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Punjab PSEB Senior Secondary NSQF Agriculture study materials
Punjab PSEB Senior Secondary NSQF Agriculture study resources

Punjab PSEB Senior Secondary NSQF Agriculture practice questions

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Question 1NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

In the NSQF agriculture curriculum, which practice is the primary purpose of ploughing a field before sowing a wheat crop?

  1. Increasing the soil pH to neutralise acidity
  2. Loosening and inverting the soil to improve aeration and root penetration Correct answer.
  3. Killing all soil microorganisms in the top layer
  4. Compacting the surface to reduce water infiltration

Explanation

Ploughing is a primary tillage operation that breaks up compacted soil, inverts the top layer and improves aeration, water infiltration and root penetration. It does not aim to change pH, sterilise the soil or compact the surface. These effects guide the choice of tillage depth and implement.

Question 2NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

A farmer wants to sow paddy seedlings in a puddled field. Which tillage sequence is most appropriate for this situation?

  1. Deep chiselling to 45 cm followed by broadcasting
  2. Dry ploughing followed by immediate sowing of dry seed
  3. Flooding the field, puddling the wet soil and then transplanting seedlings Correct answer.
  4. Zero tillage with residue retention and no standing water

Explanation

Paddy transplanting requires a puddled, puddled-field condition where the soil is saturated and worked to reduce percolation losses and ease seedling establishment. Standing water plus puddling creates the soft mud needed for transplanting. Dry or zero-tillage systems suit other crops and upland conditions.

Question 3NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which soil property is measured by the Bouyoucos hydrometer method in an agriculture laboratory?

  1. Available phosphorus status
  2. Particle size distribution of soil separates Correct answer.
  3. Electrical conductivity of the soil extract
  4. Soil organic carbon content

Explanation

The hydrometer method estimates the proportions of sand, silt and clay from the settling rates of soil particles in a dispersed suspension. Organic carbon is measured by wet oxidation, conductivity by a conductivity meter and phosphorus by colorimetric or extraction methods.

Question 4NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

A soil test reports a pH of 5.2 for a field planned for wheat. Which corrective action is most justified?

  1. Apply lime to raise pH towards the neutral range Correct answer.
  2. Apply elemental sulphur to lower pH further
  3. Apply gypsum to reclaim the sodic condition
  4. Apply common salt to increase salinity

Explanation

A pH of 5.2 indicates strong acidity, and liming is the standard corrective practice to raise pH into the range favourable for wheat. Gypsum is used for sodic soils, sulphur acidifies and salt increases salinity, none of which helps an acidic soil.

Question 5NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which nutrient deficiency in cereals typically appears first as chlorosis of older leaves because the nutrient is mobile in the plant?

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

Explanation

Nitrogen is mobile within the plant, so deficiency symptoms appear first on older leaves as they remobilise nitrogen to growing points. Iron, calcium and boron are largely immobile, so their deficiency symptoms appear on young leaves or growing tips.

Question 6NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

A farmer applies urea to a flooded paddy field. Which loss pathway is of greatest concern under these conditions?

  1. Volatilisation of ammonia after hydrolysis
  2. Leaching of nitrate below the root zone
  3. Fixation of ammonium by clay minerals
  4. Denitrification of nitrate in the reduced soil layer Correct answer.

Explanation

In flooded, anaerobic paddy soil, ammonium is nitrified near the oxidised surface and the nitrate moves into reduced layers where it is denitrified and lost as nitrogen gas. Ammonia volatilisation is more important on dry alkaline surfaces. Leaching and clay fixation are less dominant in a continuously flooded field.

Question 7NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which irrigation scheduling approach uses pan evaporation data to estimate crop water use for a field?

  1. Irrigating whenever the canal supply is available
  2. Pan evaporation multiplied by an appropriate crop coefficient Correct answer.
  3. Irrigating at fixed calendar intervals regardless of weather
  4. Applying water until runoff appears at the field outlet

Explanation

Pan evaporation combined with a crop coefficient gives an estimate of evapotranspiration, which is used to schedule irrigation according to crop water demand. Fixed intervals, supply availability and runoff appearance are not demand-based scheduling criteria.

