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Punjab PSEB Matric NSQF Agriculture study materials
Punjab PSEB Matric NSQF Agriculture study resources

Punjab PSEB Matric NSQF Agriculture practice questions

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Question 1Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

In NSQF agriculture practice, which implement is primarily used to break clods and level the soil after primary ploughing?

  1. Sprayer
  2. Disc harrow Correct answer.
  3. Chaff cutter
  4. Seed drill

Explanation

A disc harrow is a secondary tillage implement that breaks clods, pulverises the surface and helps level the field after the primary ploughing operation. It prepares a finer seedbed rather than placing seed or applying chemicals.

Question 2Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which soil property is measured by the percentage of sand, silt and clay particles present in a soil sample?

  1. Soil porosity
  2. Soil structure
  3. Soil colour
  4. Soil texture Correct answer.

Explanation

Soil texture refers to the relative proportions of sand, silt and clay particles in a soil. Structure describes how those particles are grouped into aggregates, while porosity and colour are different properties altogether.

Question 3Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A farmer wants to sow wheat in rows with uniform depth and a controlled seed rate. Which machine is most suitable?

  1. Seed-cum-fertiliser drill Correct answer.
  2. Laser land leveller
  3. Mould board plough
  4. Rotavator

Explanation

A seed-cum-fertiliser drill meters seed and fertiliser and places them in rows at a set depth, giving uniform germination and controlled seed rate. The other machines perform tillage or levelling and do not meter seed.

Question 4Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which of the following is a leguminous kharif fodder crop commonly grown in Punjab that also improves soil nitrogen?

  1. Oat
  2. Berseem
  3. Guar Correct answer.
  4. Maize

Explanation

Guar is a kharif legume grown for fodder and grain, and its root nodules fix atmospheric nitrogen, improving soil fertility. Maize is a non-legume kharif crop, while berseem and oat are rabi crops.

Question 5Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which pest is a major sucking insect of cotton that feeds on plant sap and can transmit leaf curl virus?

  1. Termite
  2. Whitefly Correct answer.
  3. Stem borer
  4. Cutworm

Explanation

Whitefly is a sucking pest of cotton that removes sap and is a known vector of cotton leaf curl virus disease. Stem borer, cutworm and termite cause different types of damage and are not the principal leaf curl vector.

Question 6Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which practice best conserves soil moisture in a rainfed field during the dry period between rains?

  1. Flood irrigation once a month
  2. Mulching the soil surface with crop residue Correct answer.
  3. Deep ploughing after every shower
  4. Burning the crop residue in the field

Explanation

A surface mulch of crop residue reduces evaporation, lowers soil temperature and helps retain moisture in rainfed fields. Deep ploughing and residue burning expose soil and increase moisture loss, and flood irrigation is not available in rainfed areas.

Question 7Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which breed of buffalo is well known in Punjab for high milk yield and is often called the black gold of Punjab?

  1. Jaffarabadi
  2. Nagpuri
  3. Murrah Correct answer.
  4. Sahiwal

Explanation

The Murrah buffalo, native to the Rohtak-Hisar belt and widely reared in Punjab, is famous for high fat milk yield and is popularly called black gold. Sahiwal is a cattle breed, and Jaffarabadi and Nagpuri are other buffalo breeds from different regions.

Question 8Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which of the following is the correct safety practice before operating a tractor-mounted rotavator in the field?

  1. Check that guards are fitted and keep bystanders away from the implement Correct answer.
  2. Engage the PTO at high engine speed while standing near the blades
  3. Clean the blades by hand while the engine is running
  4. Remove the PTO safety shield to reduce vibration

Explanation

Before operating a rotavator, guards and the PTO shield must be in place and bystanders kept clear of the rotating blades. Touching blades or removing shields while the engine runs creates a severe entanglement hazard.

Question 9Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A soil sample shows 40% sand, 35% silt and 25% clay. Using the textural triangle concept, this soil falls nearest to which textural class?

  1. Silty clay
  2. Sandy soil
  3. Clay
  4. Loam Correct answer.

Explanation

A composition with roughly balanced sand, silt and clay fractions, none dominant, plots in the loam area of the textural triangle. Loam combines moderate drainage, aeration and water holding capacity, unlike the extreme classes.

Question 10Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which irrigation scheduling approach best matches water application to the crop's actual need and reduces wastage in canal-irrigated wheat?

