Agriculture

Total Questions: 43

21. What is/are the advantage/advantages of zero tillage in agriculture? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2020]

1. Sowing of wheat is possible without burning the residue of previous crop.

2. Without the need for nursery of rice saplings, direct planting of paddy seeds in the wet soil is possible.

3. Carbon sequestration in the soil is possible.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: (d) 1,2 and 3
Solution:Zero tillage is the process where the crop seed will be sown directly through drillers without prior land preparation and thus avoiding disturbing the soil where previous crop stubbles are present.

Zero tillage and direct seeded rice (DSR) not only enable sowing of wheat without any burning of crop residue, but also save water by doing away with transplanting operations in paddy. Zero tillage is environmentally safe reducing greenhouse effect by way of carbon sequestration.

22. What are the advantages of fertigation in agriculture? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2020]

1. Controlling the alkalinity of irrigation water is possible.

2. Eficient application of Rock Phosphate and all other phosphatic fertilizers is possible.

3. Increased availability of nutrients to plants is possible.

4. Reduction in the leaching of chemical nutrients is possible.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: (c) 1,3 and 4 only
Solution:Fertigation is a method of fertilizer application in which fertilizer is dissloved into the irrigation water through the drip system. Urea, potash and highly water soluble fertilizers are available for use through fertigation.

Use of super phosphorus through fertigation must be avoided as it results in precipitation of phosphate salts. Thus, second statement is not correct and the correct answer is (c).

23. In the context of India, which of the following is/ are considered to be practice(s) of eco-friendly agriculture? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2020]

1. Crop diversification

2. Legume intensification

3. Tensiometer use

4. Vertical farming

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: (d) 1,2,3 and 4
Solution:Crop diversification It refers to the adoption of diverse new crops to the existing cropping pattern, consistent with the ago-climatic conditions of the area besides the ground water conditions.

It helps in moving away from nonculture and watergugling crops characterizing agriculture practices in India.

Legume (they fix the atmospheric nitrogen) intensification is an eco-friendly agricultural practice.

Tensiometers (a sealed, water-filled tube with a ceramic porous cup and a vaccum gauge at the top) could be really helpful in providing estimates of soil moisture, thus helping in water conservation.

Vertical farming: Crops are grown indoors, under artificial conditions of light and temperature. It uses significantly reduced water and pesticides than in traditional agriculture.

24. Who has written 'The History of Indian Agriculture? [U.P.P.C.S.(MAINS) 2015]

Correct Answer: (d) M.S. Randhawa
Solution:"The History of Indian Agriculture' is written by M.S Randhawa. His full name is Mohinder Singh Randhawa. He played a major role in the field of agriculture research and Green Revolution in India.

25. Read the following statements and choose the correct option: [Chhattisgarh P.C.S.(Pre) 2020]

Statement I : India has been divided into 20 agroclimatic regions

Statement II: India has been divided into 15 agroecological regions

Statement III : Coverage area of Western Himalaya cold arid ecoregiona is more than coverage area of Western Himalaya region

Correct Answer: (b) Statement I, II and III all are incorrect
Solution:For resource development, the country has been divided into 15 agroclimatic regions.

There are 20 agroecological regions according to the National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land use Planning. Coverage area of Western Himalaya cold arid eco region is more than coverage area of Western Himalaya region.

26. The agroecological regions of the country are - [U.P.R.O./A.R.O.(MAINS) 2013, U.P.R.O./A.R.O.(Spl)(Pre) 2010]

Correct Answer: (d) 20
Solution:According to the National Bureau of Soil Survey, India has been divided into 20 Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZs). Each AEZ is as uniform as possible in terms of physiography. climate, length of growing period and soil type for macro level land-use planning and effective transfer of technology.

27. The total number of Agro-ecological zones in India is- [U.P.P.C.S.(MAINS) 2016]

Correct Answer: (d) 20
Solution:India is divided into 20 Agro-Ecological Zone. Each Agro-ecological Zone is uniform in term of physiography. climate, length of growing period and soil type of macro-level land use planning and effective transfer of technology.

Agro-ecology refers to the study of agricultural ecosystems and their components as they function in themselves and as a part of the larger ecosystem. Such a study would help in evolving more sustainable agricultural ecosystems. It is important to understand the difference between an agro- climatic zone and an agro-ecological zone.

Agro-climatic zone refers to a land unit in terms of its major climate, superimposed on the length of growing period or moisture availability period; agro-ecological zone is the land unit carved out of agro-climatic zone and superimposed on landform which influences both the climate and length of growing period.

So study of an agro-ecological zone will involve examining its climate, soil, water, flora and fauna. A systematic investigation of the agro-ecological regions, which would be somewhat homogeneous regions in terms of soil, climate and physiographic and conducive moisture availability periods or length of growing period, is extremely important for planning appropriate land use.

28. P. Sengupta and G. Sdasyuk (1968) had divided India into how many micro agriculture region? [U.P.P.C.S.(MAINS) 2017]

Correct Answer: (c) 60
Solution:The Registrar General of Census, Government of India published a monograph in 1968 based on the study of Dr. P. Sengupta and Russian geographer Dr. Galina Sdasyuk, in which India was divided into 60 micro agricultural regions.

29. Assertion (A): The dry zone of India has a predominantly agrarian economy. [U.P.P.C.S.(MAINS) 2010]

Reason (R) : It has large potential for the second Green Revolution.

Select the correct answer from the code given below:

:Code

Correct Answer: (b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Solution:Green Revolution can be brought in dry zones of India by providing irrigation facility. Agriculture is the base of the economy of these areas. Thus, Assertion (A) and Reason (R), both are true however, Reason (R) does not explain the Assertion (A).

30. In the context of food and nutritional security of India, enhancing the 'Seed Replacement Rates' of various crops helps in achieving the food production targets of the future. But what is/are the constraint/ constraints in its wider/greater implementation? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2014]

1. There is no National Seeds Policy in place.

2. There is no participation of private sector seed companies in the supply of quality seeds of vegetables and planting materials of horticultural crops.

3. There is a demand-supply gap regarding quality seeds in case of low value and high volume crops.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Correct Answer: (b) 3 only
Solution:The National Seed Policy 2002 is in place in India, so the statement (1) is false. It is not true that there is no participation of private sector seed companies in the supply of quality seeds of vegetables and planting materials of horticultural crops, but they mainly produce high-priced seeds in lower volume.

So it is only available to few farmers. They supply nearly the entire hybrid seeds required for vegetables. There is demand- supply gap regarding quality seeds in case of low value and high volume crop, Thus, only statement (3) is correct.