Question 8NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

In drip irrigation, which advantage over flood irrigation is most directly linked to reduced weed growth between crop rows?

  1. Filtration of water before emission
  2. Use of soluble fertilisers through the system
  3. Wetting of only the root zone rather than the whole field surface Correct answer.
  4. Higher pumping pressure in the delivery lines

Explanation

Drip irrigation delivers water only near the plant roots, leaving most of the inter-row surface dry, which suppresses weed germination. Fertigation, filtration and pressure are system features but do not directly explain reduced inter-row weeds.

Question 9NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which implement is designed to break a hardpan below the normal ploughing depth without inverting the topsoil?

  1. Rotavator
  2. Mouldboard plough
  3. Subsoiler or chisel plough Correct answer.
  4. Disc harrow

Explanation

A subsoiler or chisel plough has heavy tines that penetrate below the plough layer to shatter compacted hardpans while leaving the surface largely undisturbed. Disc harrows, rotavators and mouldboard ploughs work the topsoil and invert or mix it.

Question 10NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

A seed lot has a germination percentage of 80 and a purity of 95 percent. What is its approximate pure live seed value?

  1. 80 percent
  2. 76 percent Correct answer.
  3. 95 percent
  4. 88 percent

Explanation

Pure live seed is calculated as germination percentage multiplied by purity percentage divided by 100. Here 80 multiplied by 95 divided by 100 gives 76 percent. This value is used to adjust seed rate for the actual usable seed in the lot.

Question 11NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which seed treatment is used primarily to protect germinating seeds and seedlings from soil-borne fungal pathogens?

  1. Seed hardening by soaking and drying
  2. Seed coating with a colour dye
  3. Seed inoculation with a Rhizobium culture
  4. Seed treatment with a recommended fungicide Correct answer.

Explanation

Fungicidal seed treatment places a protective chemical on the seed surface to suppress damping-off and other soil-borne pathogens during germination. Hardening improves stress tolerance, Rhizobium inoculation aids nitrogen fixation in legumes and dye is only for identification.

Question 12NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

For a legume crop in a field where the specific Rhizobium has not been used before, what is the recommended practice before sowing?

  1. Treat seed with a broad-spectrum insecticide
  2. Apply a high dose of nitrogen fertiliser at sowing
  3. Sterilise the seed with hot water
  4. Inoculate seed with the appropriate Rhizobium culture Correct answer.

Explanation

Legume seed should be inoculated with the appropriate Rhizobium strain when the field lacks the matching bacteria, so that effective root nodules form and nitrogen fixation begins early. Insecticide, heavy nitrogen and hot-water sterilisation do not establish the symbiosis.

Question 13NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which category of pesticide acts by interfering with the nervous system of insects at the acetylcholinesterase enzyme?

  1. Phenoxy herbicides
  2. Dithiocarbamate fungicides
  3. Organophosphates Correct answer.
  4. Rodenticides based on anticoagulants

Explanation

Organophosphate insecticides inhibit acetylcholinesterase, causing overstimulation of nerve impulses and death of the insect. Dithiocarbamates are fungicides, phenoxy compounds are herbicides and anticoagulant rodenticides act on blood clotting.

Question 14NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

A farmer notices that repeated use of the same insecticide over several seasons has made a pest population harder to control. Which practice best addresses this problem?

  1. Increasing the dose beyond the label recommendation
  2. Mixing the insecticide with more water
  3. Applying the same insecticide more frequently
  4. Rotating insecticides with different modes of action Correct answer.

Explanation

Resistance develops when the same mode of action is used repeatedly, selecting resistant individuals. Rotating among chemical groups with different modes of action, together with integrated pest management, slows resistance development. Higher doses or more frequent applications increase selection pressure.

