Environmental Studies · Geography

Agricultural Practices and Land Use

3,950 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 is/are the disadvantage(s) of ploughing in arid and semi arid zones?

  1. There is a loss of soil water.

  2. Soil particles become smaller.

  3. Soil organisms are exposed.

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

In arid and semi-arid zones, ploughing exposes moist soil to hot, dry winds causing rapid evaporation and loss of critical soil water. This is the primary disadvantage as water is the limiting factor. While soil organisms are exposed and particles may break down, the water loss is the most significant negative impact in water-scarce regions.

Multiple choice

To prevent the soil from being blown away after harvesting and before raising the next crop, the farmers should

  1. grow cover crops

  2. build embankments

  3. practice contour farming

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

After harvesting and before raising the next crop, the field lies bare. The wind blows off the top soil at that time. Thus, to prevent the soil from being blown away, the farmers grow cover crops such as grass and creepers.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not efficient in weed control?

  1. Proper seedbed preparation

  2. Untimely sowing of crops

  3. Use of resistant crop varieties

  4. Summer ploughing system
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Timely sowing is crucial for weed control as it allows crops to establish before weeds can compete. Proper seedbed preparation, using resistant varieties, and summer ploughing are all effective weed control methods. Untimely sowing gives weeds a competitive advantage.

Multiple choice

Weeds should be removed from a crop field as early as possible, because

  1. they compete for food, space and light with the main crop.

  2. they take up nutrients from the soil, leaving fewer nutrients for the main crop.

  3. they reduce the yield of the main crop.

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

Weeds are unwanted plants that compete directly with crops for essential resources - nutrients from soil, space for growth, and sunlight for photosynthesis. This competition reduces the main crop's yield. Early removal is critical because weeds grow faster and can establish dominance quickly. All three effects (competition for food/space/light, nutrient depletion, yield reduction) occur simultaneously.

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.