Test: Agriculture & Land Development - UPSC MCQ

Sunlight is the primary source of energy in an ecosystem, as it drives photosynthesis, enabling plants to produce food and ultimately supporting all living organisms.

Rice is a cereal crop commonly grown worldwide, providing a staple food source for a significant portion of the global population.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) emphasizes a combination of strategies to control pests while minimizing harm to the environment and non-target organisms.

Drip irrigation targets water directly to the roots of plants, reducing water wastage and promoting efficient water use in agriculture.

The Green Revolution in India aimed to enhance the production of wheat and rice through the adoption of high-yielding varieties and modern agricultural practices.

The pH range of 6.5 - 7.0 is considered ideal for most agricultural crops, as it allows for optimal nutrient availability.

Maize is a Kharif crop, sown during the monsoon season and harvested in the autumn.

Winnowing is the process of separating grains from chaff or other impurities by tossing them in the air, allowing the wind to blow away the lighter chaff.

Bone meal is an organic fertilizer derived from animal bones, providing essential nutrients to plants in a slow-release form.

Weevils are common pests that infest and damage stored grains, causing significant losses in food stocks.

Canning is a preservation technique that involves sealing food items in airtight containers and heating them to destroy microorganisms, ensuring long shelf life.

Cotton is a cash crop as it is grown for its commercial value, and its fibers are used in the textile industry.

Grafting is a horticultural technique where a part of one plant (the scion) is attached to another (the rootstock) to combine desirable traits.

Humus is the dark, organic material resulting from the decomposition of plant and animal residues in the soil.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) was established in 1935 to coordinate and promote agricultural research and education in India.

Chickpea is a leguminous crop, belonging to the family Fabaceae, and it fixes nitrogen in the soil through a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Tilling involves plowing the fields to bury crop residues, loosen the soil, and prepare it for planting.

Crop rotation is a biological method of pest control that involves changing the type of crops grown in a field each season, disrupting the life cycle of pests and reducing their buildup.

The "Food for Work" program aims to provide employment opportunities in rural areas by offering food grains as wages for labor-intensive work.

Subsistence farming is characterized by small-scale agriculture where farmers grow crops mainly for their own consumption and have limited surplus for sale.