A To Z Agronomy

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 : ramagri25@gmail.com
Dr. R. Jeyajothi
Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy,
College of Agricultural Technology, Gullapuram,
Theni – 625562. Tamil Nadu, India
E-mail: jeyajothi.rose@gmail.com
2019
Ideal International E – PublicationPvt. Ltd.
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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
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, 20-30

Introductory agro – meteorology and climate change
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
Ideal International E- Publication

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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).

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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 : Literature collection of
work on -------- 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 : Lawes
produce superphosphate ----------
16. ‘ Horse Hoeing Husbandry’ book was written by --------- : Jethro Tull
17. Who conducted that the main ‘ Principle of vegetation’ is : Van Helmont
water -------
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 ---- : Kharif
-------- crops
24. Paleolithic age is divided into ……………. phases : Three

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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 …………………… : Microliths
during mesolithic period
30. The agriculture sector provides employment to ------------- : 58 %
of country's work force
31. --------------- human obtained his food through : Pastoral
domestication animals, e.g. dogs, horse, cow, buffalo, etc
32. ----------------- is the inherited values carried from one : Heritage
generation to other generation
33. The term --------------- is applied to communities using : Chalcolithic
stone implements along with copper and bronze
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 : Thattai
in millet fields
37. --------------- refers to the values and traditional practices : Agricultural heritage
adopted in ancient India which are more relevant for
present day system
38. ---------- this period is characterized by the food gatherers : Paleolithic age
and hunters
39. The traditional farmers have developed the nature friendly : Mixed cropping
farming systems and practices such as---------------
40. --------------- by living near the river bed, he had enough : Crop culture
water for his animals and domesticated crops and started
cultivation
41. Cultivation of rice ----------- : 200 BC
42. Cultivation of crops Wheat and Barley ------- : 7500 BC

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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 : Lord Dalhousie (1848-
was constructed. 1856)
47. Who is period called ‘Golden period of agriculture --------- : Lord Curzon’s (1898-
1905)
48. Department of Agriculture and Agricultural colleges for : 1906
provinces were started at Coimbatore -----
49. Sugarcane Breeding Institute was established in : 1912
Coimbatore-------
50. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University was started ------ : 1971
51. one of the oldest water-regulation structures in the world : Kallanai dam
still in use --------
52. Separate Department of Agriculture at Centre for Famine : 1881
relief operations started year ----
53. National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) was : 1979
launched to strengthen the research capabilities of SAUs --
56. Kautilya’s period the unit to measure rain was 1 adhaka -- : 12
---- mm rainfall
57. Kautilya’s period the unit to measure rain was 1 drona ---- : 40-50
-- mm rainfall
58. Planning Commission of India is divided into --------- : 15
agro-climatic regions
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 : Lower Gangetic Plains
is -------------
62. A good potential for exploitation of ground water exists : Upper Gangetic Plains
region is ------------- zone

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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 ------- : Western Dry zone
region
66. It is largely a forest zone with undulated lands--------- : Islands zone
region
67. National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) under : 127
ICAR based on agro-climatic zones are classified-----
68. This zone covers the districts of Thiruvallur, Vellore, : North Eastern zone
Kanchipuram, Thiruvannamalai, Viluppuram -----------
69. This is the biggest among the seven zones of Tamil Nadu--- : Southern zone
70. National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning : 20
(NBSS & LUP) of the ICAR has delineated -------------
agro-ecological regions
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

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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 : 40-60%
plants
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 : Crop geometry
columns in an area to efficiently utilize the natural
resources is called --------

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

2. Physical state of the atmosphere at a given place and time : Weather
is referred to as ------
3. A branch of applied meteorology which investigates the :Agricultural meteorology
physical conditions of the environment of growing plants
or animal organisms-----------
4. ----------------- is the colourless, odourless and tasteless : Atmosphere
physical mixture of gasses which surrounds earth on all
sides
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 :Thermosphere(Ionosphere)
this layer------------------
8. Hydrogen and Helium gases predominate in this outer : Exosphere
most region ------------
9. The rate of change of temperature in an ascending or : Adiabatic lapse rate
descending air mass through adiabatic process is called
as………
10. Southwest monsoon is the most important as it contribute 80 – 95
--------- % of the total rainfall of the country.
11. Thornthwaite using moisture index value is -66.7 to - : Semiarid
33.3 --------------- climatic classification
12. Heat flows from the warmer to cooler part of the body so : Conduction
that the temperatures between them are equalized is
called --------------------
13. Transfer of energy from one body to another without the : Radiation.
aid of the material medium is called -------------
14. The amount of radiant energy emitted, received, : Radiant flux

