email protected]

2019

Ideal International E – PublicationPvt. Ltd. www.isca.co.in

iii

427, Palhar Nagar, RAPTC, VIP-Road, Indore-452005 (MP) INDIA

Phone: +91-731-2616100, Mobile: +91-80570-83382

E-mail: [email protected], Website:www.isca.co.in

Title: A To Z OBJECTIVE AGRONOMY

Author(s): Dr. A.Ramachandran, Dr. R. Jeyajothi

Edition: First

Volume: I

© Copyright Reserved

2019

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, in a

retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,

mechanical, photocopying, reordering or otherwise, without the prior permission

of the publisher.

ISBN: 978-93-86675-76-7

iv

Preface

This book provides detailed information about all the aspects of agronomy including

modern concepts and recent advances in agricultural practices to the students who are preparing

for competitive examinations like ARS, IARI, IFS, TNAU ( PG and Ph.D.,) and others in

agriculture and allied fields. Considering the need of the students at large, this book is prepared

to give current aspects in modern agriculture. The different chapters in the book are compiled

after analyzing the information available in various sources such as textbooks, review articles,

popular articles and research articles from different journals .The book highlights the modern

concepts of agronomy like precision agriculture, crop ecology and stress management , organic

farming , agro forestry and social forestry basics objective questions of agronomy like soil and

tillage, weed management and irrigation management, problematic soil management, soil

fertility management, sustainable agriculture and integrated farming system etc.

Recent information and development in the field of agronomy have been incorporated in

the text. Thus this book is based on syllabus of agronomy stream, it may be useful not only to

students but also teachers, researchers and development officer for reference and easy answering

of many complicated questions.

Finally, I have belief and hope that this book will fulfill the requirement of our student of

agronomy stream for appearing in different competitive examinations.

Dr.A.RAMACHANDRAN

A – Z OBJECTIVE AGRONOMY 5

Ideal International E- Publication

www.isca.co.in

A – Z OBJECTIVE AGRONOMY

Prepared by

Dr.A.Ramachandran, M.Sc(Agronomy),Ph.D.,

Assistant Professor (Agronomy)

Mother Terasa College of Agriculture –Pudukkottai.

CONTENTS Page No.

S. No CHAPTERS

1 Indian agriculture at a glance 1-19

2 Fundamentals of agronomy and agricultural heritage,

Introductory agro – meteorology and climate change

20-30

3 Soil and tillage 30-34

4 Soil fertility and nutrient management 34-41

5 Weed management 41-45

6 Irrigation management 45-51

7 Filed crops –I and II 51-75

8 Cropping and farming system 75-82

9 Dry land agriculture and watershed management 83-92

10 Crop ecology and stress management 93

11 Soil and water conservation 94-98

12 Agro forestry and social forestry

13 Sustainable agriculture and organic farming 99-100

14. Precision agriculture 100-101

15 Problematic soils and waste land management 101-102

16. Glossary of agronomy 103-116



www.isca.co.in

CHAPTER 1: INDIAN AGRICULTURE AT A GLANCE

� Total geographical area of the country -3287263 sq km (328.7 M ha)

� Percentage of world area -2.42 % (7th place in world)

� Latitudinal extent- 8₀- 4ꞌ N to 37₀ - 6 ꞌ N

� Longitudinal extent- 68₀ -7 ꞌ E to 97o- 25ꞌ E

� Standard meridian- 82 ½₀ E Longitudes (Passing through Allahabad. Time 5 ½ hrs. ahead

of Greenwich Mean Time.

� Total population – 1,21,05,69,573 (2011) (17.5% of world population)

� 54.6% of the population is engaged in agriculture and allied activities (census 2011) and

it contributes 17% to the country’s Gross Value Added (current price 2015-16, 2011-12

series).

� Largest state (area wise)-Rajasthan

� Smallest state (area wise)-Goa

� Gross cropped area (2013-14) - 200.9 M ha

� Net area sown (2013-14)-141.4 m ha (43 % of total geographical area )

� Cropping intensity- 142 %

� Salt affected area in India-6.32 M ha

� Acid soil in India-12 M ha (highest-Assam)

� Forest and tree cover area -794245 sq km

� Total forest cover area- 701673 sq km

� World water resource present in India- 4.2%

� Per capita land availability in India- 0.12 ha

� Per capita agriculture land (2012-13) - 0.147 ha

� Gross irrigated area (2012-13) – 92.57 m ha (47.6 % of total cropped area)

� Net irrigated area- 68.2 M ha

� Area irrigated more than once- 26.26 M ha

� Per capita irrigated area- 0.049 ha (world)

� Per capita irrigated area-0.057 ha (India)

� Highest water erosion state- Kerala

� Rainfed area as % of net sown area (2012-13) - 52.4%

� Means of irrigation- Canal (22 %), well (16 %), Tube well (46 %), Tank (3 %) and others

(9%)

� Place with maximum rainfall – Mawsynram (Meghalaya)

� Place with minimum rainfall – Leh

� Maximum rainfall disparity state - Kerala

� In India, Narmada and Tapti are the two rivers which flow towards West while Rest

Rivers of country flow towards East.

� India having animal population-11%

� India stands 97th position in Global hunger index (2016)



www.isca.co.in

� GDP Growth of India in 2015-16 was 7.9 % and present is 7.1 % (2016-17) (CSO,

Advance estimation @ basic price 2011-12)

� Gross value added (GVA) growth rate of India in 2015-16 was 7.8 % and present is 6.7

% (2016-17)

� GVA contribution of Agriculture & Allied sectors 17.5 % (2015-16) and 17.3 % (2016-

17) (Advance estimation @basic price 2011- 12)

� GVA growth rate of Agriculture and allied sector 0.8 % (2015-16) and 4.4 % (2016-17)

(Advance estimation @basic price 2011-12)

� Total production of milk : 155.5 mt (2015-16)

� Per capita availibity of milk :337 gms/day

� Total production of coffee in 2015-16 was 355600 metric tonnes (MT)

� India stands 7th in coffee production and first is Brazil

� Karnataka stands first in coffee production in India

� Total egg production – 78. 48 billion

� Andra Pradesh stands first in egg production

� India stands 3rd in Egg production

� Total fish production in 10. 8 mt (2015-16) ie around 6.4 % of world fish production

� Marine fish production in the country stood at 3.58 mt in 2015-16

� Total wool production in 2014-15 is 48.14 million kg (raw wool)

� Total production of sugarcane is estimated at 352.16 million tonne

� Total production of cotton estimated at 30.15 million bales (of 170 kg each)

� Production of jute & mesta estimated at 10.47 million bales (of 180 kg each).

� Agriculture and Allied sector contributed approximately 17.0% of India’s Gross Value

Added (GVA) at current prices during 2015-16.

� The Agriculture and Allied sector witnessed a growth of 1.5 per cent in 2012- 13, 4.2 per

cent in 2013-14, -0.2 per cent in 2014-15 and 1.2 in 2015-16 at 2011-12 basic prices.

� Share of agriculture and allied sectors in total GDP during 2014-15 – 17.4%

� As per 1st advance estimates for 2016-2017, total production of food grain is estimated -

135.03 M t (record ).

� Rice- 93.88 M t (record ), coarse cereals 32.45 M t (record ), maize- 19.30 M t (record ),

pulses- 8.70 M t (record ), tur 4.29 M t (record ), Urad-2.01 M t, Oilseeds-23.36 M t,

Soybean-14.22 M t, Groundnut-6.50 M t, Castorseed-1.73 M t, Cotton-32.12 M t,

Sugarcane-305.25 M t (* M t- million tonnes)

� Agriculture leads in net foreign exchange earnings in India



www.isca.co.in

CURRENT TRENDS IN AGRICULTURAL

� Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh and Tripura chosen for Krishi Karman Awards, 2015-16

� IIITM-K develops app for coffee growers April 2017- Kaapi Soil Health Management

and Monitoring (Kshemam)

� India is set to produce 275 MT of foodgrains in 2017-2018 crop year, according to

Agriculture Ministry.

� The Union Cabinet gave its approval for the establishment of Food Legumes Research

Platform (FLRP) at Amlaha in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh.

� Government to launch SAMPADA scheme for food processing

� Radha Mohan Singh on April 1, 2017 inaugurated International Centre for Foot and

Mouth Disease (ICFMD) at Arugul, Odisha

� Krishi Unnati Mela is a three-day event launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on

19 March 2016 in Pusa campus of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Delhi

� Human Rights Day 10 December

� World Intellectual Property Day – April 26

� Top wool producing state in India is Rajasthan

� Total meat production in 2016-17 is 7.37 million tons (Target estimated)

� Uttar Pradesh is top meat producing state in India

� Poverty of India: 21.9%

� Contribution of agriculture and allied sectors in Grass domestic product was 54.5% in

1950-51 and is reduced to 17.30 % in 2016. Agriculture is the primary source of

livelihood for about 58 % of India‟s population

� Agriculture accounts for about 10 % of the total export (2014-15)

� Agriculture accounts for about 3.4 % of the total import.

� Highest exported: Cereals

� Highest imported: Edible oil and pulses

� There are 46 export authorities in India

� Cropping intensity of India is 138.9 % (2015-16) and 137 % (2011-12)

� USA is having highest area under coarse cereals 37.5 mha and India stands 3rd (29.0)

mha

� Rajasthan has highest area under coarse cereals 7.13 mha

Recent Environmental facts (2016-2017)

� Total forest cover of India 79.42 mha (2015), which is 24.16 % of Total geographical

area

� The theme of earth day 2016 was “Trees for the earth”

� Madhya Pradesh has largest forest cover area

� On percentage basis Mizoram has highest forest area

� Norway has become the first country to ban deforestation

� Scientists of UK developed outdoor laboratory named „Sci-fi‟ to track how forest trees

respond to level of CO2 concentrations



www.isca.co.in

� Light pollution is artificial brightening of the night sky caused by man-made lightening

sources, which has a disruptive effect on natural cycles and inhibits the observation of

stars and planets.

Nano technology

� The term 'nanotechnology' can be traced back to 1974. It was first used by Norio

Taniguchi in a paper entitled "On the Basic Concept of Nano-Technology".

� Nanotechnology deals with the matter considered at Nano-scale (1-100 nm)

� In India, IIT Mumbai is the leading organization in the field of nanotechnology

Important facts about irrigation in INDIA and World (2016-17)

� 42% of the world irrigation is located in only 2 countries: China and India

� 78 % of the world's harvested irrigated crops area is in the Asian continent.

� Rice is the world's largest irrigated cereal, covering 29% of the total irrigated crop area

and almost half of the irrigated cereals area

� Total irrigated area in India: 64.7 mha

� Punjab (98.1 %)>Haryana (87.6%)>UP (75.9%)

� Highest area under irrigation in India: U. P

� Sugarcane (93.7 %) highly irrigated crop in India

� Highest non-irrigated area in India : Mizoram

� Potential area for micro irrigation in India : 69.5 mha

� Area under micro irrigation system in India: 7.73Mha (2015)

� Area under drip irrigation in India : 3.37 mha

� Area under sprinkler irrigation in India : 4.36 mha

� Highest area under micro irrigation in India : Rajasthan (1.68 mha)

� Sources of irrigation tube well (57 %), Canals (32 %)

� USA is having highest micro irrigation system: Sprinkler

� Majority of the area covered under micro irrigation systems comes under sprinkler

irrigation with 56.4 % while 43.6 % comes under drip irrigation.

� Rice is the world's largest irrigated cereal, covering 29% of the total irrigated crop area

and almost half of the irrigated cereals area

� 90 % of irrigation in Israel under micro-irrigation

� Over 324 mha are equipped for irrigation worldwide.

� 42% of the world irrigation is located in only 2 countries: China and India

� China with the largest irrigation area

� Total sprinkler irrigation in the world 35 mha



www.isca.co.in

Revolutions related to agriculture

� Green Revolution – over all crop production

� White Revolution – Milk production

� Blue Revolution – Fish production

� Black Revolution – Petroleum Production/crude oil production

� Brown Revolution – Leather/Cocoa production

� Golden Fibre Revolution – Jute Production

� Golden Revolution – Fruits/Overall Horticulture development/Honey Production

� Grey Revolution – Fertilizer Red Revolution – Meat & Tomato Production

� Round Revolution – Potato

� Silver Fiber Revolution – Cotton

� Silver Revolution – Egg/Poultry Production

� Evergreen Revolution – Overall development of Agriculture

Fertilizer consumption scenario (2016-17)

� Per hectare consumption :1st is Punjab – 266 kg/ ha, 2nd is Andhra Pradesh – 244 kg/ ha,

3rd is Tamil Nadu – 227kg/ ha, 4th is Haryana -225kg/ha

� All India average is 144 kg/ha.

� Lowest fertilizer consumption states are Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim.

� U.P has highest total fertilizer consumption state

� Imported fertilizer- Potash from Jordan and Tunesia

� India is third in fertilizer production and second in consumption

� China is first in fertilizer consumption

� NPK ratio in 2013-14 was 8.2:3.2:1 ( India ) NPK ratio in 2013-14 in Punjab was

61.7:19.2:1; in Haryana, it was 61.4:18.7:1; in Rajasthan, it was 44.9:16.5:1; and in Uttar

Pradesh, it was 25.2:8.8:1

� Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Policy (2010) where a fixed rate of subsidy is announced

on nutrients. The NBS covers three macro nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and

Potassium) and two micro nutrients (Zinc and Boron).



www.isca.co.in

Pesticide consumption scenario (2016-17)

� The per capita consumption of pesticides in India is 0.6 Kg/ha which is the lowest in the

world.

� It is also noted that about 15-25% potential crop production is lost due to pests, weeds

and diseases (in India) Punjab, Maharashtra are the top pesticide consuming states

� The major pesticides applications are found in rice and cotton crops (1st Paddy, 2nd

Cotton)

� Rice and wheat crops are the major application areas for herbicides.

� Andhra Pradesh (including Telangana & Seemandhra), Maharashtra and Punjab are top

three states contributing to 45% of pesticide consumption in India.

� Andhra Pradesh is the leading consumer with 24% share.

� Total registered pesticides in India- 275

� Total banned pesticides in India- 28

� Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB & RC)-To facilitate the

registration of safe, efficacious and quality pesticides for domestic use and export.

Transgenic crops scenario (2016-17)

� India has the 4th largest area planted under genetically modified (GM) crops, according

to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA).

� Final approval committee on release of transgenic in India – is GEAC (Genetic

Engineering Approval Committee)

� Leading countries in transgenic use - USA>Brazil > Argentina>India (4th)>Canada

� Leading transgenic crops - Soybean >Cotton>Maize > Canola

� Area under transgenic plants in India (2014)-11.6 mha.

� Total area in world under GM crops 181.5 mha

� Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana has claimed developing country‟s

first genetically-modified (GM) varieties of cotton – PAU Bt 1 and F1861. Cotton is the

only GM crop allowed to be cultivated in India. The Indian Council of Agricultural

Research (ICAR) also has identified three Bt cotton varieties –F1861, PAU Bt 1 and

RS2013 for cultivation in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

� Area under Bt- cotton (96 % of cotton production): Gujarat stands first

� In the past year, the government has approved field trials of GM crops for field trails

include transgenic Rice, Cotton, Maize (corn), Mustard, Brinjal and Chickpea.



www.isca.co.in

List of awardees in agriculture sector 2015-16

� Dr. Amrita patel- Mahindra samriddi India agri life time achievement award (Krishi

Siromani Samman) for implementation of NDDB operation flood programme

� Sir Fazle Hasan Abed of Bangladesh - 2015 winner of the World Food Prize. He is the

founder of Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC, has been hailed as the

most effective anti-poverty organization in the world

� World food prize 2016: The three-person team from the International Potato Center

(known by its Spanish acronym CIP) Dr. Maria Andrade (Cape Verde), Dr. Robert

Mwanga (Uganda) and Dr. Jan Low (USA) – is being honored for their achievement in

developing the single most successful example of micronutrient and vitamin bio-

fortification – the orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP).

ICAR at Glance

� Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer welfare is the ex-office President of the ICAR

society (President- Radha Mohan Singh).

� In last Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that Seven

decade-old Agriculture Ministry will be renamed as Agriculture and Farmer Welfare

Ministry.

� Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research &Education Ministry of Agriculture,

Govt, of India & Director General, ICAR-the Principal Executive Officer of the Council.

(Present DG – Dr. T. Mahapatra)

� Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board ,Chairman-Dr. Guru Bachan Singh

� Deputy Directors-General (8)

� Assistant Directors-General (24)

� Directorates /Project Directorates -13

� National Bureaux-6 [New- NBAII, Bengaluru and NBAIM, Mau (UP)]

� Deemed Universities-4

� Agriculture Universities- 73

� National Research Centers (NRCs) – 15 ( Newly added: National Research Centre on

Integrated Farming (ICAR-NRCIF), Motihar)

� AICRPs- 60

� Institutes- 64

� Network projects-19

� Chairman of National Commission for Farmers- Dr. M.S. Swaminathan

� Central Agricultural Universities-3 (Imphal, Jhansi and Bihar)

� Network projects-18

� ATARI (Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes) – 8

� KVKS- 665

� The Council launched a new initiative “Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Unnat Krishi

Shiksha Yojana” for training of farmers in organic farming and sustainable farming.



www.isca.co.in

New varieties of field crops (2016)

� Early maturing summer Mungbean: Virat

� High zinc rice variety: DRR Dhan 45

� High protein rice variety: CR Dhan 310

� Bacterial leaf blight disease resistant rice varieties: Pusa 1592 and Punjab Basmati-3

� Blast disease resistant rice variety: Pusa 1609

� New variety of pigeon pea developed by IARI is Pusa arhar-16 (120 days maturity and

determinate in growth)

� World earliest maturity variety of cotton genotype was identified by CICR scientist

(2017) - variety name: Yugank

Digital resources of ICAR

� KIRAN (Knowledge innovation repository agriculture in North East): Scientific plat form

for North East region to help in crop production

� CANE info: information on Sugarcane

� KRISHI- Knowledge based Resources Information Systems Hub for Innovations in

agriculture, is an initiative of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to bring its

knowledge resources to all stakeholders at one place.

New initiatives

� To promote agricultural education among several students, we declared and celebrated

3rd December as the National Agricultural Education Day.

� To appreciate the role of women in agriculture, we declared and also observed 15th

October as Mahila Kisan Diwas

� The ICAR observed the year 2016 as the International Year of Pulses as declared by the

United Nations. To this effect, we established 150 seed hubs for pulses to help increase

the availability of quality seeds.

� The Council launched a new initiative “Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Unnat Krishi

Shiksha Yojana” for training of farmers in organic farming and sustainable farming.

Leaf rust of wheat is the most widespread among all rusts and causes maximum loss in

India.

� A new leaf-rust resistance gene LrLWH in LWH-2 was identified in a bread wheat

landrace (Hango-2), from Hango, Himachal Pradesh.

� India's first fully organic state Sikkim to now have institute on Organic Farming

National Organic Farming Research Institute (NOFRI) is all set to come up in Sikkim.

� Sikkim has become India‟s first fully organic state by converting around 75,000 hectares

of agricultural land into sustainable cultivation.



www.isca.co.in

� National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) NIHSAD is located in

Bhopal. Its old name was High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL), a regional

station of Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar.

� National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (NIVEDI)

NIVEDI located in Bengaluru.

� National Research Centre on Integrated Farming System (ICAR-NRCIF) will come up in

Motihar, Bihar.

Chief/Director of Institutes of National and International bodies

� ICAR: DG- Dr. T. Mahapatra

� ASRB: Dr. Gurubachan Singh

� UN Secretary: Mr. Ban Ki Moon

� UN Members- 193 countries

� International Monetary Fund(IMF) New chief: Christine Lagarde

� DG of FAO: Jose Graziano Da sliva

� Chairman of NABARD: Dr. Harish Kumar Bhanwala

� IFPRI: DG: Shenggen Fan

� PPV &FRA-R. R. Hanchinal

� Governor of RBI: Urjit Patel

� President of World Bank: Jim Yong Kim

� World bank chief economist : Kaushik Basu

� Niti (National Institution for Transforming India) ayog CEO: Amitabh Kant

� Niti Ayog chairman: Narendra Modi

� Niti ayog Vice Chairman: Arvind Panagariya

� Director of IMD: K J Ramesh

� Chairman of National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) : Hem Pande

� Secretary general of world meteorological organization : Petteri Taalas

FAO International year

� 2015- International year of soils

� 2016- International year of pulses

� 2017- International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development



www.isca.co.in

The CGIAR‟s International Agronomical Research Centers

1. CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Centre) Turrialba,

Cartago, Costa Rica

2. CIAT (Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical) Cali, Columbia

3.CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center), Mexico City, Mexico

4. CIP (International Potato Center), Lima, Peru

5. IFPRI (International Food Policy Research Institute), Washington D.C., United States

6.ICRAF (World Agroforestry Centre formerly International Center for Research in

Agroforestry), Nairobi, Kenya

7. ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute), Nairobi, Kenya

8. IITA (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture), Ibadan, Nigeria

9. CIFOR (Center for International Forestry Research), Bogor Barat, Indonesia

10. ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics),

Patancheru, India

11. IRRI (International Rice Research Institute), Los Banos, Philippines

12. IWMI (International Water management Institute) Colombo, Sri Lanka

13. Biodiversity International, Rome, Italy

14. CGIAR Consortium Office, Montpellier, France

15. ICARDA (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas), Beirut,

Libanon, Syria

16. WARDA (West Africa Rice Development Association)

17. ISNAR (International Service for National Agricultural Research), Netherlands

PRODUCTION SCENARIO 2015-16

� Total food grains production in the country - 252.22 million tonnes

(Marginally higher by 0.20 million tonnes than the food grains production of

2014-15 252.02 million tonnes.)

� Total production of rice- 104.32 M t.

� Total production of wheat- 93.5 M t

� Total production of Coarse Cereals- 37.94 M t

� Total production of pulses- 16.47 M t

� Total production of oilseeds- 25.30 M t



www.isca.co.in

Agriculture production scenario 2016-17

� The growth rate for the agriculture and allied sectors is estimated to be 4.1 per cent for

2016-17.

� Estimated food grain‟s production of food grains 270.10 -271.98 million tonnes (mt).

It is 7% higher than the 252.23 mt of production estimated for 2015-16.

� USDA reports India has estimated production of 370 lakh bales making it the largest

cotton producing nation in the world.