  1. Irrigating only when the crop shows permanent wilting
  2. Scheduling irrigation at critical growth stages based on soil moisture status Correct answer.
  3. Irrigating at fixed calendar dates regardless of rainfall
  4. Applying continuous shallow flooding throughout the season

Explanation

Irrigation scheduled at critical growth stages and guided by soil moisture status matches supply to crop demand and avoids overwatering. Fixed dates and continuous flooding waste water, while waiting for permanent wilting causes irreversible yield loss.

Question 11Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

In a crop rotation plan, why is a legume such as moong bean included between two cereal crops?

  1. It adds nitrogen through symbiosis and interrupts pest and disease cycles Correct answer.
  2. It requires more nitrogen fertiliser than cereals
  3. It depletes soil organic matter faster than cereals
  4. It needs the same pests as the following cereal crop

Explanation

Legumes form symbiotic associations with Rhizobium bacteria and add fixed nitrogen to the soil, while a break crop also interrupts the build-up of cereal-specific pests and pathogens. This improves both soil fertility and crop health.

Question 12Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A farmer observes yellowing of lower leaves and stunted growth in a wheat field, and a soil test shows low available nitrogen. Which corrective measure is most appropriate?

  1. Apply a nitrogenous fertiliser such as urea and incorporate it with irrigation Correct answer.
  2. Apply a broad-spectrum fungicide
  3. Stop all irrigation to dry the field
  4. Apply lime to raise the pH sharply

Explanation

Yellowing of older leaves with stunted growth and a low soil nitrogen test indicate nitrogen deficiency, which is corrected by applying urea and watering it in. Lime addresses acidity, drying causes water stress, and fungicide does not supply nutrients.

Question 13Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which integrated pest management step should be taken first when a pest population in a vegetable field is below the economic threshold level?

  1. Destroy the entire crop
  2. Spray a broad-spectrum insecticide immediately
  3. Use cultural and mechanical control measures and monitor the pest Correct answer.
  4. Apply a mixture of several insecticides

Explanation

Integrated pest management begins with monitoring and cultural or mechanical measures when pest numbers are below the economic threshold, preserving natural enemies. Chemical spraying is reserved for situations where the threshold is crossed.

Question 14Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which method of preserving green fodder retains high moisture and is made by controlled fermentation in a silo or pit?

  1. Sun drying of grains
  2. Silage making Correct answer.
  3. Hay making
  4. Chaffing of dry straw

Explanation

Silage is prepared by controlled anaerobic fermentation of green fodder in a silo or pit, retaining moisture and nutrients for lean periods. Hay making depends on sun drying and loses more nutrients and leaves.

Question 15Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A dairy farmer's cow shows a sharp drop in milk yield, fever and a hard, swollen udder. Which condition is most likely and what is the first action?

  1. Foot rot; trim the hooves
  2. Mastitis; consult a veterinarian and maintain milking hygiene Correct answer.
  3. Bloat; give cold water and stop feeding
  4. Milk fever; give calcium orally without advice

Explanation

Fever with a hard, swollen udder and falling milk yield points to mastitis, an udder infection that needs veterinary diagnosis and treatment along with hygienic milking. Early treatment prevents chronic damage and milk loss.

Question 16Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which crop production practice directly reduces the risk of lodging in a tall cereal variety under high nitrogen application?

  1. Increasing nitrogen dose further
  2. Flooding the field continuously
  3. Delaying sowing until late in the season
  4. Using a recommended split dose of nitrogen with adequate potassium Correct answer.

Explanation

Splitting nitrogen doses and supplying adequate potassium strengthens stems and avoids excessive early vegetative growth, reducing lodging. Excess nitrogen and continuous flooding weaken stems, while late sowing brings other yield penalties.

Question 17Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which farm machinery is used to harvest and thresh wheat in a single operation?

  1. Reaper binder
  2. Thresher
  3. Potato digger
  4. Combine harvester Correct answer.

Explanation

A combine harvester cuts, threshes and cleans the grain in one pass, saving labour and time at maturity. A reaper binder only cuts and binds, a thresher needs already harvested crop, and a potato digger lifts tubers.

Question 18Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which soil conservation measure is most suitable for a sloping field to slow runoff and trap soil?