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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 balance
radiation at the earth’s surface its called --------------
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 : Atmospheric window
and 11 μ and this is known as the -------------
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 : Stefan-Boltzmann’s law
is directly proportional to the fourth power of the absolute
temperature of that body------------
23. Light intensity measured instruments is called…………. : Lux metere
24. The plants grow better under partially shaded conditions : Sciophytes (shade loving
is called ------------- plants)
25. The principal wavelength absorbed and used in : violet – blue and the orange
photosynthesis are in the ---------------------- - red regions
26. The plants which develop normally when the photoperiod : Short day plants
is less than the critical maximum (less than 12 hours)------
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 : Isotherm
as --------------
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 : Thermal death point
killed when the temperature ranges from 50-60°C.

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33. Injury caused on the barks of stem by high temperature : Sun clad
during day time is called ---------
34. The stem at ground level scorches around due to high soil : Stem griddle
temperature is known as ………………
35. ------------- cholratic bands on the leaves of sugarcane, : Chilling injury
sorghum and maize in winter months when the night
temperature is below 20°C.
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 : 2 to 3 pm
between ….
44. --------------- Spectrum of radiation is most favorable for : Red
growth plants?
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 : L.A.Ramdas
India ------------
53. Period of validity for long-ranged weather forecast is ----- : 10 to 30 days
54. Radio communication is made possible through ---------- : Ionosphere

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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 : 20
NBSS&LUP are --------------
58. IST is relating to longitude of ------- and reference place : 82050’ E, Allahabad
in India is -------------
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 : IMD, Pune
Universities are under the technical control of ---------
66. Agrometeorological observatories of Agricultural : B
Universities belongs to ------- type model
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 : Albedo
known as -------
75. On any particular day, if the rainfall is equal to or more : Rainy day
than 2.5mm it is called -------
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

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79. In India cyclones occur during the monsoon seasons : North-east monsoon
especially in --------
80. The wind which flows more frequently from one : Prevailing wind
direction than any other is called as ---------------
81. The cooler air over the water starts moving across the :Sea breeze or On shore
coast line from sea to land is called --------------- 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 : Hail
from 5 to 50 mm is called -------------
87. ------is a suitable seeding material for seeding warm : Common salt
clouds
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 : Bio climatic law
including geography and elevation upon plant response---
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 : Climatic analog
present occurred. Used in making climatic projections ---
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

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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 : Primary tillage
the harvest of the crop-----------
9. Tillage during the crop stand in the field is …. : Inter Tillage/Inter
Cultivation
10 Operation being done during summer season in tropics to : Summer tillage
destroy weeds ----------------
11. Summer tillage is called --------------- in Tamil Nadu state : Kodai uzavu
12. It refers to the leaving of arable land uncropped for a : Fallow tillage
season or seasons for various reasons --------------
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 : Clean tillage
field in such a way no living plant is left undisturbed
17. -------- tillage that retains protective amounts of 30 % : Conservation
crop residue mulch on the surface
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

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22. ---------- is practiced in rice fallow pulse crops or relay : Zero tillage
cropping system
23. ----------- of puddling is sufficient for rice cultivation. Three numbers
24. The optimum moisture content for tillage is ---------- of : 60%
field capacity
25. Summer ploughing ------------- month can be practiced : March–May
utilizing summer showers to control weeds and conserve
soil moisture.
26. Repeated use of heavy machinery destroys ---------- : Soil structures
27. --------- is aimed at reducing tillage to the minimum : Minimum tillage
necessary for ensuring a good seedbed.
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 : Sod culture or Sod seeding
known as ---------------
32. Bose plough it is also called as ------------ in Tamil Nadu : Melur plough
33. ------ is an animal drawn mould board plough with a short : Victory plough
shaft.
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’ : Country/wooden/Desi
shaped furrow is ----------------- plough
39. --- are smaller implements with many tines like : Harrows
cultivators
40. Example of the intercultivating harrow is --------------- : Junior hoe
41. The Guntaka is the blade harrow used for primary tillage : Andhra Pradesh
in ceded districts of----------------