Production of some important crops (2016-17, estimated)

Rice – 108.86 mt Wheat – 96.64 mt Coarse Cereals – 44.34mt

Maize – 26.15 mt Pulses – 22.14 mt Gram – 9.12mt

Tur (Redgram) – 4.23 mt Urad – 2.89 mt Oilseeds – 33.60mt

Soybean – 14.13 mt Groundnut – 8.47 mt Castor seed – 1.74 mt

Cotton – 32.51 million bales (of 170 kg each) Sugarcane – 309.98 mt

Pulses scenario in India

� Production of Gram (chickpea) is the highest among all pulses produced in the country

� Chickpeas contributes the single largest share in India‟s export basket of pulses

registering 85.64% and 84.87% share in the total pulses export during 2014-15 and

2015-16 respectively.

� Peas forms a major share in the total import of pulses

� India is largest pulse processor in the world

� Gujarat is having highest productivity of pulses

� Canada is largest exporter of pulses

� India‟s average pulse productivity 730 kg/ha whereas, Canada‟s 1900 kg /ha

� Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka are the top five

pulses producing States

� State wise rank in pulses production: MH>RJ>UP>MP (Kharif pulses),

MP>UP>RJ>MH (Rabi pulses).



www.isca.co.in

Top producing states with respect to different crops

Apple: Jammu & Kashmir Rice: West Bengal Bajra: Rajasthan

Bamboos: Assam Bananas: Tamilnadu Barley: Uttar Pradesh

Cashewnut: Kerala Chillies: Maharashtra Cotton: Gujarat

Wheat: Uttar Pradesh Gram & Pulses: Madhya Pradesh Groundnut: Gujarat

Jute: West Bengal Mango: Uttar Pradesh Maize: Uttar Pradesh

Mustard: Rajasthan Onion: Maharashtra Pepper: Kerala

Paddy: West Bengal Potato: Uttar Pradesh Ragi: Karnataka

Rubber: Kerala Silk: Karnataka Sugarcane: Uttar Pradesh

Soyabean: Madhya Pradesh Sunflower: Karnataka Tea: Assam

Tobacco: Andhra Pradesh Turmeric: Andhra Pradesh Wheat: Uttar Pradesh

Pigeon pea: Uttar Pradesh Coconut: Kerala

Total Food Grains – Uttar Pradesh Total Fruits – Andhra Pradesh

Total Spices – Andhra Pradesh Total Vegetables – West Bengal

WORLD AGRICULTURAL SCENARIO AND POSITION OF INDIA (2016- 17)

� RICE: CHINA > INDIA > INDONESIA

� MAIZE: USA>CHINA >BRAZIL (INDIA 4TH)

� WHEAT: EUROPE UNION> CHINA > INDIA

� GROUNDNUT: CHINA > INDIA>USA

� SUGARCANE: BRAZIL > INDIA>CHINA

� TOTAL CEREALS: CHINA > USA > INDIA

� COARSE CEREALS: USA > CHINA > BRAZIL > INDIA

� TOTAL PULSES: INDIA – 1ST

� MUSTARD & RAPESEED: CHINA > CANADA > INDIA

� VETETABLES: CHINA > INDIA> USA

� FRUITS & VEG: CHINA > INDIA

� COTTON: CHINA > USA > INDIA

� TOBACCO: CHINA > BRAZIL > INDIA

� TEA, JUTE & ALLIED FIBRES: INDIA – 1ST

� COFFEE-INDIA- 7TH

� CATTLE POPULATION: 1ST INDIA (16.5%)

� BUFFALO POPULATION: 1ST INDIA (56.7%)

� MILK PRODUCTION: 1ST INDIA (15%)

� EGG PRODUCTION: CHINA>USA>INDIA

� TOTAL AGRICULTURAL LAND IN THE WORLD: 7.5%

� TOTAL AREA OF INDIA- 328.7 M HA-2.4% OF WORLD-7TH POSITION

� TOTAL ARABLE LAND IN INDIA- 162 M HA-2ND AFTER USA



www.isca.co.in

� LOWEST AGRICULTURAL BASED COUNTRY: U.K. (6%)

� HIGHEST AGRICULTURAL BASED COUNTRY: MALAVI (92%)

� TOTAL AGRICULTURAL BASED POPULATION in INDIA 50 %

Recent advances/Schemes/ in agriculture

� Revenue Insurance Scheme for Plantation Crops (RISPC): a new Digital Green App

started by Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry for protecting the growers from the

risks such as pest attacks, yield loss and income decline caused by fall in prices.

� Rubber Soil Information System (RubSIS): RubSIS is an online system for application

of appropriate mix of fertilizers to specific plantations of robber growers based on the soil

nature.

� The adoption of the Delhi Declaration on Agro-biodiversity Management was made in

1st International Agro-Biodiversity Congress was held in New Delhi from 6th -9th Nov,

2016

� NITI Aayog on 31st Oct 2016 launched the first ever Agricultural Marketing & Farm

Friendly Reforms Index.

� Mars soil is suitable for growing vegetables according to Dutch scientists.

� India recorded the highest ever tea production at 1233 million kilos during 2015-2016,

and exports crossed 230 million kilos during this period.

� IARI has developed early maturing (120 days) Pigeon pea variety which is of

determinate habit, short stature and suited for close planting.

� First Mega Food Park is started in Madhya Pradesh

� KISAN [C (K) crop Insurance using Space technology And geoiNformatics] project was

launched by of Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & FW, Ministry of Agriculture

and FW and ISRO.

� Finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn], has become one of the mandate crops of

ICRISAT.

� Gujarat is becoming the first state in the country to launch „Agro-Solar policy‟ to

encourage the farmers tap the solar energy.

� The BHIM app (Bharat Interface for Money) is introduced by Finance Minister Arun

Jaitley

� Mrida Parikshak: ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal has developed a mini

lab named Mrida parikshak‟. It is a digital mobile quantitative mini lab to provide soil

testing service at farmers‟ doorsteps.

� Soil health card scheme The GOI has initiated the „Soil Health card scheme‟ in February

2015

� Farmer FIRST (Farm, Innovations, Resources, Science and Technology) It is an ICAR

initiative to enhance farmers-scientists contact with multi stake holder‟s participation.

� Mera Gaon – Mera Gaurav: It is launched by ICAR to provide farmers with required

information, knowledge and advisories on regular basis.



www.isca.co.in

� Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture (ARYA) Scheme ICAR has initiated a

programme on “Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture” to empower youth in

rural areas to take up agriculture, allied and service sector enterprises for sustainable

income and gainful employment in selected districts.

� M-Kisan M-Kisan is a mobile-based agriculture advisory services that enables all

Central and State government organizations in agriculture and allied sectors to give

information/services/advisories to farmers by SMS in their language, preference of

agricultural practices and location

� STUDENT READY READY refers to “Rural and Entrepreneurship Awareness

Development Yojana”. Student READY is a skill development initiative to strengthen

students with skills to take up global challenges and also to improve both their

employability as well as ability to set up a venture.

� Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana It is a central scheme that aims at providing

irrigation facilities to every village in the country by converging ongoing irrigation

schemes implemented by various ministries.

� Soil Health Card The scheme is launched to provide every farmer a Soil Health Card in

a mission mode. The card will carry crop wise recommendations of nutrients/fertilizers

required for farms, making it possible for farmers to improve productivity by using

appropriate inputs.

� Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana/ Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (Traditional

Farming Improvement Programme) has been launched by Government of India to

support and promote organic farming and thereby improving soil health.

� National Agriculture Market (NAM) NAM is envisaged as a pan-India electronic

trading portal which seeks to network the existing Agricultural Produce Market

Committees (APMCs) and other market yards to create a unified national market for

agricultural commodities.

� Krishi Dak Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has initiated a novel scheme –

Krishi Dak in 20 districts in which postmen supplies seeds of improved varieties of crops

to the farmers in remote areas.

� Apurva : Apurva is a new cloned buffalo calf from the somatic cell of urine, an

excretory material of elite female Murrah buffalo. It was produced by scientists at the

National Dairy Research Institute in Karnal.

� Deepasha Scientists at the National Dairy Research Institute in Karnal, Haryana have

produced a female clone (named Deepasha) of endangered wild buffalo (named Asha) of

Chhattisgarh in December 2014. It was cloned through hand-guided cloning technique.

Asha is a schedule-1 animal under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and is in the red list

of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It is an endangered animal as there

is only one wild buffalo in the country.



www.isca.co.in

Minimum support price (MSP) for agriculture commodities in India

� Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a form of market intervention by the Government of

India to insure agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices. The minimum

support prices are announced by the Government of India at the beginning of the sowing

season for certain crops on the basis of the recommendations of the Commission for

Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

� The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED), National

Cooperative Consumers‟ Federation (NCCF), Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC)

and Small Farmers Agri Business Consortium (SFAC) will be the nodal agencies for

procurement of oilseeds and pulses, and losses if any, incurred by the nodal agencies in

such operations would be fully reimbursed.

� MSP are currently announced for 25 commodities or 23 crops. They are as follows,

Cereals (7): Paddy, Wheat, Barley, Jowar, Bajra, Maize and Ragi Pulses (5): Gram,

Arhar/tur, Moong, Urad and Lentil (in 2016 pulses are considered as bonus commodities

for MSP) Oilseeds (8): Groundnut, Rapeseed/mustard, Toria, Soyabean, Sunflower seed,

Sesamum, Safflower seed and Niger seed Others (5): Copra, Raw cotton, Raw jute,

Sugarcane, Virginia flu cured (VFC) tobacco.

Deemed Universities - 4

1. ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi

2. ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal

3. ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar

4. ICAR-Central Institute on Fisheries Education, Mumbai

Institutions - 64

1. ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute , Port Blair

2. ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur

3. ICAR-Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar

4. ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore

5. ICAR-Central Institute Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai

6. ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hissar

7. ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom

8. ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal

9. ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner

10. ICAR-Central Institute of Cotton Research, Nagpur

11. ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin

12. ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubneshwar

13. ICAR-Central Institute of Research on Cotton Technology, Mumbai

14. ICAR-Central Institute of Sub Tropical Horticulture, Lucknow



www.isca.co.in

15. ICAR-Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar

16. ICAR-Central Institute on Post harvest Engineering and Technology, Ludhiana

17. ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi

18. ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasargod

19. ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla

20. ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres, Barrackpore

21. ICAR-Central Research Institute of Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad

22. ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack

23. ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar, Rajasthan

24. ICAR- Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Dehradun

25. ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal

26. ICAR-Central Tobacco Research Institute, Rajahmundry

27. ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Trivandrum

28. ICAR-ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna

29. ICAR-ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Barapani

30. ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Ela, Old Goa, Goa

31. ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi

32. ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi

33. ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Ranchi

34. ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru

35. ICAR-Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums, Ranchi

36. ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur

37. ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Sciences, Bhopal

38. ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut

39. ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow

40. ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi

41. ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research & Management, Hyderabad

42. ICAR-National Institute of Biotic Stresses Management, Raipur

43. ICAR-National Institue of Abiotic Stress Management, Malegaon, Maharashtra

44. ICAR-National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bengaluru

45. ICAR-National Institute of Research on Jute & Allied Fibre Technology, Kolkata

46. ICAR-National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics,

Hebbal, Bengaluru

47. ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore

48. ICAR-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora

49. ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh

50. ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal

51. ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana

52. ICAR- Central Agroforestry Research Institute , Jhansi



www.isca.co.in

53. ICAR-National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research, New Delhi

54. ICAR- Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, Karnal

55. ICAR- Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram

56. ICAR- Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad

57. ICAR- Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad

58. ICAR- Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research, Pedavegi, West Godawari

59. ICAR- Indian Institute of Water Management, Bhubaneshwar

60. ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad

61. ICAR- Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneshwar

62. ICAR-Central Citrus Research Institute, Nagpur

63. ICAR-Indian Institute of Seed Research, Mau

64. ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Hazaribag , Jharkhand

National Research Centres - 15

1. ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana, Trichi

2. ICAR-National Research Centre for Grapes, Pune

3. ICAR-National Research Centre for Litchi, Muzaffarpur

4. ICAR-National Research Centre for Pomegranate, Solapur

5. ICAR-National Research Centre on Camel, Bikaner

6. ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar

7. ICAR-National Research Centre on Meat, Hyderabad

8. ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun, Medziphema, Nagaland

9. ICAR-National Research Centre on Orchids, Pakyong, Sikkim

10. ICAR-National Research Centre on Pig, Guwahati

11. ICAR-National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi

12. ICAR-National Research Centre on Seed Spices, Ajmer

13. ICAR-National Research Centre on Yak, West Kemang

14. ICAR-National Centre for Integrated Pest Management, New Delhi

15. National Research Centre on Integrated Farming (ICAR-NRCIF),Motihari.

National Bureaux - 6

1. ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetics Resources, New Delhi

2.ICAR-National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Micro-organisms, Mau, Uttar

Pradesh

3. ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bengaluru

4. ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Nagpur

5. ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal

6. ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow.



www.isca.co.in

Directorates/Project Directorates - 13

1. ICAR-Directorate of Groundnut Research, Junagarh

2. ICAR-Directorate of Soybean Research, Indore

3. ICAR-Directorate of Rapeseed & Mustard Research, Bharatpur

4. ICAR-Directorate of Mushroom Research, Solan

5. ICAR-Directorate on Onion and Garlic Research, Pune (RAJGURUNAGAR)

6. ICAR-Directorate of Cashew Research, Puttur

7. ICAR-Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research, Anand

8. ICAR-Directorate of Floricultural Research, Pune, Maharashtra

9. ICAR-Directorate of Weed Research, Jabalpur

10. ICAR-Project Directorate on Foot & Mouth Disease, Mukteshwar

11. ICAR-Directorate of Poultry Research, Hyderabad

12. ICAR-Directorate of Knowledge Management in Agriculture (DKMA), New Delhi

13. ICAR-Directorate of Cold Water Fisheries Research, Bhimtal, Nainital



www.isca.co.in

Chapter 2. Introduction to Agronomy and Agricultural Meteorology

1. The word ‘Agronomy’ is derived from ------------ : Greek language

2. First agronomic research was started by -------- : J.B. Bossinggault

3. First synthetic fertilizer industry was established by-------- : Muller

4. Iron share was invented by ------------- : Robert Ransome

5. Share of Agriculture in total GDP of India is about ---------- : 25 %

6. First cultivated crops in the world are -------- : Wheat, Barely

7. American Society of Agronomy is established in year ----- : 1908

8. Kharif, Rabi and Zaid words belong to ------------- : Arabic

9. Natural farming was advocated by ------------ : Fakuoka

10. The term “ Green Revolution” coined by ------------- : Dr.William Gaud

11. Peter Dearesenzi is named as father of agronomy for his

work on --------

: Literature collection of

agronomy

12. The term “ Photoblasty ” refers to the response of the ------ : Seedling to light

13. ‘ Krishi Pandit ’ is a title awarded every year by ------- : ICAR

14. Dr.V.Kurian is associated with ----------- : White Revolution

15. Who patented the process of treating rock phosphate to

produce superphosphate ----------

: Lawes

16. ‘ Horse Hoeing Husbandry’ book was written by --------- : Jethro Tull

17. Who conducted that the main ‘ Principle of vegetation’ is

water -------

: Van Helmont

18. The “Annals of Agriculture” was written by ------- : Aurthur Young

19. The first agricultural university in India is : Pantnagar, Uttarakhand

20. Human started to settle in villages during ……… period : Neolithic

21. Discovery of silk was during …………. period : Neolithic

22. Tholkappiyam was written during ……………. : 200 BC

23. The crops grown between June to September are called ----

-------- crops

: Kharif

24. Paleolithic age is divided into ……………. phases : Three



www.isca.co.in

25. ………….. is called the beginning of agriculture : Neolithic

26. The leveling implement used during sangam period was --- : Parambu

27. ............... and ………. are the first stage of human activity : Hunting and gathering

28. Origin of Iron plough is ------------------- : Mesopotamia

29. Tiny stone implements were called ……………………

during mesolithic period

: Microliths

30. The agriculture sector provides employment to -------------

of country's work force

: 58 %

31. --------------- human obtained his food through

domestication animals, e.g. dogs, horse, cow, buffalo, etc

: Pastoral

32. ----------------- is the inherited values carried from one

generation to other generation

: Heritage

33. The term --------------- is applied to communities using

stone implements along with copper and bronze

: Chalcolithic

34. Sangam period is ……………… : 200 BC to 100

35. The headquarters of Sangam poets is ------------------ : Madurai

36. Tools called -------- and Kavan were used for scaring birds

in millet fields

: Thattai

37. --------------- refers to the values and traditional practices

adopted in ancient India which are more relevant for

present day system

: Agricultural heritage

38. ---------- this period is characterized by the food gatherers

and hunters

: Paleolithic age

39. The traditional farmers have developed the nature friendly

farming systems and practices such as---------------

: Mixed cropping

40. --------------- by living near the river bed, he had enough

water for his animals and domesticated crops and started

cultivation

: Crop culture

41. Cultivation of rice ----------- : 200 BC

42. Cultivation of crops Wheat and Barley ------- : 7500 BC



www.isca.co.in

43. Father of agricultural chemistry ----------- : Liebig

44. “Inverse yield nitrogen law” Proposed by ------------ : Wilcox (1929)

45. Who is Proposed the theory of law of diminishing returns -- : Mitscherlich (1909)

46. ----------- period the ‘Upper Bari Doab Canal’ in Punjab

was constructed.

: Lord Dalhousie (1848-

1856)

47. Who is period called ‘Golden period of agriculture --------- : Lord Curzon’s (1898-

1905)

48. Department of Agriculture and Agricultural colleges for

provinces were started at Coimbatore -----

: 1906

49. Sugarcane Breeding Institute was established in

Coimbatore-------

: 1912

50. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University was started ------ : 1971

51. one of the oldest water-regulation structures in the world

still in use --------

: Kallanai dam

52. Separate Department of Agriculture at Centre for Famine

relief operations started year ----

: 1881

53. National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) was

launched to strengthen the research capabilities of SAUs --

: 1979

56. Kautilya’s period the unit to measure rain was 1 adhaka --

---- mm rainfall

: 12

57. Kautilya’s period the unit to measure rain was 1 drona ----

-- mm rainfall

: 40-50

58. Planning Commission of India is divided into ---------

agro-climatic regions

: 15

59. Skeletal soils of cold region ------------ : Western Himalayan

60. Shifting cultivation is practiced highly followed region is--- : Eastern Himalayan

61. The soils are mostly alluvial and are prone to floods region

is -------------

: Lower Gangetic Plains

62. A good potential for exploitation of ground water exists

region is -------------

: Upper Gangetic Plains

zone



www.isca.co.in

63. Highest net sown area region is ------------ : Trans-Gangetic Plains

zone

64. Dryland farming is adopted in 81% of the area region is---- : Southern Plateau and

Hills zone

65. Famine and drought are common features of the -------

region

: Western Dry zone

66. It is largely a forest zone with undulated lands---------

region

: Islands zone

67. National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) under

ICAR based on agro-climatic zones are classified-----

: 127

68. This zone covers the districts of Thiruvallur, Vellore,

Kanchipuram, Thiruvannamalai, Viluppuram -----------

: North Eastern zone

69. This is the biggest among the seven zones of Tamil Nadu--- : Southern zone

70. National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning

(NBSS & LUP) of the ICAR has delineated -------------

agro-ecological regions

: 20

71. LGP 90-150 days : Semiarid ecosystem

72. In India, pearl millet is a staple food in ---------- : Rajasthan

73. Seeds of leguminous plants used as food (Dhal) rich in ----- : Protein

74. Groundnut oil is used for production of ----------- : Vanaspathi

75. Economic portion of cotton --------------------- : Epidermal hairs of

seed coats

76. -------------- is the most extensive soil found in India : Alluvial soil or Indo-

Gangetic Alluvium

77. Newer alluvium is called as ----- : Khadar

78. Black soil dark-grey in colour due to -------- complex. : Clay-humus

79. Black soil contains high proportion of ---------- : Clay (30-40%)

80. In Tamil Nadu Black soils have high ------- : pH (8.5 to 9)

81. Red soil due to presence of ---------- : Ferric oxides

82. Black soil ------------ type of clay : Montmorillonite



www.isca.co.in

83. Kaolinite type of clay soil is ------ : Red soil

84. Red soil highly suitable for -------- crop cultivation : Groundnut

85. Laterite soils are formed due to the process of ----------- : Laterisation

86. ------------ soils are very rich in organic matter : Peaty and Organic soil

87. Cardinal temperature for rice --------- : 320c

88. Relative humidity of ---is suitable for most of the crop

plants

: 40-60%

89. Photosynthetically Active Radiation ------------ : 0.4 – 0.7µ

90. Short day – Day length is ------------- : <12 hours

91. Short day plant example ------- : Rice, Sunflower and

cotton

92. Day neutral plant example ------- : Tomato and maize

93. Response of plants to light direction -------- : Phototropism

94. Wind movement for -------- is suitable for more crops : 4 – 6 km/hour

95. Atmospheric gases CO2 presenting air ------------- : 0.03%

96. Germination is inhibited in the absence of ---------------- : O2

97. The word tillage is derived from----------- : Anglo-Saxon

98. Physical condition of soil obtained out of tillage-- : Tilth

99. Solid row planting example : Wheat

100. The arrangement of the plants in different rows and

columns in an area to efficiently utilize the natural

resources is called --------

: Crop geometry



www.isca.co.in

2.1 Agricultural Meteorology

1. The study of weather is called ------------ : Meteorology

2. Physical state of the atmosphere at a given place and time

is referred to as ------

: Weather

3. A branch of applied meteorology which investigates the

physical conditions of the environment of growing plants

or animal organisms-----------

:Agricultural meteorology

4. ----------------- is the colourless, odourless and tasteless

physical mixture of gasses which surrounds earth on all

sides

: Atmosphere

5. lapse rate ------------ : 6.5°C per km

6. This layer is called as “Seat of photochemical reactions--- : Stratosphere

7. Long distance radio communication is possible due to

this layer------------------

:Thermosphere(Ionosphere)

8. Hydrogen and Helium gases predominate in this outer

most region ------------

: Exosphere

9. The rate of change of temperature in an ascending or

descending air mass through adiabatic process is called

as………

: Adiabatic lapse rate

10. Southwest monsoon is the most important as it contribute

--------- % of the total rainfall of the country.

80 – 95

11. Thornthwaite using moisture index value is -66.7 to -

33.3 --------------- climatic classification

: Semiarid

12. Heat flows from the warmer to cooler part of the body so

that the temperatures between them are equalized is

called --------------------

: Conduction

13. Transfer of energy from one body to another without the

aid of the material medium is called -------------

: Radiation.

14.

