WBBSE Madhyamik Agriculture (Vocational) flashcards

33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Soil texture

The relative proportion of sand, silt and clay particles in a soil. It controls water holding, drainage and aeration, and gives the soil its class name such as loam or clay.

Law of the minimum

Growth is limited by the essential factor in shortest supply, not by factors in abundance. Supplying the deficient nutrient raises yield; adding surplus of others does not.

Critical stage of irrigation

The crop growth stage when water shortage reduces yield most severely, such as panicle initiation in rice or flowering in wheat. Irrigation is prioritised at this stage.

Intercropping

Growing two or more crops simultaneously in the same field in a definite row arrangement. It uses space and light efficiently and reduces risk if one crop fails.

Grafting

Joining a scion, the desired fruiting cultivar, onto a rootstock so they unite and grow as one plant. The rootstock supplies roots, vigour or disease resistance.

Hardening off

Gradual exposure of nursery seedlings to full sunlight and reduced watering before field planting. It thickens tissues and improves survival after transplanting.

Rumination

The chewing of regurgitated cud by cattle and goats. It breaks fibrous feed into smaller particles, aiding microbial fermentation in the rumen and improving digestion.

Balanced ration

A feed mixture supplying energy, protein, minerals and vitamins in the correct proportions for maintenance and production. It prevents deficiency and wasteful overfeeding.

Composite fish culture

Stocking several fish species with different feeding habits in one pond, such as surface, column and bottom feeders, so all natural food niches are used.

Dissolved oxygen

The oxygen dissolved in pond water, needed by fish for respiration. Levels above about 5 mg per litre are safe; low levels cause gasping and fish kill.

Mouldboard plough

A primary tillage implement with a curved mouldboard that cuts, lifts and inverts the soil slice. It buries weeds and residues and prepares land for secondary tillage.

Power take-off

A splined shaft on a tractor that transmits engine power to driven implements such as rotavators, pumps and threshers. It lets the implement work while the tractor is stationary.

Economic threshold level

The pest population density at which the value of crop loss prevented equals the cost of control. Control is applied when the pest reaches this level.

Integrated pest management

A combined strategy using resistant varieties, cultural, mechanical, biological and chemical methods, with pesticides used only when pest numbers justify them.

Pre-harvest interval

The minimum number of days between the last pesticide application and harvest. Respecting it keeps pesticide residues in produce within safe limits.

Safe storage moisture

The grain moisture content below which moulds and storage insects cannot multiply actively, roughly 12 to 14 percent for cereals. Grain must be dried to this level.

Value addition

Processing a raw farm product into a more useful or longer-lasting form, such as paddy into rice or milk into paneer, to increase income and reduce spoilage.

Fixed cost

A farm cost that does not change with the level of output in the short run, such as land rent or machinery depreciation. It is incurred even with no production.

Benefit-cost ratio

Total returns divided by total cost of an enterprise. A ratio greater than one means returns exceed costs and the enterprise is financially viable.

Composite soil sample

A mixture of small soil cores taken from several spots in a field, air-dried and labelled. It represents the field for laboratory analysis.

Germination percentage

The number of seeds that germinate divided by the total number sown, multiplied by 100. It is used to adjust seed rate in the field.

Crop rotation

Growing different crops in sequence on the same land across seasons. It interrupts pest and disease cycles and helps maintain soil fertility and structure.

Seed treatment

Applying fungicide, insecticide or bio-agent to seed before sowing. It protects germinating seed and seedlings from seed-borne and soil-borne problems.

Damping off

A nursery disease in which seedlings rot at the soil line and collapse. It is caused mainly by soil fungi favoured by dense sowing and excess moisture.

Oestrus cycle

The recurring reproductive cycle of female mammals during which they show heat and can conceive. It averages about 21 days in cattle.

Incubation period

The time from setting fertile eggs to hatching of chicks under controlled heat and humidity. It is about 21 days for chicken and 28 for duck eggs.

Stocking density

The number of fish or animals kept per unit area or volume of water or housing. It must match available oxygen, food and space to avoid stress and disease.

Seed drill

A sowing implement that places seed in rows at a controlled depth and spacing and often applies fertiliser with the seed. It gives uniform stands and saves seed.

Biological control

Suppression of pests using their natural enemies such as predators, parasitoids and pathogens. Examples include Trichoderma against soil fungi and trichogramma against borers.

Winnowing

Separating chaff and light foreign matter from grain by allowing air to blow through the falling mixture. Heavier grain falls near while lighter chaff is carried away.

Marketing channel

The route produce follows from producer to consumer through intermediaries such as traders, wholesalers and retailers. Longer channels usually reduce the producer's share.

Farmer producer organisation

A collective of farmers that pools produce, buys inputs and markets together. It improves bargaining power, credit access and prices for smallholders.

Field visit record

A structured note of an agricultural visit listing crop, variety, growth stage, spacing, irrigation, pests observed and farmer practices, used in project reports.