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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 : > 5 mm and 1-2 mm
be ---- 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 Rice – wheat
systems ------------
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

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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 : Pedology
plant production is called as ------------
70. Red colour of the soil is due to --------- : Haematite
71. The diameter of clay particle as per USDA system of : < 0.002 mm
classification is -----------
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 : Al3+ ions
by ---------------
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 : - 200 to – 280 Mv
redox potential value of ---------------
87. Concept of ultra trace nutrient was given by ------------- : Nicholas
88. Concept of pH was given by : Sorenson

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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 : Montmorillonite
capacity?

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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 : Soil productivity
are productive is ----------
3. The consumption of more than required quantity of : Luxury consumption
elements is called --------------
4. Crop logging' is a method of --------------- : Soil fertility evaluation
5. A' value is given by ---------------- : Fred and Dean
6. : Severe yield reduction may
"Hidden hunger" means--------------- 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 : CaO > Ca(OH)2 >
are such that…………… 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 : Humus
substances synthesized by various soil organisms is
referred to as--------------------
11. A man made epipedon in many characters except P2O5 : Anthropic epipedon
content (more than 250 ppm) is ------------
12. A property of fluids by virtue of which it reduces the : Soil viscosity
relative motion among different layers of fluid, is termed
as
13. A soil, which has pH more than 8.5, ESP more than 15 : Alkaline soil
and EC less than 4 mmhos/cm at 25?C, is called-------
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

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

16. A = RKLSCP denote universal soil loss equation in : Soil credibility factor
which K is equal to-------------
17. Absorbed hydrogen and aluminium are largely : Soil acidity

responsible for----------
18. Absorption of ions in plants occurring with the aid of : Active absorption
metabolic energy is termed ---------------
19. According to land capability classification, the soils, : Class VIII
which are not suitable for crop cultivation, belong to -----
----
20. Acid soils can be reclaimed by ------------- : CaCO3
21. Addition of the following material makes it possible to : Gypsum
take good crop in sodic soil …………..
22. Adsorbed Ca++, Mg++ or A1++ may encourage soil : Flocculation
aggregate formation starting with a process called --------
-----
23. Aeolian deposit are formed by the transportation of : Wind
materials through----------
24. Alfisol soils are mostly ______ in respect of their : High
fertility and are used either as crop land or forest or
range land --------------
25. Alkali soils are generally found in ---------- : Arid and semi-arid climate
26. Zinc deficiency occurs in crops growing in soils having : Calcareous soils
high phosphorous ------------
27. All potassium fertilizers are physiologically alkaline, : Neutral
there reaction with soils is ----------------
28. Wind laden with soil particles cembodies the abrasive : Greatly increased

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action, which is----

29. Alluvial soils are rich in-------------- : K2O, P2O5 and Lime
30. Ammonia lost through volatilization in significant : Acidic soils
quantities from-------
31. Ammonium and potassium ions are apparently just the : Vermiculite
right size to fit into the cavities between the crystal units
of -------------
32. Ammonium sulphate contains --------------- : 24% sulphur
33. Ammonium sulphate is preferred for nitrogen application : Copper
in groundnut because it also provides -------------
34. Among the fruits, lemon, apple, plum have been placed : Low
in the _____ salt tolerance group---------------
35. Amount of heat required to raise temperature of 1 gm : Heat capacity
soil from 14 to 15 ?C is known as ---------
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 : Denitrification
gaseous loss of fertilizer nitrogen by --------
39. Application of nitrogen in pulses at the time of planting : Starter dose
is known as------
40. Available nitrogen of less than 280 kg/hectare is : Low
considered ----------
41. Available phosphorous of more than 25 kg/ha of soil is : High
considered as
42. Available Zn in the soil, can be determined by using the : EDTA + (NH4)2 CO7
solution of------
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