The amount of radiant energy emitted, received,

: Radiant flux



www.isca.co.in

transmitted across a particular area is known as ------------

15. The radiant flux density emitted by a source is called its -- : Emissive power

16. The difference between all incoming and outgoing

radiation at the earth’s surface its called --------------

: Radiation balance

17. Solar constant value is ……… : 1.94 cal / cm2 / min

18. Albedo is pure water ----------- % : 5-20

19. Long wave radiation escapes to the space between 8.5

and 11 μ and this is known as the -------------

: Atmospheric window

20. Plank introduced the ------------ concept : Particle

21. Plank’s constant value is………. : 6.62x10-34

J sec-1

22. The intensity of radiation emitted (E) by a radiating body

is directly proportional to the fourth power of the absolute

temperature of that body------------

: Stefan-Boltzmann’s law

23. Light intensity measured instruments is called…………. : Lux metere

24. The plants grow better under partially shaded conditions

is called -------------

: Sciophytes (shade loving

plants)

25. The principal wavelength absorbed and used in

photosynthesis are in the ----------------------

: violet – blue and the orange

- red regions

26. The plants which develop normally when the photoperiod

is less than the critical maximum (less than 12 hours)------

: Short day plants

27. Day neutral plants / Indeterminate example crop is……… : Tomato, Maize

28. Change in the morphology of plants due to light is called : Photomorphogenesis

29. The lines connecting points of equal temperature is called

as --------------

: Isotherm

30. Decrease in temperature with increase in ------------------- : Height

31. Growing Degree Days most commonly used value is

…….

: 6.0ºC

32. ---------------- the temperature at which the plant cell gets

killed when the temperature ranges from 50-60°C.

: Thermal death point



www.isca.co.in

33. Injury caused on the barks of stem by high temperature

during day time is called ---------

: Sun clad

34. The stem at ground level scorches around due to high soil

temperature is known as ………………

: Stem griddle

35. ------------- cholratic bands on the leaves of sugarcane,

sorghum and maize in winter months when the night

temperature is below 20°C.

: Chilling injury

36. Solid portion of earth is known as…………. : Lithosphere

37. World Meteorological organization is located at……….. : Geneva

38. India Meteorological Department( IMD) is located at------ : Pune

39. Shortest day in northern hemisphere is on …………….. : December, 21

40. Type of radiation useful in remote sensing is ----------- : Reflected radiation

41. The temperature range of maximum thermometer is ----- : (-) 35 o C to (+) 55

0 C

42. Instrument used for measuring solar radiation is …… : Pyramometre

43. Maximum temperature in day is generally observed

between ….

: 2 to 3 pm

44. --------------- Spectrum of radiation is most favorable for

growth plants?

: Red

45. Cloud responsible for continuous precipitation is ---------- : Nimbostratus

46. Long curved cards are used in sunshine record during -- : 12th

April to end of

September

47. Maximum diurnal variation of atmosphere is ------------ : 16 0 C

48. All clouds are contained in ------------------ : Troposphere

49. Hail is a product of -------------------- : Cumulonimbus clouds

50. WMO describes ------ types of clouds : 10

51. The first meteorological week starts from ……………. : January, 1

52. Who is usually referred to as father of agrometeorolgy in

India ------------

: L.A.Ramdas

53. Period of validity for long-ranged weather forecast is ----- : 10 to 30 days

54. Radio communication is made possible through ---------- : Ionosphere



www.isca.co.in

55. Blue colour of sky and red colour of sunset is due to------ : Scattering

56. Lines joining equal rainfall is called --------------- : Isohyets

57. Number of Agro-ecological zones in India as per

NBSS&LUP are --------------

: 20

58. IST is relating to longitude of ------- and reference place

in India is -------------

: 82050’ E, Allahabad

59. International Day for preservation of ozone layer is ------- : December, 23

60. Vertical movement of air due to uneven heating is called - : Convection

61. Earth day is on ……….. : 22 nd

April

62. -------- State in India is leading in wind energy utilization. : Tamil Nadu

63. To reach the earth’s surface the rays of the sun take about : 8 minutes

64. Specific heat of water is ------- : 40C

65. Agrometeorological observatories of Agricultural

Universities are under the technical control of ---------

: IMD, Pune

66. Agrometeorological observatories of Agricultural

Universities belongs to ------- type model

: B

67. Satellite image showing red colour indicates -------- : Forest

68. Age of earth is ------------ : 4.5 billion years

69. Rajasthan is divided into ------ Agro - climatic zones : 10

70. Lower most layer of atmosphere is called : Troposphere

71. The heliograph measures ----------------- : Duration bright sunshine

72. Negative lapse rate is called ---------- : Inversion

73. ------------- is used for measuring RH : Hygrometer

74. The proportion of incident solar radiation reflected is

known as -------

: Albedo

75. On any particular day, if the rainfall is equal to or more

than 2.5mm it is called -------

: Rainy day

76. The sensitive element in hair hygrograph is a bundle of -- : Ordinary human hair

77. --------- is used in wet bulb thermometer : Distilled water

78. Clouds, rain, snow, fog etc. are found in ------------------- : Stratosphere



www.isca.co.in

79. In India cyclones occur during the monsoon seasons

especially in --------

: North-east monsoon

80. The wind which flows more frequently from one

direction than any other is called as ---------------

: Prevailing wind

81. The cooler air over the water starts moving across the

coast line from sea to land is called ---------------

:Sea breeze or On shore

breeze.

82. Absolute humidity is expressed as -------------- kg m-1

83. The distribution of pressure is represented on maps by ---- : Isobars

84. Hail is a large frozen raindrop produced by intense -------- : Thunderstorms

85. ------------- an aggregate of ice crystals : Snow

86. Precipitation of small pieces of ice with diameter ranging

from 5 to 50 mm is called -------------

: Hail

87. ------is a suitable seeding material for seeding warm

clouds

: Common salt

88. These have orbits around the equator at an altitude of ----- : 36,000 km

89. A study which deals with the effect of climatic factors

including geography and elevation upon plant response---

: Bio climatic law

90. The wavelength of red radiation is : 0.64 – 0.74 um

91. The lines joining the equal crop yield is ----- : Isopleth

92. A past climate situation in which changes similar to the

present occurred. Used in making climatic projections ---

: Climatic analog

93. Direction of wind can be measured by ………….. : Aerometer

94. Artificial seeding of rain cloud is done by …… : Silver Iodide / Nacl

95. El Nino and La Nino are : Reverse phenomena

96. Highest albedo of : Fresh snow

97. IPCC Stands for -------------- : Intergovernmental Panel on

Climatic Change

98. The continuous recording of air pressure is done by ------- : Barograph

99. The main cause of monsoon climate is ----- : Seasonal reversal of winds

100. The colour strongly absorbed by chlorophyll is---------- : Blue



www.isca.co.in

Chapter 3: Soil and Tillage

1. The word tillage is derived from the ------------ words : Anglo-Saxon

2. Father of tillage --------------- : Jethrotull

3. --------- refers to the mechanical manipulation of the soil : Tillage

4. ----is a physical condition of the soil resulting from tillage : Tilth

5. ----------- refers to the powdery condition of the soil. : Fine Tilth

6. ---------- refers to the rough cloddy condition of the soil. : Coarse Tilth

7. ----- done during fallow or non-cropped season (summer) : Off Season Tillage

8. The first cutting and inverting of the soil that is done after

the harvest of the crop-----------

: Primary tillage

9. Tillage during the crop stand in the field is …. : Inter Tillage/Inter

Cultivation

10 Operation being done during summer season in tropics to

destroy weeds ----------------

: Summer tillage

11. Summer tillage is called --------------- in Tamil Nadu state : Kodai uzavu

12. It refers to the leaving of arable land uncropped for a

season or seasons for various reasons --------------

: Fallow tillage

13. ------------ is done to cut open/break the subsoil hard pan : Subsoil tillage (sub soiling)

14. Subsoil tillage implements example ----------------- : Sub soil plough/chisel

plough

15 -------------- are used for 29eveling operations. : Levellers and scrapers

16. ------------- refers to the working of the soil of the entire

field in such a way no living plant is left undisturbed

: Clean tillage

17. -------- tillage that retains protective amounts of 30 %

crop residue mulch on the surface

: Conservation

18. --- refers to tillage done after seeding or planting the crop : Blind tillage

19. Root or tuber crops require ------------- tillage : Deep

20. Desirable ploughing depth is ------------ : 12.5–20 cm

21. Ploughing depth is ----------- to shallow rooted crops : 10–20 cm



www.isca.co.in

22. ---------- is practiced in rice fallow pulse crops or relay

cropping system

: Zero tillage

23. ----------- of puddling is sufficient for rice cultivation. Three numbers

24. The optimum moisture content for tillage is ---------- of

field capacity

: 60%

25. Summer ploughing ------------- month can be practiced

utilizing summer showers to control weeds and conserve

soil moisture.

: March–May

26. Repeated use of heavy machinery destroys ---------- : Soil structures

27. --------- is aimed at reducing tillage to the minimum

necessary for ensuring a good seedbed.

: Minimum tillage

28. ------------- is an extreme form of minimum tillage : Zero tillage

29. Weeds are controlled using herbicide is called ------------ : Chemical tillage

30. -------------- is one method of practicing zero tillage : Till Planting

31. Planting of seeds in sods without any tillage operation is

known as ---------------

: Sod culture or Sod seeding

32. Bose plough it is also called as ------------ in Tamil Nadu : Melur plough

33. ------ is an animal drawn mould board plough with a short

shaft.

: Victory plough

34. -------- ploughs are used when soil inversion is necessary : Mould board

35. ----------------- is also called reversible plough : Turn wrest plough

36. Deep ploughing implements best example ----------------- : Disc plough

37. Chisel plough to a depth of up to ------------- soil : 45 cm

38. The working of plough results in the opening of ‘V’

shaped furrow is -----------------

: Country/wooden/Desi

plough

39. --- are smaller implements with many tines like

cultivators

: Harrows

40. Example of the intercultivating harrow is --------------- : Junior hoe

41. The Guntaka is the blade harrow used for primary tillage

in ceded districts of----------------

: Andhra Pradesh



www.isca.co.in

42. ---- this implements operator in between rows of rice crop : Japanese rotary weeder

43. Dry land and garden land weeder examples : Peg tooth type and Star

wheel type

44. ---------roller is the latest implement developed by TNAU : Sheep foot

45. a small three tined cup feed seed drill called as --------- : Kovai seed drill

46. In irrigated and dry land area, soil aggregates size should

be ----

: > 5 mm and 1-2 mm

diameter

47. Sesame crop refers ------------- tillage : Shallow

49. Mould board plough was invented by------------- : William Amos, James Small

and Thomas Jefferson

50. Victory plough is a type of ----------------- : Mould board plough

51. Star weeder is used for -------------- : Close growing crops

52. Plank is used for ----------- : Micro leveling

53. Who patented share of a plough? -------------- : Robert Ransome

54. Shifting cultivation is also know as ----------- : Podu, Jhum cultivation,

Slash & burn and land

rotation

55. Minimum tillage concept was started in …………. : USA (1974)

56. Zero tillage concept given by ……….. : Glauber and G.B. Triplet

57. Which herbicide are used in zero tillage -------------- : Paraquat, Glyphosat and

Diquat

58. Zero tillage was first introduced in India under cropping

systems ------------

Rice – wheat

59. Laser land leveling requires a tractor of minimum---------- : 35 HP

60. Blind hoeing is done in crop ----------- : Sugarcane

61. Soil having good tilth has ------------ : Capillary pores = non –

capillary pores

62. The optimum range of DASM for effective ploughing is - : 25 - 50 %

63. Plough that is used for multiple operation is -------- : Country plough

64. The study of soil in relation to higher plants is -------- : Edaphology



www.isca.co.in

65. Most dominant mineral in the earth crust is ---------- : Feldspar

66. A vertical section of the soil to expose the layering is ----- : Soil Profile

67. The term soil texture mean ------------- : Size of the soil mineral

particles

68. Commonly followed soil particle classification in India is

--------------

: ISSS

69. The study of relationship between soil properties and

plant production is called as ------------

: Pedology

70. Red colour of the soil is due to --------- : Haematite

71. The diameter of clay particle as per USDA system of

classification is -----------

: < 0.002 mm

72. Largest soil group in India is ------------- : Alluvial soil

73 Horizon that is zone of maximum leaching is ---------- : A horizon

74. Basic igneous rocks contain silica are ------------ % : 40- 55

75. The particle density of normal soil is --------- : 2.65 g/cc

76. Soil structure is named by sequences is ----------- : Grade, class and type

77. Flocculation in soil will be highest when it is dominated

by ---------------

: Al3+

ions

78. 2:1 type of clay mineral is ------------- : Kaolinite

79. Acid sulphate soils are mostly found in ------------ : Kerala

80. Excess liming may increase the incidence of : Scab of potato

81. Acid sulphate soils have soil pH -------------- : < 4

82. Akiochi disease is caused by toxicity of -------------- : H2S

83. Podzolisation is the removal of ------------- : Sesquioxide

84. Irrigation water can be used if the RSC value is --------- : < 1.25

85. Soluble sodium percentage limit for irrigation is ---------- : 60

86. Conversion of carbon dioxide to methane takes place at a

redox potential value of ---------------

: - 200 to – 280 Mv

87. Concept of ultra trace nutrient was given by ------------- : Nicholas

88. Concept of pH was given by : Sorenson



www.isca.co.in

89. Soil colour is determined by ------------ : Munsell colour chart

90. Purity of the colour is denoted by ----------- : Chroma

91. Soil crusting is a problem in : Alfisols

92. Study of origin of rocks is know as ------------ : Pedogenesis

93. Iron bearing mineral found in waterlogged soil is ---------- : FeCO3

94. Plasticity of soil is determined by using -------------- : Atterberg apparatus

95. Cation exchange capacity is higher for --------------- : Humus

96. Ratio of organic matter to organic carbon is ------------- : 1.7: 1

97. Plant growth is affected by how many factors? ----- : 52

98. According to Mitscherlich, the value of “ C ” for P2O5 is - : 60

99. DTPA means ------------- : Diethylene triamine penta

acetic acid

100. ------- clay mineral has maximum phosphate fixing

capacity?

: Montmorillonite



www.isca.co.in

Chapter 4. Soil fertility and Nutrient management

1. Who is Father of Agricultural Chemistry : Justus Von Liebig (1840)

2. All the productive soils are fertile but not all fertile soils

are productive is ----------

: Soil productivity

3. The consumption of more than required quantity of

elements is called --------------

: Luxury consumption

4. Crop logging' is a method of --------------- : Soil fertility evaluation

5. A' value is given by ---------------- : Fred and Dean

6.

"Hidden hunger" means---------------

: Severe yield reduction may

occur without appearance of

deficiency symptoms

7. 1.6 to 2.3 value of nutrient index indicates---------- : Average fertility of soil

8. The neutralizing values of the following liming materials

are such that……………

: CaO > Ca(OH)2 >

CaMg(CO3)2 > CaCO3

9. 95 to 99.5% portion of plant tissues are made up of-------

-----------

: C, H and O

10. A complex mixture of brown amorphous and colloidal

substances synthesized by various soil organisms is

referred to as--------------------

: Humus

11. A man made epipedon in many characters except P2O5

content (more than 250 ppm) is ------------

: Anthropic epipedon

12. A property of fluids by virtue of which it reduces the

relative motion among different layers of fluid, is termed

as

: Soil viscosity

13. A soil, which has pH more than 8.5, ESP more than 15

and EC less than 4 mmhos/cm at 25?C, is called-------

: Alkaline soil

14. A = B (1-y) denotes A-value in which A is equal to ------

-----

: Amount of available

nutrients in soil

15. A vertical section of the soil through all its horizons are : Profile



www.isca.co.in

extending into the parent material is known as ------------

16. A = RKLSCP denote universal soil loss equation in

which K is equal to-------------

: Soil credibility factor

17.

Absorbed hydrogen and aluminium are largely

responsible for----------

: Soil acidity

18. Absorption of ions in plants occurring with the aid of

metabolic energy is termed ---------------

: Active absorption

19. According to land capability classification, the soils,

which are not suitable for crop cultivation, belong to -----

----

: Class VIII

20. Acid soils can be reclaimed by ------------- : CaCO3

21. Addition of the following material makes it possible to

take good crop in sodic soil …………..

: Gypsum

22. Adsorbed Ca++, Mg++ or A1++ may encourage soil

aggregate formation starting with a process called --------

-----

: Flocculation

23. Aeolian deposit are formed by the transportation of

materials through----------

: Wind

24. Alfisol soils are mostly ______ in respect of their

fertility and are used either as crop land or forest or

range land --------------

: High

25. Alkali soils are generally found in ---------- : Arid and semi-arid climate

26. Zinc deficiency occurs in crops growing in soils having

high phosphorous ------------

: Calcareous soils

27. All potassium fertilizers are physiologically alkaline,

there reaction with soils is ----------------

: Neutral

28. Wind laden with soil particles cembodies the abrasive : Greatly increased



www.isca.co.in

action, which is----

29. Alluvial soils are rich in-------------- : K2O, P2O5 and Lime

30. Ammonia lost through volatilization in significant

quantities from-------

: Acidic soils

31. Ammonium and potassium ions are apparently just the

right size to fit into the cavities between the crystal units

of -------------

: Vermiculite

32. Ammonium sulphate contains --------------- : 24% sulphur

33. Ammonium sulphate is preferred for nitrogen application

in groundnut because it also provides -------------

: Copper

34. Among the fruits, lemon, apple, plum have been placed

in the _____ salt tolerance group---------------

: Low

35. Amount of heat required to raise temperature of 1 gm

soil from 14 to 15 ?C is known as ---------

: Heat capacity

36. Amount of K in plants is ---------- : 0.3 to 6.0%

37. Amount of K in soil plough layer is about ------------------

-

: 10,000-70,000 kg/ha

38. Anaerobic environment of paddy soil is responsible for

gaseous loss of fertilizer nitrogen by --------

: Denitrification

39. Application of nitrogen in pulses at the time of planting

is known as------

: Starter dose

40. Available nitrogen of less than 280 kg/hectare is

considered ----------

: Low

41. Available phosphorous of more than 25 kg/ha of soil is

considered as

: High

42. Available Zn in the soil, can be determined by using the

solution of------

: EDTA + (NH4)2 CO7

43. Who is the Father of the soil testing? -------------- : M.L. Troug

44. Azolla can fix _____ kg N2/ha/year--------------- : 30-40

45. Bacteria present in the root nodules of legumes plants is - : Thizobium



www.isca.co.in

------

46. Biofertilizer is a --------------- : Culture having the desired

strain of microorganisms

47. White irregular spots between veins of upper leaves of

maize plant shows deficiency of------------

: Boron

48. Black soils have ______ amount of lime and P : High

49. Azospirillum fixes nitrogen mainly in --------------- : Sorghum

50. Blue-green algae grows best in ------------ : Jute

51. Bone meal is well suited for ------------ : Acidic soils

52. Bray suggested certain modification in the Mischerlich

equation-------

: dy/dx = (A - Y)C

53. Buffering capacity of soil means resistance to a change

in ……..

: Soil pH

54. Chlorosis is observed in upland rice due to deficiency of

-------

: Fe

55. Continuous heavy rainfall leads to the formation of ------

--

: Acid soil

56. Criteria of essentiality is given by ------ : Arnon

57. DAP requirement for supplying 45 Kg N and 115 kg

P2O5 to one-hectare peanut crops

: 200 kg

58. Deficiency of iron results in typical interveinal chlorosis

in which ---------

: Younger leaves are first

affected

59. Deficiency of several elements is exhibited first in the

apical region of the growing part due to there--------------

----

: Immobile nature

60. Degree of soil salinity is indicated by its

…………………

: Total soluble salt content

61. Diphenyl amine is an indicator, which is used in

determination of -------

: Organic carbon

62. Downward movement of food synthesized in leaves : Phloem



www.isca.co.in

takes place through----------

63. DQ = DA (dc/dx) dt is the ------------- : Fick's law

64. Efficiency of applied fertilizers in rice crop is -------------

-

: 10-75%

65. Entry of K+ ions through root hair having to low K+ ion

content in the soil is mediated through -------------

: Ion exchange

66. For reclamation of alkali soil, gypsum is mixed in the

soil at the depth of-----

: 30 cm

67. General Soil Productivity Index (GSPI) can be calculated

by -------

: Sum of PRI's of major

crops/Number of crops

68. Gypsum an amendment applied to alkali soil belongs to

______ type

: Soluble Ca-salt

69. In 'Detailed Soil Survey' the base maps used having scale

-------

: 1" - 1 mile

70. In a compost pit, the heat of combustion of organic

matter raises the temperature when decay is occurring

rapidly. During decay, the temperature rises by -----

: 75 to 900C

71. In acid soil rock phosphate should be applied------------ : 30 days before sowing

72. In high P-fixing soils, water soluble P2O5-fertilizers are

applied to the crops essentially as -----------

: Placement below the seed

73. In no-tillage systems, the surface soil layers have ----- : Higher bulk density

74. In the C:N ration of crop residues is more than 30, then -

----------

: Immobilization will take

place

75. Kharia disease of rice is diagnosed by ---------------- : Dark reddish brown

pigmentation

76. Land capability classes have ------------ : 8 categories

77. Mycorrhiza-infected plants show better ability of

absorption of the nutreients, especially --------

: Phosphorus

78. Nitrate levels in drinking water above about ______ mg

per litre are considered a human health hazard

: 10



www.isca.co.in

79. Nutrient index is used to prepare the ------------ : Soil fertility map

80. Peat soils are ______ in nature : 50-55%

81. Peat soils have _____ organic matter : 10-40%

82. Q = KA (P1-P1)/n1 denotes the ---------- : Darcy's equation of gas flow

83. Radioactive tracer technique is used for determining -----

----

: Translocation of minerals in

plants

84. Rhizobia infect the host legumes through ---------- : Root hairs

85. Rhizobium after infection converts to a form, which is

irregular in shape and is called -------------

: Bacteriod

86. Rhizobium phaseoli can fix the nitrogen in the roots of --

------

: Bean

87. S.M.P. buffer is used in determination of ………………. : Lime

88. ------------- of the following oil cakes, in addition to its

manurial value, acts also as a nitrification inhibitor?