Question 15NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which pest is a major stored-grain insect that attacks whole wheat grain in storage and is controlled mainly by fumigation or airtight storage?

  1. Helicoverpa armigera, the gram pod borer
  2. Pyrilla perpusilla, the sugarcane leafhopper
  3. Spodoptera litura, the tobacco caterpillar
  4. Sitophilus oryzae, the rice weevil Correct answer.

Explanation

Sitophilus species, including the rice weevil, are primary stored-grain pests whose larvae develop inside whole grains, so fumigation or hermetic storage is needed for control. The other options are field pests of crops, not storage pests.

Question 16NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which practice is the most reliable non-chemical method to reduce storage losses from insects in grain kept on a farm?

  1. Drying grain to safe moisture and storing it in airtight containers Correct answer.
  2. Mixing soil with the grain before bagging
  3. Storing moist grain in open jute bags
  4. Keeping bags in direct sunlight

Explanation

Drying grain to safe moisture limits mould and insect development, and airtight or hermetic storage depletes oxygen so insects cannot survive. Wet grain in open bags, soil contamination and sunlight exposure do not provide reliable protection.

Question 17NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

In a crop rotation plan, including a legume between two cereal crops mainly benefits the following cereal through which mechanism?

  1. Depletion of soil moisture before the next crop
  2. Addition of biologically fixed nitrogen and improved soil structure Correct answer.
  3. Increased build-up of soil-borne cereal pathogens
  4. Reduction of soil organic matter

Explanation

Legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiosis and leave residual nitrogen and root biomass, improving soil structure and fertility for the following cereal. Rotation also breaks pest and disease cycles rather than building them up.

Question 18NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which cropping system is described as growing two or more crops simultaneously in the same field in a definite row arrangement?

  1. Sequential cropping
  2. Sole cropping
  3. Relay cropping
  4. Intercropping Correct answer.

Explanation

Intercropping is the simultaneous cultivation of two or more crops in the same field in a definite row proportion. Sole cropping involves one crop, sequential cropping follows one crop after another and relay cropping overlaps only the later stages of the crops.

Question 19NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

A wheat field shows patches of stunted plants with yellowing and the roots have galls. Which cause is most consistent with these symptoms?

  1. Zinc deficiency
  2. Nitrogen deficiency alone
  3. Herbicide drift from a nearby field
  4. Root-knot nematode infestation Correct answer.

Explanation

Root galls together with stunted, yellowing patches indicate root-knot nematode damage, which disrupts water and nutrient uptake. Nutrient deficiencies and herbicide drift can cause yellowing but do not produce root galls.

Question 20NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which farm machinery component is responsible for cutting and lifting soil during primary tillage with a mouldboard plough?

  1. The threshing cylinder
  2. The share and mouldboard Correct answer.
  3. The seed metering disc
  4. The reel of the harvester

Explanation

In a mouldboard plough the share cuts the furrow slice at the bottom while the mouldboard lifts, inverts and pulverises it. Metering discs, harvester reels and threshing cylinders belong to sowing and harvesting machinery.

Question 21NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

A farmer must decide between flood irrigation and sprinkler irrigation for a sandy loam field with a steep slope. Which reasoning best supports sprinkler irrigation?

  1. Sprinklers apply water uniformly and reduce runoff on sloping land Correct answer.
  2. Flood irrigation always uses less water on slopes
  3. Sandy loam holds water so well that sprinklers are unnecessary
  4. Sprinklers eliminate the need for any irrigation scheduling

Explanation

On sloping sandy loam, flood irrigation tends to run off before infiltrating, whereas sprinklers apply water in a controlled pattern with better uniformity and less erosion. Sprinklers still require proper scheduling and do not remove the need for water management.

Question 22NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

In integrated nutrient management, which combination best reflects the concept?

