MPSC Maharashtra Agriculture Services Main Exam-2017- Paper-1- Agriculture Science

MPSC Maharashtra Agriculture Services Main Exam-2017- Paper-1- Agriculture Science

1. The essentiality of the newly added essential nutrient ‘Ni’ was established in the year

(1) 1987

(2) 1997

(3) 2007

(4) 2012

2. Which of the following are metamorphic rocks?

(1) Gneiss, schist, slate

(2) Granite, basalt, gabbro

(3) Sandstone, shale, lignite

(4) Apatite, serpentine, calcite

3. Negative charge on a clay particle is developed when

(1) High valence cation is replaced by low valence cation

(2) High valence cation is replaced by high valence anion

(3) Low valence cation is replaced by high valence cation

(4) Low valence cation is replaced by low valence anion

4. The mass or weight of a unit volume of soil solid is called

(1) Apparent density

(2) Bulk density

(3) Particle density

(4) Volume density

5. The capillarity of water is due to

(1) Only attractive force of water to solids and surface tension

(2) Only adhesive – adhesive forces

(3) Only cohesive – cohesive forces

(4) All of the above

6. The volume composition of soil in optimum condition for crop growth is

(1) Mineral matter 45%, organic matter 5%, water 25% and air 25%

(2) Mineral matter 456, organic matter 25%. water 5% and air 25%

(3) Mineral matter 5%, organic matter 45%, water 25% and air 25%

(4) Mineral matter 40%, organic matter lo%, water 25% and air 25%

7. The safe limit of Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) of irrigation water is

(1) 1.25 – 250 me/L

(2) 0.5 – 1.0 me/L

(3) More than 2.50 me/L

(4) Less  than 1.25 me/L

8. The nutrient concentration in a plant below which the yield response to added nutrient occurs is called

(1) Deficient range

(2) Critical range

(3) Minimum range

(4) None of the above

9. Acid soils have

(1) Low CEC and high base saturation

(2) Low CEC and high base unsaturation

(3) High CEC and low base unsaturation

(4) High CEC and high base unsaturation

10. Salinc soils can be managed through
11. Ponding and lcaching of salts with good quality water out of root zone
12. Improving surface and subsurfacc drainage
13. Treating with gypsum to lower the ESP
14. Applying lime

(1) b and c only

(2) b and d only

(3) a and b only

(4) c and d only

11. Heap method of composting is a/an

(1) Anaerobic process

(2) Reduction process

(3) Aerobic process

(4) Hydrolysis process

12. The bulk density and particle density of soil play an important role in determining suitability for crop production. Which of the following statements are correct ?
13. In mineral soil, the particle density varies between 2.60 and 2.70 mg/m3.
14. The bulk density of coarse textured soil varies from 1.40 to 1.75 mg/m3.
15. Increase in organic matter content increases the bulk density of soil.
16. The particle density depends on the chemical and mineralogical composition of soil.

(1) a, band c

(2) b, c and d

(3) a, b and d

(4) a, c and d

13. In general, organic soil contains organic matter more than

(1) 12 percent

(2) 14 percent

(3) 16 percent

(4) 20 percent

14. The exchange of gases between soil and the atmosphere is facilitated by the following two mechanisms :

(1) Mass flow and diffusion

(2) Osmosis and mass flow

(3) Diffusion and electrolysis

(4) None of the above

15. The process of enrichment of surface water bodies with nutrients is known as

(1) Peutrophication

(2) Eutrophication

(3) Dedraphication

(4) Saponification

16. The rhizobium species that fix atmospheric nitrogen by symbiosis with soybean is

(1) Rhizobium meliloti

(2) Rhizobium trifolii

(3) Rhizobium japonicum

(4) Rhizobium leguminosarum

17. To increase thermal efficiency of a petrol engine the designer has to a. Increase compression ratio b. Increase cut-off ratio c. Decrease cut-off ratio d. Decrease compression ratio

