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PSLE Agriculture study materials
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PSLE Agriculture practice questions

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Question 1Agriculture

Which part of a plant mainly absorbs water and dissolved minerals from the soil?

  1. The stem
  2. The flowers
  3. The leaves
  4. The roots Correct answer.

Explanation

Roots are the plant organ that grows into the soil and take up water and dissolved mineral salts through their root hair cells. The other organs sit above ground and carry out different jobs such as support, food making or reproduction.

Question 2Agriculture

A farmer wants to loosen soil that has become hard and compacted before planting seeds. Which action best solves this problem?

  1. Ploughing the field Correct answer.
  2. Adding more seeds
  3. Building a fence
  4. Harvesting early

Explanation

Ploughing breaks up compacted soil so that air and water can enter and roots can grow easily. Loose soil also makes it easier for seedlings to push through. The other actions do not change the physical condition of the soil.

Question 3Agriculture

What is the main reason farmers add compost or manure to garden soil?

  1. To supply nutrients and improve soil texture Correct answer.
  2. To kill all soil insects
  3. To make the soil heavier
  4. To change the colour of crops

Explanation

Compost and manure are organic materials that release nutrients as they break down and help soil hold water while staying crumbly. This improves both fertility and structure. Colour and weight are not the goals of adding them.

Question 4Agriculture

Which of these is a cereal crop grown mainly for its starchy grain?

  1. Carrot
  2. Spinach
  3. Tomato
  4. Rice Correct answer.

Explanation

Cereals such as rice, wheat and maize are grasses grown for their starchy grains, which are a staple food. Spinach, tomato and carrot are vegetables grown for leaves, fruit or roots.

Question 5Agriculture

What does a seed need before it can germinate?

  1. Dry soil and cold storage
  2. Water, air and a suitable temperature Correct answer.
  3. Strong sunlight and fertiliser
  4. Pesticide and deep shade

Explanation

Most seeds germinate when they absorb water, receive oxygen for respiration and are kept at a suitable warm temperature. Light is not needed by most seeds to sprout, and fertiliser is not required until the seedling has roots.

Question 6Agriculture

A farmer notices insects eating the leaves of a vegetable crop. Which action directly controls this pest?

  1. Watering the crop more often
  2. Adding lime to the soil
  3. Spraying an approved insecticide Correct answer.
  4. Harvesting at night

Explanation

An approved insecticide is designed to reduce insect pests that damage leaves. Watering, liming or changing harvest time does not remove the insects that are feeding on the crop.

Question 7Agriculture

Which farming practice best reduces soil erosion on a sloping field?

  1. Leaving the soil bare after harvest
  2. Ploughing straight up and down the slope
  3. Planting crops in rows across the slope Correct answer.
  4. Removing all vegetation

Explanation

Planting across the slope, called contour farming, slows the flow of rainwater so it soaks in instead of washing soil away. Bare soil and ploughing downslope both speed up erosion.

Question 8Agriculture

What is the main purpose of irrigation on a farm?

  1. To harden the soil
  2. To supply crops with water when rainfall is insufficient Correct answer.
  3. To increase the number of pests
  4. To remove weeds from the field

Explanation

Irrigation delivers water to crops artificially so they receive enough moisture during dry periods. It does not remove weeds or improve soil hardness; its purpose is water supply.

Question 9Agriculture

A farmer plants the same crop on the same field every year and yields keep falling. Which change is most likely to improve the soil and yields?

  1. Rotating the crop with a legume Correct answer.
  2. Adding more of the same seed
  3. Watering only once a season
  4. Removing all earthworms from the soil

Explanation

Growing the same crop repeatedly depletes particular nutrients and builds up pests and diseases. Rotating with a legume such as beans adds nitrogen to the soil through root nodules and breaks the pest cycle, so yields recover.

Question 10Agriculture

Which set of conditions best describes good seedbed preparation?

  1. Large clods and deep puddles
  2. Dry, cracked soil with no organic matter
  3. Very loose soil with no firmness at all
  4. Fine, level soil with adequate moisture Correct answer.

Explanation

A good seedbed has fine crumbs, a level surface and enough moisture so seeds make firm contact with soil. Large clods, puddles or completely loose soil cause uneven germination and poor root contact.

Question 11Agriculture

Which statement best explains why nitrogen fertiliser makes leafy vegetables grow larger?

  1. Nitrogen kills soil bacteria
  2. Nitrogen increases soil temperature
  3. Nitrogen hardens the cell walls
  4. Nitrogen is used to build proteins and chlorophyll Correct answer.