  1. Levelling the slope completely with heavy earthwork
  2. Contour bunding along the field contours Correct answer.
  3. Deep ploughing up and down the slope
  4. Removing all vegetation from the slope

Explanation

Contour bunds built along the field contours slow down runoff and trap eroding soil, conserving moisture on sloping land. Ploughing up and down the slope and removing vegetation accelerate erosion.

Question 19Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which of the following correctly describes the role of Rhizobium in legume cultivation?

  1. It decomposes soil organic matter into humus
  2. It controls nematodes in the root zone
  3. It dissolves insoluble phosphates in the soil
  4. It converts atmospheric nitrogen into a plant-usable form inside root nodules Correct answer.

Explanation

Rhizobium bacteria enter legume roots, form nodules and fix atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia that the plant can use. Phosphate solubilisation and nematode control are functions of other organisms.

Question 20Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A farmer wants to control weeds in a transplanted paddy field without harming the crop. Which approach is most appropriate?

  1. Flood the field permanently to drown weeds
  2. Increase the seed rate of the crop
  3. Apply a selective herbicide recommended for paddy at the correct stage Correct answer.
  4. Spray a non-selective herbicide over the whole field

Explanation

A selective herbicide recommended for paddy, applied at the correct crop and weed stage, controls weeds without injuring the transplanted crop. Non-selective herbicides and permanent flooding would damage the crop or reduce yields.

Question 21Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which factor explains why the same wheat variety gives a lower yield when sown three weeks after the recommended sowing time in Punjab?

  1. Shorter vegetative period and grain filling under rising temperatures Correct answer.
  2. Higher soil nitrogen availability at late sowing
  3. Longer duration of cool weather during grain filling
  4. Reduced pest population at late sowing

Explanation

Late-sown wheat has a shorter vegetative phase and its grain filling coincides with rising temperatures, reducing grain weight and yield. Late sowing does not increase nitrogen supply or extend the cool grain-filling period.

Question 22Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A soil test reports a pH of 5.2 for a field in a high-rainfall tract. Which amendment and reasoning is most appropriate before growing a cereal crop?

  1. Apply elemental sulphur to acidify the soil
  2. Apply agricultural lime to raise the pH towards neutral Correct answer.
  3. Apply gypsum to lower the pH further
  4. Apply common salt to increase salinity

Explanation

A pH of 5.2 indicates strongly acidic soil, where lime is applied to raise pH towards neutral and improve nutrient availability. Gypsum and sulphur lower pH, and common salt would add salinity without correcting acidity.

Question 23Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

In a crop sequence of paddy followed by wheat, why does puddling before paddy transplanting create management problems for the following wheat crop?

  1. It removes all soil organic carbon permanently
  2. It destroys soil structure and creates a hard compacted layer that restricts wheat root growth Correct answer.
  3. It raises the field elevation above the canal level
  4. It adds excess nitrogen that burns the wheat seedlings

Explanation

Puddling breaks soil aggregates and forms a compacted layer that restricts root penetration and drainage for the following wheat crop. It does not add nitrogen, permanently remove organic carbon, or change field elevation.

Question 24Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A farmer mixes two incompatible insecticides in one tank and the mixture separates into layers with reduced efficacy. What is the most likely explanation and correct practice?

  1. The insecticides were both selective; add more water and spray
  2. The mixture was correctly prepared; continue spraying
  3. Physical incompatibility; avoid tank mixing and apply products separately after a jar test Correct answer.
  4. The tank was too large; use a smaller tank

Explanation

Separation into layers indicates physical incompatibility of the tank mix, which can reduce efficacy and cause uneven application. A jar test before mixing and separate applications of incompatible products is the correct practice.

Question 25Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which combination of practices best reduces post-harvest grain losses in on-farm wheat storage in Punjab?

  1. Mixing fresh and old stock in the same bag
  2. Drying grain to safe moisture, cleaning it and storing in clean, airtight, treated storage Correct answer.
  3. Storing grain in a damp room without fumigation
  4. Storing grain at high moisture in open bags near the floor

Explanation

Drying to safe moisture, cleaning and storing in clean, airtight and treated structures reduces insect and mould losses. High moisture, mixing old and new stock, and damp rooms promote insects and fungal spoilage.

Question 26Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which implement is best suited for preparing a fine, level seedbed in a paddy field before transplanting?