(1) a and b only

(2) a only

(3) b and d only

(4) c only

18. In 1960 – 61, the first manufacturer of tractors in India was

(1) Fergusson Ltd., Madras

(2) Hindustan Engineering, Baroda

(3) M/s Eicher Goodearth

(4) Kirloskar

19. The correct sequence of power transmission in the tractor is
20. Clutch
21. Gear box
22. Final drive
23. Differential

(1) a-d-b-c

(2) b-a-d-c

(3) a-b-d-c

(4) b-a-c-d

20. The power delivered by the engine and available at the end of the crankshaft is known as

(1) IHP

(2) BHP

(3) PTO hp

(4) DBHP

21. The objective/s of primary tillage is/are
22. To open up any cultivable land
23. To cover soil on crop residues
24. To make the field surface uniform and levelled
25. To pulverize the soil to give smooth seed bed

(1) a only

(2) a and b only

(3) a, b and d only

(4) All of the above

22. The device used to connect and disconnect the tractor engine from the transmission gears and drive wheels is

(1) Clutch

(2) Brake

(3) Gear

(4) None of the above

23. In _______ seed metering mechanism, the seed rate is controlled by increasing or decreasing an aperture below the agitator.

(1) fluted roller

(2) internal run

(3) air seeding

(4) variable orifice

24. The use of high capacity ______ is quite common for many horticultural crops.

(1) power duster

(2) plunger type duster

(3) rotary type duster

(4) knapsack type duster

25. _____ constitutes the initial major soil working operation. It is normally designed to reduce soil strength, cover plant materials and rearrange aggregates.

(1) Primary tillage

(2) Secondary tillage

(3) Clod crushing

(4) Puddling

26. A machine used to apply fluids in the form of droplets is called

(1) Sprayer

(2) Duster

(3) Fumigator

(4) All of the above

27. The _______ separates grains as per their roundness.

(1) Air-screen cleaner

(2) Specific Gravity separator

(3) Disk separator

(4) Spiral separator

28. Pasteurisation process was first developed in _______ by Pasteur to prevent abnormal fermentation in wine.

(1) 1854

(2) 1846

(3) 1864

(4) None of the above

29. Sterilization of foods is carried at temperatures above

(1) 85°C

(2) 100°C

(3) 105°C

(4) 150°C

30. Capacities of ______ may vary from 2 to 1000 tones/hour.

(1) belt conveyor

(2) screw conveyor

(3) pneumatic conveyor

(4) bucket elevator

31. The sensible heat and _______ of fusion from the product are removed in the food freezing process.

(1) latent heat

(2) field heat

(3) steam heat

(4) None of the above

32. The amount of moisture in a product is given on the basis of the _______ of water present in the product and is usually expressed in percent.

(1) volume

(2) temperature

(3) weight

(4) None of the above

33. In _______ the grain size is mainly reduced by impact force.

(1) burr mill

(2) hammer mill

(3) jaw crusher

(4) None of the above

34. Reciprocating compressor sucks the refrigerant at ________ during its suction stroke.

(1) low pressure and high temperature

(2) low pressure and low temperature

(3) high pressure and low temperature

(4) high pressure and high temperature

35. A rubber roll husker is suitable for dehusking

(1) Barley

(2) Millet

(3) Paddy

(4) Legumes

36. Calculate the area lost per hectare under contour bunding, if the land slope is 5%, base width of bund is 1.25 m and vertical interval is 1.25 m.

(1) 250 m²

(2) 350 m²

(3) 650 m²

(4) 550 m²

37. Measuring distance of a base line running through an island of thick and intermingled bamboo growth is a case of

(1) Chaining free vision obstructed

(2) Chaining obstructed vision free

(3) Chaining and vision both obstructed

(4) None of the above

38. Calculate the vertical interval to be used for bund construction at 5% land slope. Take values of X and Y as 0.60 and 2.0, respectively.

(1) 0.9 m

(2) 1.2 m

(3) 1.5 m

(4) 1.8 m

39. Read the following two statements :
40. When the scale is small the representation of ground on paper is called a map.
41. The limit on area that can be surveyed by plane survey is 250 sq.km.

Which of the following options about these statements is correct ?

(1) Statement a is true and statement b is false

(2) Statement a is false and statement b is true

(3) Statements a and b are both true

(4) Statements a and b are both false

40. In the universal soil loss equation, only crop management factor is reduced from 0.6 to 0.2 by introduction of erosion resisting crop in the field. What will be the percentage decrease in the soil loss estimated by the universal soil loss equation ?

(1) 300%

(2) 200%

(3) 66.67%

(4) 10.25%
41. What is the recommended side slope for construction of graded bunds in clayey soil ?

(1) 1 Horizontal to 1 Vertical

(2) 1.5 Horizontal to 1 Vertical

(3) 2 Horizontal to 1 Vertical

(4) 3 Horizontal to 1 Vertical

42. Which one of the following options is not a type of Bench Mark (B.M.) ?

(1) Temporary

(2) Fixed

(3) Arbitrary

(4) Permanent

43. Read the following statements :
44. In rational method, the intensity of rainfall is considered for the duration equal to time of concentration of watershed.
45. The return period of the peak run-off rate computed by rational method is equal to return period of rainfall intensity.

Which of the following is correct about these statements ?

(1) Statement a is true and statement b is false

(2) Statement a is false and statement b is true

(3) Statements a and b are both true

(4) Statements a and b are both false

44. In how many classes is land classified as per land capability classification ?

(1) VIII

(2) x

(3) IV

(4) V

45. Read the following statements :
46. The predominance of overland flow or channel flow in the watershed can be used to decide whether the watershed is small or large.
47. Short duration high intensity storms can also be useful for deciding whether the watershed is small or large.

Which of the following is correct about these statements ?

(1) Statement a is true and statement b is false

(2) Statement a is false and statement b is true

(3) Statements a and b are both true

(4) Statements a and b are both false

46. Water Horse Power (WHP) of a centrifugal pump is the function of
47. Discharge
48. Total head
49. Pump efficiency

(1) a and b only

(2) b and c only

(3) c and a only

(4) All of the above

47. In Darcy’s law for estimating hydraulic conductivity, the velocity of flow is
48. directly proportional to the hydraulic gradient.
49. inversely proportional to the hydraulic gradient.
50. directly proportional to the cross-sectional area of soil media.

(1) a only

(2) b only

(3) a and c only

(4) b and c only

48. The maximum wind speed, in kmph, beyond which overhead sprinklers should not be operated, as recommended by Agricultural Universities is

(1) 12.0

(2) 8.0

(3) 20.0

(4) 15.0

49. Maximum spacing of sprinklers under no windy conditions should be _________ percent of the diameter of the water spread of a sprinkler.

(1) 50

(2) 55

(3) 60

(4) 65

50. The Drip Laterals (LDPE) are connected to the PVC manifold pipes with the help of

(1) Gromates

(2) Connectors

(3) End plugs

(4) Stakes

51. Welded wire fencing is available in rolls of 100 metres having heights varying from

(1) 0.5 to 1 m

(2) 1 to 1.5 m

(3) 1.6 to 2 m

(4) None of the above

52. A good brickearth contains alumina in the range of about

(1) 20 to 30%

(2) 30 to40%

(3) 10 to 20%’

(4) 40 to 50%

53. In greenhouse covering materials, thermoplastics constitute a group of materials that are attractive to the designer for which of the following reasons ?

(1) Their basic physical properties can be exploited in a wide range of articles that have stiffness, robustness and resilience to resist loads and deformations imposed during normal use.

(2) They can be easily processed using efficient mass production techniques which result in lower labour charges.

(3)’ Both (1) and (i)

(4) None of the above

54. The farmstead area occupied by residential buildings, dairy barn, bullock shed, poultry houses, other service buildings, threshing yard, roads, etc. is normally kept _____ of the total area.

(1) 3 to 5 percent

(2) 5 to 7 percent

(3) 1 to 3 percent

(4) None of the above

55. In a good brickearth, what should be the percentage of silica ?

(1) 20 to 30%

(2) 31 to 35%

(3) 36 to 40%

(4) 50 to 60%

56. The correct definition of Agronomy is

(1) Agronomy is derived from Greek words ‘agros’ meaning ‘soil’ and ‘nomos’ meaning ‘cultivation’.

(2) Agronomy is a branch of Agricultural Science which deals with principles and practices of soil, water and crop management. (3) Agronomy is a very broad term and Agricultural Science is a branch of Agronomy which deals with principles and practices of soil and water management.

(4) Agricultural Science and Agronomy, both are branches of Crop Science and Crop Production which deals with principles and practices of crop management.

57. Meteorologically, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has divided the year into ______ periods.

(1) three

(2) four

(3) twelve

(4) fifty-two

58. The study of mutual relationship between organisms and their environment is known as

(1) Biodiversity

(2) Ecology

(3) Biology

(4) Entomology

59. The study of mutual relationship between organisms and their environment is known as

(1) Biodiversity

(2) Ecology

(3) Biology

(4) Entomology

60. The plough mainly used for breaking hard pans and for deep ploughing with less disturbance to the top layers is

(1) Chisel plough

(2) Ridge plough

(3) Rotary plough

(4) Sweep cultivator

61. Which species of sugarcane is known as noble cane and is rich in sucrose ?
62. Saccharurn officinarum L.
63. Saccharurn spontaneum L.
64. Saccharurn robusturn
65. Saccharurn sinense Roxb

Answer options :               

(1) a

(2) b

(3) c

(4) All of these

62. Roguing in seed production is to

(1) Find out different cultures

(2) Avoid contamination by keeping safe distance

(3) Avoid impurities that occur mainly due to cross-pollination

(4) Remove off-types of plants before flowering

63. Some plants excrete certain chemicals into soil which inhibit germination and growth of other plants in their vicinity. It is known as

(1) Salinity effect

(2) Weed suppression effect

(3) Allelopathic effect

(4) Companion effect

64. Growing two or more crops on the same piece of land in one calendar year is known as

(1) Cropping System

(2) Intercropping

(3) Multiple Cropping

(4) Monocropping

65. Cajanurs cajan variety flavus is characterised by
66. Comparatively smaller plants
67. Pods with 2 to 3 seeds
68. Pods with 4 to 5 seeds
69. Yellow flowers

Answer options :

(1) a, b and c

(2) c, b and d

(3) a, c and d

(4) a, b and d

66. Sugar-beet contains _____ percent sugar.

(1) 15- 16

(2) 20 – 21

(3) 25-26

(4) 10 – 12

67. Mowing is one of the weed control methods in which

(1) Weeds are removed by digging up to deeper layers so as to remove underground storage organs.

(2) It is the most common practice against brush and trees and is done with the help of axes and saws.

(3) The method is used to control aquatic weeds.

(4) It is the cutting of weeds to the ground level, usually practised in non-cropped areas

68. Which seed is used to produce the foundation seed ?
69. Certified
70. Registered
71. Breeder
72. Truthful

Answer options :

(1) a

(2) b

(3) c

(4) None of these

69. Prickly pear weed can be controlled by the following bio-agent :

(1) Zygogramma bicolorata

(2) Dactylopius ceylonicus

(3) Neochetina bruchi

(4) Ophiomyia lantanae

70. The equation which converts the yield of different crops into equivalent yield of any one crop is

(1) Land equivalent ratio

(2) Crop equivalent yield

(3) Multiple cropping index

(4) Land equivalent yield