FUNDAMENTALS OF AGRONOMY
- Father of Agronomy is:
a) Pietro de Crescenzi
b) Jethro Tull
c) Norman Borlaug
d) M.S. Swaminathan
Answer:a) Pietro de Crescenzi
Explanation:Italian, wrote “Ruralium Commodorum” (1305). Jethro Tull is Father of Tillage, Norman Borlaug is Father of Green Revolution.
- The science of soil management and crop production is:
a) Agronomy
b) Horticulture
c) Agriculture
d) Agrostology
Answer:a) Agronomy
Explanation:Agronomy derives from Greek: “agros” (field) + “nomos” (management).
- The Green Revolution in India started in:
a) 1965-66
b) 1966-67
c) 1967-68
d) 1970-71
Answer:b) 1966-67
Explanation:With introduction of Mexican dwarf wheat varieties.
- Growing two or more crops simultaneously on same land with definite row pattern is:
a) Mixed cropping
b) Intercropping
c) Relay cropping
d) Sequence cropping
Answer:b) Intercropping
Explanation:Intercropping has specific row arrangement (1:1, 1:2). Mixed cropping has no pattern.
- Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) > 1 indicates:
a) Yield advantage
b) Yield disadvantage
c) No advantage
d) Competition
Answer:a) Yield advantage
Explanation:LER = (Yield in intercorp/Sole crop yield). >1 means intercropping gives more yield than sole crops separately.
- Rice-Wheat system covers how much area in India?
a) 4.0 million ha
b) 8.5 million ha
c) 10.5 million ha
d) 12.5 million ha
Answer:c) 10.5 million ha
Explanation:Major in Indo-Gangetic plains. Causes soil health degradation.
- Cation Exchange Capacity is expressed as:
a) meq/100g soil
b) mg/kg soil
c) ppm
d) percentage
Answer:a) meq/100g soil
Explanation:Standard unit for CEC. 1 meq/100g = 1 cmol(+)/kg.
- Soil pH for maximum nutrient availability is:
a) 4.5-5.5
b) 5.5-6.5
c) 6.5-7.5
d) 7.5-8.5
Answer:c) 6.5-7.5
Explanation:Most nutrients available in slightly acidic to neutral range.
- Black soils are rich in:
a) Montmorillonite
b) Kaolinite
c) Illite
d) Vermiculite
Answer:a) Montmorillonite
Explanation:Black soils (Vertisols) have montmorillonite clay, high swelling-shrinking.
- Most efficient irrigation method is:
a) Flood irrigation
b) Furrow irrigation
c) Sprinkler irrigation
d) Drip irrigation
Answer:d) Drip irrigation
Explanation:90-95% efficiency, direct to root zone, minimal losses.
- Crop Coefficient (Kc) for rice at maturity is:
a) 0.8-0.9
b) 1.05-1.20
c) 1.20-1.35
d) 1.35-1.45
Answer:b) 1.05-1.20
Explanation:Kc varies with growth: initial 1.05, mid-season 1.20, late season 0.90.
- Water requirement of rice is:
a) 400-600 mm
b) 600-800 mm
c) 800-1000 mm
d) 1000-1500 mm
Answer:d) 1000-1500 mm
Explanation:Highest among cereals due to flooded conditions.
- Nitrogen percentage in urea is:
a) 21%
b) 33%
c) 46%
d) 82%
Answer:c) 46%
Explanation:Highest N content among solid fertilizers.
- Neem coated urea reduces losses by:
a) 10-15%
b) 20-25%
c) 30-35%
d) 40-45%
Answer:b) 20-25%
Explanation:Acts as nitrification inhibitor, slows NH₄⁺ to NO₃⁻ conversion.
- 4R Nutrient Stewardship refers to:
a) Right source, rate, time, place
b) Right resource, ratio, time, price
c) Right soil, rate, timing, placement
d) Right season, rate, type, method
Answer:a) Right source, rate, time, place
- Critical period of weed competition in rice is:
a) 15-30 DAT
b) 30-45 DAT
c) 45-60 DAT
d) Entire season
Answer:b) 30-45 DAT
Explanation:Critical period = when weeds cause maximum yield loss if not controlled.
- Herbicide used for Phalaris minor in wheat:
a) 2,4-D
b) Isoproturon
c) Glyphosate
d) Atrazine
Answer:b) Isoproturon
Explanation:Selective herbicide, sulfosulfuron also used.
