PYQs - IBPS SO AFO Mains Exam 2014 (Agriculture Knowledge)

 

IBPS SO AFO Mains Exam 2014 (Agriculture Knowledge)

Previous Year Questions (PYQs):

Q(1). Central Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institute is located at:

(a.) Bhopal

(b.) Delhi

(c.) Dehradun

(d.) Ludhiana

(e.) Indore

Q(2). Directorate of Weed Science Research (DWSR) is located at:

(a.) Jabalpur

(b.) Bhopal

(c.) Indore

(d.) Gwalior

(e.) Nagpur

Q(3). The water use efficiency of a drip irrigation system is:

(a.) 30 per cent

(b.) 40 per cent

(c.) 50 per cent

(d.) 55 per cent

(e.) 70 per cent

Q(4). What is the seed rate of pigeon peas?

(a.) 10-15 kg/ha

(b.) 25-30 kg/ha

(c.) 30-35 kg/ha

(d.) 40-45 kg/ha

(e.) 55-60 kg/ha

Q(5). Which of the following crops can grow in low oxygen or waterlogged soil?

(a.) Wheat

(b.) Barley

(c.) Bajra

(d.) Paddy

(e.) None of the above

Q(6). Which of the following is a crop-weed mismatch?

(a.) Rice - Phalaris minor

(b.) Wheat - Avena fatua

(c.) Sugarcane - Striga

(d.) All of the above

(e.) None of the above

Q(7). What is the cropping intensity in India?

(a.) 145 per cent

(b.) 130 per cent

(c.) 137 per cent

(d.) 155 per cent

(e.) 145 per cent

Q(8). Spacing for Kabuli chana cultivation is:

(a.) 40 x 15 cm

(b.) 30 x 15 cm

(c.) 30 x 10 cm

(d.) 40 x 10 cm

(e.) 50 x 10 cm

Q(9). Weed competition in rice is more severe in:

(a.) Direct seeded crop

(b.) Transplanted crop

(c.) Late sown crop

(d.) Flooded crop

(e.) None of the above

Q(10). The system of rice intensification is not featured with the:

(a.) Water save

(b.) Time save

(c.) Nutrient save

(d.) Labour save

(e.) None of the above

Q(11). The trench method of planting sugarcane is suitable for:

(a.) Northern India

(b.) North Eastern India

(c.) Punjab, Haryana, UP

(d.) Coastal region

(e.) None of the above

Q(12). Singling is very common in:

(a.) Sugarcane

(b.) Sugarbeet

(c.) Cotton

(d.) Jute

(e.) Wheat

Q(13). Which type of farming is mostly adopted in hilly areas?

(a.) Contour farming

(b.) Precision farming

(c.) Contract farming

(d.) All of the above

(e.) None of the above

Q(14). Relative humidity is measured by:

(a.) Anemometer

(b.) Psychrometer

(c.) Potometer

(d.) Pycnometer

(e.) Permeameter

Q(15). Spacing for sunflower cultivation is:

(a.) 30 x 10 cm

(b.) 40 x 10 cm

(c.) 20 x 15 cm

(d.) 40 x 15 cm

(e.) 45 x 30 cm

Q(16). Symbiosis occurs between which bacteria and legume roots?

(a.) Actinomycetes

(b.) Azospirillum

(c.) Clostridium

(d.) Rhizobium

(e.) None of the above

Q(17). Which of the following is a non-environmental physical characteristic of soil?

(a.) Soil structure

(b.) Soil texture

(c.) Soil plasticity

(d.) Soil pH

(e.) None of the above

Q(18). pH for saline soil is:

(a.) Below 8.5

(b.) Above 8.5

(c.) Above 9.5

(d.) Above 10

(e.) Below 4.5

Q(19). The brown colour of the soil is due to:

(a.) Nitrogen

(b.) Potash

(c.) Phosphorus

(d.) Organic matter

(e.) None of the above

Q(20). What is the carbon content in humus?

(a.) 65 per cent

(b.) 72 per cent

(c.) 52 per cent

(d.) 81 per cent

(e.) 15 per cent

Q(21). Which crop can grow in saline soil?