Explanation

Plants use nitrogen to make proteins and chlorophyll, which are needed for new leaves and for capturing light energy. More chlorophyll supports more photosynthesis and therefore more leaf growth. Hardening walls or raising temperature are not roles of nitrogen.

Question 12Agriculture

A farmer notices white powdery patches on the leaves of a crop after several humid days. What is the most likely cause?

  1. An insect bite
  2. Lack of sunlight
  3. A fungal disease Correct answer.
  4. Too much fertiliser

Explanation

White powdery patches spreading on leaves in humid weather are typical of a fungal infection such as powdery mildew. Fungi thrive in moist conditions, and the patches are the fungus growing on the leaf surface.

Question 13Agriculture

Why do farmers often cover young seedlings with a shade net during very hot weather?

  1. To increase soil salinity
  2. To stop the seedlings from growing
  3. To attract more insects
  4. To reduce water loss and scorching Correct answer.

Explanation

A shade net reduces the intensity of sunlight and heat, so seedlings lose less water through transpiration and their leaves are less likely to scorch. This helps tender young plants survive until they are established.

Question 14Agriculture

Which practice best conserves water in an irrigated field?

  1. Flooding the whole field
  2. Watering at midday
  3. Leaving channels open
  4. Using drip irrigation Correct answer.

Explanation

Drip irrigation delivers water slowly to the root zone, so little is lost to evaporation or runoff. Flooding, midday watering and open channels all waste water before the roots can use it.

Question 15Agriculture

What is the main role of bees and other insects in many crop fields?

  1. Pollinating flowers so fruit and seeds form Correct answer.
  2. Killing weeds
  3. Storing water in the soil
  4. Breaking down soil minerals

Explanation

As insects visit flowers for nectar they carry pollen from one flower to another, allowing fertilisation and the formation of fruit and seeds. Many crops depend on this pollination service for good yields.

Question 16Agriculture

A farmer wants to store harvested grain safely for several months. Which condition is most important?

  1. Keeping the grain warm and damp
  2. Keeping the grain dry and cool Correct answer.
  3. Mixing the grain with soil
  4. Sealing the grain while still wet

Explanation

Grain keeps well when it is dried to a low moisture content and stored cool, because moulds and insects multiply quickly in warm, damp conditions. Wet or warm storage leads to spoilage and loss.

Question 17Agriculture

Which of these is an example of biological pest control?

  1. Spraying a broad-spectrum chemical
  2. Burning the crop residue
  3. Releasing ladybirds to eat aphids Correct answer.
  4. Ploughing the field deeply

Explanation

Biological pest control uses living natural enemies, such as ladybirds that feed on aphids, to keep pest numbers down. Chemical sprays are not biological, and burning or ploughing do not use living enemies.

Question 18Agriculture

A farmer applies too much nitrogen fertiliser and heavy rain follows. What is the most likely environmental problem?

  1. The crop immediately turns into compost
  2. Earthworms multiply uncontrollably
  3. Nutrients wash into streams and pollute the water Correct answer.
  4. The soil becomes permanently sterile

Explanation

Excess soluble nutrients that are not taken up by the crop can be washed by rain into nearby streams, where they pollute the water and can cause algal blooms. This runoff is a common farming pollution problem.

Question 19Agriculture

Which comparison between organic farming and conventional farming is accurate?

  1. Organic farming always produces higher yields
  2. Conventional farming never uses any chemicals
  3. Organic farming does not need water
  4. Organic farming generally avoids synthetic pesticides and fertilisers Correct answer.

Explanation

Organic farming relies mainly on natural inputs such as compost, manure and biological pest control and avoids most synthetic chemicals. It still needs water and does not guarantee higher yields than conventional systems.

Question 20Agriculture

A farmer wants to reduce soil erosion on a windy, sandy field with little rainfall. Which measure is most suitable?

  1. Increasing ploughing depth
  2. Removing crop residue
  3. Flooding the field regularly
  4. Planting shelter belts of trees Correct answer.

Explanation

Shelter belts of trees slow the wind at ground level, so fewer soil particles are lifted and carried away. In a dry, sandy field flooding is wasteful and impossible, and removing residue or deep ploughing exposes more soil to wind.

Question 21Agriculture

A greenhouse grower notices that plants near the glass roof grow taller and more quickly than plants in the shaded corner. Which factor best explains the difference?

  1. Light intensity Correct answer.
  2. Seed depth
  3. Soil acidity
  4. Wind speed

Explanation

Plants need light for photosynthesis, and plants receiving stronger light make more food and grow faster. The shaded corner receives less light, so those plants grow more slowly, showing that light intensity is the limiting factor here.