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------
46. Biofertilizer is a --------------- : Culture having the desired
strain of microorganisms
47. White irregular spots between veins of upper leaves of : Boron
maize plant shows deficiency of------------
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 : dy/dx = (A - Y)C
equation-------
53. Buffering capacity of soil means resistance to a change : Soil pH
in ……..
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 : 200 kg
P2O5 to one-hectare peanut crops
58. Deficiency of iron results in typical interveinal chlorosis : Younger leaves are first
in which --------- affected
59. Deficiency of several elements is exhibited first in the : Immobile nature
apical region of the growing part due to there--------------
----
60. Degree of soil salinity is indicated by its : Total soluble salt content
…………………
61. Diphenyl amine is an indicator, which is used in : Organic carbon
determination of -------
62. Downward movement of food synthesized in leaves : Phloem

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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 : Ion exchange
content in the soil is mediated through -------------
66. For reclamation of alkali soil, gypsum is mixed in the : 30 cm
soil at the depth of-----
67. General Soil Productivity Index (GSPI) can be calculated : Sum of PRI's of major
by ------- crops/Number of crops
68. Gypsum an amendment applied to alkali soil belongs to : Soluble Ca-salt
______ type
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 : 75 to 900C
matter raises the temperature when decay is occurring
rapidly. During decay, the temperature rises by -----
71. In acid soil rock phosphate should be applied------------ : 30 days before sowing
72. In high P-fixing soils, water soluble P2O5-fertilizers are : Placement below the seed
applied to the crops essentially as -----------
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 : Phosphorus
absorption of the nutreients, especially --------
78. Nitrate levels in drinking water above about ______ mg : 10
per litre are considered a human health hazard

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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 : Bacteriod
irregular in shape and is called -------------
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 : Til
manurial value, acts also as a nitrification inhibitor?
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 : Mycorrhiza
is known as----
92. Tarai soils are generally deficient in……………… : Zinc
93. The addition of excess soluble phosphate fertilizers to : Reducing the availability of
soils may affect plant growth by ---------------- Ca
94. The amount of P in soil and soil solution that can : L-value
exchange with orthophosphate in addition to soil as
measured by plant growth in soil system is termed as ----
-------------
95. ------------------ A fertilizer is least hygroscopic? : CAN
96. The availability of phosphorous is optimum in the pH : >7-8

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range of ---------
97. The carbon nitrogen ratio in cultivated soil is stabilized : 8:1 to 15:1
as -------------
98. The conditions responsible for the formation of salt : Low rainfall and high
affected soil is------- evaporation
99. ----------- statements is more correct as regards to "luxury : Maize takes excess K above
consumption" of K found in minute? the optimum requirement
even though growth and yield
are not promoted
100. The principal cation that affects the availability/fixation : Fe and Al
of phosphorus in alkali soils is ------------

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Chapter 5: Weed Management
1. _______ comprises important mechanisms of herbicide detoxification in :Photodecomposition

soil under field conditions especially surface incorporation subsequent
to rainfall or irrigation
2. : Microbial
_____ plays a major role in the persistence and behaviour of herbicides
in the soil
3. _______ a.i./ha has been recommended for the control of weeds in : Basalin @ 1 kg
mungbean.
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 : Glyphosphate
the ______ against Agropyron repens.
9. Application of propanil after ______ in rice-paddies causes prohibitive : Carbofuran
vegetative injury.
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 : Tea
_______ plants to better bush formation.
14. Phalaris minor weed can be controlled effectively by using _____ : Isoproturon
herbicide
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

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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 : Jethro Tull
Husbandry -------------
32. Bioagent for controlling Parthenium ------------ :Zygogramma bicolorata
33. Besides providing N Azolla is used for : Rice

weed control in
34. when DWR (Directorate of Weed Research) renamed from DWSR : 2014
(Directorate of Weed Science Research) ---
35. Established at Hisar in 1968, who was the founder President/Secretary : Dr. M.K. Moolani
of ISWS ----------
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 : Parthenium
Institute in reference to which of the weed ---------
hysterophorus
40. A post-emergence herbicide in Soybean --------- : Quazalofop – ethyl 60
g/ha
41. An approach where bio-herbicides are used to control indigenous : Inundative approach
weed species --------------