  1. Cage wheel
  2. Puddler Correct answer.
  3. Subsoiler
  4. Disc harrow

Explanation

A puddler is a rotavator-type implement run in standing water to churn the soil into a soft mud, which reduces percolation loss and helps transplanting. Cage wheels are traction aids fitted on tractors working in wet fields, not seedbed implements.

Question 27Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which type of plough is designed to invert the furrow slice completely and is commonly used for primary tillage in Punjab?

  1. Mould board plough Correct answer.
  2. Leveller
  3. Ridger
  4. Cultivator

Explanation

A mould board plough cuts, lifts and inverts the furrow slice, burying weeds and crop residue, which makes it a primary tillage tool. Cultivators, levellers and ridgers work shallow or reshape the surface without inverting the slice.

Question 28Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which nutrient is supplied to the soil when a dhaincha or sunhemp green manure crop is ploughed in before paddy transplanting?

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

Explanation

Leguminous green manure crops such as dhaincha and sunhemp fix atmospheric nitrogen through root nodules and release it on decomposition, so they mainly supplement nitrogen. They add organic matter and small amounts of other nutrients but are not grown as a source of phosphorus, potassium or sulphur.

Question 29Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which seed treatment is recommended to protect wheat seed from loose smut before sowing?

  1. Dusting seed with lime
  2. Treating seed with a systemic fungicide such as carboxin Correct answer.
  3. Soaking seed in plain water
  4. Mixing seed with urea

Explanation

Loose smut is a seed-borne disease in which the fungus survives inside the embryo, so only a systemic fungicide seed treatment can reach and kill it. Surface-acting materials and nutrient dusts do not penetrate the embryo.

Question 30Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which part of the tractor transfers power from the engine to the gearbox through a smooth, gradual engagement?

  1. Final drive
  2. Steering gear
  3. Differential
  4. Clutch Correct answer.

Explanation

The clutch connects and disconnects the engine from the transmission and allows gradual engagement so the tractor starts smoothly without shock loading. The differential, final drive and steering gear act downstream of the gearbox.

Question 31Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which practice is the correct way to calibrate a knapsack sprayer before spraying a herbicide in a field?

  1. Spray the whole field first and then measure the used volume
  2. Fill the tank to the brim and spray until it is empty
  3. Measure the discharge from the nozzle over a known area or time and adjust the nozzle or speed Correct answer.
  4. Increase the concentration whenever the sprayer looks blocked

Explanation

Calibration means measuring the actual spray discharge over a measured area or time and then adjusting nozzle size, pressure or walking speed to deliver the recommended volume per hectare. Guessing from tank capacity or altering concentration for blockages gives uneven, unsafe application.

Question 32Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which cattle breed of Punjab origin is a well-known dual-purpose breed kept for both milk and draught work?

  1. Jersey
  2. Murrah
  3. Holstein Friesian
  4. Sahiwal Correct answer.

Explanation

Sahiwal is an indigenous Punjab breed of cattle valued as a dual-purpose animal for milk and draught. Holstein Friesian and Jersey are exotic dairy breeds, and Murrah is a buffalo breed, not cattle.

Question 33Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which practice helps keep a dairy animal free from mastitis in a village shed?

  1. Storing milk in the shed near the dung heap
  2. Milking with unwashed hands and dirty utensils
  3. Washing the udder and drying it before milking and dipping teats after milking Correct answer.
  4. Milking on wet bedding without cleaning the udder

Explanation

Clean, dry udders and post-milking teat dipping reduce the entry of bacteria through the teat canal, which is the main route of mastitis infection. Wet bedding, dirty hands and unhygienic storage increase bacterial exposure and milk spoilage.

Question 34Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A farmer's paddy nursery shows seedlings with pale yellow leaves and poor growth while the field is well drained. Which nutrient deficiency is most likely?

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

Explanation

Generalised pale yellowing with poor vigour in young paddy seedlings is the classic sign of nitrogen shortage, because nitrogen is needed for chlorophyll formation and is mobile in the plant. Zinc deficiency also causes yellowing but typically appears as brown patches and stunted plants in patches, while iron and boron deficiencies have different symptom patterns.

Question 35Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A farmer wants to sow wheat after a late-harvested paddy crop. Which adjustment is most appropriate for the wheat sowing?

  1. Delay sowing further to allow the field to dry completely
  2. Use a long-duration variety and sow at wider spacing
  3. Sow the same long-duration variety with extra nitrogen only
  4. Use a short-duration variety and increase seed rate slightly Correct answer.