- Paraquat is a:
a) Systemic herbicide
b) Contact herbicide
c) Soil sterilant
d) Selective herbicide
Answer:b) Contact herbicide
Explanation:Non-selective, rapid action, used as desiccant.
- Dryland agriculture receives annual rainfall of:
a) <375 mm
b) 375-750 mm
c) 750-1150 mm
d) >1150 mm
Answer:b) 375-750 mm
Explanation:Dryland: 375-750 mm, rainfed: >750 mm, desert: <375 mm.
- Drought evading crop is:
a) Pearl millet
b) Sorghum
c) Chickpea
d) Groundnut
Answer:c) Chickpea
Explanation:Completes life cycle before drought. Others are drought resistant.
- Contour farming is practiced on slopes of:
a) 0-2%
b) 2-10%
c) 10-15%
d) >15%
Answer:b) 2-10%
Explanation:For erosion control on gentle slopes.
- Photosynthesis occurs in:
a) Chloroplast
b) Mitochondria
c) Ribosome
d) Nucleus
Answer:a) Chloroplast
Explanation:Chlorophyll in chloroplast captures light energy.
- C4 plants have advantage in:
a) High temperature
b) Low temperature
c) High humidity
d) Low light
Answer:a) High temperature
Explanation:Better water and nitrogen use efficiency under high temp/light.
- Photorespiration occurs in:
a) C3 plants
b) C4 plants
c) CAM plants
d) All plants
Answer:a) C3 plants
Explanation:Due to oxygenase activity of RuBisCO at high O₂.
- Genetic purity of foundation seed should be:
a) 95%
b) 98%
c) 99%
d) 100%
Answer:c) 99%
Explanation:Foundation: 99%, Certified: 98%, Truthful: 95%.
- Orthodox seeds can be stored at:
a) High moisture
b) Low moisture
c) Any condition
d) Only in soil
Answer:b) Low moisture
Explanation:* Can be dried to 5-8% moisture. Recalcitrant seeds need high moisture.
- Seed replacement rate for self-pollinated crops is:
a) 10-15%
b) 20-25%
c) 33%
d) 50%
Answer:c) 33%
Explanation:Recommended to replace 1/3 seeds annually.
- Conversion period for annual crops to organic is:
a) 6 months
b) 1 year
c) 2 years
d) 3 years
Answer:c) 2 years
Explanation:As per NPOP standards.
- Panchagavya contains how many cow products?
a) 3
b) 5
c) 7
d) 9
Answer:b) 5
Explanation:Milk, curd, ghee, urine, dung.
- Jeevamrut is fermented for:
a) 3 days
b) 7 days
c) 14 days
d) 21 days
Answer:b) 7 days
- GPS accuracy for precision farming is:
a) 1-5 m
b) 10-50 cm
c) 1-10 cm
d) <1 cm
Answer:c) 1-10 cm
Explanation:* RTK-GPS provides cm-level accuracy.
- NDVI value for healthy vegetation is:
a) 0.1-0.2
b) 0.3-0.4
c) 0.5-0.6
d) 0.7-0.9
Answer:d) 0.7-0.9
Explanation:NDVI ranges: -0.1 to 0.1 (bare soil), >0.6 (dense vegetation).
- VRT stands for:
a) Variable Rate Technology
b) Variable Resource Technology
c) Vertical Root Technology
d) Virtual Reality Technology
Answer:a) Variable Rate Technology
- For 1°C rise, wheat yield reduces by:
a) 1-2%
b) 3-5%
c) 6-8%
d) 10-12%
Answer:b) 3-5%
Explanation:Due to reduced grain filling duration.
- CO₂ fertilization benefits most:
a) C3 plants
b) C4 plants
c) CAM plants
d) All equally
Answer:a) C3 plants
Explanation:30-60% increase at 550 ppm vs 10-20% for C4.
- Methane from rice fields can be reduced by:
a) Alternate wetting drying
b) Continuous flooding
c) Deep flooding
d) Early planting
Answer:a) Alternate wetting drying
Explanation:AWD reduces anaerobic conditions.
- Critical stage for irrigation in wheat:
a) CRI
b) Tillering
c) Flowering
d) Milk stage
Answer:a) CRI (Crown Root Initiation)
Explanation:21-25 DAS, determines tiller number.