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

43. The successful development of which bioherbicide led to the : Collego
discovery of Biomeal?
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 : Cuscuta
growth of water hyacinth?
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 : Decarboxylation

soil through -------------
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 : 1983
was developed during ---
59. The authority associated with the first genetically modified plants the : Robert Fraley
soybean resistant to glyphosate from Monsanto which achieved
widespread success was -------
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 : Emulsifiers
can be minimised by adding -------------
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 : Phosphate
is enhanced by addition of -----------
65. --------- herbicides will be tightly bound to the soil? : Paraquat
KOC(mL/g)= 10,00,000

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66. The ideal temperature for application of post-emergent herbicides is : 180C to 300C
in the range of ………….
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 : Stale seed bed
called ---------------
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 : 65-90 °C

must be in which of the following range-------
87. In case of combined application of herbicides, application rate can be : Synergistic
reduced ----------- interaction
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

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91. Dealing with the LD50 rating, a herbicide with a label warning : High
of "danger-poison" would have what type of toxicity rating ------
92. Heavy infestation of -------- weed causes poor ploughing performance : Cynodon dactylon
93. Application of volatile chemical on confined spaces to produce gas that : Fumigation
will destroy weed seeds is called --------------
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.).

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Chapter 6: Irrigation Management

1. The Grand Anaicat (KALLANAI) constructed across the river Cauvery is : Karikala Cholan
an outstanding example for the irrigation work by a -------
2. water is the most important constituent of about -------------- of most plant : 80-90%
cell
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 : Surge irrigation
periods during the irrigation is called ----------
10. Water is applied through network of pipelines and allowed to fall drop by : Emitters or
drop at crop root zone by as pecial device called ---------------- drippers
11. V' notch is a --------------- : Weir
12. Indirect methods of measuring soil water content consist of resistance : Gravimetric
method and -----
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 : Not available to
particles with a tension of 31 atmosphere or more, is ----------- 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

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gums and resins

from leaf
19. Sufficient soil moisture at ______ stage is essential for optimum : Flowering and pod
productivity of blackgram 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 :Permanent wilting
called -------- point
23. The moisture, which is present in the form of a continuous film outside : Capillary water
hygroscopic water around soil particles and microspore spaces is called ----
24. The most common means of expressing soil water contentment is the : Volume
_____ of water associated with their specified quantity of soil solids.
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 : 30 days
in safflower
29. When the movement of water after rain or irrigation after 48-72 hours, the : Field capacity
soil is said to be at ------------
30. The soil moisture content at which the plants remain wilted day and night : Permanent wilting
or in a humid chamber, the mositure content is called --------------- 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

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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 : Available water
called as --------
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 : Active type of
place in plants 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 : Duty of water
crop to maturity
51. -------------- is the process of distribution of irrigation water : Rostering
52. -------- is the first irrigation before sowing the crop for seed germination : Palco
and seedling establishment
53. ------------- is the total depth of water (cm) required by a crop during its : Delta
durind its duration in the field
54. When all the pores of the soil are filled with water is called ---------- : Saturation
capacity
55. --------- is the most common method : Check basin

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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 : Drainage
from the surface and the sub surface of farm lands
65. ----------- are under ground artificial channels through which excess water : Sub surface drains
may flow to a suitable outlet
66. ------------ is the disposal of drainage water through well into porous layers : Vertical drainage
of earth.
67. ------------- the laterals enter the main from both side at an angle of 450 like : Herring bone
the bones of a fish.
68. It is the ratio of yield of crop (Y) to the amount of water depleted by crop : Crop Water Use
in evapotranspiration (ET). Efficiency:
69. ----------- is the ratio of yield of crop (Y) to the total amount of water used : Field Water Use
in the field. 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 : Irrigation
the crop and nature of the soil. scheduling
72. For ten days cumulative pan evaporation at the rate of 10 mm per day : 0.5
equal to 100 mm (CPE). Irrigation depth to be given is 50 mm. Therefore