  1. Applying only farmyard manure every year
  2. Combining organic manures, biofertilisers and chemical fertilisers based on soil test Correct answer.
  3. Using only chemical fertilisers at maximum dose
  4. Applying nutrients without any soil testing

Explanation

Integrated nutrient management combines organic sources, biofertilisers and mineral fertilisers in balanced proportions guided by soil test values and crop demand. Single-source or untested approaches do not balance supply with crop needs.

Question 23NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which factor most directly determines the safe moisture content for storing wheat grain on a farm?

  1. The colour of the grain
  2. The number of bags used
  3. The length of the storage shed
  4. The equilibrium between grain moisture and storage humidity and temperature Correct answer.

Explanation

Safe storage moisture depends on the equilibrium moisture content of grain at the prevailing temperature and relative humidity, above which moulds and insects develop. Colour, bag count and shed length do not determine safe moisture.

Question 24NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

A crop shows interveinal chlorosis on young leaves while the veins remain green. Which nutrient deficiency is most likely?

  1. Iron Correct answer.
  2. Nitrogen
  3. Potassium
  4. Magnesium

Explanation

Iron is immobile in the plant, so deficiency appears on young leaves as interveinal chlorosis with green veins. Nitrogen and magnesium deficiencies usually appear first on older leaves, and potassium deficiency shows as marginal scorching.

Question 25NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which method of herbicide application is most appropriate for controlling weeds in the inter-row spaces of a widely spaced crop without injuring the crop plants?

  1. Broadcast spraying over the whole field
  2. Directed post-emergence spray with a shielded nozzle Correct answer.
  3. Seed treatment with the herbicide
  4. Fumigation of the field

Explanation

A directed spray with a shield places herbicide on the weeds between rows while protecting the crop foliage, which is important in widely spaced crops. Broadcast spraying risks crop injury, and seed treatment or fumigation are not herbicide application methods for inter-row weeds.

Question 26NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

In the NSQF agriculture curriculum, which soil physical property is measured by the Bouyoucos hydrometer method?

  1. Water holding capacity at field capacity
  2. Particle size distribution of soil separates Correct answer.
  3. Electrical conductivity of the saturation extract
  4. Bulk density of undisturbed soil cores

Explanation

The hydrometer method relies on the settling velocity of particles in a dispersed soil suspension, so it quantifies the proportions of sand, silt and clay, that is, soil texture. Bulk density needs a core of known volume, conductivity needs a conductivity meter, and field capacity is found by wetting and draining a sample.

Question 27NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

A soil test reports a pH of 5.2 for a field proposed for wheat. Which amendment is the standard recommendation for such an acidic soil?

  1. Gypsum
  2. Sodium chloride
  3. Agricultural lime Correct answer.
  4. Elemental sulphur

Explanation

Acidic soils are corrected by adding lime, which neutralises excess hydrogen and aluminium ions and raises pH towards the near-neutral range preferred by wheat. Gypsum and sodium chloride supply calcium or sodium salts without neutralising acidity, and elemental sulphur acidifies soil further.

Question 28NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which primary tillage implement is best suited to a field where the farmer wants to bury crop residue and invert the soil slice completely?

  1. Puddler
  2. Disc harrow
  3. Cultivator
  4. Mouldboard plough Correct answer.

Explanation

The mouldboard plough cuts a furrow slice, lifts it and turns it over, so surface residue is buried and the profile is inverted. A disc harrow and a cultivator are secondary implements that mix soil shallowly, and a puddler is used for puddled paddy preparation.

Question 29NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which seed rate calculation correctly gives the seed rate in kg per hectare when the desired plant population, test weight and germination are known?

  1. Seed rate = (plant population x test weight x 1000) / germination
  2. Seed rate = (test weight x germination) / plant population
  3. Seed rate = (plant population x test weight) / (germination x 1000) Correct answer.
  4. Seed rate = (plant population x germination) / test weight

Explanation

The desired plant stand is converted to seed mass using the test weight (mass of 1000 seeds), and the result is divided by the germination fraction to allow for seeds that will not establish seedlings. The other arrangements invert the relationship, so they would increase the seed rate when germination improves or give dimensionally meaningless values.