- Rice variety for direct seeding:
a) Pusa Basmati 1509
b) Sahbhagi Dhan
c) DRR Dhan 42
d) All of above
Answer:d) All of above
Explanation:Modern varieties suitable for DSR.
- Sugarcane planting season in North India:
a) January-February
b) March-April
c) September-October
d) December-January
Answer:c) September-October
Explanation:Autumn planting gives higher yield.
- USLE equation is: A = R × K × L × S × C × P. ‘C’ is:
a) Climate factor
b) Crop management
c) Conservation practice
d) Soil erodibility
Answer:b) Crop management factor
- Contour bund spacing depends on:
a) Slope
b) Rainfall
c) Soil type
d) All of above
Answer:d) All of above
Explanation:Vertical Interval = (S × H)/100.
- Vetiver grass is used for:
a) Soil binding
b) Oil extraction
c) Fodder
d) Medicine
Answer:a) Soil binding
Explanation:Deep roots, used for slope stabilization.
- Theoretical field capacity formula:
a) (W × S)/10
b) (W × S × E)/10
c) (W + S)/10
d) W × S × 10
Answer:a) (W × S)/10
Explanation:W (width in m), S (speed in km/h), TFC in ha/h.
- Happy Seeder is used for:
a) Direct seeding in residue
b) Residue collection
c) Deep ploughing
d) Land leveling
Answer:a) Direct seeding in residue
Explanation:For conservation agriculture in rice-wheat.
- Rotavator is for:
a) Primary tillage
b) Secondary tillage
c) Both primary and secondary
d) Harvesting
Answer:c) Both primary and secondary
- In RBD with 5 treatments, 4 replications, error df is:
a) 12
b) 15
c) 19
d) 20
Answer:a) 12
Calculation:(t-1)(r-1) = 4×3 = 12.
- CV% indicates:
a) Variability
b) Accuracy
c) Precision
d) Error
Answer:a) Variability
Explanation:CV% = (SD/Mean)×100, lower is better.
- CD at 5% is calculated using:
a) t-value × SE
b) t-value × SE × √2
c) F-value × SE
d) χ² × SE
Answer:b) t-value × SE × √2
Explanation:For comparing two treatment means.
- PMFBY provides premium subsidy of:
a) 25%
b) 50%
c) 75%
d) 90%
Answer:d) 90%
Explanation:For small/marginal farmers.
- Soil Health Cards are issued every:
a) 1 year
b) 2 years
c) 3 years
d) 5 years
Answer:c) 3 years
- PKVY promotes:
a) Organic farming
b) Precision farming
c) Protected cultivation
d) Seed production
Answer:a) Organic farming
- Nano-urea contains nitrogen of:
a) 4%
b) 16%
c) 26%
d) 46%
Answer:c) 26%
Explanation:4% w/v = 26% w/w equivalent.
- CRISPR-Cas9 is used for:
a) Gene editing
b) Gene mapping
c) Gene transfer
d) Gene sequencing
Answer:a) Gene editing
- Direct seeded rice saves water by:
a) 10-20%
b) 20-30%
c) 30-40%
d) 40-50%
Answer:b) 20-30%
- IFS stands for:
a) Integrated Farming System
b) Intensive Farming System
c) Indian Farming System
d) Innovative Farming System
Answer:a) Integrated Farming System
- Ideal crop:livestock ratio in IFS is:
a) 60:40
b) 50:30
c) 40:60
d) 30:70
Answer:b) 50:30
Explanation:50% area crops, 30% livestock, 20% others.
- Azolla is used as feed for:
a) Poultry
b) Fish
c) Cattle
d) All of above
Answer:d) All of above
Explanation:Rich in protein (25-35%).
- Safe moisture for wheat storage:
a) 8-10%
b) 10-12%
c) 12-14%
d) 14-16%
Answer:b) 10-12%
- Hermetic storage works on:
a) Low temperature
b) Low oxygen
c) Chemicals
d) Radiation
Answer:b) Low oxygen
Explanation:Creates anaerobic conditions.
- Parboiling involves:
a) Soaking, steaming, drying
b) Roasting, milling
c) Fermenting, drying
d) Germinating, drying
Answer:a) Soaking, steaming, drying
