INDIAN BANKING RADAR (IBR) - IBPS AFO MAINS — AGRICULTURE INTELLIGENCE MOCK

🔥 PLATINUM SERIES 2.0 | VOL. 212

📅 TUESDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2026

🎯 TARGET: IBPS AFO MAINS | PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE

📚 TOPIC COVERAGE

AGRONOMY • SOIL SCIENCE • CROP PHYSIOLOGY • GENETICS • PLANT PROTECTION • IRRIGATION • AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING • ANIMAL HUSBANDRY • FISHERIES • AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS • AGRICULTURAL BANKING

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📘 SECTION 1: AGRICULTURE INTELLIGENCE MOCK

Q1. An irrigation system applies 120 mm of water to a field, of which 90 mm is stored in the crop root zone. The field application efficiency is:

A. 65%

B. 70%

C. 75%

D. 80%

E. 85%

Q2. Two parental lines yield 110 and 100 quintals/ha, while their F₁ hybrid yields 126 quintals/ha. The mid-parent heterosis of the hybrid is approximately:

A. 20%

B. 15%

C. 18%

D. 24%

E. 26%

Q3. A susceptible crop variety is grown in a field where a virulent pathogen is present and environmental conditions favour infection. According to the disease triangle, the most effective general strategy is to:

A. Increase nitrogen application irrespective of crop requirements

B. Depend exclusively on pesticide application after symptoms appear

C. Maintain the same variety and growing conditions throughout the season

D. Eliminate crop surveillance once the first spray is completed

E. Modify one or more of the host, pathogen or environmental components to reduce disease development

Q4. The economic threshold level (ETL) of an insect pest is 15 insects per plant, while its economic injury level (EIL) is 20 insects per plant. The observed population is 17 insects per plant. The appropriate IPM response is to:

A. Delay all action until the population reaches 25 insects per plant

B. Consider timely control measures before the population reaches the EIL

C. Apply pesticides only after harvest

D. Ignore the population because the EIL has not been crossed

E. Repeat pesticide applications at fixed intervals irrespective of pest density

Q5. A crop requires 75 kg of nitrogen per hectare. If urea contains 46% nitrogen, the approximate quantity of urea required per hectare is:

A. 130.4 kg

B. 150.0 kg

C. 160.0 kg

D. 163.0 kg

E. 172.5 kg

Q6. The available water-holding capacity of soil is 180 mm per metre of soil depth. If the effective root depth is 0.75 m and irrigation is scheduled at 40% depletion of available water, the net irrigation depth required is:

A. 54 mm

B. 67.5 mm

C. 75 mm

D. 90 mm

E. 135 mm

Q7. In a monohybrid testcross, a plant expressing the dominant phenotype produces approximately equal numbers of dominant and recessive phenotypes. The genotype of the tested plant is most likely:

A. Homozygous dominant

B. Homozygous recessive

C. Heterozygous

D. A lethal genotype

E. A genotype identical to the recessive tester

Q8. A 200-litre spray solution must contain 0.05% active ingredient by volume. If the commercial formulation contains 25% active ingredient by volume, the approximate quantity of formulation required is:

A. 100 mL

B. 200 mL

C. 250 mL

D. 300 mL

E. 400 mL

Q9. The reference evapotranspiration (ETo) of a crop-growing area is 6 mm/day. If the crop coefficient (Kc) is 1.15, the crop evapotranspiration (ETc) is:

A. 5.22 mm/day

B. 6.90 mm/day

C. 7.15 mm/day

D. 6.00 mm/day

E. 8.15 mm/day

Q10. A dairy cow is observed in standing oestrus during the morning. Under the conventional AM–PM rule, the recommended time for artificial insemination is:

A. Immediately after midnight

B. The following morning in every case

C. After 48 hours

D. The same evening

E. Only during the next oestrous cycle

Q11. In composite fish culture, which of the following species is primarily a bottom feeder?

A. Catla

B. Silver carp

C. Grass carp

D. Mrigal

E. Rohu

Q12. An agricultural project generates total benefits of ₹2,40,000 against total costs of ₹1,92,000. The simple, undiscounted benefit–cost ratio is:

A. 0.80

B. 1.10

C. 1.20

D. 1.25

E. 1.50

Q13. While assessing a Kisan Credit Card (KCC) proposal for crop-production finance, which combination is most relevant to determining the eligible credit requirement?

