Environmental Studies · Geography

Agricultural Practices and Land Use

3,672 Questions

Access a comprehensive collection of questions on agricultural practices and land use planning. The topics span organic farming, sustainable agriculture, soil conservation, and crop rotation. These concepts are essential for general awareness preparation across banking, railway, and civil services examinations.

Organic farming methodsSustainable agricultureSoil conservation techniquesCrop rotation benefits

Agricultural Practices and Land Use Questions

Multiple choice

What does Green Revolution mean?

  1. Increase in the production of food grains

  2. Building of green houses for all season production

  3. Saving our forest resources

  4. Increase in the production of green leafy vegetables
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Green Revolution means increase in the production of food grains. The Indian state of Punjab pioneered Green Revolution among the other states, transforming India into a food-surplus country.

Multiple choice

What is the need for removing weeds from a crop field as early as possible?

(i) Weeds compete for food. (ii) Weeds take up nutrients from soil. (iii) They reduce the yield of the main crop. (iv) They cause diseases in the main crop.

  1. (i) and (ii)

  2. (ii) and (iv)

  3. (i), (ii) and (iii)

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

Weeds compete for food and take up nutrients from soil. Thus, they reduce the yield of the main crop. Therefore, they should be removed as soon as possible.

Multiple choice

Why are earthworms called the friends of farmers?

  1. As they kill harmful pests.

  2. As they improve fertility of soil.

  3. As they protect the crops from natural disasters.

  4. As they provide strength to roots of the plants.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Earthworms improve the fertility of soil. That's why,  they are considered as friends of farmers.

Multiple choice

Farmers of Gujarat use sustainable agriculture techniques. What does this mean?

  1. They use more of chemical fertilisers to maximise agriculture yield.

  2. They use bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides with minimum chemical fertilisers.

  3. They use latest machines to increase agricultural yield.

  4. The farmers are all well-educated.

  5. They use best quality seeds and offer good employment in agriculture.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Yes, it is correct. Sustainable agriculture is done with less chemical fertilisers and more bio-fertilisers, without disturbing the balance of nature.

Multiple choice

A farmer wants to improve the productivity and variety of crops. What should the farmer do?

  1. He should grow food crops of less height (dwarf).
  2. He should grow crops of shorter duration.
  3. He should grow plants, which are sensitive to variations of light duration.

  1. Only 3

  2. Only 1 and 3

  3. Only 1 and 2

  4. Only 1

  5. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Yes, it is correct. The food crop should be dwarf so that they consume less nutrients. The shorter the duration of crops, the more econmical is the variety. Statement 3 is false. The varieties he grows should be insensitive to variations in light duration.

Multiple choice

Why is Jhoom farming done?

  1. To increase soil fertility

  2. To grow different of crops in the same field

  3. To remove unwanted plants

  4. Both (1) and (2)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Jhoom farming (jhum cultivation) is a shifting agriculture practice primarily done to maintain soil fertility through natural regeneration. Farmers clear small forest patches, cultivate crops for 2-3 years, then abandon the plot to allow forest regrowth, moving to a new area. This cycle helps restore soil nutrients naturally. Option B 'grow different crops in same field' is secondary to the soil fertility purpose.

Multiple choice

Which of the following options is not a benefit of intercropping?

  1. Minimum utilisation of the nutrients supplied

  2. Preventing pests and diseases from spreading to all the plants in a field

  3. Better returns from both the crops

  4. Reducing the risk of damaging both crops
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Options (2), (3) and (4) are benefits of intercropping as in this technique, we grow two crops. Out of the two, one crop is resistant to pests and diseases and is laid in a fixed pattern. It stops pests and diseases from spreading. Therefore, (2) is a benefit of intercropping system. Moreover, returns from both the crops will be better as both of these have different nutrient requirements and do not have to compete for survival. Therefore, (3) is also an advantage. Restriction in spreading of disease (4) will also reduce the risk of damaging the crops. Minimum utilisation of the nutrients supplied is not an advantage as it would lead to the accumulation of mineral ions in the soil. Intercropping ensures maximum utilisation of nutrients because both the crops have different nutrient requirements. If the nutrients are not completely utilised, they are accumulated in the soil and result in the pollution of water resources, destruction of microorganisms and friendly insects, crop susceptibility to disease attack, and acidification or alkalisation of the soil.

Multiple choice

In mixed farming, crop raising is combined with

  1. livestock

  2. other crops

  3. fertilizers

  4. organic matter
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

 In mixed farming, crop raising is combined with livestock. When on a farm having crop production, some other agriculture based practices like poultry, dairy farming or bee keeping etc. are also adopted, then this system of farming is known as mixed farming. It is the dominant system in Europe and now in parts of India, where most farms have a mixture of fields and pastures.

Multiple choice

Although it does not provide nutrients, why is roughage essential?

  1. It can be used as a feed for beef cattle in the form of cotton grain trash.

  2. It helps in getting rid of undigested food.

  3. It keeps the skin healthy.

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

Roughage (dietary fibers) is provided by all plant products like fruits, pulses, vegetables, etc. It acts as food for animals; helps us in getting rid of the undigested food from the body and keeps our skin healthy.

Multiple choice

Which one of the following is not generally a features of shifting cultivation?

  1. relatively small field

  2. slash and burn forest clearing

  3. regular pesticide application

  4. local consumption of crops
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Shifting cultivation (also called jhum or slash-and-burn) traditionally involves clearing small forest plots by cutting and burning vegetation, growing crops for local consumption, then moving to new areas when soil fertility declines. Regular pesticide application is not characteristic of this traditional practice - it's more associated with modern intensive agriculture. Farmers using shifting cultivation rely on natural soil recovery rather than chemical inputs.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is/are the institutional reform(s) needed to increase productivity in agriculture?

  1. Redistribution of land ownership
  2. Regulation of rents
  3. Promoting the use of improved seeds and better farming practices
  4. Providing security of tenure

  1. 1, 2, 3 and 4

  2. 1 and 4

  3. 1, 3 and 4

  4. 1, 2 and 4
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Productivity in agriculture is mainly dependent upon two sets of factors – Technological and Institutional. Among the technological factors are the use of agriculture inputs and methods like improved seeds, fertilisers and better farming practices. The institutional reforms include redistribution of land ownership, providing security of tenure, regulation of rents, etc.