: Til

89. Saline-sodic soils have the value of ------------- : EC less than 4mmhos/cm,

ESP more than 15, pH more

than 8.5

90. Standard way of collecting a soil sample is to take -------- : Several samples from all

over the field and mix

91. Symbiotic association of fungal hyphae with plant roots

is known as----

: Mycorrhiza

92. Tarai soils are generally deficient in……………… : Zinc

93. The addition of excess soluble phosphate fertilizers to

soils may affect plant growth by ----------------

: Reducing the availability of

Ca

94. The amount of P in soil and soil solution that can

exchange with orthophosphate in addition to soil as

measured by plant growth in soil system is termed as ----

-------------

: L-value

95. ------------------ A fertilizer is least hygroscopic? : CAN

96. The availability of phosphorous is optimum in the pH : >7-8



www.isca.co.in

range of ---------

97. The carbon nitrogen ratio in cultivated soil is stabilized

as -------------

: 8:1 to 15:1

98. The conditions responsible for the formation of salt

affected soil is-------

: Low rainfall and high

evaporation

99. ----------- statements is more correct as regards to "luxury

consumption" of K found in minute?

: Maize takes excess K above

the optimum requirement

even though growth and yield

are not promoted

100. The principal cation that affects the availability/fixation

of phosphorus in alkali soils is ------------

: Fe and Al



www.isca.co.in

Chapter 5: Weed Management

1. _______ comprises important mechanisms of herbicide detoxification in

soil under field conditions especially surface incorporation subsequent

to rainfall or irrigation

:Photodecomposition

2.

_____ plays a major role in the persistence and behaviour of herbicides

in the soil

: Microbial

3. _______ a.i./ha has been recommended for the control of weeds in

mungbean. : Basalin @ 1 kg

4. 2, 4-D is a herbicide -------------- : Selective and systemic

5. 2, 4-D is an important herbicide of …………………..

: Small grain crop

6. 2, 4-D is the ---------- : Translocated

herbicicide

7. A weed that spreads asthma is ------------- : Parthenium

8. Addition of ammonium sulphate to a herbicidal spray solution enhances

the ______ against Agropyron repens. : Glyphosphate

9. Application of propanil after ______ in rice-paddies causes prohibitive

vegetative injury.

: Carbofuran

10. Doddar is a serious weed of-------------- : Lucerne

11. Glutathion-s-transferase is responsible for selectivity of -----------------

: Trizaines

12. Herbicide used for weed control in sorghum is _____ kg a.i./ha : Atrazine at 0.5 - 5 -

1.0

13. Oxyfluorfen has been found to inhibit apical bud growth in young

_______ plants to better bush formation. : Tea

14. Phalaris minor weed can be controlled effectively by using _____

herbicide : Isoproturon

15. Phalaris minor found with ---------- : Dwarf wheat

16. Avena fatua is crop-associated weed with

: Wheat

17. Propanil a herbicide is readily absorbed by the --------------- : Leaf

18. Striga is crop associated weed with ----------- : Pearlmillet

19. The _____ acids which undergo ?-oxidation are MCBP, 2, 4-DB, and 2, : Phenoxybutyric



www.isca.co.in

4, 5-TB

20. ----------- stages of a crop are more prone to weed competition? : Germination to

seedling

21. Triazine herbicides are said as notorious herbicides because of there----- : Long residual toxicity

22. Triazine-tolerant broadleaf weed biotypes include------- : Lambsquarter

(Chenopodium album)

23 Triazinges are mostly used in ----------- : Maize

24. Two hand weedings in safflower are required for its good growth at------

- : 20 and 40 days stages

25. Use of _____ provides effective control of weeds in groundnut : Tok E-25

26. Weed competition in rice is more in the ---------------- : Direct seeded crop

27. The most systematic method for classifying weeds is based on -----------

--- : Phylogenetic

28. A weed with a trailing stem------------- :Convolvulus arvensis

29. A weed with a balloon structure for effective dissemination --------- : Physalis minima

30. Hans Molish is associated with : Allelopathy

31. Man associated with ‘Horse Hoeing

Husbandry ------------- : Jethro Tull

32. Bioagent for controlling Parthenium ------------

:Zygogramma bicolorata

33. Besides providing N Azolla is used for

weed control in : Rice

34. when DWR (Directorate of Weed Research) renamed from DWSR

(Directorate of Weed Science Research) --- : 2014

35. Established at Hisar in 1968, who was the founder President/Secretary

of ISWS ---------- : Dr. M.K. Moolani

36. widely used pre-plant herbicide in conservation agricultural systems ----

------ : Glyphosphate

37. The international Weed Science Society (IWSS) was formed in ----------

-- : 1975

38. Weed species which can tolerate solarisation effect ------

: Sorghum halepense

39. Each year an awareness week is organized by DWR Jabalpur, an ICAR

Institute in reference to which of the weed --------- : Parthenium

hysterophorus

40. A post-emergence herbicide in Soybean --------- : Quazalofop – ethyl 60

g/ha

41. An approach where bio-herbicides are used to control indigenous

weed species -------------- : Inundative approach



www.isca.co.in

42. Epinasty of cotton is used to measure qualitative assay of ----------- : 2, 4-D

43. The successful development of which bioherbicide led to the

discovery of Biomeal? : Collego

44. CASST is a bio herbicide used to control ------

Cassia obtusifolia

45. A crop has residual allelopathy on wheat ---------------

: Lentil

46. VELGO is a bioherbicide used against --------------- : Abutilon

47. Allelochemicals subject to volatilization ---------- : Terpinoids

48. Devine produce lethal root and collar rot in --------- : Strangler wine

49. Continuous cropping of which legume crop cause auto allelopathy? -----

-------- : Alfa-alfa

50. Strigol, a witch weed stimulant isolated from the root exudates of -------

------ : Cotton

51. --------- weed is considered as biopesticide and severely inhibit the

growth of water hyacinth? : Cuscuta

52. Bromoxynil (Bxn) is resistant trait of which crop------

: Cotton

53. Volume of spray fluid in ultra low volume spraying------ : 2-5 l/ha

54. A application method to avoid herbicide drift ---------

: Wick wiping

55. Naphthalic anhydride represented a major pathway of its degradation in

soil through ------------- : Decarboxylation

56. What are the units of LD50? --------- : mg/kg body weight

57. Sulfonylurea herbicides inhibits -------------- : ALS

58. The first genetically modified plants, the soybean resistant to glyphosate

was developed during --- : 1983

59. The authority associated with the first genetically modified plants the

soybean resistant to glyphosate from Monsanto which achieved

widespread success was -------

: Robert Fraley

60. An additive that makes pesticide for mulation mix with water is called --

---------- : An adjuvant

61. Constant physical agitation of the spray liquid during field operations

can be minimised by adding ------------- : Emulsifiers

62. Herbicides which avoids photodecomposition by being rapidly absorbed

------------ : Sethoxydim

63. Drift susceptible size of droplets in micron diameter is--- : < 150

64. Microbial breakdown of phenoxy herbicides such as 2,4-D and MCPA

is enhanced by addition of ----------- : Phosphate

65. --------- herbicides will be tightly bound to the soil? : Paraquat

KOC(mL/g)= 10,00,000



www.isca.co.in

66. The ideal temperature for application of post-emergent herbicides is

in the range of …………. : 18

0C to 30

0C

67. Paraquat herbicide belong to which group ---------- : Bipyridylium

68. Metsulfron herbicide belong to which group ---------- : Sulfonylureos

69. The mode of action of Atrazine is ------------ : Photosynthesis

inhibition

70. The mode of action of thiocarbonates is ---------------- : Shoot inhibitor

71. --- herbicide’s mode of action is root growth inhibition? : Alachlor

72. Roundup introduced in which year ------------- : 1971

73. Active toxic material present in the formulation is------- : Active ingredient

74. One to two flushes of weeds are destroyed before planting of crop is

called --------------- : Stale seed bed

75. Generally weeds seeds are abundant at a depth of ------- : 1 to 1.5 cm

76. ------------- is used to reduce toxicity : Safener

77. ------- weed accumulates more phosphrous content of over 3% : Digitaria

78. The first phase of IWM as per Sheley --------------- : Inventorization

79. Flaming and steaming are successful practical weed control tools in ---

--------- : Western countries

80. -------------- a latest herbicide family : Sulfonyl ureas

81. The herbicidal activity of 2,4-D at the first time was reported by --------

------ : Zimmernam and

Hitchcock (1942)

82. The first chemical shown to have herbicidal activity ---- : Bordeux mixture

83. Dredging is most effective treatment for controlling----- : Aquatic weeds

84. The first rule of weed prevention ---------- : Clean seed

85. A weed poisonous to animals and human beings ------

: Datura metal

86. To devitalize weed seeds in manure, the composting temperature

must be in which of the following range------- : 65-90 °C

87. In case of combined application of herbicides, application rate can be

reduced ----------- interaction : Synergistic

88. Percent reduction in grain yield of transplanted rice due to weeds is -----

--- : 15 to 45 %

89. ----------- herbicide group inhibit the lipid synthesis? : Cyclohexanedione

90. ---------- herbicide is used in aquatic weed control?

: Acrolein



www.isca.co.in

91. Dealing with the LD50 rating, a herbicide with a label warning

of "danger-poison" would have what type of toxicity rating ------ : High

92. Heavy infestation of -------- weed causes poor ploughing performance : Cynodon dactylon

93. Application of volatile chemical on confined spaces to produce gas that

will destroy weed seeds is called -------------- : Fumigation

94. “Paraquat spray” can be inactivated by spraying ----------- : 1% ferric chloride

95. ------------- weed is used to reclaim alkali soils : Argemone Mexicana

96. Weeds of neutral soils ----------- : Acalypha indica.

97. Eichhornia crassipes in controlled by using : Neconchetina

eichhorniae

98. Herbigation recommended herbicide is ------------ : Fluchloralin

99. Ludiwigia parviflora is completely denuded by ------ : Altica cynanea (steel

blue beetle)

100. Water fern (Salvinia molesta) is controlled by using ---------- : Curculinoid weevil

(Crytobagous sp.).



www.isca.co.in

Chapter 6: Irrigation Management

1. The Grand Anaicat (KALLANAI) constructed across the river Cauvery is

an outstanding example for the irrigation work by a -------

: Karikala Cholan

2. water is the most important constituent of about -------------- of most plant

cell

: 80-90%

3. Net area sown in India is -------- : 141.12 m.ha.

4. Net area irrigated in India is -------- : 31.20 m.ha.

5. Amount of water used by plants (WP) for its metabolic activities is --------- : < 1%

6. The water requirement is symbolically represented as------------------- : WR = T + E + WP

+ WL + WSP

7. Measurement of evaporation --------- is the standard type used globally : “U.S.W.B. Class A

pan” Evaporimeter

8. Crop coefficient is ---------------- : ET crop = Kc ×Eto

9. water is applied intermittently in a series of relatively short on and off time

periods during the irrigation is called ----------

: Surge irrigation

10. Water is applied through network of pipelines and allowed to fall drop by

drop at crop root zone by as pecial device called ----------------

: Emitters or

drippers

11. V' notch is a --------------- : Weir

12. Indirect methods of measuring soil water content consist of resistance

method and -----

: Gravimetric

13. Capillary water will not be available to the plants it is held at a tension of -- : More than 15

atmospheres

14. Field water use efficiency is calculated by -------------------- : WUE = Y/WR

15. Gravitational water is held in soil at a tension of ----------- : Less than 1/3

atmosphere

16. Hygroscopic water, which occurs as thin film held tenaciously around soil

particles with a tension of 31 atmosphere or more, is -----------

: Not available to

plants

17. Measurement of irrigation water depends on ------------- : Units of volume

and units of soil

18. Rainfall at the time of maturity of tobacco is undesirable as it causes ------- : Washing down of



www.isca.co.in

gums and resins

from leaf

19. Sufficient soil moisture at ______ stage is essential for optimum

productivity of blackgram

: Flowering and pod

development

20. The cultivation of ------------- crop requires water logging? : Rice

21. -------------- criteria of irrigation scheduling is more acceptable to farmers : Critical growth

stage

22. The moisture content at which the wilting is complete and the plant die is

called --------

:Permanent wilting

point

23. The moisture, which is present in the form of a continuous film outside

hygroscopic water around soil particles and microspore spaces is called ----

: Capillary water

24. The most common means of expressing soil water contentment is the

_____ of water associated with their specified quantity of soil solids.

: Volume

25. The most critical stalt for irrigation in potato is ---------- : 25% tuber

formation

26. The most critical stage of rice for moisture stress is : Tillering –

flowering

27. ------------ crop is most sensitive to salinity? : Gram

28. Wherever only one irrigation is available, it should be liven at _____ stage

in safflower

: 30 days

29. When the movement of water after rain or irrigation after 48-72 hours, the

soil is said to be at ------------

: Field capacity

30. The soil moisture content at which the plants remain wilted day and night

or in a humid chamber, the mositure content is called ---------------

: Permanent wilting

point

31. The sprinkle system of irrigation is most suitable for ----------------- : Undulated soil

32. Under moisture condition growing of _____ should be avoided : Sugarcane

33. Water available to plants to the maximum extent is the one held ------ : Between field

capacity and wilting

point

34. Water enters into the plant by means of --------- : Osmosis



www.isca.co.in

35. Water requirement of a crop is related to its------------- :Evapotranspiration

36. Soil water potential of permanent wilting point /wilting co-efficient is------ : -15

37. Soil water potential at hygroscopic potential is : -31

38. World water day is celebrated on ……….. in every year : March 22

39. First irrigation commission in India was appointed during ----- : 1901

40. 1 hectare meter is equal to ……….m3

of water : 1000

41. Water excess of field capacity is termed as …….. Water : Gravitational

42. Water available between field capacity and permanent wilting point is

called as --------

: Available water

43. Crop used for determining permanent wilting point under field condition is

-----------------

: Sunflower

44. Consumptive use of water is equal to ------------ : Metabolic activity

of Plant

45. Area irrigated under major irrigation project is ---------- : > 10000 ha

46. Horizontal flow of water in the soil is known ------------ : Seepage

47. Tension of pure water at maximum WHC is ----------- : zero

48. When the rate of transpiration is very high --------------- of water takes

place in plants

: Active type of

absorption

49. The force with which water is held by the soil is -------

: Soil tension

50. ------------ is volume or quantity of water required for irrigation to bring a

crop to maturity

: Duty of water

51. -------------- is the process of distribution of irrigation water : Rostering

52. -------- is the first irrigation before sowing the crop for seed germination

and seedling establishment

: Palco

53. ------------- is the total depth of water (cm) required by a crop during its

durind its duration in the field

: Delta

54. When all the pores of the soil are filled with water is called ---------- : Saturation

capacity

55. --------- is the most common method : Check basin



www.isca.co.in

irrigation

56. Water requirement of a crop is related to its ---------- : ET

57. The attraction of water molecules by each other is ----------------- : Cohesion

58. TMC stands for …… : Thousand million

cubic

59. Convert one cubic meter of water into litres .... : 1000 litr

60. Soil moisture tension directly measured by....... : Tensiometer

61. Lysimeter is used for measurement of ------------- : ET

62. Parshall flume is used for measurement of ------------ : Water flow

63. Fertilizer application through irrigation is known as ......... : Fertigation

64. is the process of removal of excess water as free or gravitational water

from the surface and the sub surface of farm lands

: Drainage

65. ----------- are under ground artificial channels through which excess water

may flow to a suitable outlet

: Sub surface drains

66. ------------ is the disposal of drainage water through well into porous layers

of earth.

: Vertical drainage

67. ------------- the laterals enter the main from both side at an angle of 450 like

the bones of a fish.

: Herring bone

68. It is the ratio of yield of crop (Y) to the amount of water depleted by crop

in evapotranspiration (ET).

: Crop Water Use

Efficiency:

69. ----------- is the ratio of yield of crop (Y) to the total amount of water used

in the field.

: Field Water Use

Efficiency

70. As the ratio of the water stored in the root depth by irrigation ------ : Water Storage

Efficiency

71. ----------- is frequency with which water is to be applied based on needs of

the crop and nature of the soil.

: Irrigation

scheduling

72. For ten days cumulative pan evaporation at the rate of 10 mm per day

equal to 100 mm (CPE). Irrigation depth to be given is 50 mm. Therefore

: 0.5



www.isca.co.in

IW/CPE ratio is ------------

73. total water requirements of Groundnut at ----------- : 500-550 mm

74. ----------- suggested the use of the logarithm of soil moisture tension and

gave the symbol pF of this logarithm.

: Scholfield (1935)

75. . A soil that has high porosity and coarse open texture has a ------ : High hydraulic

conductivity value

76. --------------- is the rate of change of piezometric or hydraulic head with

distance

: Hydraulic gradient

77. Generally the rate of Saturated flow in soils of various textures is in the

following sequence is ------------------

: Sand > loam > clay

78. In unsaturated soil moisture movement, also called -------------- :Capillary

movement

79. In the ‘moist range’, the range of unsaturated flow in soils of various

textures is in the following order ----------

: Sand < loam < clay

80. As indicated by ---------- water is the ELIXER of Life which makes

wonders in earth.

: Sir.C.V.Raman

81. The movement of water from the surface into the soil is called ------- : Infiltration

82. The soil moisture estimation device not suited for saline soils : Gypsum blocks

83. Quickest and continuous method of soil moisture estimation --------- : Neutron meter

84. The phenomenon of moisture content is greater in desorption than in

sorption -----

: Hysteresis

85. The neutron source used in Neutron Moisture Meter ---------- : Beryllium

86. Soil Moisture Depletion Approach is based on the soil moisture ------------- : Root zone

87. The chemical used to remove the clogging of drippers ----------- :Sodium

hypochlorite

88. Due to poor drainage the chemical produced in excess by the plants ------ : Ethanol

89. Infrared thermometer is used to measure the temperature at ----------- : Canopy

90. V notches are used to measure the water flow in ---------------- : Channels

91. Submerged orifices are used to measure the water flow in --------- : Small streams

92. Parshall flumes are used to measure the water flow in -------------- : Channels



www.isca.co.in

93. Crown root initiation is a critical stage for : Wheat

94. The method highly suitable to estimate ET --------------- : Modified PenMan

95. The temperature at the hot air oven to estimate the soil moisture ------------- : 105oC

96. Hygroscopic coefficient is point at which the energy status of water is ----- : -1000

97. The average requirement of water to produce 1 Kg Dry matter of plant---- : 400-500 lit

98. The Average annual rainfall of India ---------- : 1100 mm

99. Total rainfall received in India over its geographical area -------- : 400 m.ha.m

100. The energy spent by the plants to absorb water is known as______

absorption

: Active

Chapter : 7 Field crops – I

1. The centre of origin of wheat is ---------------------- South-west Asia

2. Triticale is a cross between ---------------------- Wheat x Rye

3. Phalaris minor belongs to the family ---------------------- Gramineae

4. Phalaris minor weed in wheat can be controlled by using---------------------

-

Isoproturon

5. The shoot of wheat and rice crops is known as ---------------------- Culm

6. Origin of rice ---------------------- India and Burma

7. Dehulled rice grain ---------------------- Brown rice

8. Rich source in golden rice ---------------------- Vitamin a

9. Idea of super rice ---------------------- GS Khush

10. ‘Aman’ rice is sown in ---------------------- Jun –Jul

11. Gas released from paddy fields ---------------------- CH4

12. Area required for preparing nursery for 1 ha paddy crop 0.05ha

13. ---------------------- gas is released from paddy field CH4



www.isca.co.in

14. Central Rice Research Institute ---------------------- Cuttock

15. Wheat protein ---------------------- Gluten

16. Deficiency of stem melanosis disease in wheat ---------------------- Cu

17. Semi dwarf wheat variety ---------------------- Lerma Roja 64 A

18. Indicator plant of copper ---------------------- Wheat

19. Directorate of wheat research is located at ---------------------- Karnal

20. Agriculture Provides employment to --------------------------

56.7 %/56.7 %/56.7 %/56.7 %/

21. Heliophytes is --------------------------

MaizeMaizeMaizeMaize

22. Cereal millet crop grown in arid climate ---------------------- Pearl millet

23. Maize protein is deficient in ---------------------- Tryptophan and

lysine

24. In maize, dough stage comes at ---------------------- Grain becomes milk

25. Crop is used as fodder and grain ---------------------- Jowar

26. Crop is grown during all the three seasons ---------------------- Maize

27. Mitscherlich technique ---------------------- plants are grown to

maturity

Oat

28. Alkaloid found in sorghum ---------------------- Dhurrin

29. “Khaira” disease in rice is due to deficiency of ---------------------- Zinc

30. “Akiochi” disease in rice is due to toxicity caused by ---------------------- Iron

31. Rice variety IR-20 has been evolved at ---------------------- Phillipines

32. Rice is sown directly in dry field is ---------------------- Dry system

33. The long duration rice variety is ---------------------- Mashuri

34. An annual weed commonly found in rice field is ---------------------- Echillochloa

crusgalli

35. Mat type of nursery is related to ---------------------- Paddy crop



www.isca.co.in

36. The inflorescence in Bajra is ---------------------- Panicle

37. The centre of origin of Bajra is ---------------------- West Africa

38. Critical period for irrigation in bajra is ---------------------- Late blooming to

early flowering

39. The centre of origin of barley is ---------------------- Asia &Ethiopia

40. Recommendation for pulse wonder ---------------------- 2 kg/ac

41. Six rowed barley is ---------------------- Hordeum vulgare

42. Two rowed barley is ---------------------- Hordeum irregular

43. “Annals of Agriculture” a book was written by ---------------------- Arthur Young

44. Botanical name of Flint corn is ---------------------- Zea mays indurate

45. Seminal roots in maize are ---------------------- 3 – 5 in number

46. Most common herbicide used in maize is ---------------------- Atrazine

47. The centre of origin of sorghum is ---------------------- India

48. The inflorescence in maize is ---------------------- Spikelets

49. ---------------------- is considered as camel crop Sorghum

50. Central Rice Research Institute is located at Cuttack

51. ICARDA is located at Syria

52. Paddy crop prefers nitrogen in ---------------------- form Ammonical

53. Indrayani is a scented variety of ---------------------- Paddy

54. Hulling percentage in paddy is ---------------------- 75 %

55. The ratio grain to straw in paddy is ---------------------- 2 :1

56. The optimum temperature range for sowing of wheat is ---------------------- 10 – 15 o C

57. The first irrigation in wheat is normally recommended at ---------------------

-

CRI stage

58. ---------------------- crop is said to be a queen of cereals Wheat



www.isca.co.in

59. Dwarf wheat (Mexican) is introduced in India by ---------------------- N.E. Borlaug

60. Flint corn is also known as Zea mays indurate

61. Sorghum seeds are technically as Caryopsis

62. Dhurrin is synthesized from Roots

63. Exhaustive crop maize

64. Poor man’s pulse in china Soybean

65. Transgenic crop cultivated high area in wolrd is ---------------------- SoybeanSoybeanSoybeanSoybean

66. Fist maize hybrid in india is ---------------------- Ganga 1Ganga 1Ganga 1Ganga 1

67. Aflotoxin contamination generally found in ---------------------- GroundnutGroundnutGroundnutGroundnut

68. -------------- is called as boneless meat SoybeanSoybeanSoybeanSoybean

69. Yellow revolution is promotion for production of ---------------------- Oil seedsOil seedsOil seedsOil seeds

70. ---------------------- used as cotton defoliant Abscisic acidAbscisic acidAbscisic acidAbscisic acid

