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Netaji IAS

Civil Service Mains Agriculture Optional Question

Paper 2003

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Paper-I
Section A
1. Write short notes in about 200 words each on any three of the following: (20
× 3 = 60)
a. Sustainable agriculture
b. Environmental pollution hazards to crops
c. Shifting cultivation and Taungya system
d. Fixation of phosphorus and potassium in soil
2. Write the characteristics and process of formation of acidic soil. What part of
India is affected by acidic soils? How these soils can be cultivated for
efficient crop production (60)?
3. What are the losses caused by weeds? Suggest chemical control of weeds in
direct sown and transplanted rice, wheat, maize, sugarcane and soybean (60).
4. Give in tabular form seeding time, seeding rate, spacing, fertilizer and
average yield per hectare in India of maize, wheat, cotton, potato, pigeonpea
and groundnut for higher production (60).
Section B
1. Write short notes on any three of the following in about 200 words each: (20
× 3 = 60)
a. Water harvesting and run-off recycling
b. Carbon: Nitrogen ratio
c. Law of diminishing return

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d. Cooperative marketing and regulated market

2. What are the major challenges in agriculture and food security in our quest
for elevating and stabilising crop yields and remunerative self-employment?
Suggest measures which can help to meet these challenges (60).
3. Differentiate dryland agriculture from rainfed agriculture. Suggest soil and
water conservation measures and management practices to improve
productivity in dryland areas (60).
4. What is water use efficiency? Enlist the factors affecting water use efficiency.
Suggest measures to increase water use efficiency in crops (60).
Paper-II
Section A
1. Answer any THREE of the following in about 200 words each:
a. Define the chromosome theory of hereditary and discuss about inter
chromosomal linkage.
b. Discuss the role of biotechnology in hybrid and improved varieties
production in crops and explain the hybrid vigour.
c. Discuss in detail the storage pest problem of pulses and their control.
d. Define the host plant resistance and discuss about its importance in
cropping system.
2. Answer the following questions
a. Describe the causal organism, life history, nature of damage and control
of powdery mildew disease of grapes.
b. Discuss the mechanism and management of insecticidal resistance in
insect pest.
c. Describe the breeding procedures which-are used for producing new
varieties of self pollinated crops.
3. Answer the following questions
a. Describe the role of polyploidy in plant breeding.
b. Discuss the foundation and certified seed production.

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c. Describe the causes and control of mango malformation.

4. Write notes on the following:
a. Osmotic pressure cell sap
b. Plant pigments
c. Pollination and Fertilization
d. National and International food policies
Section B
1. Answer the following questions
a. Define the nucleic acids and discuss their structure and functions.
b. Describe the cultivation of roses and its marketing.
c. Discuss the role of photoperiodism and vernalization.
2. Explain the following with examples:
a. Combining ability and its significance in plant breeding
b. Fruit production, processing and distribution in India
c. Marketing problems of fruits and vegetables in India
3. Comments in detail:
a. Mass and recurrent selection
b. Layout of lawn and garden
c. Red rot of sugarcane
4. Write notes on:
a. Germination and dormancy
b. The role of vegetables in human nutrition
c. Mutant varieties

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