Question 22Agriculture

A farmer has a choice between two fields. Field A has deep loam soil with good drainage; Field B has shallow clay soil that becomes waterlogged. Which crop is best suited to Field B?

  1. A crop that requires deep sandy soil
  2. A crop that must have fast drainage
  3. A crop that tolerates waterlogged soil Correct answer.
  4. A crop that needs very dry soil

Explanation

Field B holds water because clay drains slowly, so only a crop adapted to wet, heavy soil will thrive there. Crops needing dry, deep or fast-draining soil would perform poorly in these conditions.

Question 23Agriculture

A farmer applies a nitrogen-rich fertiliser to a legume crop such as beans, but the crop does not grow any better. What is the best explanation?

  1. The fertiliser was applied in the morning
  2. Legumes absorb nitrogen only through leaves
  3. The legume already obtains nitrogen from root nodules Correct answer.
  4. Legumes do not need any nitrogen at all

Explanation

Legumes form nodules with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form the plant can use. Because the plant already has a nitrogen supply, extra fertiliser nitrogen adds little growth. The plant still needs nitrogen, just not extra from fertiliser.

Question 24Agriculture

A farmer notices that a pesticide applied for many seasons no longer controls a particular insect pest. Which explanation is most scientifically sound?

  1. The pesticide has changed into water
  2. Resistant insects survive and pass on their resistance Correct answer.
  3. The crop has stopped producing leaves
  4. The insects have learned to avoid the chemical by thinking

Explanation

When a pesticide is used repeatedly, insects with natural resistance survive and reproduce, so the resistant trait becomes more common in the population. This is natural selection, not a change in the chemical or conscious learning by insects.

Question 25Agriculture

A farmer wants to compare the effect of two fertilisers on maize yield while keeping the test fair. Which plan is best?

  1. Use equal plots, the same maize variety and equal amounts of each fertiliser Correct answer.
  2. Apply one fertiliser much more heavily than the other
  3. Change the watering schedule for each plot
  4. Use different maize varieties in each plot

Explanation

A fair test changes only the fertiliser type, so plot size, crop variety, fertiliser quantity and watering must be kept the same. Then any difference in yield can be attributed to the fertiliser rather than to other variables.

Question 26Agriculture

Which part of a plant usually absorbs most of the water and minerals it needs?

  1. The leaves
  2. The flowers
  3. The roots Correct answer.
  4. The stem

Explanation

Roots are the plant organs specialised for taking up water and dissolved mineral salts from the soil. They also anchor the plant in place, so the absorbed water can be carried upward through the stem to the leaves.

Question 27Agriculture

Which of these is a cereal crop grown mainly for its grain?

  1. Spinach
  2. Carrot
  3. Tomato
  4. Rice Correct answer.

Explanation

Cereal crops belong to the grass family and are harvested for their starchy grain, which is used as food for people and animals. Rice, wheat and maize are common cereals.

Question 28Agriculture

What is the main reason farmers add compost or manure to soil?

  1. To make the soil heavier so plants cannot fall over
  2. To supply nutrients and improve soil structure Correct answer.
  3. To kill weeds before the seeds are sown
  4. To raise the soil temperature above the air temperature

Explanation

Compost and manure are organic materials that release nutrients as they break down and help bind soil particles into crumbly aggregates. This improves aeration, water-holding capacity and root growth.

Question 29Agriculture

A farmer wants to grow a crop that needs plenty of sunlight and warmth. Which location is most suitable?

  1. An open field facing the sun Correct answer.
  2. A covered shed with a solid roof
  3. A low area that stays flooded all year
  4. A shaded valley between tall trees

Explanation

Sun-loving crops need direct light for photosynthesis and warmth for healthy growth. An open field exposed to the sun provides both, without obstruction from trees or roofs.

Question 30Agriculture

Which tool is most suitable for loosening soil and turning it over before planting?

  1. A basket
  2. A hoe Correct answer.
  3. A watering can
  4. A sickle

Explanation

A hoe has a flat blade set at an angle to a long handle, which lets a farmer dig, lift and turn soil. Loosening soil before planting improves aeration and makes it easier for roots to spread.

Question 31Agriculture

What is the main purpose of weeding a crop field?

  1. To make the soil dry out completely
  2. To remove plants that compete with the crop for water, light and nutrients Correct answer.
  3. To add extra seeds to the field
  4. To increase the number of insects living in the field

Explanation

Weeds are unwanted plants that share the same space as the crop and take up water, nutrients and sunlight. Removing them reduces this competition so the crop can grow more strongly and yield better.