71. Quality Protein maize released by using ---------- Opaque 2 geOpaque 2 geOpaque 2 geOpaque 2 genesnesnesnes

72. Sweet maize variety is --------------- African tallAfrican tallAfrican tallAfrican tall

73. Application of gypsum is required more for Groundnut

74. Nutrient exhausting crop Berseem

75. Fruit of linseed Seedball

76. Crop is used as pulse and oil purpose Soybean

77. Best example for catch crop Toria

78. Vegetable oil is good for heart patient Sunflower oil

79. Pungency of mustard oil Glucosinolates

80. In legumes, red colour of root nodules is attributed to the presence of-------

---------------

Leg haemoglobin

81. The term “Harvest index” was given by ---------------------- Skoog

82. CIMMYT is situated in ---------------------- Mexico

83. Major pulse crop of India is ---------------------- Chickpea



www.isca.co.in

84. The first hybrid pigeonpea released by ICRISAT is -------------------- ICPH-8

85. Centre of origin of cowpea is ---------------------- Africa

86. Best suited soil for chickpea cultivation is ---------------------- Black soils

87. Scientific name of brown lentil is ---------------------- Lens culinaris

88. The centre and origin of lentil is ---------------------- Mediterranean

region

89. The inflorescence in lentil is ---------------------- Raceme

90. Blackgram is the richest source of ---------------------- among pulses Phosphoric acid

91. Scientific name of white gram is ---------------------- Cicer kabulium

92. The fruit of greengram is known as ---------------------- Pod

93. Scientific name of garden pea is ---------------------- Pisum sativum

var.hortens

94. Scientific name of field pea is ---------------------- Pisum sativum

var.arvense

95. ---------------------- Germination in urd bean Epihypogeal type

96. Probiotic enhancing material present in ………………crop

: Millets

97. Legume is derived from …………….

: Latin

98. --------------- state got rank third in productivity of Pearl Millet in

India

: TN

99. Fertilizer recommendation for hybrid rice crop

: 175:60:60 kg/ha

100. Wild form of Rice ---------------- : Javanica



www.isca.co.in

Chapter 7.1: Field crops - II

1. Sugar bowl of India ---------------------- Uttar pradesh

2. Element essential for sugar translocation in sugarcane ---------------------- potassium

3. Trench method of sugarcane planting is used ---------------------- Coastal areas

4. Adsali sugarcane crop sown in ---------------------- Jul-Aug

5. Sugarcane setts are treated with ---------------------- agallol

6. Crinkle leaf of cotton is caused by ---------------------- Mn toxicity

7. Sea island cotton belongs to ---------------------- Gossypium

barbadense

8. Ratio of cotton seed to lint ---------------------- 2:1

9. Harmone used for sugarcane ripening ---------------------- GlysophosineGlysophosineGlysophosineGlysophosine

10. Trap crop of striga ---------------------- cotton

11. Parenchymatous fibre ---------------------- jute

12. Optimum time for sowing nursery for tobacco ---------------------- 2 nd fortnight of

august

13. Fire curing is followed in ---------------------- Chewing tobacco

14. Chemical used for desuckering of tobacco ---------------------- NAA,MH,IBA

15. Transplanting age of tobacco seedling ---------------------- 1 month old

16. Excess Cu has adverse effects on ---------------------- Fe nutrition

17. Tobacco flavour is due to ---------------------- polyphenols

18. Name of wild cane ---------------------- S.spontaneum

19. Nicotine content in tobacco is related with ---------------------- nitrogen

20. ‘Boll shedding’ in cotton is due to ---------------------- Inhibitory effect of

ABA

21. Varalaxmi is interspecific variety of cotton ---------------------- Dharwad



www.isca.co.in

22. Castor green leaves also fed for ---------------------- Silkworm

23. In trade Brassia juncea is known as ---------------------- Mustard

24. Bunchy type varieties of groundnut belongs to subspecies -------------------

--

Fastigata

25. Spreading type varieties of groundnut belongs to subspecies ----------------

--

Procumbens

26. The inflorescence is castor is ---------------------- Raceme

27. Which is a parasitic weed in niger crop ---------------------- Cuscuta

28. The center of origin of niger is ---------------------- Ethiopia

29. The center of origin of linseed is ---------------------- Mediterranean

30. The inflorescence in linseed is Cymose

31. The linseed fruit is ---------------------- Capsule

32. The inflorescence in safflower is ---------------------- Head

33. Carthamin is extracted from ---------------------- Safflower

34. Long day plant ---------------------- wheatwheatwheatwheat

35. Sugarcane is propagated through ----------------------

SettsSettsSettsSetts

36. Central Research Institute for Jute is located ---------------------- West BengalWest BengalWest BengalWest Bengal

37. The state having largest area under jute is ---------------------- West BengalWest BengalWest BengalWest Bengal

38. Reddening in cotton is due to ---------------------- Nutrient deficiencyNutrient deficiencyNutrient deficiencyNutrient deficiency

39. Linseed is commonly known as ---------------------- in western countries Flax

40. The botanical name for mustard is ---------------------- Brassica juncea

41. In castor nipping is done to ---------------------- Remove the axiallary

buds

42. The inflorescence in groundnut is ---------------------- Raceme

43. The turkey red soil is prepared by treating castor oil with --------------------

--

H2SO4



www.isca.co.in

44. Pop pod of groundnut is due to the deficiency of ---------------------- Calcium

45. The suitable rhizobium strain for soybean is ---------------------- Japanicum

46. In india productivity of rice is higher in ------------------ Haryana

47. Area under rice cultivation in india -------------------- 45 Mha

48. Nematode resistant barley variety------------------ Rajkiran

49. High lysine composite maize variety --------------- Rattan,sakthi,protina

50. Centre of origin of sawan ------------------ Central asia

51. Test weight of teff millet -------------------------- 0.15 – 0.2g

52. Inflorescence in oat ----------------- Panicle

53. High tolerant variety of sorghum for striga --------------- CSH 5

54. CSH is a cross between ------------------ 2077 A * CS 3541

55. Panicle of wheat is borne on ------------------- Uppermost node

56. Macroni wheat cultivation is restricted to --------------- Central and southern

india

57. Seed rate of soybean for grain purpose ------------------- 20-30 kg

58. ------------------ needs picking for harvesting in pulses tur

59. Stem nodulating green manue---------------------------

Sesbania rostrata

60. Test weight of pigeon pea ----------------- 100 - 150 g

61. Minimum temperature towards germination of cotton --------------- 16

62. Chromosome number in desi cotton ------------------- 2n=13

63. Productivity of cotton highest in -------------- Punjab

64. Jute raised on well drained uplands ------------------- Tossa jute

65. Best temperature for retting ------------------- 34

66. Planting geometry for sunhemp -------------------- 30X10 cm

67. Tying and wrapping in sugarcane is to prevent ----------------- Lodging

68. Important byproduct of sugarcane industry ----------------- Bagasse

69. Inflorescene in sugarbeet ----------------- Open panicle

70. First man to establish sugar factory for processing of beet roots ---------- F.C.Achard

71. In sugarbeet sucrose is found in ----------------- Roots



www.isca.co.in

72. Sucrose % in sugarcane …………… : 13-24

73. Backbone of textile industry is ………………… : Cotton

74. Average sugar recovery of content from sugarcane is about

………………. %

: 11

75. Wild species of sugarcane are Saccharum spontaneum and

…………………

: S. robustum

76. ……………………… chemical used to control flowering in sugarcane : Ethreal

77. Optimum temperature for sugar accumulation in sugar beet is……………

(oC)

: 25– 35

78. Ideal time for harvest of jute is ………………… : Small pod stage

79. Critical stage of cotton is ------------- : Flowering and

fruting

80. The duration of adsali sugarcane is : 16-18 months

81. ----------- organism is released as a biofertilizer in recent years

: Gluconacetobacter

diazotrophicus

82. Method of sugarcane planting adopted in TN farmer ------ : Furrow planting

83. Trench method of sugarcane planting is suitable for : Coastal areas

84. ----------- is planting material used in SSI : Chip bud

85. Recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer for jaggery producing areas

(N: P2O5: K2O kg /ha) -------------

: 175:112.5:60

86. The jaggery contains approximately ------------ % sucrose : 60 - 85

87. The ethanol can be blended with petrol or diesel to the extent of ------%

and used as bio-fuel

: 10

88. Tropical sugarbeet can be sown in --------- : September–

November

89. MCU series (MCU 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12) varieties are from : Hirsutum

90. Monopodium growth continues in ----------- varieties : Arborium



www.isca.co.in

91. Sucrose % in sugarcane …………… : 13-24

92. Backbone of textile industry is ………………… : Cotton

93. Average sugar recovery of content from sugarcane is about

………………. %

: 11

94. Wild species of sugarcane are Saccharum spontaneum and

…………………

: S. robustum

95. ……………………… chemical used to control flowering in sugarcane : Ethreal

96. Optimum temperature for sugar accumulation in sugar beet is……………

(oC)

: 25– 35

97. Ideal time for harvest of jute is ………………… : Small pod stage

98. Critical stage of cotton is ------------- : Flowering and

fruting

99. Ripening in sugarcane is enhanced by spraying _________ : Sodium metasilicate

100. --------------- days after first square formation : 20 - 35



www.isca.co.in

Choose the best answer

1. The most cultivated crop in India among cereals

a. Rice b. Wheat c. Maize

2. World production of wheat is __________ million tonnes

a. 578.34 b. 478.34 c. 678.34

3. ___________ leads as highest productivity of wheat in the world

a. India b. USA c. China

4. 70% of area and 75% of the production of groundnut in India is in

a. A.P b. Tamil Nadu c. Both

5. Production of wheat is __________ million tonnes in India

a. 71 b. 81 c. 61

6. Highest productivity of wheat is in ________ state of India

a. Tamil Nadu b. Punjab c. Maharastra

7. In India, productivity of sugarcane is highest in the state

a. Tamil Nadu b. Punjab c. None

8. Mention the Rabi season pulse

a. Chick pea b. Green gram c. Red gram

9. India stands _______position in oilseed production in the world

a. 5 b. 6 c. 4

10. Edible conventional oil seed crops are ________

a. Ground nut b. Sunflower c. Safflower

11. Non-conventional oil seed crops are __________

a. Groundnut b. Mustard c. Soybean

12. Winter oilseed crop _____

a. Groundnut b. Sunflower c. Rape seed

13. ________is known as source of dye in ancient India

a. Safflower b.Sunflower c. Linseed

14. Linolenic acid content in Linseed

a. 66% b. 56% c. 46%

15. Sugarcane is the _______most important industrial crop in the country India

a. First b. Third c. Second



www.isca.co.in

16. In India, the productivity of sugarcane is highest in the state

a. Punjab b. Karnataka c. None

17. The most cultivated sugar crop of the world is __________

a. Sorghum b. Sugarbeet c. Sugarcane

18. Sugarcane seed sets essentially have _____buds

a. 1 b. 2 c. 3

19. Molasses is used for _____ preparation.

a. Alcohol b. Fuel c. Fertilizer

WHEAT (TRITICUM SP)

1. Bread wheat is ___________

a. Secale cereale b. Hordeum vulgare c. Triticum aestivum

2. According to Vavilov the origin of Durum wheat is ________

a. Abyssinia b. Asia c. Africa

3. Permanent adventitious roots of wheat is called __________

a. Primary roots b. Secondary roots c. Clonal roots

4. Common wheat is ________

a. Triticum durum b. Triticum dicoccum c. Triticum aestivum

5. Duram wheat is ________


6. Emmer wheat is ________


7. Wheat is a _________ plant

a. Short day b. long day c. day neutral

8. Duration of CRI stage in wheat is ________ DAS

a. 45-60 b. 20-25 c. 30-45

9. Duration of boot leaf stage in wheat is ________ DAS

a. 45-60 b. 70-75 c. 30-45

10. Duration of flowering stage in wheat is ________ DAS

a. 85-90 b. 70-75 c. 100-105

11. Duration of milking stage in wheat is ________ DAS

a. 85-90 b. 70-75 c. 100-105



www.isca.co.in

12. Duration of dough stage in wheat is ________ DAS

a. 105-110 b. 115-120 c. 100-105

13. Duration of maturity stage in wheat is ________ DAS

a. 105-110 b. 115-120 c. 100-105

14. Normal recommendation of seed rate for wheat is ________ kg/ha

a. 75-90 b. 90-100 c. 100-125

15. The recommended seed rate for wheat under dibbling method is ________ kg/ha

a. 25-30 b. 30-45 c. 45-60

16. General recommendation of inorganic fertilizers for wheat is ________ kg/ha

a. 120-150 : 60 : 40-60 b. 130-145 : 65 : 60 c. 145-160 : 65 : 65

17. Spacing for irrigated wheat is ____________

a. 22.5 x 8-18 cm b. 25-30 x 5-6cm c. 25 x 15 cm

18. Spacing for rainfed wheat is ____________

a. 22.5 x 8-18 cm b. 25-30 x 5-6cm c. 25 x 15 cm

BARLEY Hordeum vulgare

1. Centre of origin of Barley is ___________

a. America b. S. Africa c. Asia & Ethiopia

2. In India the highest producer of barley is ________

a. U.P b. Punjab c. W.bengal

3. The inflorescence of barley is called __________

a. Ear b. panicle c. spike

4. Most critical stage of irrigation in barley is ________

a. Tillering b. CRI c. Flowering

5. Barley crop needs ________

a. Cold & dry climate b. Hot & humid c. dry & hot

6. Photoperiodically, barley is a type of plant is ________

a. Short day b. Long day c. Day neutral

7. Depth of sowing of barley is

a.1-2cm b. 3-5 cm c. 5-6cm



www.isca.co.in

8. Shoot of barley is called

a. Stem b. Culm c. Trunk

9. Leaf of barley is

a. Petiole b. Sessile c. both

10. Salt tolerant variety of barley

a. Amber b. Neelam c. RD137

11. ________ variety is suitable for malting

a. Amber b. Neelam c. RD 137

TRITICALE

1. Triticale is a cross between ___________

a. Wheat & Maize b. Wheat & Rice c. Wheat & Rye

2. Mention the man made cereal ________

a. Triticale b. Oats c. Barley

3. Majority of triticale cultivars are________

a. awnless b. awned c. both

4. Sowing time for rainfed triticale is ________

a. October b. June c. May

5. Seeds of rainfed triticale is sown in a row spacing of

a. 10-20cm b. 20-30 cm c. 50-60cm

6. Seed rate of rainfed triticale is

a. 100-150kg b. 75-100kg c. 50-60kg

7. Seed rate of irrigated triticale is

a. 100-150kg b. 125-150kg c. 75-100kg

RABI PULSES CHICKPEA

1. Centre of origin of chick pea is ___________

a. America b. S. Africa c. S.W.Asia

2. The inflorescence of chick pea is ________

a. Axilary raceme b. Panicle c. Ear

3. The recommended seed rate for chick pea is __________

a. 8-10 kg/ha b. 15-20 kg/ha c. 75-100 kg/ha



www.isca.co.in

4. Most critical stage of irrigation for chick pea is ________

a. Tillering b. CRI c. Pre flowering

5. The leading producer of chick pea is ________

a. India b. Burma c. Bangladesh

6. Photoperiodically, chick pea is a type of plant is ________

a. Short day b. Long day c. Day neutral

7. Chick pea belongs to the family

a. Tiliaceae b. Leguminoceae c. Linaceae

8. Ideal temperature for sowing of chick pea is

a. 15-200c b. 10-250c c. 10-150c

9. The recommended seed rate for kabuli gram is _____kg/ha

a. 20-25 b. 100-125 c. 8-10

10. Nipping in chick pea is a process of

a. To enlarge branching

b. To reduce plant height

c. To protect plants against lodging

LENTIL Lens culinaris

1. Centre of origin of Lentil is ___________

a. America b. S. Africa c. Mediterranean region

2. The inflorescence in lentil is ________

a. Raceme b. Spikelets c. Panicle

3. The recommended seed rate for lentil is _________kg/ha

a. 8-10 b. 75-100 c. 30-40

4. Lentil crop needs

a. Cool & dry climateb. Warm & humidc. Dry & hot climate

5. The row to row spacing by pora method of sowing of lentil is_______cm

a. 30 b. 10 c. 50

6. The row to row spacing for late sowing of lentil is_______cm

a. 50 b. 20 c. 30



www.isca.co.in

7. Lentil contains about _______% protein

a. 20 b. 25 c. 10

8. Weed in lentil can be controlled by applying

a. 2,4-D b. Fluchloralin c. both

9. The insect pod borer is commonly found on

a. Wheat b. Lentil c. Maize

10. Lentil belongs to family

a. Leguminoceae b. Linaceae c. Tiliaceae

FIELDPEA Pisum sativum

1. Pea is commonly known as ___________

a. Arhar b. Channa c. Matar

2. Centre of origin of pea is ___________

a. Mediterranean b.America c. W.bengal

3. The inflorescence of pea is called __________

a. Ear b. panicle c. Axilary raceme

4. The recommended seed rate for pea is _____kg/ha

a. 60-80 b. 75-100 c.40-50

5. Pea crop needs ________

a. Cold & dry climate b. Hot & humid c. dry & hot

6. Pea should be treated with rhizobium inoculation of ________

a. R. Japonicum b. R. leguminosarum c. R. glycine

7. How much seed of Pea should be treated with one packet of rhizobium culture

a. 5 kg b. 10 kg c. 15 kg

8. What is the ideal temperature for germination for pea

a. 15-200c b. 22-250c c. 25-300c

9. Maximum area under pea cultivation in India is in

a. M.P b. U.P c. Bihar

10. Higher yield of pea could be achieved by

a. Use of higher dose of phosphate

b. Adequate amount of N

c. No nitrogen application



www.isca.co.in

FRENCH BEAN Phaseolus vulgaris

1. Common name of French bean in Hindi ___________

a. Navy bean b. Kidney bean c. Rajmash

2. Protein content in dried French bean seeds ________

a. 18% b. 25% c. 23%

3. French bean belongs to the family ________

a. Tiliaceae b. Leguminoceae c. Papilionaceae

4. Recommended seed rate for French bean is _____kg/ha

a. 120 b. 150 c. 60

5. Fertilizer recommendation for French bean is _____kg/ha NPK

a. 100:60:20 b. 100:20:0 c. 150:50:50

RAPESEED-MUSTARD Brassicas sp.

1. Total production of rapeseed-mustard in the world is _________m tonnes

a. 25.15 b. 35.15 c.45.15

2. Total production of rapeseed-mustard in India is _________m tonnes

a. 8.15 b. 6.96 c.9.15

3. The peculiar pungency of rapeseed-mustard is due to the presence of _____

a. erusic acid b. sinigrin c. Glucosinolates

4. Oil content of Brassica juncea is ______

a. 45 % b. 43 % c. 35 %

5. Oil content of Brassica campestris Var.yellow sarson is ______

a. 45 % b. 43 % c. 35 %

6. Oil content of Brassica campestris Var.brown sarson is ______

a. 45 % b. 43 % c. 35 %

7. Seed rate of rapeseed-mustard is _______ kg/ha

a. 6 - 8 b. 4 - 6 c. 2 – 4

8. Spacing recommended for rapeseed-mustard is _______

a. 35 x 15 – 20 cm b. 30 x 15 – 20 cm c. 30 x 10 – 15 cm

9. Fertilizer dose for irrigated rapeseed-mustard is _______ kg NPK /ha

a. 60-40-40 b. 30-20-20 c. 40-20-20



www.isca.co.in

10. Fertilizer dose for rainfed rapeseed-mustard is _______ kg NPK /ha

a. 60-40-40 b. 30-20-20 c. 40-20-20

11. Rate of sulphur recommended for rapeseed-mustard is _______ kg /ha

a. 10-20 b. 20-40

SUNFLOWER Helianthus annuus

1. Origin of sunflower is _____

a. India b. Argentina c. South west America

2. Scientific name of sunflower is ______

a. Helianthus annuus b. Carthamus tinctorious c. Sesamum indicum

3. Total production of sunflower in the world is ____ m tonnes

a. 22.27 b. 28.48 c. 33.23

4. Total production of sunflower in India is ______ m tonnes

a. 2.25 b.1.25 c.3.25

5. Oil content of sunflower is _________

a. 38-40 % b. 30-32 % c. 36-37 %

6. Nutrient recommendation for sunflower in Tamil Nadu is ________ kg NPK/ha

a. 80:60:40 b. 60:30:0 c.40:20:20

7. Saturated fatty acid content in sunflower is ________

a. 12 % b. 15 % c. 10 %

8. Mono unsaturated fatty acid content in sunflower is ________

a. 16 % b. 15 % c. 10 %

SAFFLOWER Carthamus tinctorious

1. Scientific name of safflower is ______

a. Helianthus annuus b. Carthamus tinctorious c. Sesamum indicum

2. Oil content of safflower is ______

a. 24-28 % b. 26-28 % c. 28-32 %

3. Which of the following is used for dye extraction

a. Sunflower b. Safflower c. Sesame



www.isca.co.in

4. Total production of safflower in the world is _________ m tonnes

a. 0.93 b. 0.98 c. 0.88

5. Total production of safflower in India is _________ m tonnes

a. 0.70 b. 0.43 c. 0.67

6. Spacing followed for safflower in Tamil Nadu is______

a. 40 x 20 cm b. 60 x 30 cm c. 45 x 15 cm

7. Seed rate for safflower varies from _______ to _______ kg/ha depending upon the variety and

spacing

a. 7 – 20 b. 5 – 10 c. 20 – 25

8. General fertilizer recommendation for rainfed safflower is ______ kg NPK /ha

a. 60:30:20 b. 40:20:0 c. 75:75:35

9. Saturated fatty acid content in safflower is ________

a. 12 % b. 15 % c. 10 %

10. Mono unsaturated fatty acid content in safflower is ________

a. 12 % b. 15 % c. 14 %

LINSEED (Linum usitatissimum L.)