Explanation

Late sowing shortens the available growing period, so a short-duration variety helps the crop mature before heat stress and increasing seed rate slightly compensates for reduced tillering. Long-duration varieties and further delay expose the crop to terminal heat.

Question 36Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which practice is most suitable for managing a heavy infestation of Phalaris minor in a wheat field where the same herbicide has been used for several years?

  1. Stop all weed control and rely on irrigation
  2. Continue the same herbicide at double dose
  3. Rotate to a herbicide with a different mode of action and follow it with crop rotation Correct answer.
  4. Apply the herbicide after the crop has flowered

Explanation

Repeated use of one herbicide selects resistant biotypes, so rotating to a herbicide with a different site of action and including non-chemical measures such as crop rotation reduces selection pressure. Doubling the dose increases selection pressure and crop injury risk.

Question 37Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A farmer notices that his cotton crop shows cupping and curling of leaves with stunted growth and whiteflies are abundant. Which management approach is most appropriate?

  1. Apply a soil fungicide
  2. Manage the whitefly vector and remove infected plants Correct answer.
  3. Increase irrigation frequency
  4. Spray only a nitrogenous fertiliser

Explanation

Leaf curl symptoms with abundant whiteflies point to a whitefly-transmitted virus, so control depends on managing the vector and roguing out infected plants to reduce spread. Fertiliser, extra irrigation or soil fungicides do not address the virus or its vector.

Question 38Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which practice best improves the germination of a hard-seeded legume fodder such as berseem before sowing?

  1. Storing seed in a moist gunny bag
  2. Scarifying the seed coat by mechanical abrasion or hot water treatment Correct answer.
  3. Sowing the seed deeply at 10 cm
  4. Soaking seed in salt solution

Explanation

Hard seed coats restrict water uptake, so scarification by abrasion or hot water treatment makes the coat permeable and improves germination. Deep sowing and salt soaking do not break hard-seededness and can reduce emergence.

Question 39Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A farmer wants to establish a fodder crop for the lean summer period when green fodder is scarce. Which crop is most appropriate for this purpose?

  1. Mustard
  2. Berseem
  3. Maize fodder Correct answer.
  4. Oat

Explanation

Maize is a kharif fodder crop that can be grown and harvested in the hot summer months, helping fill the lean period. Berseem and oat are rabi fodder crops, and mustard is grown mainly for oilseed.

Question 40Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which method is most appropriate for making silage from surplus maize fodder on a Punjab farm?

  1. Spread the fodder in a thin layer on the field
  2. Dry the fodder in the sun to 5% moisture and store in open bags
  3. Chop the green fodder, pack it tightly in a pit or silo and seal it Correct answer.
  4. Mix the fodder with soil and store it in a heap

Explanation

Silage making requires chopping green fodder, packing it tightly to exclude air and sealing the pit so that anaerobic fermentation produces lactic acid and preserves the fodder. Drying to very low moisture, thin spreading or mixing with soil causes spoilage rather than ensiling.

Question 41Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A farmer wants to control weeds in a maize field with an atrazine-based herbicide. Which precaution is most important to avoid damage to the following crop?

  1. Use the highest permitted dose regardless of soil type
  2. Apply the recommended dose considering soil type and avoid carryover to sensitive crops Correct answer.
  3. Spray on a windy day for better coverage
  4. Mix with a strong acid to improve action

Explanation

Atrazine persists in soil and can injure sensitive crops in rotation, so the recommended dose should be adjusted for soil type and the next crop should be chosen carefully. Over-dosing, windy spraying and acid mixing increase injury and drift risk.

Question 42Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which measure best protects stored wheat grain from insect damage in a village godown?

  1. Drying grain to safe moisture and storing it in clean, fumigated, airtight containers Correct answer.
  2. Storing grain in a damp corner of the shed
  3. Mixing grain with fresh dung
  4. Storing grain at high moisture in open bags

Explanation

Safe storage requires drying grain to the recommended moisture level and keeping it in clean, airtight, disinfested structures, often with fumigation, to prevent insect multiplication and mould. Damp or open storage and dung mixing promote spoilage and pests.

Question 43Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which practice is most appropriate for managing a saline-sodic soil in a canal-irrigated field of Punjab?