Question 30NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

A crop is irrigated with water having an electrical conductivity of 3.5 dS/m and the soil drains poorly. Which management response is most appropriate?

  1. Stop irrigation and rely on rainfall only
  2. Apply gypsum regardless of the sodium adsorption ratio
  3. Reduce irrigation frequency to accumulate salts
  4. Increase leaching fraction and choose a salt-tolerant crop Correct answer.

Explanation

Water of about 3.5 dS/m is moderately saline, and with poor drainage salts will accumulate in the root zone unless excess water is applied to leach them below the roots. Pairing leaching with a tolerant crop protects yields while the salinity is managed; gypsum is only justified when the sodium adsorption ratio is high.

Question 31NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which sprinkler system layout places the laterals along the contour on a sloping field to reduce runoff?

  1. Laterals arranged in a square block at the top of the slope
  2. Laterals laid along the contour lines Correct answer.
  3. Laterals laid diagonally across the slope
  4. Laterals running straight up and down the slope

Explanation

Sprinkler laterals laid along the contour follow the elevation lines, so water applied between them has time to infiltrate before it can run downslope. Laterals running up and down the slope create channels for concentrated flow, and diagonal or block layouts do not control the downslope travel of water as effectively.

Question 32NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which drainage practice is designed to remove a perched water table from a heavy clay layer above a more permeable subsoil?

  1. Open field drains around the boundary
  2. Deep tube wells pumping the underlying aquifer
  3. Surface mulching of the field
  4. Tile drains laid within or just below the clay layer Correct answer.

Explanation

A perched water table forms above a slowly permeable layer, so drains must intercept water within or immediately below that layer to remove it. Boundary drains and deep tube wells act on regional or deep groundwater, and mulching reduces evaporation rather than removing excess water.

Question 33NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which combination of practices best describes conservation agriculture?

  1. Repeated harrowing, clean cultivation and bare fallow
  2. Minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil cover and crop diversification Correct answer.
  3. Flood irrigation, puddling and continuous paddy
  4. Deep ploughing, residue burning and monocropping

Explanation

Conservation agriculture rests on three linked principles: reducing tillage to minimum soil disturbance, keeping the soil covered with residue or a cover crop, and rotating or associating crops for diversity. The other options describe conventional or intensive practices that remove cover and disturb soil.

Question 34NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

In organic farming under NSQF guidelines, which input is permitted for supplying nitrogen to a standing cereal crop?

  1. Ammonium sulphate
  2. Vermicompost and green manure Correct answer.
  3. Calcium ammonium nitrate
  4. Urea

Explanation

Organic standards allow inputs of biological origin such as compost, vermicompost and green manure for nitrogen supply. Synthetic nitrogen fertilisers including urea, ammonium sulphate and calcium ammonium nitrate are excluded from certified organic production.

Question 35NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

A farmer wants to control broadleaf weeds in a standing wheat crop without harming the wheat. Which herbicide group is the standard choice?

  1. Soil sterilants such as sodium chlorate
  2. Pre-plant fumigants such as methyl bromide
  3. Non-selective systemic herbicides such as glyphosate
  4. Selective post-emergence broadleaf herbicides such as sulfosulfuron-based mixes Correct answer.

Explanation

Selective herbicides act on broadleaf weeds while the wheat crop tolerates them, and they are applied after the weeds and crop have emerged. Glyphosate is non-selective and would damage the wheat, while sterilants and fumigants are used for total vegetation control or soil disinfestation.

Question 36NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which practice most directly reduces the build-up of herbicide-resistant weed populations in a continuous rice-wheat rotation?

  1. Applying herbicide at a fixed calendar date regardless of weed stage
  2. Using the same herbicide at the same dose every season
  3. Rotating herbicide modes of action and integrating mechanical and cultural control Correct answer.
  4. Doubling the herbicide dose whenever control appears poor

Explanation

Resistance develops when the same mode of action is used repeatedly, so alternating herbicide groups with different modes of action and adding mechanical and cultural measures delays selection. Repeating or increasing the dose of one herbicide, or spraying at the wrong stage, increases selection pressure and reduces efficacy.

