Geography · Economics

Agricultural Practices in India

2,426 Questions

Agricultural practices in India form a core segment of geography and economics syllabi. This hub covers crop distribution, farming techniques, and land measurement terms. These concepts regularly appear in SSC, state PSC, and civil services examinations.

Plantation and food cropsCrop cultivation regionsLand measurement unitsAgricultural storage techniquesIntercropping systemsWater resource management

Agricultural Practices in India Questions

Multiple choice botany economically useful plants and entrepreneurial botany horticulture organic farming horticulture and organic farming

Intensive cultivation of fruits, flowers and vegetables for commercial purpose is called _______.

  1. Sericulture

  2. Pisciculture

  3. Horticulture

  4. Apiculture
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
  • Sericulture is the industrial growth of silkworm for silk. 
  • Pisciculture is the commercial breeding and raising of fish stock for consumption. 
  • Horticulture is growing flowers, fruits and vegetables at a commercial level. 
  • Apiculture is breeding of honey bees for honey production.
Multiple choice botany economically useful plants and entrepreneurial botany horticulture organic farming horticulture and organic farming

Horticulture deals with

  1. Production of crops

  2. Breeding of animals

  3. Study of soil

  4. Production of fruits and vegetables
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Horticulture is the branch of science that deals with the art and technology of growing plants. It includes the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants, ornamental plants and other plants. Agriculture is the science that deals with the study of the production of crops. Breeding of animals is called animal husbandry. Study of soil is called pedology.

So, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice botany economically useful plants and entrepreneurial botany horticulture organic farming horticulture and organic farming

Identify the integrated farming of crops and livestock.

  1. Organic farming

  2. Mixed cropping

  3. Composite farming

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Organic farming is the technique which is used for the evolution of the agricultural techniques and increase the production without the use of antibiotics, fertilizers and pesticides. Organic farming is a combination of farming with traditional methods and maintenance of livestock. This livestock includes cattle and other farm animals. This system also uses the microbial culture to enhance the soil quality and fertility. 

Thus, the correct answer is option A. 

Multiple choice botany plant breeding plant breeding for disease resistance and insect resistance method of plant breeding for crop improvement plant breeding for food production

The increase in crop yield with green manure is approximately

  1. 1-10%

  2. 10-20%

  3. 30-50%

  4. 60-80%
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The amount of humus found in the soil also increases with higher rates of decomposition, which is beneficial for the growth of the crop succeeding the green manure crop used, and its management, its approach that of soil organic matter and microbial biomass. This resulted in the increase of the yield of the crops to about 25%- 35%.

So, the correct option is '30-50%'.

Multiple choice evs fertility of the soil patterns of cropping rotation of crops cropping patterns common irrigation systems

Selection of crops is done on the basis of

  1. Temperature

  2. Soil condition

  3. Land

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Selection of crops for rotation depends on soil condition, moisture condition, length of rainy season, type of inputs available (irrigation, fertiliser, pesticide, labour and machine power), risk involved, duration of crop (annual, biennial or perennial) and marketing and processing facilities. 

Multiple choice biology sustainable agriculture patterns of cropping rotation of crops cropping patterns common irrigation systems

Which cropping method involves the successive growing of different crops in the same field in a definite pattern?

  1. Mixed cropping

  2. Crop rotation

  3. Inter cropping

  4. Mixed farming
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Intercropping is the practice of growing two or more crops on the same piece of land in alternate rows. It increases the land productivity and acts as an insurance for the farmers during the crop failure.

So, the correct answer is option C.

Multiple choice biology sustainable agriculture patterns of cropping rotation of crops cropping patterns common irrigation systems

Which cropping method involves growing two or more crops in definite row pattern?

  1. Intercropping

  2. Mixed farming

  3. Mixed cropping

  4. Crop rotation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Intercropping is a cropping practice that involves growing two or more crops in proximity in different rows. This practice of cultivating different crops gives higher income than the sole cropping. Intercropping maintains the soil fertility and reduces the soil runoff. 

Thus, the correct answer is option A. 

Multiple choice biology sustainable agriculture patterns of cropping rotation of crops cropping patterns common irrigation systems

Which of these statements is true about intercropping?