  1. Applying gypsum with proper drainage and leaching Correct answer.
  2. Adding more canal water without drainage
  3. Ploughing deeply without any amendment
  4. Applying lime to raise the pH

Explanation

In sodic soils, sodium on the exchange complex must be replaced by calcium, which gypsum supplies, and the released salts must then be leached out through drainage. Water without drainage raises the water table, and lime does not supply soluble calcium for sodic soil reclamation.

Question 44Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A farmer notices that his buffalo's milk yield falls during summer and the animal shows rapid breathing and reduced feed intake. Which management step is most appropriate?

  1. Increase the concentrate feed sharply
  2. Keep the animal tied in direct sun for more exercise
  3. Reduce drinking water supply
  4. Provide shade, ventilation and cool drinking water during hot hours Correct answer.

Explanation

Heat stress in buffaloes reduces feed intake and milk yield, so providing shade, ventilation and cool drinking water during the hot part of the day helps maintain comfort and production. Restricting water or exposing the animal to the sun worsens heat stress.

Question 45Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which practice is most appropriate for the safe disposal of empty pesticide containers on a farm?

  1. Burning them in the field
  2. Throwing them into an irrigation channel
  3. Rinsing them three times, puncturing them and burying or returning them to the dealer as per rules Correct answer.
  4. Reusing them for storing drinking water

Explanation

Triple rinsing removes residual pesticide, and puncturing and burying or returning the containers prevents reuse and environmental contamination. Burning, reuse for drinking water and dumping in channels spread toxic residues.

Question 46Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which package of practices best reduces the risk of herbicide resistance in a continuously cropped wheat field?

  1. Rotating herbicide modes of action and integrating mechanical and cultural weed control Correct answer.
  2. Using the same herbicide every season at a higher dose
  3. Spraying only when the crop is mature
  4. Applying herbicide mixed with irrigation water

Explanation

Resistance develops when the same herbicide mode of action is used repeatedly, so rotating modes of action and combining mechanical and cultural methods reduces selection pressure. Increasing the dose of one herbicide or applying at maturity does not prevent resistance.

Question 47Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A farmer has a field with a hardpan at about 25 cm depth and poor water infiltration. Which tillage practice is most appropriate to break the hardpan without inverting the soil?

  1. Puddling the field
  2. Repeated shallow cultivation with a cultivator
  3. Levelling the field with a leveller
  4. Subsoiling with a chisel or subsoiler at the hardpan depth Correct answer.

Explanation

A subsoiler or chisel plough works below the surface to shatter the hardpan, improving infiltration and root penetration without inverting the profile. Shallow cultivation, puddling and levelling do not reach or break the compacted layer.

Question 48Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

In an integrated nutrient management plan for a paddy-wheat rotation, why is applying the full dose of nitrogen as urea at transplanting not advisable?

  1. Excess nitrogen at transplanting is prone to loss and does not match crop demand Correct answer.
  2. Urea cannot be applied to paddy
  3. Nitrogen is not required by paddy
  4. Urea is not soluble in water

Explanation

Nitrogen applied in a single large dose at transplanting is vulnerable to leaching, volatilisation and denitrification and does not match the crop's demand pattern, so it is split into basal and top-dress applications. Urea is water-soluble and is a standard paddy nitrogen source.

Question 49Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

A farmer observes that a wheat crop after paddy shows poor root growth and yellowing despite adequate fertiliser. Which explanation is most likely related to soil physical condition?

  1. The soil has a compacted layer from puddling that restricts rooting and aeration Correct answer.
  2. The seed rate was too low
  3. The crop was sown with a seed drill
  4. The soil has too much organic matter

Explanation

Puddling during paddy cultivation destroys aggregates and creates a compacted layer that restricts root growth and aeration for the following wheat crop, causing poor vigour despite fertiliser. Organic matter, seed rate and the use of a seed drill do not explain the compaction-related symptoms.

Question 50Agriculture (NSQF vocational trade subject)

Which strategy best reduces post-harvest losses of wheat at the farm level in Punjab?

  1. Harvesting at high moisture and storing in open bags
  2. Mixing fresh and old grain in the same bag
  3. Storing grain in a damp room to keep it cool
  4. Timely harvesting, proper drying to safe moisture and storage in clean, airtight structures Correct answer.

Explanation

Post-harvest losses are reduced by harvesting at the right stage, drying to safe moisture and storing in clean, airtight and disinfested structures. High-moisture harvesting, damp storage and mixing old with new grain promote mould, insects and spoilage.