Agriculture UPSC PYQ 2019

Define dormant and hard seeds. Describe the physiological basis of seed dormancy along with methods to overcome this problem.

(a) Give the present status of vegetable cultivation in India and describe the package of practices of rabi and kharif onion cultivation in India. (b) What is pesticide resistance? Differentiate between simple and multiple resistance in insect pests with examples. Prescribe measures to overcome pesticide resistance problems. (c) Describe gene pyramiding and gene introgression with their importance in developing disease resistant varieties.

Agroforestry systems in Indo-Gangetic plains.

Agronomic manipulation for preventing soil erosion.

(a) How to increase the yield of wheat under late sown conditions? (b) What do you mean by precision farming? Give an account of smart agricultural technologies used in precision farming. (c) Calculate weed index in wheat crop with the given information and draw the inference.

Leaf colour chart and its use for nitrogen management in rice crop.

Describe the various types of field and seed standards followed in seed production and certification programmes.

Biodrainage and its limitations.

Write in detail about bacterial diseases of crop plants and their suitable management practices.

What is polyploidy ? Describe its application in crop improvement with its limitations.

e-NAM (National Agriculture Market) and its advantages.

Explain the effects of climate change on crop production.

How to increase the yield of wheat under late sown conditions?

"The rate of transpiration governs the growth of a plant." Justify the statement with reasoning for how transpiration is influenced by the environment.

Differentiate between saline and sodic soils. Give an account of agro-techniques for management of these soils.

Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: 10x5=50 marks (a) How are vitamins classified? Name the blood clotting vitamin. Give its various functions and sources. 10 (b) What is polyploidy? Describe its application in crop improvement with its limitations. (c) Describe the role of plant genetic resources conservation in crop improvement. (d) Write the merits and limitations of using genetically modified crops. Present a brief account on the application of GM technology in India. 10 (e) The rate of transpiration governs the growth of a plant. Justify the statement with reasoning for how transpiration is influenced by the environment. 10

Fodder and forage crops.

What are the components of drip irrigation system? Enumerate the benefits of drip-fertigation.

Enlist the storage pests of pulses with their nature of damage. Write their management practices.

(a) Describe contract farming in India and its relevance in present scenario. (b) Differentiate between saline and sodic soils. Give an account of agro-techniques for management of these soils. (c) What do you mean by carbon-sequestration? Give the role of cropping systems for improving c-sequestration.

Discuss the reasons for food grain surplus. Describe food grain production and consumption trends in India.

(a) Explain the utility of remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) in agriculture. (b) Describe Ratoon sugarcane management practices for enhancing cane yield and quality. (c) Explain the effects of climate change on crop production.

Describe gene pyramiding and gene introgression with their importance in developing disease resistant varieties.

Name the commercial floriculture crops being grown in India. Describe the package of practices of year round cultivation of chrysanthemum in India.

How are vitamins classified ? Name the blood clotting vitamin. Give its various functions and sources.

What are the reasons for low availability of phosphorus nutrient? Give an account of agronomic practices to improve the phosphorus-use efficiency.

Describe the role of plant genetic resources conservation in crop improvement.

Effect of agricultural inputs on soil pollution.

What is the present status of pulse production in India? Narrate the constraints and strategies for increasing the pulse production.

Describe the following in about 150 words each: (a) Biofortification (b) Effect of agricultural inputs on soil pollution. (c) What are the effects of ozone layer depletion? (d) Agroforestry systems in Indo-Gangetic plains. (e) Current status of biological weed management. [10x5=50 marks]

Choice of crops and cropping systems is governed by length of growing season : critically comment.

(a) Name the commercial floriculture crops being grown in India. Describe the package of practices of year round cultivation of chrysanthemum in India. (b) Elaborate the role of seed industry in the development of Indian agriculture. (c) Write the principles of biological control of plant pathogens. Describe the recent trends in bio-control strategies in the field of crop disease management.

Define organic farming. Give an account of social, economic and environmental dimensions of organic farming.

Catch crop and trap crop.

Write the merits and limitations of using genetically modified crops. Present a brief account on the application of GM technology in India.

Biofortification.

What do you mean by precision farming? Give an account of smart agricultural technologies used in precision farming.

Describe Ratoon sugarcane management practices for enhancing cane yield and quality.

Describe contract farming in India and its relevance in present scenario.