A. Borrower's gross income and household expenditure alone

B. Market value of agricultural land alone

C. Eligible cropping pattern, cultivated area, applicable scale of finance and permitted requirements under bank guidelines

D. Previous year's sales turnover alone

E. Value of household assets without considering crop requirements

Q14. Wheat rust diseases commonly spread between plants and fields through:

A. Contaminated irrigation water as the principal route

B. Soil-borne nematodes alone

C. Direct root contact alone

D. Infected seed as the only transmission route

E. Windborne fungal spores

Q15. An agricultural extension officer compares the performance of a recommended cultivation practice with the existing local practice under field conditions to demonstrate the results to farmers. This is called:

A. Result demonstration

B. Method demonstration

C. Farm census

D. Laboratory experimentation

E. Market survey

Q16. A farm enterprise has fixed costs of ₹90,000, a selling price of ₹3,600 per quintal and a variable cost of ₹2,100 per quintal. The break-even output is:

A. 40 quintals

B. 45 quintals

C. 50 quintals

D. 55 quintals

E. 60 quintals

Q17. A tractor-operated implement covers 3.6 hectares in 4.5 hours. Its effective field capacity is:

A. 0.60 ha/hour

B. 0.70 ha/hour

C. 0.75 ha/hour

D. 0.80 ha/hour

E. 0.90 ha/hour

Q18. Phosphate-solubilising microorganisms improve plant phosphorus nutrition primarily by:

A. Converting all atmospheric nitrogen directly into nitrate

B. Increasing the availability of phosphorus from certain less-soluble soil compounds

C. Eliminating all phosphorus fixation under every soil condition

D. Replacing the need for every other plant nutrient

E. Increasing soil salinity to release phosphorus

Q19. A borrower has ₹3 lakh available annually for debt servicing and total annual debt-service obligations of ₹2 lakh. The debt-service coverage ratio (DSCR) is:

A. 0.67

B. 1.00

C. 1.50

D. 1.25

E. 2.00

Q20. During appraisal of a dairy loan proposal, the projected cash flow excludes recurring expenditure on cattle feed and veterinary care. What is the most appropriate action by the bank?

A. Revise the cash-flow projection to include these costs and reassess repayment capacity

B. Approve the loan because gross receipts exceed the proposed instalment

C. Ignore the omitted costs if adequate collateral is offered

D. Increase the loan amount without revising the cash flow

E. Treat all feed and veterinary expenditure as capital expenditure

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📗 SECTION 2: ANSWER KEY

Q1. C

Q2. A

Q3. E

Q4. B

Q5. D

Q6. A

Q7. C

Q8. E

Q9. B

Q10. D

Q11. D

Q12. D

Q13. C

Q14. E

Q15. A

Q16. E

Q17. D

Q18. B

Q19. C

Q20. A

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📙 SECTION 3: EXPLANATIONS & LEARNING POINTS

Q1. Answer: C — 75%

Application efficiency = (Water stored in the root zone ÷ Water applied) × 100.

= (90 ÷ 120) × 100 = 75%.

Q2. Answer: A — 20%

Mid-parent value = (110 + 100) ÷ 2 = 105 quintals/ha.

Mid-parent heterosis = [(F₁ yield − Mid-parent value) ÷ Mid-parent value] × 100.

= [(126 − 105) ÷ 105] × 100 = 20%.

Q3. Answer: E — Modify the disease triangle

The three components are a susceptible host, a virulent pathogen and a favourable environment. Disease management can target one or more of these components.

Q4. Answer: B — Consider timely control measures

The ETL is the pest population at which control action should be initiated to prevent the population from reaching the EIL. Since 17 exceeds the ETL of 15, timely intervention should be considered.

Q5. Answer: D — Approximately 163 kg/ha

Urea required = Nitrogen requirement ÷ Nitrogen fraction.

= 75 ÷ 0.46 = 163.04 kg/ha.

Q6. Answer: A — 54 mm

Available water in the root zone = 180 × 0.75 = 135 mm.

Net irrigation depth at 40% depletion = 135 × 0.40 = 54 mm.

This is the net depth; gross irrigation depth would be higher if application losses were considered.

Q7. Answer: C — Heterozygous

A heterozygous dominant individual crossed with a homozygous recessive tester generally produces a 1:1 ratio of dominant and recessive phenotypes.

Q8. Answer: E — 400 mL

Required active ingredient = 200 litres × 0.05/100 = 0.1 litre = 100 mL.