1. 70% of the production of Linseed in India is in ___________

a. M.P. & U.P b. Tamil Nadu c. Karnataka

2. Soil type suitable for Linseed cultivation is ________

a. Clay loam soils b. Loam soils c. Heavy soils

3. The centre of origin of linseed is __________

a. Africa b. America c. Mediterranean

4. The inflorescence in linseed is ________

a. Racemeb. Ear c. Cymose

5. Optimum temperature towards seed formation of linseed ranges between____

a. 15-200c b. 20-220c c. 25-300c

6. Optimum temperatures for proper germination of linseed is ________

a. 20-220c b. 25-300c c. 150c

7. The recommended seed rate for line sowing of linseed is_________kg/ha

a. 20 b. 10 c. 40



www.isca.co.in

8. The recommended seed rate for sowing of linseed by broadcasting is_____ kg/ha

a. 30-40 b. 20-30 c. 40-50

9. Linseed is commonly known as ________ in western countries

a. Fiber b. Flax c. Coir

10. Linseed oil contains ________ % linolinic acid

a. 50-60 b. 20-30 c. 40-50

11. The linseed fruit is known as ________

a. Caryopsis b. Head c. Capsule

12. The linseed crop besides oil is grown for centuries for extraction of ________

a. Fiber b. Dye c. Resins

13. Linseed seed normally contains protein and oil percent ________ respectively

a. 40 & 20 b. 20 & 40 c. 40 & 30

SUGARCANE (Saccharum officinarum)

1. By product of sugarcane is _______

a. Spentwash b. Bagasse c. Molasses d. all these

2. The fibrous residue of the cane stalk left after crushing and extraction of the juice is called

_______

a. Spentwash b. Bagasse c. Molasses d. all these

3. Bagasse is used for production of__________

a. Electricity b. paper c. methane d. all these

4. The precipitated impurities contained in the cane juice, after removal by filtration is called

_______

a. Pressmud b. Bagasse c. Molasses d. all these

5. The final effluent obtained in the preparation of sugar by repeated crystallization is ________

a. Pressmud b. Bagasse c. Molasses d. all these

6. The yield of molasses is approximately ________ % per tonne of sugarcane

a. 5 b. 7 c. 3 d. 10

7. Sucrose content of molasses is _______

a. 45 % b. 35 % c. 25 % d. 55 %



www.isca.co.in

8. Glucose content of molasses is _______

a. 5 % b. 7 % c. 10 % d. 12 %

9. Ash content of molasses is _______ <

a. 12 % b. 7 % c. 10 % d. 15 %

10. Total world production of sugarcane is _______ m tonnes

a. 1255 b. 1155 c. 1355

11. Total production of sugarcane in India is _______ m tones

a. 275 b .265 c. 300

12. Productivity of sugarcane is high in which of the following state

a. Maharastra b. Tamil Nadu c. Punjab

13. Average productivity of sugarcane in India is ______ t /ha

a. 99 b. 89 c. 67

14. Cultivated species of sugarcane is ______

a. S. spontaneum b. S. robustum c. S. officinarum

15. Wild species of sugarcane is ______

a. S. barberi b. S. robustum c. S. officinarum

16. Seed rate for two budded setts is ________ setts /ha

a. 50,000 b. 75,000 c. 1,87,500

17. Seed rate for three budded setts is ________ setts /ha

a. 50,000 b. 75,000 c. 1,87,500

18. Seed rate for single budded setts is ________ setts /ha

a. 50,000 b. 75,000 c. 1,87,500

19. Latest planting technique developed by TNAU in sugarcane is ______

a. Furrow planting b. Trench method c. Pit method

20. Fertilizer dose recommended for coastal and irrigated areas is _____ kg NPK/ha

a. 225 : 112.5 : 60 b. 270 : 112.5 : 60 c. 175 : 112.5 : 60

21. Fertilizer dose recommended for lift irrigated areas is _____ kg NPK/ha

a. 225 : 112.5 : 60 b. 270 : 112.5 : 60 c. 175 : 112.5 : 60

22. Fertilizer dose recommended for jaggery producing areas is _____ kg NPK/ha

a. 225 : 112.5 : 60 b. 270 : 112.5 : 60 c. 175 : 112.5 : 60



www.isca.co.in

23. Removal of dried and older leaves in sugarcane is called _______

a. Mulching b. Propping c. Detrashing

24. Tying the canes by using the lower bottom leaves is called _____

a. Mulching b. Propping c. Detrashing

25. The late formed tillers or side shoots which are robust and fast growing are called

a. Sword suckers b. water shoots c. sprouts

26. Flowering in sugarcane is called _______

a. Arrowing b. Sprouting c. Tillering

27. _________ % of brix reading indicates the maturity of sugarcane

a. 16 – 18 b. 18 – 25 c. 25 – 27

28. Ripening in sugarcane is enhanced by spraying _________

a. Sodium metasilicate b. Polaris c. Ethrel d. all these are correct

TROPICAL SUGARBEET (Beta vulgaris spp. Vulgaris)

1. Apart from sugar, _______ can be extracted from sugarbeet

a.Methane b. Ethanol c. Dimethyl ether

2. Ethanol produced from sugarbeet can be blended with petrol or diesel to the extent of ______

as biofuel

a. 12 % b. 10 % c. 15 %

3. Optimum seed rate for tropical sugarbeet is ______ kg/ha

a. 6 b. 3.0 c. 3.6

4. Spacing recommended for sugarbeet is ______

a. 50 x 20 cm b. 40 x 20 cm c. 50 x 10 cm

5. Fertilizer dose recommended for sugarbeet is ________ kg NPK /ha

a. 100 : 75 : 75 b. 100 : 100 : 100 c. 75 : 75 : 75

6.________ crop is used as trap crop to attract Spodoptera in sugarbeet

a. Gingelly b. Castor c. Marigold

7. _________ % of root brix reading indicates the maturity of sugarbeet

a. 15 – 18 b. 18 – 25 c. 25 – 27

8. Yield potential of sugarbeet is ________ tonnes/ha

a. 100 -120 b. 80 – 100 c. 120 – 150



www.isca.co.in

MENTHA (MINT)

1. Hindi name of Mint -----------

a. Pudina b. Putiha c. None

2. The centre of origin of Mint is ________

a. Mediterranean b. Russia c. S. Africa

3. Planting of Mint is done during __________ month in plains

a. Spring b. Summer c. Winter

4. Planting of Mint is done during __________ season in temperate climates

a. Kharif b. Summer c. autumn

5. The fresh mint contains ________% oil

a. 0.8 b. 0.6 c. 0.4

LEMONGRASS

1. Botanical name of Lemon grass

a. Cymbopogon flexuosus b. Cymbopogon martini c. Plantago ovata

2. The centre of origin of Lemon grass is ________

a. India b. Russia c. S. Africa

3. Suitable soil for Lemon grass cultivation

a. Sandy loam b. Clayey loam c. Alluvial

CITRONELLA (Cymbopogon winterianus))

1. Citronella is a ___________

a. Perennial b. Annual c. Biennial

2. Method of citronella propagation is ________

a. Vegetative b. Runners c. Stolons

3. Soil suitable citronella cultivation is __________

a. Sandy loam b. Clay loam c. sandy soil



www.isca.co.in

PALMAROSA (Cymbopogon martini var. motia)

1. Palmarosa comes under the family of ___________

a. Poaceae b. Euphorbiaceae c. Convulaceae

2. Ideal soil pH for the cultivation of Palmarosa________

a. 7.5-8.5 b. 6-7 c. 5.5-6.5

3. Palmarosa is a__________ duration crop

a. Short b. Medium c. Long

4. Maximum yield of oil is obtained when the entire palmarosa is at________ stage

a. Full flowering b. Partial flowering c. Maturation

5. Which part of the palmorosa contain essential oil

a. Flower heads b. leaves and stems c. Both

ISABGOL

1. Isabgol belongs to the family___________

a. Plantaginaceae b.Poaceae c. Chenopodiaceae

2. Moisture content ideal for Isabgol plant growth ________

a. Low b. Medium c. High

3. Mode of propagation of Isabgol is through __________

a. Runners b. Stolons c. Seeds

POTATO (Solanum tuberosum)

1. Maximum acreage under Potato is in the state

a. West bengal b. Tamil Nadu c. U.P

2. The centre of origin of Potato is _______

a. Peru & Bolivia b. Russia c. S.Africa

3. Best season for potato cultivation __________

a. Kharif b. Summer c. Rabi

4. Soil suitable for potato cultivation is ________

a. Clay b. Clay loam c. Sandy loam

5. Optimum temperature for tuberization of Potato ________

a. 17 -200c b. 10 – 150c c. 20 – 250c



www.isca.co.in

6. Most common herbicide used for weed control in Potato is ________

a. Pendimethalin b. Alachlor c. Oxyflurofen



www.isca.co.in

Chapter 8: Cropping and Farming system

1. Growing of same crop on the same land

a. Mono cropping b. Monoculture

c. Single cropping d. Commercial cropping

2. Cultivation of ordered sequence of crops/crops & fallow on the same land

a. Crop rotation b. Land rotation

c. Cropping pattern d. Cropping system

3. The number of crops raised on a given area of land/year multiplied by 100

a. Cropping intensity b. Cropping intensity index

c. CLUI d. None of the above

4. The intensification of cropping in temporal and spatial dimensions is called

a. Multiple cropping b. Mixed cropping

c. Mono cropping d. all the above

5. The study of the relation between plant and environment

a. Plant ecology b. Biometeorology

c. Crop weather d. All the above

6. Introducing ecological approaches to food production is known as

a. Organic farming b. Natural farming

c. Eco farming d. Commercial farming

7. Arable crops grown in between wide alleys are known as

a. Alleys b. Alley cropping

c. Agro forestry d. Rainfed farming

8. Response of one species to the environment as modified by the presence of another species is

called



www.isca.co.in

a. Plant interaction b. Competition

c. Mutual inhibition d. Annidation

9. Introduction of another plant species by replacing part of the population of one species in an

intercropping system

a. Additive series b. Replacement series

c. Population maintenance d. all the above

10. Solar radiation falling between the wave lengths of 300 and 700 nm is referred to as

a. PAR b. NIR

c. Spectrum d. all the above

11. Harmful effect caused by one plant species through releasing chemical substances into the

environment is known as

a. Allelopathy b. Competition

c. Complementary d. Mutualism

12. The leaf canopies of component crops occupy different vertical layers known as

a. Annidation b. Spatial Annidation

c. Temporal Annidation d. Complemetary

13. Example for temporal system of intercropping

a. Pigeonpea+ Sorgum b. Green gram + Maize

c. Sugarcane + Soybean d. All the above

14. Yearly sequence and spatial arrangement of crops on a given area is called

a. Cropping system b. cropping pattern

c. Crop rotation d. Mixed cropping

15. Growing of a crop after the failure of main crop is called



www.isca.co.in

a. Cash crop b. Catch crop

c. Border crop d. Bund crop

16. What are the biological factors affecting farming system among the following?

a. Topography b. Livestock

c. Education d. Rainfall

17. Diversified Farming System is otherwise known as.

a. IFS b. Specialized Farming

c. Organic Farming d. Ranching Farming

18. Suggest the best Allied Enterprise to the farmers, when the main crop grown is RICE.

a. Apiculture b. Biogas

c. Sericulture d. Fishery

19. Grazing of animals on public field is known as?

a. Dairy Farming b. Diversified Farming

c. Mix Farming d. Ranching Farming

20. Which of the following is/are the Socio Economic factors of Farming System?

a. Family Composition b. Food Preference

c. Education d. All the Above

21. The farm wastes are better recycled for productive purposes in which type of farming system?

a. Specialized Farming System b. Integrated Farming System

c. Diversified Farming System d. Both A and B

22. Farming System is a…

a. Atomistic approach b. Holistic approach

c. Individual approach d. Both b and c

23. In Diversified Farming, No source of income equal as much as …………. % in total income.



www.isca.co.in

a. 25% b. 75%

c. 50% d. 35%

24. Specialized Farming System is aimed at.

a. Maximization of Production b. Maximization of area

c. Maximization of Time d. All of the Above

25. IFS leads to

a. Low Benefit-Cost Ratio b. High Benefit-Cost Ratio

c. Both A and B d. None of the Above

26. Which of the following enterprises can be integrated in wetland ecosystem?

a. Poultry b. Fisheries

c. Both A and B d. None of the Above

27. Why Farming System is mainly recommended in India?

a. To increase productivity b. 70% of India’s population

depends on agriculture

c. To increase income d. Cheaper way of farming

28. Biogas is composed of

a. Co2 b. Methane, Co2

c. Hydrogen, Fluorine d. Methane, Co2, Hydrogen

Sulphide

29. Which of the following falls under the category of Exotic Breed

a. Murrah b. Jersey

c. Gir d. Ongole Bull

30. The most recommended depth of pond for fish rearing is?

a. 1-2 mt b. 1.5-2 mt

c. 3-4 mt d. 5-6 mt

31. Temperature required for gas production in Biogas Plant?



www.isca.co.in

a. 15 – 20 o c b. 40– 50 o c

c. 30– 35 o c d. 10 – 20 o c

32. Which type of Gas plant is constructed Underground?

a. Fixed Dome type b. Float Type

c. Either of them d. None of these

32. Which type of Gas plant is constructed Underground?

a. Fixed Dome type b. Float Type

c. Either of them d. None of these

Fill in the blanks

1. A set of elements or components that are inter related and interacting among themselves

is referred as a................ (System)

2. ..................... represent an appropriate combination of farm enterprises viz. cropping

system, livestock, poultry, fisheries, forestry and the means available to the farmer to

raise them for increasing profitability. (Farming system)

3. System of farming on a particular farm which includes crop production, raising livestock,

poultry, fisheries, bee keeping etc. to sustain and satisfy as many needs of the farmer as

possible : (Mixed farming)

4. .................... represents cropping patterns used on a farm and their interaction with farm

resources, other farm enterprises and available technology which determine their make

up. (Cropping system)

5. Yearly sequence and spatial arrangement of crops and fallow in an area is indicated

by.................... (Cropping pattern).

6. Recurrent succession of crops an same piece of land either in a year or over a longer

period of time is referred as ..................... (Crop rotation)

7. Growing only one crop on a piece of land year after year is known as ..............

(monocropping/ monoculture)



www.isca.co.in

8. Cropping intensity of monocropping is always............. (1)

9. Growing two or more crops on the same piece of land in one calendar year is known

as..................... : (Multiple cropping)

10. Intercropping, mixed cropping and sequence cropping come under.................. ( Multiple

cropping)

11. Growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land with a definite row

pattern is referred to.................... (Intercropping)

12. Crop sown with 100 per cent of its recommended population in pure stand in

intercropping is called as................. ( Base crop)

13. Base crop and intercrop is seen in..................... type of intercropping. : Additive series

14. In replacement series intercropping system, both the crops are called................:

(Component crops)

15. Short duration and photoperiod insensitive genotypes are best suited for.....................:

(Intensive cropping systems)

16. Growing of two or more crops simultaneously intermingled without any row pattern is

referred as..................... (Mixed cropping)

17. Scientific study of mixed cropping was first done by............... La- Flitze (1928)

18. Mixed cropping is generally practiced in................... tracts of India. : Dryland

19. Growing of two or more crops in sequence on the same piece of land in a farming year is

referred as..................... ( Sequence cropping)

20. ................ refers to planting of the succeeding crop before harvesting the preceding crop.

(Relay cropping)

21. ......................or..........................is an example of relay cropping. Paira (Bihar and WB)

or Utera (MP)

22. Raising a crop with regrowth coming out of the roots or stalks after harvest of the crop is

called .................. : Ratooning/ ratoon crop

23. Farm resources include..................: land, labour, water, capital and infrastructure

24. The term ................is used to describe the effect that the presence of one plant has on the

environment of another. : interference

25. The complimentary interaction between intercrops in the intercropping system is known

as...................... : annidation



www.isca.co.in

26. The complimentary interaction between intercrops in time aspect is called...................... :

temporal annidation

27. Spatial annidation is the principle used in............... cropping system. : multi-storeyed

28. The competitive interaction between crop species intercropping and sequential cropping

through the release of chemical substances or toxins is called...................... : allelopathy

29. The direct or indirect harmful effect on the other crops through the release of toxic

substance as such from the plant is called.................: true allelopathy

30. Chemicals released by plants which shows allelopathy are known as................ : allele-

chemicals

31. Crops which exudates allelochemicals through roots and inhibit the growth of

neighbouring species are..................: walnut, cucumber, sunflower and peach

32. Crop in which allelochemicalsexudated through leaves is.................. : Eucalyptus

globules

33. Wheat crop that follows rice suffers from high density of weed.................. : Phalaris

minor

34. The non-competitive interaction between the crop species through release of organic

substances which stimulate the growth of the other crop is called................ : negative

allelopathy

35. The yields of different intercrops are converted into equivalent yield of anyone crop

based on the price of the produce is......................: Crop Equivalent Yield

36. Relative land area under sole crops that is required to produce the yields achieved in

intercropping is................: Land Equivalent Ratio (LER)

37. Intercropping is beneficial when LER is................: >1

38. Relative crowding coefficient, aggressivity, competition index and competition ratio can

be used to evaluate the..................... of cropping systems. : productivity

39. ....................... is the sum of area planted to different crops and harvested in a single year

divided by the total cultivated area expressed as percentage. : Multiple Cropping Index

(MCI)

40. Multiple Cropping Index (MCI) is given by................. : Dalrymple (1971)

41. Cropping Intensity Index (CII) was suggested by................. : Menegayet.al. (1978)



www.isca.co.in

42. Efficient cropping zone is judged by.................. and................. : Cropping Intensity

Index (CII) and Land Equivalent Ratio (LER)

43. Indices that represent the biological suitability of cropping system to an area are...............

: Land Equivalent Ratio (LER), Relative Yield Total (RYT) etc.

44. The total monetary value of economic produce and byproducts obtained from the crops

raised in the cropping system calculated based on the local market prices is.............. :

gross return

45. Total expenditure incurred for raising crops in a cropping system is referred as..................

: cost of cultivation

46. ...............is obtained by subtracting cost of cultivation from gross return. : net returns

47. .................. is the good indicator of suitability of a cropping system since it represents the

actual income to the farmers. :Net returns

48. Ratio of gross returns to cost of cultivation which can also be expressed as returns per

rupee invested : Cost-benefit ratio

49. Short duration sorghum hybrids suitable for intercropping with long duration redgram

varieties are......................... : CSH-6 and CSH-9

50. ..................is planted as trap crop for root-knot nematodes in pineapple plantations. :

Tomato



www.isca.co.in

CHAPTER 9: DRYLAND AGRICULTURE AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

1. Growing of crops entirely under rainfed condition is known as........... : Dryland

agriculture

2. Dry farming region receives rainfall ................ per annum : less than 750mm

3. Crop failures are more frequent under ............ conditions : dry farming

4. Dry farming regions are equivalent to ......... regions. : arid

5. Cultivation of crops in areas receiving rainfall above 750mm per annum is known

as........... : dryland farming

6. Dryland farming regions are grouped under ......... regions. : semi arid

7. Major problem faced in rainfed farming is............ : drainage

8. Rainfall received in rainfed faming region is more than............ per annum. : 1150mm

9. Providing facilities for protective irrigation was one of the important recommendations

of................. : first famine commission

10. All India Coordinated Research Project on Dryland Agriculture was started during..........

: 1970

11. An extended period of deficient rainfall compared to normal rainfall of the region is

called.............. : drought

12. As per Indian Meteorological Department, drought is a situation occurring in any areas in

a year when annual rainfall is less than.................per cent of the normal. : 75

13. When deficiency of rainfall is above 50% of the normal, it is termed as............. : severe

drought

14. International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) was

established on and at...................: Oct 11, 1972 near Patancheru (Hyderabad)

15. International Centre for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas is situated at.................. :

Aleppo (Syria)

16. Substantial deficit of rainfall relative to average of the region is referred as.................. :

meteorological drought



www.isca.co.in

17. As per Indian Meteorological Department, meteorological drought is a situation when

there is a ............ percent decrease in the average rainfall for a given period in a region. :

25

18. Extended dry period which lack rainfall resulting in insufficient moisture in the root zone

of soil and causing adverse effects on crop is referred as................. : agricultural

drought

19. Extended dry period leading to marked depletion of surface water and drying up of water

bodies is observed in ...................... : hydrological drought

20. Rainless period of more than.....and..... days respectively in light soils and heavy soils

areas is referred as dry spell

21. ...............is prolonged dry spell resulting in wilting or drying of crops. : Drought

22. Severe form of drought is called.................. : famine

23. Land degradation in arid, semi arid and dry humid areas is known as.................. :

desertification

24. The action of lack of or excess of water on plants is referred as............ : moisture stress

25. .......... occurs in the plants whenever transpiration exceeds absorption. : Water deficit

26. ............. is the ratio between rainfall (weekly/monthly) at 50% probability level to the

potential evapotranspiration of the corresponding period. : Moisture Availability Index

(MAI)

27. Temporary wilting is also known as.................. or..................... : incipient wilting or

midday depression

28. In soybean, stomatal closure occurs when leaf water potential approaches about............:

-1.0 to -1.2MPa

29. When the soil moisture reaches about -15 bars, plants show wilting symptoms most of the

day, but do not die and is known as................... : permanent wilting point

30. Ultimate wilting point, where plants die permanently occurs when the soil moisture

deplete to a level of.............. : -6 MPa

31. As moisture stress increases, turgidity of guard cells.............. : decreases

32. Moisture stress reduces photosynthetic rate mainly due to.................: stomata resistance

33. The primary photochemical and electron transport process are affected at leaf water

potential of........... : -0.87 MPa



www.isca.co.in

34. Reduction in photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content, leaf area and increase in assimilate

saturation in leaves which inturn reduces photosynthetic rate is caused by................... :

moisture stress

35. During moisture stress stomata per unit leaf area tend to............... : increase

36. An amino acid which accumulates during moisture stress and considered as a good

indicator of moisture stress : Proline

37. Hormones which reduces their activity during water deficit : cytokinin, gibberellic acid

and indoleacetic acid

38. The activity of growth regulating hormones like abscisic acid, ethylene, betain

etc................... with water deficit. : increases

39. Hormone which acts as water deficit sensor to minimize the loss of tissue water potential

: Abscisic acid

40. Moisture stress indicator hormone : Betain

41. Nitrogen assimilation is affected by moisture stress due to reduction in...................

activity. : nitrate reductase

42. Critical stage for moisture stress in cereals is................... : panicle initiation

43. Crop stages less sensitive to moisture stress : vegetative and grain filling

44. In several legumes drought causes : pod abortion

45. The ability of crop to grow satisfactorily under water stress is called................ : drought

adaptation

46. Simplest means of adaptation of plants to dry conditions is : evading the period of

drought

47. Safety mechanism in desert plants/ ephemerals to overcome moisture stress is ............... :

germination inhibitors

48. .................... is the ability to maintain a favourable water balance and turgidity even when

exposed to drought conditions, thereby avoiding stress and its consequences. : Stress

avoidance

49. The plants with .................. mechanism is said to be highly drought resistant. :

Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM)

50. In crops like sorghum and soybean, under moisture stress water loss id reduced by

depositing.................... on plant surfaces. : lipids



www.isca.co.in

51. Parahelionistic movements is adapted by ........................ plants to avoid solar radiation. :

leguminous

52. .................. increases leaf reflectance and reduces solar radiation incidence. : Pubescence

53. Morphological characteristics of leaves effective in reducing transpiration rate under

drought conditions : thick cuticle, waxy surface, spines etc.