  1. Seeds of two crops are mixed before sowing.

  2. Harvesting and thrashing are not possible separately.

  3. Maximum utilisation of nutrients supplied.

  4. There are set pattern of rows of crops.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Intercropping is growing two or more crops simultaneously in the same field in a definite pattern which avoids the competition between both the crops. The sowing time of crops in this pattern may be the same or different.

Multiple choice biology sustainable agriculture patterns of cropping rotation of crops cropping patterns common irrigation systems

Which of the following terms is used for raising both plant crop and livestock on farm?

  1. Mixed farming

  2. Intercropping

  3. Monocropping

  4. Crop rotation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Mixed farming is a method of agriculture which involves cropping as well as raising livestock. For example growing of cereal crops with cattle farming as cattle excrete nitrogenous waste that can be used as manure for cereals whereas waste from crops is used as fooder and reduces the use of artificial fertilizers.

Multiple choice biology sustainable agriculture patterns of cropping rotation of crops cropping patterns common irrigation systems

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding mixed cropping

(I) There is a definite pattern of sowing seeds.
(ii) It increases biodiversity.
 (iii) It removes some nutrients specifically
 (iv) Outbreaks of pests and diseases can spread very rapidly.
 (v) The crops with different maturation times are grown together. 
 (vi) Same fertilizers and pesticides are used for all crops
 (vii) The risk of total crop failure due to uncertain monsoon is reduced.    

  1. (ii), (v), (vi), (vii)

  2. (i), (ii), (v), (vi)

  3. (iii), (iv), (v), (vi)

  4. (i), (ii), (iv), (vii)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

  • Mixed cropping is also known as polyculture, inter-cropping or co-cultivation.
  • It is a type of agriculture technique in which two or more plants are planted simultaneously in the same field, interlinking the crops so that they grow together.
  • Benefits of mixed cropping are:-
(1) It saves space as crops in the same field might ripen at different seasons.
(2) It provides various environmental benefits.
(3) A balance of input and outgo of soil nutrients.
(4) It helps in the suppression of plant diseases, suppression of weeds and insect pests.
(5) The risk of total crop failure due to uncertain monsoon is reduced.    

The correct answer is OPTION A.

Multiple choice biology sustainable agriculture patterns of cropping rotation of crops cropping patterns common irrigation systems

Growing two or more crops in definite row pattern is called

  1. Crop rotation

  2. Inter-cropping

  3. Mixed cropping

  4. Intra-cropping
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Inter-cropping is growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same field in a definite pattern. A few rows of one crop alternate with a few rows of a second crop. The crops are selected such that their nutrient requirements are different. This ensures maximum utilization of the nutrients supplied, and also prevents pests and diseases from spreading to all the plants belonging to one crop in a field. Thus, both crops give better returns.
So, the correct answer is 'Inter-cropping'.
Multiple choice biology sustainable agriculture patterns of cropping rotation of crops cropping patterns common irrigation systems

Horti-pastoral farming refers to

  1. Growing food and fodder

  2. Growing mixed crops

  3. Growing fodder and rearing cattle

  4. Growing fruit trees and fodder simultaneously
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Growing fodder grass for cattle along with fruit trees or growing fruit trees while rearing cattle is known as horti-pastoral farming. It is adopted as an alternative land use system in North India. Thus, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice biology sustainable agriculture patterns of cropping rotation of crops cropping patterns common irrigation systems

Growing two or more crops but in definite row pattern is known as

  1. Intercropping

  2. Crop rotation

  3. Mixed farming

  4. Mixed cropping
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A- Inter cropping is farming in which two or more crops are grown together indefinite pattern at same time on same piece of land for greater yield. Inter cropping maintains soil fertility and reduces soil erosion and depletion.

Multiple choice biology sustainable agriculture patterns of cropping rotation of crops cropping patterns common irrigation systems

The crops are selected for inter-cropping and their nutrient requirements are _____

  1. Similar

  2. Different

  3. No change

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Inter-cropping involves growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same field. To minimize competition for resources like nutrients, crops with different nutrient requirements are selected.