What is pesticide resistance ? Differentiate between simple and multiple resistance in insect pests with examples. Prescribe measures to overcome pesticide resistance problems.

Explain sterility systems in crop plants. Describe the role of male sterility in hybrid seed production in vegetable crops with suitable examples.

Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: 10x5=50 marks (a) Define mutation. Write its classification and role in crop improvement. 10 (b) Define dormant and hard seeds. Describe the physiological basis of seed dormancy along with methods to overcome this problem. 10 (c) What makes a nutrient element become essential for plant growth and development? Which is the latest addition in the existing list of 16 essential plant nutrients? Mention its deficiency symptoms and functions. 10 (d) How is the patent system different from plant variety protection system? 10 (e) Enlist the storage pests of pulses with their nature of damage. Write their management practices.

Give an account of modern communication technologies for agricultural transformation.

(a) Give an elaborate account of agronomic measures of watershed management. 20 (b) What is the present status of pulse production in India? Narrate the constraints and strategies for increasing the pulse production. (c) Give the contributions of Self-help Groups for rural livelihood security. 10

Describe the following in about 150 words each: (a) Leaf colour chart and its use for nitrogen management in rice crop. (b) Agronomic manipulation for preventing soil erosion. (c) Soil health card. (d) Biodrainage and its limitations. (e) e-NAM (National Agriculture Market) and its advantages. [10x5=50 marks]

Name the major fruit crops along with the states commercially growing these crops. Describe the package of practices for papaya cultivation in India.

Define pedigree method and give its importance in crop improvement, with suitable examples.

Write important objectives of seed testing along with the methods used for testing of seed viability, seed vigour and genetic purity of a variety.

What are the major components that constitute cell structure ? Describe their functions.

Current status of biological weed management.

Soil health card.

What are the effects of ozone layer depletion?

Explain the role of plant growth substances in the various developmental stages of a plant with special reference to horticultural crops.

Give the present status of vegetable cultivation in India and describe the package of practices of rabi and kharif onion cultivation in India.

(a) Differentiate the following with example: Catch crop and trap crop; Narrow spectrum and broad spectrum herbicides; Fodder and forage crops; Social forestry and agroforestry. 5x4=20 (b) Define organic farming. Give an account of social, economic and environmental dimensions of organic farming. (c) Choice of crops and cropping systems is governed by length of growing season: critically comment.

What do you mean by carbon-sequestration? Give the role of cropping systems for improving c-sequestration.

What makes a nutrient element become essential for plant growth and development ? Which is the latest addition in the existing list of 16 essential plant nutrients ? Mention its deficiency symptoms and functions.

Explain the utility of remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) in agriculture.

Define protected cultivation along with its major advantages and challenges for adoption in India. Describe the plastic low tunnel technology for off-season cultivation of vegetables.

(a) Explain the role of plant growth substances in the various developmental stages of a plant with special reference to horticultural crops. 20 (b) Discuss the reasons for food grain surplus. Describe food grain production and consumption trends in India. 15 (c) Explain sterility systems in crop plants. Describe the role of male sterility in hybrid seed production in vegetable crops with suitable examples. 15

Define mutation. Write its classification and role in crop improvement.

Write the principles of biological control of plant pathogens. Describe the recent trends in bio-control strategies in the field of crop disease management.

Calculate weed index in wheat crop with the given information and draw the inference. Treatment | Dose (gai/ha) | Grain yield (Kg/ha) T1 - Sulfosulfuron | 25 | 5,200 T2 - Isoproturon | 750 | 5,000 T3 - 2,4-D | 500 | 4,500 T4 - Weed free | Two Hand Weeding | 5,500

Give an elaborate account of agronomic measures of watershed management.

How is the patent system different from plant variety protection system ?

Social forestry and agroforestry.

Give the contributions of Self-help Groups for rural livelihood security.

Describe various Laws of Heredity. Explain the Law of Independent Assortment with suitable examples.

(a) What are the reasons for low availability of phosphorus nutrient? Give an account of agronomic practices to improve the phosphorus-use efficiency. (b) Give an account of modern communication technologies for agricultural transformation. (c) What are the components of drip irrigation system? Enumerate the benefits of drip-fertigation.

Write the various methods of plant breeding and describe the back cross method with its importance in development of crop varieties.

Narrow spectrum and broad spectrum herbicides.

Elaborate the role of seed industry in the development of Indian agriculture.