Question 37NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which insect order is characterised by a pair of halteres in place of the hind wings?

  1. Lepidoptera
  2. Hemiptera
  3. Diptera Correct answer.
  4. Orthoptera

Explanation

Diptera, the true flies, have only one pair of functional wings; the hind wings are reduced to club-shaped halteres used for balance. Lepidoptera have scaled wings, Hemiptera have piercing-sucking mouthparts with half-wing covers, and Orthoptera have two pairs of wings with enlarged hind legs for jumping.

Question 38NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which type of insect mouthpart is responsible for the damage caused by aphids feeding on a wheat crop?

  1. Siphoning proboscis
  2. Sponging labellum
  3. Piercing-sucking stylet Correct answer.
  4. Chewing mandibles

Explanation

Aphids insert needle-like stylets into plant tissue and suck sap, causing distortion, yellowing and honeydew deposits. Chewing mandibles remove leaf tissue, a siphoning proboscis is used by moths and butterflies to draw nectar, and a sponging labellum belongs to flies such as houseflies.

Question 39NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

A paddy field shows circular patches of plants wilting with a rotted crown and a foul smell, and the disease spreads along irrigation water. Which pathogen is most consistent with this description?

  1. Rice tungro virus transmitted by leafhoppers
  2. Puccinia species causing rust
  3. Xanthomonas oryzae causing bacterial blight
  4. Pythium species causing damping-off and root rot Correct answer.

Explanation

Water moulds such as Pythium move with irrigation water and attack the crown and roots, producing soft rot, wilting and a foul odour. Bacterial blight causes leaf lesions rather than crown rot, rusts produce pustules on leaves, and tungro causes yellowing and stunting transmitted by insect vectors.

Question 40NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which plant protection principle underlies the use of resistant varieties as the first line of defence against a disease?

  1. Host resistance eliminates the need for crop rotation
  2. Host resistance kills all pathogen inoculum in the soil
  3. Host resistance reduces pathogen establishment and multiplication Correct answer.
  4. Host resistance changes the pathogen into a beneficial organism

Explanation

A resistant variety limits infection and multiplication of the pathogen, which lowers the epidemic rate and reduces reliance on chemical control. It does not sterilise the soil, remove the value of rotation, or convert the pathogen into a harmless organism, and resistance can be overcome by new pathogen races.

Question 41NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which farm machine is most appropriate for harvesting a standing wheat crop and delivering threshed grain in a single pass?

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

Explanation

A combine harvester cuts, feeds, threshes, separates and cleans the crop in one operation, delivering grain while leaving straw behind. A reaper binder only cuts and binds stalks, a potato digger lifts tubers, and a rotavator is a tillage implement.

Question 42NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

A tractor tyre is fitted with a wider, lower-profile tyre and the rear wheel spacing is set to match the row width of a crop. Which outcome is most directly achieved?

  1. Elimination of the need for ballast
  2. Higher engine power output from the same fuel
  3. Reduced soil compaction and crop damage from wheel traffic Correct answer.
  4. Reduced risk of tyre slip on dry soil

Explanation

Wider tyres spread the load over a larger contact area and matching wheel spacing to row width keeps the wheels in furrows between rows, so both soil compaction and crop damage are reduced. Tyre choice does not raise engine power, remove the need for ballast, or reduce slip on dry surfaces.

Question 43NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which statement correctly describes the function of a seed drill coulter in a no-till system?

  1. It compacts the soil ahead of the seed
  2. It opens a narrow slot through residue and soil for seed placement Correct answer.
  3. It applies irrigation water at the time of sowing
  4. It broadcasts seed on the soil surface

Explanation

In no-till, a coulter must cut through surface residue and open a narrow furrow so that seed is placed at the correct depth with good soil contact. Broadcasting leaves seed on the surface, irrigation is a separate operation, and compacting soil ahead of the seed would hinder root growth.

