Geography · Economics

Agricultural Practices in India

2,453 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 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.

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

Mixed cropping ______

  1. Reduces risk

  2. Gives some insurance against failure of one of the crop

  3. Both options a and b are correct

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

Mixed cropping involves growing two or more crops together without a definite row pattern. This practice reduces the risk of total crop failure if one crop fails due to pests or weather, providing a form of insurance.

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

.......... is growing of two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land.

  1. Crop rotation

  2. Mixed cropping

  3. Terrace farming

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Mixed cropping is a system of planting two crops at a time on the same land. It is also known as polyculture i.e two types of crops are sown and irrigated at a time. The benefits of mixed cropping are that the plant will get nutrients from the soils.

So, the correct option is ' Mixed cropping'.

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

Mixed farming referred only to ________________.

  1. Growing of crop together by mixing the seeds

  2. Growing of cash crops and food grains together

  3. Crop production combined with dairy farming at farm

  4. Growing of fruits and vegetable mixed
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation: Mixed farming is an agrarian system that mixes arable farming with the raising of livestock at the same time. When on a farm along-with crop production, some other agriculture based practice like poultry, dairy farming or bee keeping etc. is adopted, then this system of farming is known as mixed farming.

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

The growing two or more crops at a time in a field is called as

  1. Crop rotation

  2. Inter cropping

  3. Mixed cropping

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

When the same land is used for the cultivation of more than one crop is known as mixed cropping. The same field is divided into smaller regions. The seeds of different crops are sown and cultivation of different crops is carried out in the same piece of land. 

Thus, the correct answer is option C. 

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

The technique of growing two or more different crops together in the same field is known as 

  1. mixed cropping

  2. mixed farming

  3. inter-cropping

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

Mixed cropping is a technique which involves growing up of two or more different crops in the same field. The different crops to be grown together are so chosen that they do not have common pests and pathogens or similar requirement of water and animals. For example, ground nut and sunflower/gram.

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

________ is grown in mixed cropping.

  1. Maize + Black gram

  2. Sunflower + Soyabean

  3. Sorghum + wheat

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Mixed cropping is a system of planting two or more crops at a time on the same land. It is also known as poly-culture i.e two types of crops are sown and irrigated at a time.  Mustard and wheat is an example of mixed cropping.

So, the correct option is ' Maize+Black gram'.

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

The selection of crops in mixed cropping is in such a way that they support each others growth.

  1. True

  2. False

  3. Ambiguous

  4. Data insufficient
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The method of growing two or more crops simultaneously on same piece of land is called mixed cropping or inter-cropping. This method helps in improving the fertility of soil. It is very important that crops support each others growth to grow all of them on same piece of land.