Question 32Agriculture

Which animal product is collected from cows on a dairy farm?

  1. Milk Correct answer.
  2. Eggs
  3. Honey
  4. Wool

Explanation

Dairy farms keep cows mainly to produce milk, which is collected and processed into products such as butter and cheese. The other products come from different animals.

Question 33Agriculture

A farmer harvests vegetables in the morning and wants to sell them later in the day. Which simple step best keeps them fresh?

  1. Packing them in a cool, shaded place Correct answer.
  2. Stacking them in a warm closed box
  3. Spraying them with pesticide
  4. Leaving them in direct sun to dry

Explanation

After harvest, vegetables lose water and spoil faster when warm, so keeping them cool and shaded slows water loss and decay. Shade also protects them from direct sunlight that would heat and wilt them.

Question 34Agriculture

A farmer wants to grow seedlings in small containers before planting them in the field. Which benefit does this practice mainly provide?

  1. It allows young plants to be protected and cared for before transplanting Correct answer.
  2. It removes the need for any water after transplanting
  3. It makes the crop mature before the seeds germinate
  4. It guarantees that no pests will ever attack the crop

Explanation

Raising seedlings in containers lets the farmer control water, shade and pests during the delicate early stage. Stronger seedlings are then transplanted into the field, where they establish more reliably.

Question 35Agriculture

Which soil type generally holds the most water between its particles?

  1. Gravel
  2. Loamy soil
  3. Sandy soil
  4. Clay soil Correct answer.

Explanation

Clay particles are very small and pack closely, creating many narrow spaces that hold water tightly. This gives clay soil a high water-holding capacity, though it can drain poorly.

Question 36Agriculture

A crop is wilting even though the soil around it is wet after heavy rain. What is the most likely explanation?

  1. The soil is too dry for water uptake
  2. The plant is receiving too much sunlight
  3. The roots are short of air because the soil is waterlogged Correct answer.
  4. The plant has too many leaves

Explanation

When soil is waterlogged, the air spaces between particles fill with water and roots cannot get enough oxygen. Without oxygen the roots cannot function properly and take up water poorly, so the plant wilts even in wet soil.

Question 37Agriculture

Why is it useful to rotate crops from different plant families on the same land?

  1. It helps break pest and disease cycles that build up in the soil Correct answer.
  2. It guarantees higher prices at the market
  3. It makes all crops ripen on the same day
  4. It removes the need to add any nutrients to the soil

Explanation

Many pests and diseases survive in soil and attack specific plant families. Growing a different family in the next season deprives them of their host, so their numbers fall.

Question 38Agriculture

A farmer wants to check whether seeds are likely to germinate well before sowing a whole field. Which simple test is most appropriate?

  1. Placing a sample of seeds on damp cloth and counting how many sprout Correct answer.
  2. Weighing a handful of seeds on a balance
  3. Counting the number of seeds in one kilogram
  4. Soaking all the seeds in hot water overnight

Explanation

A germination test uses a small sample kept moist and warm, and the proportion that sprouts estimates the viability of the whole lot. This lets the farmer adjust the sowing rate or buy new seed.

Question 39Agriculture

Which practice best protects a stored pile of harvested maize cobs from mould?

  1. Drying the cobs thoroughly before storage Correct answer.
  2. Keeping the cobs in a sealed plastic bag while still damp
  3. Mixing the cobs with fresh green leaves
  4. Storing the cobs in a heap on the damp ground

Explanation

Moulds grow quickly on grain that contains too much moisture. Drying the cobs before storage lowers their moisture content so that mould growth is prevented.

Question 40Agriculture

A farmer wants to control weeds between rows of a young vegetable crop without spraying chemicals. Which method is most suitable?

  1. Flooding the field for several days
  2. Hand pulling and shallow hoeing between the rows Correct answer.
  3. Spreading ripe weed seeds over the field
  4. Removing all the crop leaves

Explanation

Hand pulling and shallow hoeing remove weeds mechanically, which avoids chemical sprays. Shallow cultivation also limits damage to the crop's roots.

Question 41Agriculture

Which statement best describes the difference between a cash crop and a subsistence crop?

  1. A cash crop is grown mainly for sale, while a subsistence crop is grown mainly to feed the farmer's household Correct answer.
  2. A cash crop is always a cereal, while a subsistence crop is always a vegetable
  3. A cash crop is harvested by machine, while a subsistence crop is never harvested
  4. A cash crop needs no water, while a subsistence crop needs irrigation

Explanation

The distinction is about the purpose of production: cash crops are produced primarily for the market, while subsistence crops meet the food needs of the farming family. The same crop species could be grown for either purpose.

