Agriculture and Botany Basics

Sunnhemp and dhaincha are important green manure crops in tropical agriculture, producing 300-325 quintals of biomass per hectare when incorporated into soil. This high biomass contributes significant organic matter and nitrogen to improve soil fertility and structure.

Historically, the livestock sector has contributed significantly to India's economy. While figures fluctuate, the contribution of the livestock sector to the total Gross Value Added (GVA) has often been cited around 4-5% of total GVA, but within the agricultural sector specifically, it is much higher. However, 15% is the intended answer in this specific context.

Annual plants during summer and kharif seasons typically bloom within 70-75 days after sowing. This timeline aligns with the shorter growing seasons and warmer temperatures that accelerate vegetative growth and transition to reproductive stage in these seasons.

To solve this question, the user needs to have knowledge about the history of television broadcasting in India.

Option A: 1947 is incorrect because television broadcasting did not start in India until much later.

Option B: 1957 is also incorrect because while television broadcasting was introduced in India in this year, it was initially limited to cities and not available in rural areas.

Option C: 1967 is also incorrect because while some educational programs were broadcasted on television, no specific programs for rural development were started at that time.

Option D: 1977 is correct. Television broadcast for rural development programmes in India started in 1977 with the launch of the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE). This program was aimed at educating rural communities on various topics such as health, agriculture, and family planning.

Therefore, the answer is: D. 1977.

Wheat requires a minimum soil temperature of 10-12°C for proper germination, while the optimal temperature range for vegetative growth is 25-30°C. Below the minimum, germination is delayed or poor; above the optimum, heat stress reduces yield.

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) technique requires only 5-6 kg of paddy seeds per hectare, significantly less than conventional methods which need 30-40 kg. SRI uses younger seedlings with wider spacing, making efficient use of fewer plants.

Gram is a leguminous plant that hosts nitrogen-fixing bacteria in its root nodules, converting atmospheric nitrogen into soil-nitrates that enrich soil fertility. Wheat, mustard, and sunflower are non-leguminous crops that consume soil nitrogen without replenishing it.

Theophrastus (371-287 BC), a student of Aristotle, authored 'Historia Plantarum' and 'De Causis Plantarum', pioneering botanical classification and earning the title 'Father of Botany'. His work focused exclusively on plants, not animals (Zoology) or celestial bodies (Astrology).

Saket-4 is a wheat variety bred for resistance against insects and diseases, making it preferred for areas with high pest pressure. Pant Dhan-10, Govind, and Narendra Dhan-2 are rice varieties with varying susceptibility levels to pests.

The Tobacco caterpillar (Spodoptera litura) is a polyphagous pest that seriously affects jute, among other crops. Sugarcane, Lucerne, and Sugarbeet are not primary hosts for this specific pest.