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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 : Scholfield (1935)
gave the symbol pF of this logarithm.
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 : Hydraulic gradient
distance
77. Generally the rate of Saturated flow in soils of various textures is in the : Sand > loam > clay
following sequence is ------------------
78. In unsaturated soil moisture movement, also called -------------- :Capillary
movement
79. In the ‘moist range’, the range of unsaturated flow in soils of various : Sand < loam < clay
textures is in the following order ----------
80. As indicated by ---------- water is the ELIXER of Life which makes : Sir.C.V.Raman
wonders in earth.
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 : Hysteresis
sorption -----
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

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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______ : Active
absorption
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

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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 %/
21. Heliophytes is -------------------------- Maize
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 Oat

maturity
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

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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

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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 ---------------------- Soybean

66. Fist maize hybrid in india is ---------------------- Ganga 1
67. Aflotoxin contamination generally found in ---------------------- Groundnut
68. -------------- is called as boneless meat Soybean
69. Yellow revolution is promotion for production of ---------------------- Oil seeds
70. ---------------------- used as cotton defoliant Abscisic acid
71. Quality Protein maize released by using ---------- Opaque 2 genes
genes
72. Sweet maize variety is --------------- African 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

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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 : TN
India
99. Fertilizer recommendation for hybrid rice crop : 175:60:60 kg/ha
100. Wild form of Rice ---------------- : Javanica

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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 ---------------------- Glysophosine

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

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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 ---------------------- wheat

35. Sugarcane is propagated through ---------------------- Setts
36. Central Research Institute for Jute is located ---------------------- West Bengal
37. The state having largest area under jute is ---------------------- West Bengal
38. Reddening in cotton is due to ---------------------- Nutrient 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
--

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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

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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…………… : 25– 35
o
( C)
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 : 175:112.5:60
(N: P2O5: K2O kg /ha) -------------
86. The jaggery contains approximately ------------ % sucrose : 60 - 85
87. The ethanol can be blended with petrol or diesel to the extent of ------% : 10
and used as bio-fuel
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

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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…………… : 25– 35
o
( C)
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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 %

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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

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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

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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

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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

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6. Most common herbicide used for weed control in Potato is ________

a. Pendimethalin b. Alachlor c. Oxyflurofen

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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

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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

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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.

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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?

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a. 15 – 20 o c o
b. 40– 50 c
c. 30– 35 o c o
d. 10 – 20 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)

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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’

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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.

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CHAPTER 15: PROBLEMATIC SOILS AND WASTELAND MANAGEMENT
1. Toxic concentration of soluble salts (Cl-& SO42-) 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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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************************

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A To Z Agronomy

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ii

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

Title: A To Z OBJECTIVE AGRONOMY

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

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

fertility management, sustainable agriculture and integrated farming system etc.

of many complicated questions.

agronomy stream for appearing in different competitive examinations.

2 Fundamentals of agronomy and agricultural heritage, 20-30

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CHAPTER 1: INDIAN AGRICULTURE AT A GLANCE

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CURRENT TRENDS IN AGRICULTURAL

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

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Revolutions related to agriculture

Green Revolution – over all crop production

Fertilizer consumption scenario (2016-17)

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Pesticide consumption scenario (2016-17)

Transgenic crops scenario (2016-17)

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List of awardees in agriculture sector 2015-16

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New varieties of field crops (2016)

Digital resources of ICAR

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

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

Chief/Director of Institutes of National and International bodies

ICAR: DG- Dr. T. Mahapatra

FAO International year

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The CGIAR‟s International Agronomical Research Centers

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

PRODUCTION SCENARIO 2015-16

Total food grains production in the country - 252.22 million tonnes

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Agriculture production scenario 2016-17

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

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

Pulses scenario in India

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Top producing states with respect to different crops

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

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

RICE: CHINA > INDIA > INDONESIA

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

Recent advances/Schemes/ in agriculture

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Minimum support price (MSP) for agriculture commodities in India

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

1. ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi

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15. ICAR-Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar