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Punjab PSEB Matric Agriculture study materials
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Punjab PSEB Matric Agriculture practice questions

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Question 1Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which soil type is best suited for cultivating cotton in the Punjab plains?

  1. Black cotton soil Correct answer.
  2. Saline soil
  3. Peaty soil
  4. Sandy soil

Explanation

Cotton grows best in black cotton soil, which has high clay content and good moisture retention. In Punjab, canal-irrigated tracts with this soil type give strong cotton yields. Sandy and saline soils drain too fast or harm root growth.

Question 2Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Paddy (rice) is mainly transplanted in Punjab during which season?

  1. Kharif Correct answer.
  2. Zaid
  3. Baisakhi
  4. Rabi

Explanation

Paddy is a Kharif crop, sown with the arrival of monsoon rains from June onward and harvested in autumn. Rabi crops such as wheat are grown in winter. Zaid is the short summer season between Rabi and Kharif.

Question 3Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which implement is used to break clods and level the field after primary ploughing?

  1. Seed drill
  2. Patela (planker) Correct answer.
  3. Chaff cutter
  4. Sprayer

Explanation

A patela or planker is dragged over the field to crush clods, level the surface and conserve soil moisture after ploughing. A seed drill places seed at proper depth, a chaff cutter chops fodder, and a sprayer applies chemicals.

Question 4Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which of the following is a leguminous crop that adds nitrogen to the soil?

  1. Wheat
  2. Gram Correct answer.
  3. Maize
  4. Sugarcane

Explanation

Gram is a pulse crop belonging to the legume family. Rhizobium bacteria in root nodules of legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen, enriching the soil. Wheat, maize and sugarcane are non-legumes and do not fix nitrogen.

Question 5Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

What is the chief source of irrigation water in the canal-irrigated districts of Punjab?

  1. Canal water from rivers Correct answer.
  2. Drip systems
  3. Tube wells only
  4. Rainwater harvesting tanks

Explanation

Punjab's canal network diverts river water through a system of headworks, main canals and distributaries to irrigate fields. Tube wells supplement this supply but are not the canal source. Drip is a method, not a source.

Question 6Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which pest is a major borer attacking sugarcane in Punjab?

  1. Aphid
  2. Whitefly
  3. Top borer Correct answer.
  4. Locust

Explanation

The top borer is a serious insect pest of sugarcane; its larvae bore into the growing point and kill the central shoot, causing dead hearts. Aphids and whitefly mainly attack cotton and vegetables, and locusts are sporadic swarm pests.

Question 7Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which of the following is a commonly grown fodder crop in Punjab for dairy cattle?

  1. Mustard
  2. Gram
  3. Berseem Correct answer.
  4. Cotton

Explanation

Berseem is a green fodder legume widely grown in Punjab during the Rabi season for dairy animals. It is nutritious and can be cut repeatedly. Cotton, gram and mustard are commercial or food crops, not fodder crops.

Question 8Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

What is the main purpose of adding farmyard manure to soil?

  1. To increase soil salinity
  2. To supply organic matter and nutrients Correct answer.
  3. To kill weeds
  4. To harden the soil

Explanation

Farmyard manure adds organic matter that improves soil structure, water-holding capacity and supplies nutrients slowly. It also supports beneficial soil microbes. It does not kill weeds, harden soil, or raise salinity.

Question 9Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

A farmer wants to apply urea to a wheat field. Which nutrient does urea primarily supply?

  1. Sulphur
  2. Phosphorus
  3. Nitrogen Correct answer.
  4. Potassium

Explanation

Urea is a nitrogenous fertilizer containing about 46 percent nitrogen, which promotes vegetative growth and leaf development. Phosphorus is supplied by DAP or single superphosphate, and potassium by muriate of potash.

Question 10Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Why is crop rotation with a legume recommended in Punjab fields?

  1. It increases soil salinity
  2. It reduces soil fertility
  3. It eliminates the need for water
  4. It restores nitrogen and breaks pest cycles Correct answer.

Explanation

Rotating a legume with cereals restores soil nitrogen through biological fixation and interrupts the life cycle of soil-borne pathogens and pests. It does not reduce fertility, increase salinity, or remove the need for irrigation.

Question 11Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which method of irrigation is most water-efficient for a row crop like cotton?

  1. Flood irrigation
  2. Basin irrigation
  3. Furrow irrigation
  4. Drip irrigation Correct answer.

Explanation

Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the root zone through emitters, minimising evaporation and deep percolation, so it is the most water-efficient method. Flood and basin methods waste water, and furrow is only moderately efficient.

Question 12Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

A wheat crop shows yellowing of older leaves and stunted growth. Which nutrient deficiency is most likely?

  1. Boron
  2. Zinc
  3. Nitrogen Correct answer.
  4. Iron

Explanation

Nitrogen deficiency typically causes yellowing of older leaves first because nitrogen is mobile and moves to younger tissue, along with stunted growth. Iron and zinc deficiencies usually show on younger leaves, and boron affects growing points.

Question 13Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which practice helps control stored-grain pests such as weevils in wheat godowns?

  1. Storing grain at high moisture
  2. Mixing soil with grain
  3. Exposing grain to rain
  4. Fumigation with approved chemicals Correct answer.

Explanation

Fumigation with approved chemicals kills insects in stored grain, and it must be done with proper sealing and safety measures. High moisture and rain encourage mould and pest multiplication, and soil only contaminates the grain.

Question 14Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which of the following is a rabi oilseed crop commonly grown in Punjab?

  1. Groundnut
  2. Sesame
  3. Sunflower
  4. Mustard Correct answer.

Explanation

Mustard (sarson) is a major rabi oilseed crop in Punjab, sown in winter and harvested in spring. Sunflower, sesame and groundnut are kharif or summer crops in the region.

Question 15Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

What is the recommended practice for treating wheat seed before sowing to prevent loose smut?

  1. Treating with an approved fungicide Correct answer.
  2. Soaking in plain water
  3. Drying in direct sun
  4. Coating with urea

Explanation

Seed treatment with an approved systemic fungicide before sowing protects seedlings from seed-borne diseases such as loose smut. Plain water soaking, urea coating or sun drying do not kill the pathogen.

Question 16Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which of the following describes the correct depth of sowing wheat seed?

  1. About 25 cm
  2. About 5 cm Correct answer.
  3. Very shallow, about 1 cm
  4. About 15 cm

Explanation

Wheat seed should be sown at about 5 cm depth, which ensures adequate moisture for germination while allowing the seedling to emerge. Too shallow sowing dries the seed, and very deep sowing exhausts the seedling.

Question 17Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which of the following is a biological method of pest control?

  1. Spraying chlorpyrifos
  2. Flooding the field
  3. Releasing Trichogramma wasps Correct answer.
  4. Burning crop residue

Explanation

Biological control uses natural enemies such as Trichogramma wasps, which parasitise the eggs of pests like the sugarcane borer. Chemical spraying is a chemical method, while burning and flooding are physical or cultural measures.

Question 18Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

What is the primary benefit of using a zero-till drill for sowing wheat after paddy?

  1. It saves time, fuel and soil moisture Correct answer.
  2. It eliminates the need for seed
  3. It increases weed growth
  4. It increases ploughing depth

Explanation

A zero-till drill sows wheat directly into the paddy stubble without ploughing, saving time, fuel and labour while conserving soil moisture and avoiding stubble burning. It does not deepen ploughing, replace seed, or increase weeds if managed well.

Question 19Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which of the following is a good practice for safe use of pesticides in the field?

  1. Storing pesticide in water bottles
  2. Spraying against the wind direction
  3. Eating food while spraying
  4. Wearing protective clothing and a mask Correct answer.

Explanation

Applicators should wear protective clothing, gloves and a mask to avoid skin contact and inhalation of pesticide. Spraying with the wind, eating during spraying, and storing chemicals in drink bottles all increase poisoning risk.

Question 20Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

A farmer observes that his cotton crop is wilting despite adequate irrigation and the lower stem has turned black. Which disease is most likely?

  1. Cotton leaf curl virus
  2. Root rot Correct answer.
  3. Bacterial blight
  4. Anthracnose

Explanation

Blackening of the lower stem with wilting despite adequate water is typical of root rot, caused by soil-borne fungi that destroy the root system. Leaf curl virus causes leaf curling, blight causes angular leaf spots, and anthracnose causes lesions on bolls and stems.

Question 21Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which of the following best explains why continuous paddy-wheat rotation in Punjab has degraded soil health?

  1. It depletes groundwater and nutrients and disturbs soil structure Correct answer.
  2. It increases soil nitrogen naturally
  3. It adds too much organic matter
  4. It reduces the need for fertilizer

Explanation

The intensive paddy-wheat cycle draws heavily on groundwater and nutrients, and continuous puddling for paddy damages soil structure and causes hardpan formation. It does not add excess organic matter, reduce fertilizer need, or fix nitrogen naturally.

Question 22Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

A farmer applies a high dose of nitrogenous fertilizer to a paddy field just before heavy rain. What is the most likely consequence?

  1. Higher nitrogen use efficiency
  2. Increased phosphorus availability
  3. Loss of nitrogen through leaching and runoff Correct answer.
  4. Improved soil structure

Explanation

Heavy rain soon after urea application dissolves nitrate, which leaches below the root zone or runs off, wasting nitrogen and polluting water. Splitting the dose and applying before light irrigation improves efficiency. Nitrogen loss does not improve structure or phosphorus availability.

Question 23Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which combination of practices best reduces waterlogging and salinity in an irrigated field?

  1. Increasing canal water dose
  2. Providing drainage and applying gypsum where sodic Correct answer.
  3. Growing paddy every year
  4. Flood irrigation and continuous cropping

Explanation

Waterlogging is corrected by surface or subsurface drainage, and sodic soils are reclaimed by applying gypsum, which replaces sodium with calcium. Flooding, excess canal water and continuous paddy worsen the problem.

Question 24Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

A farmer notices that his mustard crop is flowering poorly and pods are not setting. Which factor is most likely responsible?

  1. Late sowing and lack of bee activity Correct answer.
  2. Sowing at the correct time
  3. Excess pollination by bees
  4. Adequate phosphorus supply

Explanation

Mustard is a cross-pollinated crop that depends on insect pollinators such as honeybees; late sowing and low pollinator activity reduce pod set. Correct sowing and adequate phosphorus support good flowering rather than hinder it.

Question 25Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which statement correctly compares a herbicide with an insecticide?

  1. Both are used only for seed treatment
  2. Herbicides kill weeds while insecticides kill insects Correct answer.
  3. Both kill weeds equally
  4. Insecticides kill weeds while herbicides kill insects

Explanation

Herbicides are chemicals formulated to control weeds, whereas insecticides target insect pests. Each has a specific mode of action and must be chosen according to the target organism. They are not interchangeable.

Question 26Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

In Punjab's crop calendar, which season is associated with the sowing of wheat and mustard?

  1. Kharif
  2. Baisakhi
  3. Zaid
  4. Rabi Correct answer.

Explanation

Rabi is the winter cropping season, with sowing generally done from October to November and harvesting in April. Wheat and mustard are the classic rabi crops of Punjab's irrigated plains.

Question 27Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which soil type covers the largest area of the Punjab plains and is favoured for wheat and paddy cultivation?

  1. Sandy desert soil
  2. Alluvial soil Correct answer.
  3. Black cotton soil
  4. Red laterite soil

Explanation

The Punjab plains are formed by deposits of the Indus river system, giving deep alluvial soils that are fertile and well suited to cereals. Laterite and black cotton soils belong to other regions of India, and true desert soils occur only in the dry south-west fringe.

Question 28Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which implement is used to break clods and level the field after primary ploughing, preparing a fine seedbed for wheat?

  1. Sugarcane crusher
  2. Patela or plank Correct answer.
  3. Chaff cutter
  4. Spray pump

Explanation

A patela or wooden plank is dragged over the ploughed field to crush clods and level the surface, which helps uniform sowing depth and irrigation. Crushers, chaff cutters and spray pumps serve entirely different farm operations.

Question 29Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which crop is a major kharif cash crop of the Malwa belt of Punjab, grown mainly for its fibre?

  1. Barley
  2. Cotton Correct answer.
  3. Gram
  4. Mustard

Explanation

Cotton is a kharif crop grown for lint fibre, and the Malwa districts are among its main pockets in Punjab. Gram, barley and mustard are rabi crops harvested in the spring.

Question 30Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

What does the term 'seed rate' mean in crop cultivation?

  1. The quantity of seed sown per unit area of field Correct answer.
  2. The price paid for certified seed
  3. The depth at which seed is placed in soil
  4. The percentage of seed that germinates in a laboratory

Explanation

Seed rate is the weight or number of seeds sown per hectare or acre, and it is fixed for each crop to achieve the recommended plant population. Price, sowing depth and germination percentage are separate concepts.

Question 31Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which farm animal is the main source of milk in Punjab's dairy sector?

  1. Goat
  2. Donkey
  3. Camel
  4. Buffalo Correct answer.

Explanation

The buffalo is the backbone of Punjab dairy farming because its milk is high in fat and well suited to ghee and curd preparation. Goats give milk in small quantities, while camels and donkeys are not kept as dairy animals in the state.

Question 32Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which of the following is a straight fertilizer supplying nitrogen only?

  1. Single superphosphate
  2. Urea Correct answer.
  3. DAP
  4. Muriate of potash

Explanation

Urea contains about 46 per cent nitrogen and no other major plant nutrient, so it is classed as a straight nitrogenous fertilizer. DAP supplies nitrogen and phosphorus, muriate of potash supplies potassium, and single superphosphate supplies phosphorus with calcium and sulphur.

Question 33Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which government agency issues soil health cards to farmers in Punjab so that fertilizer doses can be based on soil test values?

  1. Punjab Pollution Control Board
  2. Punjab Roadways
  3. Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Punjab Correct answer.
  4. Punjab State Electricity Board

Explanation

Soil health cards are prepared through the soil testing programme run by the state agriculture department and its laboratories. Electricity, pollution and transport bodies have no role in soil testing or fertilizer advisory work.

Question 34Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

A farmer wants to control weeds in a wheat field before they emerge, using a pre-emergence herbicide. Which timing is correct?

  1. At the time of grain filling in the crop
  2. Within a few days of sowing, before weed seedlings appear Correct answer.
  3. Only when weeds have already flowered and set seed
  4. After the wheat crop has been harvested

Explanation

Pre-emergence herbicides must be applied to moist soil shortly after sowing so that the chemical forms a layer that kills germinating weed seedlings. Applying them at harvest, at flowering or at grain filling defeats the purpose because weeds are already established or the crop is over.

Question 35Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Why is certified seed preferred over grain saved from the previous harvest when sowing a wheat crop?

  1. It is immune to all insect attack
  2. It has assured genetic purity and germination, giving a more uniform crop Correct answer.
  3. It always needs no fertilizer at all
  4. It can be sown without any land preparation

Explanation

Certified seed is produced and tested under a seed certification system, so its variety purity, germination and freedom from admixture are known. Saved grain may be mixed, poorly germinating or carry seed-borne inoculum, and no seed is immune to pests or free of fertilizer needs.

Question 36Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

A farmer grows the same variety of wheat on the same field year after year and finds that its yield slowly declines. Which practice best addresses this problem?

  1. Sowing the crop deeper each season
  2. Flooding the field throughout the fallow period
  3. Rotating wheat with a non-cereal crop and changing the variety periodically Correct answer.
  4. Increasing the seed rate every year

Explanation

Continuous growing of one variety builds up soil-borne pathogens and pest populations adapted to that crop, and repeated use of the same variety narrows genetic resistance. Diversifying the rotation and rotating varieties interrupts these cycles. Higher seed rates, deeper sowing and continuous flooding either waste inputs or damage the soil.

Question 37Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which irrigation practice is most appropriate for conserving water in a paddy field during the vegetative stage?

  1. Allowing the field to dry completely until cracks form
  2. Irrigating only at the flowering stage
  3. Alternate wetting and drying of the field instead of keeping it continuously submerged Correct answer.
  4. Keeping the field flooded to the maximum possible depth

Explanation

Alternate wetting and drying lets the surface dry for a few days between irrigations, cutting percolation and evaporation losses while still meeting the crop's water needs. Deep continuous flooding wastes water, a single irrigation is far too little, and complete drying to cracking stresses the crop.

Question 38Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

A dairy farmer wants to improve the fat content of milk from his buffaloes. Which feeding practice is most appropriate?

  1. Providing a balanced ration with adequate green fodder and a mineral mixture Correct answer.
  2. Increasing the quantity of common salt alone
  3. Feeding only dry straw throughout the year
  4. Withholding drinking water before milking

Explanation

Milk fat responds to a balanced ration in which green fodder supplies fibre and precursors and a mineral mixture corrects deficiencies. Straw-only feeding is deficient in protein and minerals, salt alone cannot balance a ration, and restricting water reduces milk yield and harms the animal.

Question 39Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which measure is most effective for preventing mastitis in dairy cattle?

  1. Keeping the animal tied in a wet, uncleaned shed
  2. Feeding extra grain during milking
  3. Cleaning the udder and teats and dipping them after each milking Correct answer.
  4. Milking the animal only once a week

Explanation

Mastitis is mostly caused by bacteria entering the teat canal, so hygiene at milking and post-milking teat dipping are the core preventive measures. Irregular milking, dirty wet housing and feeding during milking all increase the risk of infection.

Question 40Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

What is the main function of a mouldboard plough in field preparation?

  1. Inverting and turning over the soil to bury stubble and trash Correct answer.
  2. Grading and cleaning the seed
  3. Spraying liquid fertilizer on standing crop
  4. Threshing harvested wheat

Explanation

The curved mouldboard lifts and inverts a slice of soil, burying weeds, stubble and organic matter to depth. Spraying, threshing and seed grading are operations of entirely different machines.

Question 41Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which practice is recommended for safe storage of wheat grain in a farm godown?

  1. Stacking bags directly against the damp outer wall
  2. Storing freshly harvested damp grain in closed bags
  3. Mixing the grain with soil to absorb moisture
  4. Drying the grain to safe moisture and keeping the store clean and ventilated Correct answer.

Explanation

Grain must be dried to safe moisture before storage, and a clean, ventilated store prevents mould growth and insect build-up. Damp grain in closed bags, soil contamination and stacking against damp walls all promote spoilage.

Question 42Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

A farmer notices that his paddy nursery seedlings are turning pale yellow in patches and the roots show dark lesions. Which action is the most appropriate first step?

  1. Flood the nursery permanently to suppress the problem
  2. Apply a heavy dose of nitrogen fertilizer to the whole nursery
  3. Ignore the patches and transplant the seedlings as they are
  4. Uproot affected seedlings, get the problem diagnosed and treat the nursery accordingly Correct answer.

Explanation

Patchy yellowing with root lesions suggests a soil-borne disease or root damage, and a diagnosis is needed before any chemical or nutrient treatment is chosen. Blanket nitrogen may worsen the imbalance, permanent flooding aggravates root disease, and transplanting affected seedlings spreads the problem to the main field.

Question 43Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which factor most directly determines the dose of a pesticide to be applied to a crop?

  1. The market price of the crop
  2. The number of workers in the field
  3. The recommended dose on the label for that crop and pest Correct answer.
  4. The colour of the spray tank

Explanation

Pesticide dose is set by label recommendations based on the target pest, the crop and the formulation, and must be followed to control the pest without leaving excess residues. Tank colour, labour strength and crop price have no bearing on the correct dose.

Question 44Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Why is green manuring with a legume like sunhemp recommended before a cereal crop?