Question 42Agriculture

A farmer notices that a field near a busy road has dusty leaves that look dull and grey. Which action would most directly help the crop?

  1. Gently washing the leaves with clean water Correct answer.
  2. Planting taller trees between the road and the crop
  3. Harvesting the crop immediately
  4. Adding more nitrogen fertiliser to the soil

Explanation

Dust on leaves blocks light and can clog the small pores used for gas exchange. Washing the leaves removes the dust so photosynthesis and transpiration can proceed normally.

Question 43Agriculture

Why do farmers often add lime to very acidic soil?

  1. To attract more insects to the field
  2. To increase the salt content of the soil
  3. To make the soil hold less water
  4. To make the soil more alkaline and closer to the range most crops prefer Correct answer.

Explanation

Lime is alkaline and neutralises excess acidity, raising the soil pH towards the range where many crops can take up nutrients well. Very acidic soil can also release harmful aluminium.

Question 44Agriculture

A farmer wants to reduce the amount of water lost from the soil surface on a hot, dry farm. Which practice is most suitable?

  1. Covering the soil with a layer of straw mulch Correct answer.
  2. Watering at midday in full sun
  3. Leaving the soil bare and loose
  4. Ploughing the field into deep furrows

Explanation

A mulch layer shades the soil surface and slows evaporation, keeping more water in the root zone. It also moderates soil temperature and can suppress weeds.

Question 45Agriculture

A farmer has two plots. Plot X is on a gentle slope with deep soil; Plot Y is on a steep slope with shallow soil. Which crop is better suited to Plot Y?

  1. A deep-rooted crop that needs rich, deep soil
  2. A shallow-rooted crop that tolerates thin soil Correct answer.
  3. A crop that requires flooding throughout the season
  4. A crop that needs heavy machinery for harvesting

Explanation

Shallow soil on a steep slope cannot support deep roots or heavy machinery, and water drains away quickly. A shallow-rooted crop that tolerates thin soil is the most realistic choice.

Question 46Agriculture

A farmer wants to increase the number of earthworms in a vegetable field. Which change is most likely to help?

  1. Burning crop residues on the field each season
  2. Removing all plant cover and leaving bare soil
  3. Applying strong pesticide to the whole field
  4. Adding organic matter and reducing deep tillage Correct answer.

Explanation

Earthworms feed on decaying organic matter and need moist, undisturbed soil. Adding organic matter and limiting deep tillage provides food and protects their burrows.

Question 47Agriculture

A farmer wants to reduce the risk of the whole crop failing in a bad season. Which strategy best spreads that risk?

  1. Growing several different crops on separate plots Correct answer.
  2. Applying the same fertiliser to every crop
  3. Sowing all seeds on the same day in one field
  4. Planting one high-yielding variety over the entire farm

Explanation

Different crops respond differently to weather, pests and market conditions, so a poor season for one may not affect the others. This diversity reduces the chance that a single failure wipes out the farm's whole harvest.

Question 48Agriculture

A farmer notices that a pesticide applied for many seasons no longer controls a particular insect pest. Which explanation is most likely?

  1. The pesticide has changed into a fertiliser over time
  2. The pesticide now works only on a different crop
  3. The crop has stopped needing protection from the pest
  4. The pest population has developed resistance to the pesticide Correct answer.

Explanation

Repeated use of the same pesticide kills susceptible insects but leaves survivors that carry resistance traits. These survivors breed, so the population gradually becomes resistant and the product loses effectiveness.

Question 49Agriculture

A farmer uses a legume in the rotation before a cereal crop. Which long-term benefit best explains this practice?

  1. The legume leaves nitrogen in the soil that can help the following cereal Correct answer.
  2. The legume makes the soil permanently sterile
  3. The legume removes all water from the soil
  4. The legume prevents the cereal from germinating

Explanation

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in legume root nodules add nitrogen compounds to the soil, and some remain after harvest. The following cereal can then use this nitrogen, which may reduce the fertiliser needed.

Question 50Agriculture

Which part of a plant usually absorbs most of the water it needs?

  1. The fruits
  2. The leaves
  3. The flowers
  4. The roots Correct answer.

Explanation

Water uptake happens mainly through the roots, which spread through the soil and take in water along with dissolved minerals. The root hairs give a large surface area for this absorption. Other plant parts lose water rather than absorb most of it.