Required formulation = 100 mL ÷ 0.25 = 400 mL.

This calculation assumes the stated percentages are volume/volume and the formulation concentration is expressed on the same basis. In practice, pesticide use must follow the registered label directions.

Q9. Answer: B — 6.90 mm/day

Crop evapotranspiration = ETo × Kc.

= 6 × 1.15 = 6.90 mm/day.

Q10. Answer: D — The same evening

Under the conventional AM–PM rule, a cow observed in standing oestrus in the morning is generally inseminated that evening. Actual timing should follow veterinary advice and the applicable breeding programme.

Q11. Answer: D — Mrigal

Mrigal is primarily a bottom feeder. Catla feeds mainly near the surface, Rohu primarily in the water column, silver carp mainly in the upper water column and grass carp feeds largely on aquatic vegetation.

Q12. Answer: D — 1.25

Simple benefit–cost ratio = Total benefits ÷ Total costs.

= ₹2,40,000 ÷ ₹1,92,000 = 1.25.

Q13. Answer: C — Assess eligible crop-finance requirements

KCC crop-production finance assessment considers eligible crops, cultivated area, the applicable scale of finance and other permitted requirements under the bank's guidelines.

Q14. Answer: E — Windborne fungal spores

Wheat rust pathogens produce spores that can travel through the air and infect susceptible wheat plants when conditions are favourable.

Q15. Answer: A — Result demonstration

A result demonstration shows farmers the outcome of a recommended practice, commonly by comparing it with the existing local practice under field conditions.

Q16. Answer: E — 60 quintals

Contribution per quintal = Selling price − Variable cost.

= ₹3,600 − ₹2,100 = ₹1,500.

Break-even output = Fixed costs ÷ Contribution per quintal.

= ₹90,000 ÷ ₹1,500 = 60 quintals.

Q17. Answer: D — 0.80 ha/hour

Effective field capacity = Area covered ÷ Time taken.

= 3.6 ÷ 4.5 = 0.80 ha/hour.

Q18. Answer: B — Improve phosphorus availability

Phosphate-solubilising microorganisms can help convert certain less-soluble phosphorus compounds into forms more available to plants. Their effectiveness depends on soil and environmental conditions.

Q19. Answer: C — 1.50

DSCR = Cash available for debt servicing ÷ Total debt-service obligations.

= ₹3 lakh ÷ ₹2 lakh = 1.50.

A DSCR above 1 indicates that the stated cash available exceeds the debt-service obligations for the period.

Q20. Answer: A — Revise cash flow and reassess repayment capacity

Feed and veterinary care are recurring dairy-production expenses. Omitting these costs overstates the projected cash surplus and can result in an unrealistic assessment of repayment capacity.

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📕 SECTION 4: RAPID REVISION CAPSULE

1. Irrigation efficiency: Water stored in the root zone ÷ Water applied × 100.

2. Mid-parent heterosis: F₁ superiority over the mid-parent value, expressed as a percentage of the mid-parent value.

3. Disease triangle: Host + Pathogen + Environment.

4. ETL: Action threshold used to prevent the pest population from reaching the economic injury level.

5. Urea: Approximately 46% nitrogen.

6. Net irrigation depth: Root-zone available water × Allowable depletion fraction.

7. Monohybrid testcross: A 1:1 phenotypic ratio generally indicates a heterozygous tested parent.

8. Crop evapotranspiration: ETc = ETo × Kc.

9. AM–PM rule: Conventional guideline for timing cattle insemination.

10. Composite fish culture: Mrigal is primarily a bottom feeder.

11. Benefit–cost ratio: Benefits ÷ Costs; interpret the ratio in the context of the calculation method used.

12. Break-even output: Fixed costs ÷ Contribution per unit.

13. Effective field capacity: Area covered ÷ Time taken.

14. DSCR: Cash available for debt servicing ÷ Debt-service obligations.

15. Agricultural credit appraisal: Include realistic production costs and assess repayment capacity.

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🏆 SECTION 5: SELF-ASSESSMENT

18–20 correct: Excellent — strong command of the tested concepts.

15–17 correct: Good — revise technical details and calculations.

11–14 correct: Fair — strengthen core agricultural concepts.

10 or fewer: Revisit fundamentals and practise another mock.

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Disclaimer: This mock is intended for educational and examination practice. Candidates should consult authoritative textbooks, official notifications and applicable institutional guidelines wherever relevant.