Question 44NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

A dairy farmer wants to conserve surplus green fodder for feeding during the lean season with minimal nutrient loss. Which method is most suitable?

  1. Storing the fresh green fodder in open shade
  2. Hay making by sun drying the green fodder
  3. Ensiling the chopped fodder in a silo Correct answer.
  4. Burning the surplus fodder in the field

Explanation

Ensiling preserves green fodder through controlled anaerobic fermentation, which retains more nutrients and moisture than sun drying. Hay making is suitable for thin-stemmed crops but causes leaf loss and bleaching in thick green fodders, and open or burnt storage destroys feed value.

Question 45NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which factor most directly determines the dose of a contact insecticide needed to control a pest on a crop?

  1. The stage and population of the pest and the crop canopy Correct answer.
  2. The time of day when the tank is filled
  3. The brand name of the sprayer
  4. The colour of the spray tank

Explanation

The recommended dose depends on the pest species, its life stage and density, and the canopy that must be covered so the spray reaches the target. Tank colour, sprayer brand and tank-filling time do not change the biological requirement, although nozzle type and spray volume do affect coverage.

Question 46NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

A farmer applies farmyard manure to a field just before sowing wheat. Which management issue is most important to check before sowing?

  1. That the manure is mixed with urea before application
  2. That the manure is fully decomposed to avoid immobilisation and heat damage Correct answer.
  3. That the manure is applied only on the surface
  4. That the manure is fresh and moist

Explanation

Well-decomposed manure releases nutrients in available forms and avoids the heat and ammonia damage that fresh manure can cause near germinating seed. Fresh manure also ties up nitrogen during decomposition, mixing it with urea is unnecessary, and surface application increases nutrient loss.

Question 47NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which cropping practice best describes relay cropping?

  1. Sowing a second crop into a standing first crop before its harvest Correct answer.
  2. Leaving the field fallow for a full year
  3. Growing a crop only during the rainy season
  4. Growing the same crop on the same field year after year

Explanation

Relay cropping plants the next crop into the standing previous crop shortly before harvest, extending the growing period without a separate land preparation. Continuous monocropping, single-season cropping and bare fallow describe different systems.

Question 48NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

A farmer wants to estimate the quantity of irrigation water needed for one hectare of wheat. Which set of measurements is essential?

  1. Colour of the soil and the tractor model
  2. Number of ploughings and harrowings
  3. Seed rate and sowing depth
  4. Number of irrigations, depth of water per irrigation and field area Correct answer.

Explanation

The volume of applied water is the product of the depth applied per irrigation, the number of irrigations and the area irrigated. Soil colour, tractor model, seed rate, sowing depth and tillage passes do not quantify water applied, although soil properties do influence how much water the profile can store.

Question 49NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

Which practice is most effective for reducing post-harvest losses of fruits during on-farm handling?

  1. Dropping fruits into a deep collection container from height
  2. Washing fruits in muddy water before packing
  3. Using padded crates and careful grading during harvest Correct answer.
  4. Storing fruits in direct sunlight after harvest

Explanation

Padded crates and careful grading reduce mechanical injury, which is a major entry point for rot organisms and a cause of water loss. Dropping fruits from height, exposing them to direct sun and washing in contaminated water all increase damage and spoilage.

Question 50NSQF vocational trade theory (Senior Secondary)

In a farm enterprise budget, which cost is classified as a fixed cost rather than a variable cost?

  1. Cost of diesel for field operations
  2. Wages paid to casual harvest labour
  3. Cost of seed used in the current season
  4. Annual depreciation on a tractor owned by the farm Correct answer.

Explanation

Fixed costs are incurred whether or not the crop is grown, so depreciation on an owned tractor belongs in this category. Seed, diesel and casual harvest wages change with the area cropped and the season, so they are variable costs.