  1. It removes the need for any irrigation
  2. It adds organic matter and biologically fixed nitrogen to the soil Correct answer.
  3. It kills all insects present in the field
  4. It raises the soil pH sharply

Explanation

A legume grown and ploughed into the soil before flowering adds organic matter and nitrogen fixed by root nodule bacteria, improving soil fertility and structure. It is not an insecticide, does not sharply raise pH, and cannot replace irrigation.

Question 45Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

A farmer's cotton field shows whitefly infestation and he wants to avoid resistance in the pest population. Which approach is best?

  1. Rotate insecticide groups with different modes of action and follow economic threshold levels Correct answer.
  2. Spray only when the crop has already been severely damaged
  3. Spray the same insecticide at short intervals throughout the season
  4. Double the recommended dose at every spray

Explanation

Resistance develops when one chemical is used repeatedly, so rotating modes of action and spraying only when the pest crosses the economic threshold slows selection for resistance. Repeated single-product sprays and overdosing speed up resistance, and waiting for severe damage means heavy yield loss.

Question 46Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

Which of the following correctly describes crop diversification as promoted in Punjab agriculture?

  1. Abandoning irrigation to save water
  2. Replacing all food crops with sugarcane permanently
  3. Growing only paddy on all irrigated land
  4. Shifting part of the area from paddy and wheat to crops such as pulses, maize and oilseeds Correct answer.

Explanation

Diversification means reducing dependence on the paddy-wheat cycle by bringing in pulses, maize, oilseeds and vegetables that use less water and improve soil and income. Monoculture paddy, permanent sugarcane and abandoning irrigation are not diversification.

Question 47Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

A farmer applies a nitrogen fertilizer to a sandy loam field and irrigates heavily immediately afterwards. What is the most likely consequence?

  1. Nitrate is leached below the root zone, wasting the nutrient Correct answer.
  2. The soil pH rises sharply to alkaline levels
  3. The fertilizer is converted into phosphorus
  4. The nitrogen is permanently fixed in the topsoil

Explanation

Nitrate is highly mobile and is carried downward by excess water, especially in coarse-textured sandy loam soils, so heavy irrigation soon after application causes leaching and loss of the nutrient. Nitrogen is not fixed in the topsoil, does not become phosphorus, and does not raise pH sharply.

Question 48Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

A farmer wants to compare the economics of growing maize and cotton on the same land. Which calculation gives the most useful comparison?

  1. Only the selling price per quintal of each crop
  2. Only the total cost of seed for each crop
  3. Gross income minus total cost of cultivation per hectare for each crop Correct answer.
  4. Only the total yield of each crop in quintals

Explanation

Profitability is judged by net return, which is gross income from yield and price minus the full cost of cultivation including seed, fertilizer, irrigation, labour and plant protection. Comparing only seed cost, yield or price in isolation ignores the other components that determine profit.

Question 49Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

A field under continuous paddy has developed a hard, compacted layer just below the plough depth. What is the most likely effect on the following wheat crop?

  1. The layer has no effect because wheat is a shallow-rooted crop
  2. Soil nitrogen is fixed permanently in the compacted layer
  3. Wheat roots grow deeper and yield increases
  4. Roots are restricted and water percolation is reduced, so wheat growth suffers Correct answer.

Explanation

Repeated puddling for paddy creates a compacted plough pan that restricts root penetration and slows downward water movement, which can waterlog the following wheat crop and reduce its growth. The layer does not increase rooting, fix nitrogen, or leave wheat unaffected.

Question 50Agriculture (vocational group subject, Class 10)

A farmer sprays a contact herbicide on a windy afternoon and later finds that crop plants in the neighbouring rows have been damaged. Which explanation is most consistent with this outcome?

  1. The crop plants were damaged by soil moisture
  2. The herbicide lost all activity before reaching the field
  3. Herbicide drift carried by wind reached the susceptible crop Correct answer.
  4. The herbicide was absorbed only by the target weeds

Explanation

Contact herbicides kill only the tissue they touch, so droplets moving with the wind can injure non-target crop plants, a phenomenon called drift. The damage cannot be explained by selective absorption, loss of activity, or soil moisture.