54. ................. helps to maintain turgor when water deficit develops. : Osmotic adjustment

55. ..................... is defined as tolerance of the plants to a level of stress at which 50 per cent

of cells die. : Drought tolerance

56. Resisting dehydration and maintenance of higher osmotic pressure by accumulating

higher amount of solutes are simplest methods to................. : mitigate stress

57. Adverse influence of drought on metabolism of plants is known as................. : metabolic

strain

58. Younger leaves are more resistant to drought than older leaves due to .................. :

higher protein content

59. Collecting and storing water for subsequent use is known as ..............: water harvesting

60. Components of a water harvesting system : catchment area, storage area and

command area

61. Rain water harvesting is possible even in areas which receive a minimal average annual

rainfall of ............... : 50 – 80mm

62. Water harvesting method adopted in arid regions where limited rainfall is received as

short intense storms : Water spreading

63. Tanka, nadi and khadin are the important traditional water harvesting systems of

................... : Rajasthan

64. ............................... is the traditional water harvesting system followed by farmers in

Chattisgarh. : Raised and sunken bed system

65. Dug wells, tanks, percolation tanks, farm ponds etc. are water harvesting structures

adopted in .................. regions. : semi arid

66. The changes in soil moisture content with time is known as...................... : soil moisture

dynamics

67. .................. is defined as the proportion of growing season precipitation actually used for

evapotranspiration from soil-crop complex. : Effective rainfall



www.isca.co.in

68. Effective rainfall ranges from ............. per cent of total rainfall. : 20- 50

69. In alfisols and vertisols runoff accounts for............. and.............. per cent of rainfall

respectively. : 5-33 and 13-37

70. The amount of soil moisture stored in the soil depends on its.................and.................. :

depth and porosity

71. The vertisol and alfisol profile are physically................. and ........................ respectively.

: homogenous and heterogenous

72. The evapotranspiration losses can be reduced by : mulches, antitranspirants, wind

breaks and weed control

73. Per cent of rainfall loss through evaporation : 60-70

74. Any material applied on the soil surface to check evaporation and improve soil water is

called .................. : mulch

75. Main types of mulches are : soil mulch/ dust mulch, stubble mulch, straw mulch,

plastic much and vertical mulch

76. Nearly 99 per cent of the water absorbed by the plant is lost through..................... :

transpiration

77. Any material applied to transpiring plant surfaces for reducing water loss from the plant

is referred as ...................: antitranspirant

78. Phenyl mercuric acetate (PMA) and atrazine are examples of ................... type of

antitranspirant. : stomatal closing

79. Examples for film forming type antitranspirant: Mobileaf, hexadeconol, silicone etc.

80. Reflectant type antitranspirants are : kaolin spray (5%), diatomaceous earth product

(celite)

81. Cycocel is a ..........................type antitranspirant. : growth retardant

82. Any structures that obstruct wind flow and reduces wind speed is ..................... : wind

breaks

83. .................... are rows of trees planted for protection of crops against wind

84. Transpiration rate from weeds is................. compared to crops. : more

85. Growing suitable crops in place normally sown highly profitable crop of the region due to

aberrant weather conditions is called ..................... : contingency cropping



www.isca.co.in

86. Cropping system adopted in farming areas receiving rainfall below 500mm .................. :

monocropping

87. Intercropping system is practiced in farming area where annual rainfall is ................: 600-

850mm

88. In areas receiving rainfall more than 850mm ........................system is feasible. : double

cropping

89. ........................ is defined as the yield obtained per unit of water used in field scale. :

Water Use Efficiency (WUE)

90. Most efficient irrigation method for supplemental irrigation is................. : subsurface

drip irrigation

91. Adverse effects of water stress on groundnut can be minimized by the application

of................. : paclobutrazol

92. In which crop pre-treatment of 2-aminoethanol is effective to reduce diverse effects of

water stress. : barley

93. Any surface area from which rainfall is collected and drains through a common point is

called as ...............: watershed

94. ...................... is defined as a natural unit of land whose runoff collects and flows out of

the area through a single common outlet into a river or other water body. : Watershed

95. Micro, mini and macro watersheds are classified based on ...............: size/area

96. The water catchment area of a tributary is called................... : sub catchment area

97. In which five year plan Government of India launched Watershed Management

Programme? : Seventh

98. The term water harvesting was first time used by................. : Myors

99. Water harvesting was developed to a fine art about 2000 years by : Nabateans

100. Irrespective of the crop stage, supplemental irrigation scheduled when soil

moisture approaches to permanent wilting point to save the crop is termed as................... :

life-saving irrigation.



www.isca.co.in

CHAPTER 10 : CROP ECOLOGY AND STRESS MANAGEMENT

1. The term ecology is derived from the word.................meaning home. : ‘Oikos’

2. The relationship of a crop or crop communities with its surroundings/ environment is

referred as................ : crop ecology

3. A local climatic condition that differs from surrounding areas because of differences in

relief, exposure or cover is called...................: microclimate

4. The climate just above and beneath the plant’s canopy, different from surrounding

environment is the................ : eco-climate of the plant

5. If the eco-climate of plant is.......................... than the surroundings, it favours the spread

of insect pests and diseases. : more humid and cooler

6. Soil character which affects the microclimate is.................... : soil colour

7. The percentage of the incoming radiations that is reflected is called................ : Albedo

8. Factors influencing Albedo are........... : soil type, plant cover, soil moisture, soil

organic matter

9. Specific gravity of the soil and water is...........and............... respectively. : 0.2 and 1.0

10. In Agronomy, the efficient utilisation of assimilation and CO2 fixation i.e. photosynthesis

is expressed in the terms of....................... : Harvest Index(HI)

11. Harvest Index is also called as................... : Coefficient of Effectiveness

12. Harvest Index is calculated by................... : Economic yield / Biological yield x 100

13. The part of the plant where photosynthesis occurs is called............... : source

14. ................ is the place where photosynthates accumulate. : Sink

15. The concept of Ideotype was given by............... : Donald (1968)

16. .................. is defined as a biological model which is expected to perform or behave in a

predictable manner within a defined environment. : Ideotype

17. On the basis of environment, ideotypes are classified into................ : Isolation and

competition ideotypes

18. ................... ideotypes are suitable for mixed cultivation. : Competition

19. Who proposed the ideotypes for grains? : Pande and Suxena (1973)

20. Dr. Asana proposed ideotype for.................. : rainfed wheat

21. Agro-climatic Regional Planning in India was initiated in the year.......... :1988

22. Under which five year plan Regional planning came into force : Seventh



www.isca.co.in

23. ................... is a land unit in terms of major climates suitable for a certain range of crops

and cultivars. : Agro-climatic zone

24. On the basis of water surplus, water deficit and cropping system, how many agro-climatic

zones exist in India? : 15

25. ..................... is an area of the earth’s surface characterised by distinct ecological

responses to macro-climates expressed by soils, vegetation, fauna and aquatic systems.

: Ecological region

26. The land unit cut out of agro climatic region when superimposed on land form and the

kind of soils and soil conditions that act as modifiers to climate and length of growing

period is termed as........................ : Agro-ecological region

27. At present, how many agro-ecological zones exist in India? :21

28. Agro-climatic zone with cropping intensity 142% (India’s national CI is 136%)

is.................... : Middle Gangetic Plain

29. Maximum net sown area and irrigated area comes under.................... : Transgangetic

Plains



www.isca.co.in

CHAPTER 11: SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION

1. .................. is the process of detachment of soil particles from the parent body and

transportation of the detached soil particles by wind and / or water. : Soil erosion

2. The agents causing erosion are.............. and................... : wind and water

3. The transporting agents of soil include.............. : flowing water, rain splash and wind

4. ................. is the excess water from precipitation that moves out of field and finds its way

to river, lakes and ocean. : Runoff

5. Soil erosion caused by water is called.............. : water erosion

6. The chief role of the falling rain drops is to .................the soil particles. : detach

7. Initial stage of soil erosion caused by water/ rainfall is called................: sheet erosion

8. Uniform removal of top soil in thin layer from the field is observed in................. : sheet

erosion

9. Channelised erosion and formation of incisions on ground is observed in second stage of

water erosion which is termed as.................. : rill erosion

10. .................... are formed when channelised runoff from vast sloping land is sufficient in

volume and velocity to cut deep and wide channels. : Gullies

11. The most spectacular symptoms of erosion are................. : Gullies

12. Geological process significantly contributing to gully formation is............ : Slumping

13. Erosion and deepening of gully beds can be prevented with.................. : gully plugs

14. Deep and wide gullies, whose formation indicates very advanced stage of gully erosion is

called................. : ravines

15. Sliding down of large chunk of soil due to steep slopes is called................: landslides

16. Landslide is also called................. : slip erosion

17. Landslides occur in mountain slopes when the slope exceeds.......... per cent and width

6m. : 20

18. Along with runoff, soil is carried away as fine particles of ..............in diameter are

suspended in water. : less than 0.5mm

19. .................. acts as a powerful detaching and transporting agent. : Overland flow



www.isca.co.in

20. ................... is caused by rivers, streams and torrents cutting their banks and adjoining

fields. : Stream-bank erosion

21. .................. starts only when the amount of runoff exceeds 0.3 to 0.7 ../s. : Rill erosion

22. The rainfall intensity of more than................is considered as severe. : 5cm/h

23. ................is the capacity of agents causing erosion. : Erosivity

24. The susceptibility of soil to erosion is termed as............ : erodibility

25. Soil erodibility factor (K) varies from near zero to................. : 0.6

26. More easily eroded soils with low infiltration capacities have a K factor of............. : 0.3

or higher

27. ..................... reflects the influence of length and steepness of slope. : Topographic

factor (LS)

28. In case of light soils like sandy soils and sandy loams, even they are easy detach,

transportation is difficult as the particles are................ : heavy

29. The 32.7% of total geographical area of India is degraded, of which water and wind

erosion accounts for nearly............. :65%

30. Runoff is less in............... : light soils

31. With increasing fineness of soil texture, runoff and soil erosion............. : increases

32. Permissible value of soil erosion is...............: 11 t/ha

33. Annual soil erosion estimated to be taking place in India is............... :16.35 t/ha

34. .................... is the preservation of soil against deterioration and loss by using it within its

capabilities and applying the conservation practices needed for its protection and

improvement. : Soil conservation

35. Land capability classification was given by............... : U.S. Soil Conservation Service

36. According to land capability classification, land used for agriculture or crop cultivation

comes under............... : Class I to IV

37. Land where cultivation is not possible, but utilised for growing grasses, forestry and

supporting wild life comes under............... : Class V to VIII

38. Agronomic measures are adopted for controlling soil erosion where slope is................ :

<2%

39. Cultivation of crops along the contours of a slope is called...................... : contour

cultivation



www.isca.co.in

40. Soil physical characters like porosity, bulk density, surface roughness and hardness of

pans can be altered by................ : tillage

41. Ploughing twice or thrice followed by harrowing and planking is done in................... :

conventional tillage

42. Disturbing the soil to the minimum extent necessary and leaving crop residues on the soil

is practiced in......................: conservation tillage

43. Conservation tillage reduces soil loss by............ per cent over conventional tillage. : 50

44. A system of crop production in which long and narrow strips of erosion resisting crops

are altered with strip of erosion permitting crops is called as................ : strip- cropping

45. Contour bunds are usually laid in areas with................. rainfall and upto to 6 per cent

slope of land. : 1500mm

46. Mechanical measure recommended in situations where the rain water is not readily

absorbed either due to high rainfall or low intake of the soil is................ : graded

bunding

47. On steeply sloping (16-33%) and undulated land, intensive farming is possible only

with.................. : bench terracing

48. Bench terraces with narrow width (1m) constructed for orchard plantations are

called................ : orchard bench terracing

49. Bench terraces sloping inwards is also called as.................. : hill type bench terraces

50. ..................... are small embankments constructed with stones across the slops. : Stone

terracing/ stone wall terraces

51. High yielding grasses used for soil conservation are : Pennisetum purpureum, Cenchrus

cilaris, Setarias phacelata

52. Soil conservation using grasses comes under............... agrostological measures

53. Soil erosion caused by wind is called............... : wind erosion

54. Three stages of wind erosion are : saltation, surface creep and suspension

55. The first stage of movement of soil particles in series of jumps is................... : saltation

56. ......... per cent of the weight of the soil lost by wind erosion is carried in saltation. 50-75

57. .......................is the rolling of coarse grains, larger than 0.5 to 3mm in diameter and too

heavy to be lifted by the wind along the surface of the ground. : Surface creep

58. Floating of fine dust particles through the air is known as................. : suspension



www.isca.co.in

59. The climatic factors affecting wind erosion are................... : wind velocity, temperature

and rainfall

60. ................ is the cause for transforming the fertile Indo- Gangetic alluvial plain into a

sandy desert. : Wind erosion

61. ..................... built across wind direction is useful for soil and moisture conservation. :

Shelterbelts

62. Mechanical measure adopted to reduce wind velocity by providing physical obstructions

such as fences, terraces etc. is known as................ : windbreaks

63. Best suited Indian tree species used for shelterbelt : Prosopisspecigera, Albizziaamare,

Tamarindusindica

64. Exotic species suitable for shelterbelt: Eucalyptus spp.

65. Soil aggregation can be improved by increasing................. : organic matter

66. Erosion caused by the combined action of wind and water is called............. : wave

erosion

67. Wave erosion mainly occurs in.................. : canal and river banks

68. Wave erosion can be controlled by.................. : lining canals



www.isca.co.in

CHAPTER 12: AGRO-FORESTRY AND SOCIAL FORESTRY

1. ................ is a system where agriculture and forestry are practiced either simultaneously

or separately on the same unit of land. : Agro-forestry

2. Agriculture in forest is called.............. : Agro-forestry

3. 6 ‘F’s of agro-forestry are : Food, Feed, Fibre, Fuel, Furniture, Funds

4. The growing of agricultural crops along with forest crops is known as................... : agri-

silviculture

5. Land management system in which forests are managed for the production of wood as

well as for rearing of domesticated animals is.............. : Sylvo-pastoral system

6. Agricultural crops + forest crops + pasture management comes under.................. : agro-

sylvo-pastoral system

7. Forestry for the multipurpose benefits or uses are called................... : multipurpose

forest tree production systems

8. ................is the agro-forestry practice in which production of protein rich tree fodder on

farm/ rangelands for cut-and-carry fodder production is undertaken. : Protein bank

9. The growing of fruit trees along with honey bee rearing is called................ : horti-

apiculture

10. Combined stand of woody and agricultural species during early stages of establishment of

plantation is practices in................. : Taungya system

11. .................... means plantation of such trees which are useful for community

development. : Social forestry

12. The word ‘Social forestry’ was first time used by.................... :Westoby(1968)

13. Who defined social forestry as ‘programmes for raising plants and trees for supply of fire

wood, fodder and small timber for the community’? : National Commission on

Agriculture (1976)

14. Principles of social forestry include : principle of democracy, forest area extension,

poverty-eradication, employment and Govt. Based programme

15. Encouraging farmers to plant and raise trees on their own plot of land through free or

subsidised supply of seedling is called................... : farm forestry



www.isca.co.in

16. For the benefit of the community as a whole through massive plantations along roadside

and canal banks, tanks and ponds and on fallow and uncultivated lands is termed as

............... : rural forestry or extension forestry

17. Forestry in the urban areas i.e. on the useless lands come under............ : urban forestry

18. For environmentally sound country, ideal forest area should be............... : 33%

19. Forest area loss of our country per year is................. : 1.5mha

20. Top soil loss per year due to soil erosion in India is................ : 12000 m tones



www.isca.co.in

CHAPTER 13: SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND ORGANIC FARMING

1. Form of agriculture aimed at meeting the needs of the present generation without

endangering the resource base of the future generations is termed as.............. :

sustainable agriculture

2. Sustainable agriculture is also known as................ : ecofarming/ organic farming/

natural farming/ permaculture

3. Layer in the stratosphere which protects the surface of the earth from ultra violet

radiation from the sun is................. : ozone

4. Decline in ozone concentration per year is............ : nearly half a per cent

5. Ozone depletion is caused by : chlorofluorocarbons, nitrogen oxide and methane

6. For every one molecule of chlorine from chlorofluorocarbon, about....................

molecules of ozone are removed from ozone layer. : 1,00,000

7. ............... is gas responsible global warming . : Carbon dioxide

8. Deforestation is estimated to be proceeding at the rate of about........per year. : 1.5 mha

9. Improper management of irrigation water result in....................... in soil : salinization

and alkalization

10. In sustainable agriculture,................ with legumes is adopted for building soil fertility. :

crop rotation

11. Sustainable agriculture mainly depends on................... for nutrient supply. : soil organic

matter

12. Water management is divided into...................&........................ in sustainable agriculture.

: rain water management & irrigation water management

13. Crop rotation, tillage and hand-weeding are methods practiced to control.............. : weed

14. In the absence of plant protection measures, it is estimated that on n average............. per

cent of yield loss occurs. :20-30

15. The conversion process from modern agriculture to sustainable agriculture usually

takes................ years. : 3-6

16. The sustainable agriculture movement started in............... : 1981

17. Expand IIFS : Integrated Intensive Farming System



www.isca.co.in

18. Intensive use of resources of the farm is involved in............... : IIFS

19. Soil health care, water harvesting and management, crop management, pest management,

energy management, post harvest management, information, skill organisation and

management empowerment are components of............... : IIFS

20. Neem derivatives, extracts of Vitexnigundo, custard apple seed oil etc. are used by

farmers for.................. : repelling/ eliminating pests

21. ................ involves the use of renewable resources and recycling, returning to the soil the

nutrients found in the waste products. : Organic farming

22. Promoting agencies of organic farming in India are..............: National Steering

Committee, Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India and APEDA

23. Certification of organic farm and producers are done by: IFOAM, Coffee Board, Tea

Board, Spices Board, Coconut Development Board and Directorate of Cashew and

Cocoa

24. Coordinating agency for organic production and export is................. :APEDA

25. Assam was declared as...................at India Organic Trade Fair 2008. : ‘Organic State of

the Year’



www.isca.co.in

CHAPTER 14: PRECISION AGRICULTURE

1. ................. is defined as the application of principles and technologies to manage spatial

and temporal variability associated with all aspects of agricultural production for the

purpose of improving crop performance and environmental quality. : Precision

agriculture

2. .................. is a management approach to the cultivation of crops by considering spatially

and temporal variation in soils, rainfall and adopting management techniques to reduce

cost, efficient use of inputs and reduce environmental pollution.: Precision agriculture

3. ...................... is a relatively new and mostly technology driven approach: Precision

agriculture

4. Precision farming is also termed as...................... : spatially variable crop production/

site specific management

5. Emerging information technologies such as Global Positioning System (GPS),

Geographical Information System (GIS), remote sensing, yield monitors etc. are used

in............... : precision farming

6. ............................. referred precision agriculture as original form of agriculture. :

Langkinlde and Stafford (1999)

7. Who defined precision farming as site specific farming, smart farming and GPS based

farming? Palaniappan (2002)

8. Reduction in cost of cultivation, increase in production efficiency of inputs and reduction

in environmental pollution are advantaged of precision agriculture due to................ : site

specific crop management practices

9. Basic principle of precision agriculture is.................. : understanding the variability

both in time and space

10. ..................... is an important tool in precision agriculture to simulate spatial and temporal

variation in soil properties, pests, crop yield and environmental performance of cropping

systems. : Modeling.



www.isca.co.in

CHAPTER 15: PROBLEMATIC SOILS AND WASTELAND MANAGEMENT

1. Toxic concentration of soluble salts (Cl-& SO4

2-) of Na, Ca and Mg in the root zone is

characteristics of......................... : Saline soil

2. Saline soil is also called as.................. : white alkali

3. Electrical conductivity (EC) of soil solution saturated extract is...........milli mhos/cm at

250C. : >4.0

4. pH of saline soil is ............. : <8.5

5. Essential component of any permanent solution for salinity problem is.............. :

leaching with good quality water and adequate drainage

6. Soils with high exchangeable sodium percentage, EC <4.0m.mhos/cmat 250C, ESP

>15%, pH >8.5(generally 8.5-10) and low infiltration rate are characteristics of.................

: sodic soils

7. Sodic soils are also called................ : black alkali/ non-saline alkali soil

8. Sodic soils can be managed by.............. : gypsum, iron pyrite, calcium salts, leaching

with good quality water etc.

9. Characteristics of saline-alkali soils are.................. : EC >4.0m.mhos/cm at 250C, ESP

>15% and pH <8.5

10. High salt tolerant crops are.................. : rice, sugarcane, oats

11. Pulses, sesame, beans, radish etc are.......... : low salt tolerant

12. Medium salt tolerant crops are................ : cotton, sorghum, maize, mustard, wheat

13. Soils having pH less than 5.5 are called .................. : acid soils

14. Acid soils have relatively high amount of exchangeable ...........&............. : H+&Al

+

15. Laterisation, podzolization, intense leaching of light alluvial soils and marshy conditions

with significant amount of partly decomposed O.M. are processes involved

in........................... : acid soil formation

16. Acid soils do not occur in .................. soil. : black soil (vertisols)

17. High soil acidity increase solubility and availability of elements like..................... in toxic

amount. : Al, Mn, and Fe

18. ................is recommended for managing acid soils. : liming

19. Major liming material (>90%) used in India is...........: calcium limestone (Ca CO3)

20. Liming material rich in Mg is..................: dolomite



www.isca.co.in

21. Lands that are not used either for agriculture, pasture or forestry is...............: wastelands

22. Reasons why wastelands are unproductive include: low fertility, rocky ness,

shallowness of soil, salinity, alkalinity andswampyness

23. The utmost important factor in re-establishment of vegetation is............... : selection of

suitable plant species

24. For coastal sands the suitable plants are............... :causurina, cashew and coconut

25. Poor soils can be improved by growing..........plants : leguminous



www.isca.co.in

CHAPTER 16: GLOSSARY OF AGRONOMY

1. Acid rain :Atmospheric precipitation with less than pH 5.6 due to inorganic acids such as

Nitric and Sulphuric acids are formed when oxides of N and S emitted in the atmosphere

2. Adhesion: The force of attraction that binds the molecules of different kinds.

3. Acid soil: A soil with a pH less than 7. An acid soil has a preponderance of hydrogen

ions over hydroxyl ions, and blue litmus paper turns red in contact with moist acid soil.