(a.) Sweet Orange

(b.) Mango

(c.) Almond

(d.) Sweet potato

(e.) None of the above

Q(22). Indian red soil is featured with:

(a.) Poor drainage capacity

(b.) Poor water holding capacity

(c.) Poor nutrient-holding capacity

(d.) Fast and bigger cracking

(e.) None of the above

Q(23). The upper limit of water availability to plants is at an energy level of:

(a.) 0 bar

(b.) 0.3 bar

(c.) 31 bar

(d.) 15 bar

(e.) 60 bar

Q(24). Soil acid can be reclaimed by use of:

(a.) Gypsum

(b.) Lime

(c.) Leaching

(d.) Urea

(e.) All of the above

Q(25). Whiptail in Cauliflower/Broccoli is due to deficiency of:

(a.) Mn

(b.) Cl

(c.) Mo

(d.) Mg

(e.) Zn

Q(26). Inward slope terracing is good for:

(a.) High rainfall region

(b.) Less rainfall region

(c.) Normal rainfall region

(d.) None of the above

(e.) All of the above

Q(27). Shelterbelts are/are:

(a.) Multi-storied crops

(b.) Crop and trees

(c.) Used against wind erosion

(d.) None of the above

(e.) All of the above

Q(28). Rill erosion can be detected in the field as:

(a.) Malt flow

(b.) Finger-like structure

(c.) Thin muddy film

(d.) 3-meter width

(e.) 10-meter width

Q(29). Which is the most deficient micronutrient in Indian soil after the zinc element?

(a.) Fe

(b.) Mn

(c.) Cu

(d.) Mo

(e.) Ni

Q(30). Which of the following potassium (K) fertilisers is not recommended for potato cultivation?

(a.) Potassium schoenite

(b.) Potassium sulphate

(c.) Potassium chloride

(d.) All of the above

(e.) None of the above

Q(31). Which of the following is organic manure?

(a.) Vermicompost

(b.) Bangalore Compost

(c.) FYM

(d.) All of the above

(e.) None of the above

Q(32). The red colour of the soil is due to:

(a.) Iron oxide

(b.) Potassium

(c.) Magnesium

(d.) Silica

(e.) Phosphorus

Q(33). Black soil is most suitable for:

(a.) Cotton

(b.) Groundnut

(c.) Rice

(d.) All of the above

(e.) None of the above

Q(34). Which is the recommended NPK ratio for cereals?

(a.) 7:4:1 ratio

(b.) 4:2:1 ratio

(c.) 4:1:1 ratio

(d.) 10:5:1 ratio

(e.) 7:2:2 ratio

Q(35). Which of the following crops has shallow roots?

(a.) Banana

(b.) Onion

(c.) Papaya

(d.) Grape

(e.) None of the above

Q(36). The largest fruit-producing state in India is:

(a.) Tamil Nadu

(b.) U.P

(c.) Bihar

(d.) West Bengal

(e.) Maharashtra

Q(37). Aldicarb insecticide is:

(a.) Systemic

(b.) Contact

(c.) Non-selective

(d.) All of the above

(e.) None of the above

Q(38). The area under Bt-cotton is:

(a.) 6 Mha

(b.) 11 Mha

(c.) 15 Mha

(d.) 20 Mha

(e.) 25 Mha

Q(39). Loose smut of wheat is a:

(a.) Airborne disease

(b.) Seed-borne disease

(c.) Soil-borne disease

(d.) All of the above

(e.) None of the above

Q(40). Indian agriculture's contribution to world trade (approx) during 2013-14 was:

(a.) 1 per cent

(b.) 5 per cent

(c.) 7 per cent

(d.) 9 per cent

(e.) 12 per cent

Q(41). National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) was launched in:

(a.) 1995

(b.) 1999

(c.) 2001

(d.) 2004

(e.) 2016

Q(42). Kisan Credit Card (KCC) was introduced in the year:

(a.) 1992

(b.) 1998

(c.) 2004

(d.) 2007

(e.) 2013

Q(43). A regulated market is one:

(a.) Where products are sold regularly

(b.) That works under a fixed rule framework

(c.) Where sellers are a permanent type

(d.) All of the above

(e.) None of the above

Q(44). The best milk-yielding Indian variety of cattle is:

(a.) Surati

(b.) Mehsana

(c.) Sahiwal

(d.) Jafarabadi

(e.) None of the above

Q(45). The best wool-yielding sheep is:

(a.) Rambouillet

(b.) Lincoln

(c.) Corriedale

(d.) Marino

(e.) None of the above

Q(46). Bakanae disease of rice is related to:

(a.) Auxins

(b.) Gibberellins

(c.) Cytokinins

(d.) Ethylene

(e.) None of the above

Q(47). A new variety of plant-derived from tissue culture is referred to as:

(a.) Clones

(b.) Invitromicroclones

(c.) Proto multi clones

(d.) Somaclones

(e.) None of the above

Q(48). Multilines are produced by mixing:

(a.) Inbred line

(b.) Isogenic line

(c.) Genetically dissimilar lines

(d.) Synthetic line

(e.) None of the above

Q(49). Which variety is not a native of the USA poultry breed?

