Agriculture (UPSC)

Total Questions: 50

41. Consider the following crops of India: [2012-1]

1. Groundnut 2. Sesamum 3. Pearl millet Which of the above is/are predominantly rained crop/crops?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution:All of them are predominantly rain fed crops

42. Contour bunding is a method of soil conservation used in

(a) desert margins, liable to strong wind action
(b) low flat plains, close to stream courses, liable to flooding
(c) scrublands, liable to spread of weed growth
(d) None of the above

Correct Answer: (d) None of the above

Solution:Contour Bunding is one of the simple method of soil and water conservation. This technique is used at places where the land is sloppy. Due to slope, soil and nutrients erode fast which makes agriculture on this land very uneconomical. To adopt this technique the agriculture fields contours are marked and then the bunds are taken along the contours.

43. Consider the following crops:

1. Cotton 2. Groundnut

3. Rice 4. Wheat

Which of these are Kharif crops?

(a) 1 and 4
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 3

Solution:Rice is the main kharif crop and groundnut and cotton are also the kharif crops wheat is a raki.

44. With reference to Neem tree, consider the following statements:

1. Neem oil can be used as a pesticide to control the proliferation of some species of insects and mites.

2. Neem seeds are used in the manufacture of biofuels and hospital detergents.

3. Neem oil has applications in pharmaceutical industry.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only

Solution:Neem oil can be used as pesticide to control the proliferation of some species of insects and mites and also has applications in pharmaceutical industry as neem oil has various medicinal properties.

45. Consider the following pairs:

Region	Well-known for the production of
1. Kinnaur	Areca nut
2. Mewat	Mango
3. Coromandel	Soya bean

Which of the above pairs is/ are correctly matched?

(a) 1 & 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1, 2 & 3
(d) None

Correct Answer: (d) None

Solution:Kinnaur (Himachal) is famous for apples. Areca nut mostly confined to Karnataka, Kerala and Assam. Mewat in haryana is not famous for mango. UP is famous for mango.

Similarly, coromandel coast is not famous for soya beans. Top two producers of soya are Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra which are outside coromandel coast.

Therefore, (d) is the correct option.

46. Consider the following techniques phenomena :

1. Budding and grafting in fruit plants

2. Cytoplasmic male sterility

3. Gene silencing

Which of the above is/are used to create transgenic crops?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) None

Correct Answer: (b) 2 and 3

Solution:Cytoplasmic male sterility and gene silencing are used for creation of transgenic crops. Grafting and budding in fruit plants are not used for transgenic crop production but used during regular horticulture practices.

47. Consider the following statements:

1. Maize can be used for the production of starch.

2. Oil extracted from maize can be a feedstock for biodiesel.

3. Alcoholic beverages can be produced by using maize.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution:All three statements are correct as Maize can be used for the production of starch. Oil extracted from maize can be a feedstock for biodiesel. Alcoholic beverages can be produced by using maize.

48. What are the significances of a practical approach to sugarcane production known as 'Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative'?

1. Seed cost is very low in this compared to the conventional method of cultivation.

2. Drip irrigation can be practiced very effectively in this.

3. There is no application of chemical/inorganic fertilizers at all in this.

4. The scope for intercropping is more in this compared to the conventional method of cultivation.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 1, 2 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 4 only

Solution:NPK (fertilizers) can be applied at the rate of 112 kg, 25 kg and 48 kg per acre, respectively through inorganic or organic methods. Hence statement #3 is wrong, this eliminates (a), (c) and (d). therefore, answer (b) 1,2,4 only.

49. Consider the following pairs:

Programme/Project	Ministry
1. Drought-Prone Area Programme	Ministry of Agriculture
2. Desert Development Programme	Ministry of Environment and Forests
3. National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas	Ministry of Rural Development

Which of the above pairs is/ are correctly matched?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None

Correct Answer: (d) None

Solution:The draught prone area programme is by ministry of Rural development to minimise the adverse effects of drought on production of crops and livestock and productivity of land, water and human resources. The desert development programme is also by ministry of Rural development to minimise the adverse effect of drought and control desertification. National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas is by ministry of agriculture..

50. What are the benefits of implementing the 'Integrated Watershed Development Programme'?

1. Prevention of soil runoff

2. Linking the country's perennial rivers with seasonal rivers

3. Rainwater harvesting and recharge of groundwater table

4. Regeneration of natural vegetation