4. Aerobic: Condition with oxygen gas as a part of the environment.

5. Agriculture: It is an art, science business of producing crops and livestock for economic

purposes.

6. Agronomy: An agricultural science deals with principles and practices of soil and crop

management.

7. Alfisol: Soils with grey to brown surface horizons, medium to high supply of bases and B

horizons of illuvial clay accumulation .These soils formed mostly under forest or savanna

vegetation in climates with slight to pronounced seasonal moisture deficit.

8. Alkaline soil: A soil with pH above 7, usually above 8.5

9. Allelopathy : is defined as direct or indirect harmful effect of one plant over other crop

species through the exudation of toxic substances from the roots or the decomposition of

crop residues

10. Alluvium: type of soil formed near riverbed by the process of deposition.

11. Ammonification: Production of ammonia as a result of the biological decomposition of

organic nitrogen compounds.

12. Anaerobic: An organism that survives in the absence of air or molecular oxygen.

13. Anion exchange capacity: The sum total of exchangeable anions that a soil can adsorb

expressed as milliequivalent/100 g of soil.

14. Anion: An ion carrying a negative charge.

15. Arid climate: A generally extremely dry climate with an annual precipitation usually less

than 250 mm and generally rainfall is well short of evapotranspiration demand of the

atmosphere.

16. Aridisol: Minerals soils that have an aridic moisture regime. These are desert soil.

17. Autotrophs: An organism which makes food from inorganic raw materials. e.g green

plants.



www.isca.co.in

18. Available water: The portion of water in a soil that can be readily absorbed by plants

roots considered by most workers to be that water which is held in the soil against a

pressure of up to approximately 15 bars moisture which lies between field capacity and

wilting point.

19. Basal application: application fertilizer before sowing or planting the crop.

20. Base saturation capacity: is the soil is saturated with exchangeable cations other than

hydrogen and Aluminium.

21. Biological nitrogen fixation: The fixing of the atmospheric nitrogen in to the soil by the

help of certain micro organism.

22. Blue revolution: The increase in the production of fishes.

23. Border cropping : is growing of crops on the border areas of the plot or field

Ex; Safflower as border crop in potato

24. Border strip irrigation: It is an efficient method of irrigation close growing crops and

consists essentially of dividing the field by low flat levels into series of strips, each of

which is flooded separately.

25. Breeder seed: It is the seed directly controlled by the originating plant institution or

individual, and the of the production of seed for the certified classes. It is genetically

purest seed.

26. Broadcasting: The process of scattering of Agricultural inputs like seed, fertilizer and

manure, on the surface of the soil by hand or by machine.

27. Bulk density: It is the ratio of the mass of the soils solids to the bulk volume of the soil.

It is expressed in mass per unit volume, generally g/cc.

28. C:N ratio: The ratio of the weight of organic C to the weight of total N in the soil.

29. C3 plants: A plant in which the 1st product of CO2 fixation is the 3-carbon compound,

phosphoglyceric acid and is comparatively photo synthetically less efficient than C4

plants. e.g wheat, rice.

30. C4 plants: A plant in which the first product of CO2 fixation is the 4-carbon compound

oxalo acetic acid and is photo synthetically more active, than C3 plants. Eg.maize

31. Calcariuos soil- Soils with kankar nodules in the plough zone and subsoil.



www.isca.co.in

32. CAM plants: Crassulacean Acid Metabolism. In these plants during the night the CO2 is

stored in the form of malic acid which is broken down to CO2 during the day even when

stomata are closed, thus the photosynthesis continues.

33. Capillary water- the water which is held by surface tension forces as a continuous film

around the soil particle. It is the water held in the micro pores that is available to plants

34. Cardinal temperature- it is the minimum, optimum and maximum temperature of a

plant for it’s growth.

35. Cation exchange capacity: the sum total of exchangeable cation absorbed by the soil

expressed by millieqivalent/100 g of soil

36. Cation: an ion having positive charge except H+

37. Certified seed: The seed produced from foundation seed, which is handled to maintain a

satisfactory genetic purity and identity in a manner acceptable to certifying agency.

38. Check basin: It is a method of irrigation with beds and channel for retaining water to

form a pond

39. Chilling injury: Injury caused by relatively low temperature above the freezing point

40. Chisel plough: it is sub soil plough to break the hardpan in the subsoil done once in three

years

41. Chlorite: it is a 2:2 non expanding clay mineral

42. Clay: a soil particle with a size of less than 0.002mm

43. Clod: A compact mass of soil ranging in size from 5 to 10 mm to as much as 200-250mm

produced artificially by the activity of man in ploughing.

44. Cohesion: it is the force of attraction between the same molecule. Eg water

45. Colluvium: A deposit of rock fragments and soil material accumulated at the base of

slopes by gravity

46. Conservation tillage: It is a tillage designed to maintain the roughness of the field

surface and leave most of the previous crop residues on the surface.

47. Consumptive use: Evaporation +Transpiration + water used for metabolic purposes

48. Contact herbicide: a chemical which kills primarily by contact with plant tissue rather

than as a result of translocation.

49. Contour farming: A method of cultivation where all farm operations will be carried

along the contour



www.isca.co.in

50. Cover crops: crops which are grown to cover the soil in order to reduce the loss of the

moisture from the soil due to leaching and erosion.

51. Critical stage of irrigation: the period or the stage of development of lifecycle of the

crop when it is most sensitive to moisture stress, results in yield loss.

52. Crop rotation: The practice of growing different crops in succession on the same

land.Ex; Rice-wheat-fallow

53. Cropping pattern: it is the yearly sequence and spatial arrangement of crops and fallow

on a given area

54. Cropping system: is the cropping pattern followed in a farm and its interaction with

other farm enterprises and available technology which determine their make up.

55. Day neutral plants: the plants which are independent of daylength and can bloom under

condition of either long or short days.

56. Deflocculation : it is breaking or separation of soil aggregates into their individual

particles.

57. Delta : A triangular area formed at the mouth of the river which contains the deposits of

sediments or sand.

58. Denitrification : The biochemical reduction of nitrate or nitrite to gaseous nitrogen in the

soil as molecular nitrogen with the help of various denitrifying bacteria.

59. Diffusion : The movement of molecules of from a region of high concentration to a

region of low concentration

60. Double cropping : Growing two crops in a year in sequence from a same piece of land

Eg: rice-wheat

61. Drainage : The removal of excess surface or ground water from land by means of surface

or subsurface drains.

62. Drip irrigation: it is an irrigation method that applies water slowly to the roots of plants,

by depositing the water either on the soil surface or directly to the root zone using

emitters

63. Dryland farming: the practice of crop production entirely with rain water received

during the crop season or on conserved soil moisture in low rainfall areas.

64. Duty of water: it is the area irrigated by one cusec discharge of water during the crop

period.



www.isca.co.in

65. Ecological agriculture: it is the potential for introducing mutually reinforcing ecological

approaches to food production.

66. Effective rainfall: A fraction of total precipitation which forms a part of crop

consumptive use.

67. Eluviation: is the leaching of soluble salts and clay particles to the sub soil

68. Erosion: removal of soil particles by natural agents like wind, water and snow.

69. Evaporation: loss of water from the soil due to solar radiation

70. Evapotranspiration: it is loss of moisture from the soil and plant by evaporation and

transpiration

71. Exchangeable sodium percentage/ESP: it is the ratio to the amount of exchangeable

sodium to the total Cation exchange capacity of the soil multiplied with 100.

72. Fallow: A cultivable land which is not cultivated during the year/season

73. Farming system: A combination of farm enterprises viz cropping system, livestock,

poultry, fisheries, forestry and the means available to the farmer to raise them for

increasing profitability.

74. Field capacity: it the soil moisture range present in the soil at 0.33 atmosphere or is the

maximum level of available soil moisture.

75. Foundation seed: The second link in the certified seed chain produced from breeder seed

and handled in such a way as to ensure genetic identity and varietal purity.

76. Freezing injury: Plant tissue is killed when they are exposed to temperature low enough

to cause ice formation in them.

77. Furrow irrigation: A method of applying irrigation water to fields or orchards by small

ditches or furrows which lead from the supply ditch.

78. Geoponics: cultivation of plants in surface soil

79. Geotropism: A growth movement in response to gravity. Eg Groundnut peg penetration

into the soil

80. Global warming: Increase in earth’s atmospheric temperature due to green house effect.

81. Gravitational water: Water that moves freely in response to gravity and drains out of the

soil mainly through macrospores not available for plants

82. Green house effect: The entrapment of heat by upper atmospheric gases such as CO2,

water vapour, methane etc. Increase in the quantities of these gases will result in



www.isca.co.in

preventing escape of long wave radiation thus increase the global temperature which is

harmful for mankind

83. Green leaf manure: leaves, twigs and plants collected from other fields and border rows

and incorporated into the field. Eg Glyricidia , Calotropis, Tephrosia

84. Green manure: crops grown in the a field and incorporated in the same field eg: daincha,

sunhemp

85. Green revolution: Increase in food grain production by the introduction of high yielding

wheat and rice cultivars, Dr.Norman E.Borlaug 1967

86. Ground water: Sub surface water in the zone of saturation that is free to move under the

influence of gravity

87. Growth regulators: Organic substances which in minute amount may participate in the

control of growth processes Ex :Auxins, Cytokinins

88. Halophytes : Plants tolerant to high soil salinity conditions

89. Hard pan : It is a hard and impermeable layer formed in the soil profile by accumulation

of materials such as salts, clay etc which impedes drainage

90. Harrowing : A secondary tillage operation which pulverizes, smoothens and pack the

soil in the seed bed preparation and or control weeds

91. Heat injury :Very high temperature often stops growth. The plant faces incipient

starvation due to high respiration rate. The plant stunted and if the condition continuous

the plant will die

92. Heaving : Injury to plants caused by lifting upward of the plant along with soil from it’s

normal position in temperate regions where snowfall is common

93. Heavy soil : A term used for clay or fine textured soil offers high resistance for

ploughing.

94. Heliophytes : Plants of sun loving species, require intense light for normal development

Ex: Rice, Wheat, Cotton, Sugarcane

95. Heliotropism : It is the movement of the plant towards the sun Ex: Sunflower

96. Herbicide : A chemical used for killing or inhibiting the growth of unwanted plants Ex:

Atrazine

97. Heterotrophs : Organisms which cannot make their own food and hence deriving energy

only from decomposition of organic and inorganic compounds as the source of energy



www.isca.co.in

98. Hidden hunger : Is the condition where plants do not exhibit visual symptoms of

deficiency for the short supply of particular nutrients but will result in yield losses

99. Humic acid : A term of varied usage but usually referring to a mixture of indefinite

composition of dark-coloured organic substance precipitated upon acidification of a

dilute alkali extract of soil

100. Humid climate : The climate having precipitation greater than evaporation

P/E > 1

101. Humidity : It is the amount of water vapour present in atmospheric air.

102. Humus : It is the well decomposed stable part of organic matter of the soil

103. Hydraulic conductivity : An expression of readiness with which water flows through a

soil in response to potential gradient

104. Hydrological cycle : A continous circulation of water in the hydrosphere, atmosphere

and lithosphere

105. Hydroponics : Growing of plants in water solutions of essential nutrients

106. Hygroscopic water : The water held tightly to the surface of soil particles by adsorption

forces (the tension between solid-liquid interface is 10000 atmosphere)

107. Illite : It is type of clay mineral having 2 :1 silica : alumina layers – non expanding

108. Illuviation: is the deposition of all the leached materials in the sub soil

109. Immobilization : It is the conversion of element from inorganic to organic combination

in microbial or plant tissue.

110. Infiltration rate : It is the rate of water entry into the soil when the flow is non divergent

111. Insecticide : It is the chemical used for killing the insects : Endosulfan

112. Integrated farming system : Integration of various agricultural enterprises like

cropping, animal husbandary, fisheries, forestry etc. A judicious mix of any one or more

with cropping complement, the cropping enterprises

113. Integrated water management : It is the judicious use of water through management of

water resources, water harvesting, irrigation and drainage to maximize the water use

efficiency

114. Integrated nutrient management : A nutrient management system which involves

application of organic, inorganic and biofertilizers for maximum productivity and soil

fertility



www.isca.co.in

115. Integrated weed management : A weed management system that uses all suitable

control methods like mechanical, chemical and biological methods in a compatible

manner, to reduce weed population and maintain at levels below those causing injury

116. Intensive cropping : growing of more number of crops in unit area in unit time so as to

intensify the cropping intensity in a farm

117. Inter cropping : is growing of two or more crops simultaneously with definite row

arrangements Ex Groundnut + Redgram 6 :1 ratio

118. Irrigation : It is the artificial application of water to the soil in supplement to rainfall for

assisting the production of crops during stress conditions

119. Irrigation efficiency : It is the ratio expressed in percentage of water stored in root zone

depth of the soil to the water delivered in the field from the farm water supply source

120. Kaolinite : It is a type of clay mineral having 1: 1 silica alumina layer present in red soil

121. Laterite :An iron rich sub soil layer found in some highly weathered humid tropical soils

formed by laterization process

122. Leaching :Process of removing soluble material by the passage of water through the soil.

123. Legume: These are protein rich plant able to fix atmospheric nitrogen in to the soil.

124. Liebig’s law of minimum: states that the growth of plants is limited by the plant nutrient

which is present in smaller quantity, all others being in adequate amounts also known as

barrel concept”

125. Light soil: a soil that is easy to work implements usually red and sandy soil

126. Lime : Calcium carbonate used to reclaim acid soil

127. Lime requirement : is the quantity of limestone (CaCO3) required to bring the soil pH

to the desired level (7)

128. Loam : A type of soil texture with good water holding capacity and drainage suitable for

cultivation of variety of crops

129. Long day plants: The plants in which flowering is initiated and the daylength more than

12 hours Ex : Wheat, barley

130. Lux: is the oldest unit of measuring light intensity

131. Luxury consumption : Absorption of nutrients by plants in excess of their need for

growth especially potassium.



www.isca.co.in

132. Macro nutrient : Nutrients required by the plants in larger quantities for their normal

growth and development NPK

133. Maximum water holding capacity: It is the maximum capacity of the soil to retain the

water

134. Mesophytes : Plants with characteristic between xerophytes and hydrophytes

135. Micro climate : The local climatic conditions near the ground or around the plants above

and below the soil

136. Micro flora : Small plants like algae and ferns

137. Micro nutrient : The elements which are required in extremely small amounts for

normal plant growth but essential

138. Microfauna :Small animals like earthworms, nematodes in the soil

139. Micro-irrigation : Precise application of water through net work of pipes and emitters,

microsprinklers,microjets minisprinklers, foggers, misters etc from the water source

directly to the rootzone/near the crop plants resulting enhanced water application

efficiency

140. Mitscherlich(1909) Law of diminishing returns states that increase in growth with each

successive addition of the limiting element is progressively smaller and the response is

curvilinear

141. Mixed cropping : is growing of two or more crops simulteneously without any definite

row arrangement Ex seeds of groundnut and redgram mixed and broadcasted 2. Millets

like bajra, sorghum and pulses are mixed and sown

142. Mono cropping : is growing of same crop season after season and year after year Ex rice

in cauvery delta

143. Montmorillonite: It is a type of clay mineral having 2: 1 silica alumina clay lattice of

expanding in vertisols having high CEC

144. Mulching : Practice of covering the soil surface with materials like plant residues, straw,

leaves or plastic film to reduce evaporation, restrict weed growth and maintain the soil

temperature

145. Multi tier cropping : cultivation of two or more crops of different heights

simultaneously in a piece of land in certain period of time so as to utilize the available



www.isca.co.in

resources like sunlight, soil, water and nutrients Ex Coconut, cocoa, turmeric, pepper/

betelvine

146. Multiple cropping : is growing more crops in unit area in a year Ex rice-rice-pulse

147. Organic farming : A system of farming which excludes the use of synthetic fertilizers,

pesticides, growth regulators and feed additives and rely upon crop rotation, crop

residues, animal manures, legumes, green manures and biological pest and disease

control

148. Organic recycling : reuse of farm wastes within the farm as inputs for other farm

enterprises

149. Osmosis : diffusion of water across a differentially permeable membrane from a region

of higher concentration to lower concentration

150. PAR : is the spectrum of wave length between 400 to 700 nm an is very important in

terms of photosynthesis

151. Particle density : It is the ratio of mass of solids to the volume of solids alone and

expressed in g/cc

152. Percolation : It is the downward movement of water beyond root zone

153. Permeability : The ease with which gases, liquids and nutrients pass through a bulk mass

of soil

154. pH : It is negative logarithm of Hydrogen concentration in the soil solution without units

155. Photoperiodism : It is the effect of relative length of day and night on crop growth

156. Photosynthates : the final products synthesized by the plants by photosysnthesis

157. Photosynthesis : It is the biochemical process in which light energy is converted into

chemical energy in the presence of chlorophyll with water and CO2

158. Plough pan : A hard sub soil pan developed as a result of frequent ploughing operations

159. Post-emergence herbicide : Herbicides applied after the emergence of crop plants

having selectivity Ex- 2, 4-D

160. Precipitation : It is the water received from atmosphere either through rain, snow, fog

etc

161. Pre-emergence herbicide: Herbicides applied before the emergence of weeds

Ex.Pendimethalin



www.isca.co.in

162. Primary tillage : The tillage operations performed to first cut and open the soil after the

harvest of previous crop.

163. Puddling : It is the ploughing operation carried out in stagnated water conditions to

create an impervious layer below the plough pan

164. Rainfall : It is a form of precipition and usually recorded with raingauges in an interval

of 24 hours and expressed in mm

165. Rainfed farming :Growing of field crops entirely with rain water received during the

crop season usually more than 1150 mm

166. Rainy day : the amount of rainfall received in a day is more than 2.5 mm and above

167. Relative humidity : It is the ratio of actual water vapour content to the maximum

quantity of water vapour that could be held in the air in a given temperature

168. Respiration : It is the catabolic process by the plants during which O2 is taken and CO2

is released to the environment

169. Saline soil : The soils having high soluble salt and pH of 8.5 and Ec >4.0 dS/m

170. Saline-alkali soil: The soils having high soluble salts with pH> 8.5 and high

exchangeable sodium

171. Sciophytes : Plants which are shade loving and require less light intensity

172. Seed : Sexually or asexually propagated planting materials which are used seeding or

planting

173. Seepage : It is the lateral movement of water in the soil, water course etc

174. Shifting cultivation : It is the old practice of cutting and clearing of forest for cultivating

crops as long as the soils having fertility

175. Short day plants : Plants which require daylength of < 10hours for flowering

176. Sodic/ alkali soil : Soils having high exchangeable sodium with pH > 8.5

177. Soil conservation : A combination of all land management methods to safegaurd soil

loss against water and wind erosion

178. Soil fertility: It is the status or the inherent capacity of the soil to supply nutrients to

plants in adequate amounts and in suitable proportions

179. Soil productivity: It is the capacity of the soil to produce crops with specific systems of

management and is expressed in terms of yields



www.isca.co.in

180. Solar constant :It is the amount of solar energy received in unit area in unit time usually

at 1.94cal/cm2+/min

181. Solum : is the A and B horizon of the soil profile

182. Sprinkler irrigation : It is the application of water in sprinkle mimics of rainfall as fine

droplets overhead covering entire cropped area.

183. Strip cropping : Growing of two or more crops simultaneously in strips

184. Subsidiary farming : Settled Farming in river banks and streams in addition to gathering

& hunting

185. Subsistence farming : Raising the crops only for family needs and not for commercial :

“Grow it and eat it”

186. Subsoil : The soil present below the plough zone

187. Subsurface irrigation : Application of water in subsoil through trenches, porous pipes

and drip system directly in the rootzone minimizing evaporation losses

188. Suffocation : During winter ice/snow form a thick cover over the ground and the crop

suffers for want of oxygen. Ice in contact with roots inhibits diffusion of CO2 restricting

root respiration.

189. Summer ploughing : The ploughing operations carried out during summer especially in

drylands to absorb rainfall

190. Surface run off : The water flow in excess of the intake of the soil due to high rainfall or

irrigation

191. Sustainable agriculture :Successful management of resources for agriculture to satisfy

the changing human needs while maintaining or enhancing the quality of the environment

and conserving natural resources

192. Systemic pesticide : Chemicals capable of moving within the plants to exert effects

throughout the entire plant system irrespective of its place of entry Ex1.Insecticide :

Monocrotophos and 2.Herbicide : Glyphosate

193. Tillage : Mechanical manipulation of soil with tools and implements to prepare seed beds

conducive for crop production

194. Tilth : Physical condition of the soil resulting from tillage

195. Top dressing : Application of manures and fertilizers after the establishment of plants



www.isca.co.in

196. Transpiration : It is an inevitable loss of water from the plants to the atmosphere in the

form of water vapour

197. Truthful seed : Seeds free of physical purity and good germination

198. VAM (Vesicular Arbuscicular Mychorrizhae) : It is a fungi used to releases unavailable

phosphorus to available form to the plants

199. Vertisol : One of the major soil group of India usually black cotton soil spread the

Deccan Plateau

200. Water requirement : It is the total amount of water required by the crop which includes

irrigation water requirement + effective rainfall + application losses.

201. water use efficiency : It is the amount of drymatter produced from a given quantum of

water and expressed in kg/ha mm

202. White revolution : The accumulated efforts exerted in achieving self sufficiency in milk

production in India

203. Wilting point : It is the soil moisture condition held at 15 atmosphere at which plants

cannot extract water

204. Wind break : Strip of trees or shrubs or crop plants serving to reduce the force of wind

Ex: Casurina along sea coast

205. Yellow revolution :the accumulated efforts exerted in achieving self sufficiency in oil

production in India

206. Zero tillage : The extreme form of tillage where opening the soil, placing seed and

fertilizers and covering the soil is carried out in a single operation

207. Xerophytes : A plant with structural and physiological features that will permit it to grow

in dry habitat. Ex Opuntia

************************ALL THE BEST************************

Documents

ISBN - ISCA