(a.) Hampshire

(b.) Plymouth Rock

(c.) Rhode Island Red

(d.) Wyandotte

(e.) None of the above

Q(50). Which of the following are used in secondary tillage?

(a.) M B Plough

(b.) Chisel Plough

(c.) Harrowing

(d.) All of the above

(e.) None of the above

Answer and Explanations:

Ans.(1). (a.) Bhopal; Explanation: Central Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institute is located at Budni, near Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. It conducts testing, training and evaluation of agricultural machinery and implements.

Ans.(2). (a.) Jabalpur; Explanation: Directorate of Weed Science Research, now ICAR-Directorate of Weed Research, is located at Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. It works on weed biology, weed management and herbicide-related research.

Ans.(3). (e.) 70 per cent; Explanation: Drip irrigation has high water use efficiency because water is supplied near the root zone. The given answer key marks 70 per cent as the water use efficiency of drip irrigation.

Ans.(4). (a.) 10-15 kg/ha; Explanation: The seed rate of pigeonpea is 10-15 kg/ha. Pigeonpea seed rate varies with variety, row spacing, seed size and duration of the crop.

Ans.(5). (d.) Paddy; Explanation: Paddy can grow under waterlogged or low-oxygen soil conditions. Rice plants possess aerenchyma tissues that help in oxygen movement from shoots to roots.

Ans.(6). (a.) Rice - Phalaris minor; Explanation: Phalaris minor is a major weed of wheat, not rice. Hence, Rice - Phalaris minor is a crop-weed mismatch.

Ans.(7). (c.) 137 per cent; Explanation: Cropping intensity means gross cropped area divided by net sown area multiplied by 100. The answer key gives India's cropping intensity as 137 per cent.

Ans.(8). (c.) 30 x 10 cm; Explanation: Kabuli chana is spaced at 30 x 10 cm in the given answer key. Proper spacing helps in maintaining plant population and reducing crop competition.

Ans.(9). (a.) Direct seeded crop; Explanation: Weed competition in rice is more severe in direct seeded rice. In direct seeding, rice and weeds emerge together, causing early crop-weed competition.

Ans.(10). (d.) Labour save; Explanation: System of Rice Intensification is known for saving water, seed and improving plant vigour. It is generally not considered labour-saving because it requires careful transplanting, weeding and water management.

Ans.(11). (d.) Coastal region; Explanation: The trench method of planting sugarcane is suitable for coastal regions. It helps in better crop establishment and management under specific moisture conditions.

Ans.(12). (b.) Sugarbeet; Explanation: Singling is common in sugarbeet. It means thinning extra seedlings and retaining one healthy plant at a proper spacing.

Ans.(13). (a.) Contour farming; Explanation: Contour farming is mostly adopted in hilly areas. Crops are grown along contour lines to reduce runoff velocity and soil erosion.

Ans.(14). (b.) Psychrometer; Explanation: Relative humidity is measured by a psychrometer. It uses dry-bulb and wet-bulb thermometer readings to estimate atmospheric humidity.

Ans.(15). (e.) 45 x 30 cm; Explanation: Sunflower is commonly planted at 45 x 30 cm spacing. This spacing supports proper plant population, branching and head development.

Ans.(16). (d.) Rhizobium; Explanation: Rhizobium forms symbiotic association with legume roots. It fixes atmospheric nitrogen in root nodules and benefits leguminous crops.

Ans.(17). (d.) Soil pH; Explanation: Soil pH is a chemical property showing soil acidity or alkalinity. Soil structure, texture and plasticity are physical properties of soil.

Ans.(18). (a.) Below 8.5; Explanation: Saline soils generally have electrical conductivity above 4 dS/m and pH below 8.5. Sodic or alkali soils generally have pH above 8.5.

Ans.(19). (d.) Organic matter; Explanation: Brown colour of soil is mainly due to organic matter. Humus and decomposed organic residues darken soil colour and improve fertility.

Ans.(20). (c.) 52 per cent; Explanation: Humus contains about 52 per cent carbon according to the given answer key. Carbon is the main component of soil organic matter.

Ans.(21). (d.) Sweet potato; Explanation: Sweet potato can tolerate saline soil better than many sensitive fruit crops listed in the options. It can be grown under moderately adverse soil conditions.

Ans.(22). (b.) Poor water holding capacity; Explanation: Indian red soils generally have poor water holding capacity. They are often light-textured, low in humus and low in plant nutrients.

Ans.(23). (b.) 0.3 bar; Explanation: The upper limit of plant available water is at field capacity, which is around 0.3 bar in many soils. Permanent wilting point is generally around 15 bar.

Ans.(24). (b.) Lime; Explanation: Acid soils are reclaimed by applying lime. Lime neutralises soil acidity and increases soil pH for better nutrient availability.

