IAS Mains Agriculture Paper 2009

IAS Prelims & Mains GS and Optional Lectures, Model Answers, and Notes at doorsteptutor.com.

Paper 1

Section – A

Q.1. Write short notes on any three of the following in about 200 words each:

  1. Tillage
  2. Herbicide Residue Management
  3. Seed Dormancy
  4. Mulching and Cover Crops

Q.2 Name the Essential elements required by plants. What are the sources of these elements? How are they lost from the soil and what are the measures to maintain their status in the soil?

Q.3. Differentiate between the following terms:

  1. Cropping Scheme and Cropping Pattern
  2. Soil Texture and Soil Structure
  3. Field Capacity and Water-holding Capacity
  4. Water Requirement and Irrigation Requirement
  5. Water-use Efficiency and Irrigation Efficiency
  6. Organic Matter and Mineral Matter

Q.4. What do you understand by sustainable agriculture? Compare it with intensive agriculture and discuss in detail the management practices in sustainable agriculture.

Section – B

Q.5. Write short notes on any three of the following in about 200 words each:

  1. Scheduling Irrigation
  2. Training for Human Resource Development
  3. Krishi Vgyan Kendras (KVKs)
  4. Soil Fertility and Soil Productivity

Q.6. Discuss the prospects and problems of contract farming. What Government interventions are required for success of contract farming in India?

Q.7. Discuss saline and alkaline soils under the following subheads:

  1. Classification and characteristics
  2. Causes of formation
  3. Remedial measures

Q.8. What is micro-irrigation and what are its advantages compared to conventional methods of irrigation? Describe the important micro-irrigation systems with respect to their pros and cons, the precautions in their use and the cropping situations.

Paper 2

Section – A

Q.1. Answer any three of the following in about 200 words each:

  1. Define micromutations. Briefly discuss the methods for their detection and application in crop improvement.
  2. Differentiate mass selection from pure-line selection and also explain why pure-line selection has been widely used than mass selection.
  3. Classify different types of seed. How will you proceed for producing the certified seed of paddy?
  4. How does agrobacterium and its plasmids play role in transformation of dicotyledonous plants? Whether can they be utilized in the transformation of any monocotyledonous plants?

Q.2. Answer the following in about 200 words each:

  1. Describe the medicinal importance of Indian aloes (Aloe vera) along with its production technology.
  2. Discuss the importance of allopolyploids in evolution and crop improvements. Give evolution and crop improvements. Give suitable examples.
  3. Write the typical symptoms caused by ‘litchi mite’ in ‘litchi’ . Suggest its management practices.

Q.3. Answer the following in about 200 words each:

  1. Discuss the use of multiline of composite varieties to control epidemic diseases of self pollinated crops.
  2. Describe the etiology, diagnostic symptoms, predisposing factors and management practices of blister blight of tea.
  3. Write about the problems and prospects of commercial floriculture in India.

Q.4. Answer the following in about 200 words each:

  1. Differentiate Public Distribution System (PDS) from Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) . How does TPDS help the population living below poverty line?
  2. Delineate the carbohydrate metabolism in crop plants.
  3. Define epidemiology. Describe the forecasting models used for pests and diseases of major food crops in India.

Section – B

Q.5. Answer any three of the following in about 200 words each:

  1. Explain the techniques used in production of distant hybrids. What are the problems in using improved varieties in distant hybridization?
  2. Define dichogamy. Describe in brief photogyny and protoandry.
  3. Describe the virus-vector relationship of leaf curl of tomato.
  4. Specify the prevention and control strategies of stored grain pests.

Q.6. Answer the following in about 200 words each:

  1. Explain the concept of total post-harvest losses in mango. What methods can be used for enhancing shelf-life of the mango?
  2. Recommend a viable package of practices for commercial production of marigold.
  3. How do the root-knot nematode damage the crop plants? Suggest some measures to overcome the root-knot problem.

Q.7. Differentiate the following in about 200 words each:

  1. Somatic hybridization versus protoplast fusion
  2. Cultural versus biological control of pests
  3. Formal versus informal seed supply systems

Q.8. Write short on the following in about 150 words each:

  1. Molecular basis of disease diagnosis
  2. Antifeedant
  3. Precision farming
  4. Ug 99 and wheat cultivation