Ans.(25). (c.) Mo; Explanation: Whiptail in cauliflower and broccoli is caused by molybdenum deficiency. It produces narrow, distorted leaves and poor curd development.

Ans.(26). (a.) High rainfall region; Explanation: Inward slope terracing is useful in high rainfall regions. It helps to safely collect, guide and dispose runoff water from terraced fields.

Ans.(27). (e.) All of the above; Explanation: Shelterbelts may include multi-storied vegetation, crops and trees, and are mainly used against wind erosion. They reduce wind velocity and protect fields.

Ans.(28). (b.) Finger-like structure; Explanation: Rill erosion appears as small channels or finger-like structures in the field. It occurs when runoff concentrates into narrow flow paths.

Ans.(29). (a.) Fe; Explanation: After zinc, iron is considered an important deficient micronutrient in Indian soils. Iron deficiency commonly causes interveinal chlorosis in young leaves.

Ans.(30). (c.) Potassium chloride; Explanation: Potassium chloride is generally not recommended for potato because chloride may adversely affect tuber quality. Potassium sulphate is usually preferred for potato.

Ans.(31). (d.) All of the above; Explanation: Vermicompost, Bangalore compost and FYM are all organic manures. They add organic matter and slowly release nutrients to soil.

Ans.(32). (a.) Iron oxide; Explanation: Red colour of soil is due to iron oxide. Oxidised iron compounds give red, reddish-brown or yellowish colour to soils.

Ans.(33). (a.) Cotton; Explanation: Black soil is most suitable for cotton. It has high clay content, good moisture retention and is popularly called black cotton soil.

Ans.(34). (b.) 4:2:1 ratio; Explanation: The recommended NPK ratio for cereals is 4:2:1. Balanced fertilisation supports proper vegetative growth, root development and grain formation.

Ans.(35). (b.) Onion; Explanation: Onion has a shallow root system. Therefore, it needs frequent irrigation and good nutrient availability in the upper soil layer.

Ans.(36). (e.) Maharashtra; Explanation: The answer key marks Maharashtra as the largest fruit-producing state in India. Maharashtra is important for mango, banana, grape, pomegranate and citrus production.

Ans.(37). (a.) Systemic; Explanation: Aldicarb is a systemic insecticide. It is absorbed by the plant and controls pests feeding on plant tissues.

Ans.(38). (b.) 11 Mha; Explanation: The area under Bt-cotton is given as about 11 Mha. Bt-cotton contains insecticidal genes for protection against bollworms.

Ans.(39). (b.) Seed-borne disease; Explanation: Loose smut of wheat is a seed-borne disease. The pathogen survives internally in seed and infects the developing wheat plant.

Ans.(40). (a.) 1 per cent; Explanation: Indian agriculture's contribution to world trade during 2013-14 was approximately 1 per cent. This reflects India’s share in global agricultural trade at that time.

Ans.(41). (b.) 1999; Explanation: National Agricultural Insurance Scheme was launched in 1999. It aimed to provide crop insurance protection and financial support to farmers against crop losses.

Ans.(42). (b.) 1998; Explanation: Kisan Credit Card was introduced in 1998. It provides farmers timely credit for crop production and other agricultural needs.

Ans.(43). (b.) That works under a fixed rule framework; Explanation: A regulated market works under a fixed set of rules and regulations. It ensures fair weighment, transparent sale and protection against market malpractices.

Ans.(44). (c.) Sahiwal; Explanation: Sahiwal is one of the best Indian milch cattle breeds. It is known for high milk yield, heat tolerance and adaptability to Indian conditions.

Ans.(45). (d.) Marino; Explanation: Merino sheep are famous for fine-quality wool. The OCR spelling “Marino” refers to Merino, a well-known wool breed.

Ans.(46). (b.) Gibberellins; Explanation: Bakanae disease of rice is associated with excess gibberellin production by the pathogen. It causes abnormal elongation and lanky seedlings in rice.

Ans.(47). (d.) Somaclones; Explanation: Plants derived from tissue culture showing variation are called somaclones. Such variation is known as somaclonal variation.

Ans.(48). (c.) Genetically dissimilar lines; Explanation: Multilines are produced by mixing genetically dissimilar lines. They provide genetic diversity and reduce disease vulnerability in crop populations.

Ans.(49). (e.) None of the above; Explanation: Hampshire, Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red and Wyandotte are poultry breeds of USA origin. Therefore, none of the listed breeds is outside USA origin as per the answer key.

Ans.(50). (c.) Harrowing; Explanation: Harrowing is used in secondary tillage. It breaks clods, levels soil, uproots weeds and prepares a fine seedbed after primary tillage.