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

🔥 PLATINUM SERIES 2.0 | VOL. 221

📅 THURSDAY, 5 NOVEMBER 2026

🎯 TARGET EXAMINATION: IBPS AFO Mains – Professional Knowledge

📝 20 QUESTIONS | 40 MARKS | 15 MINUTES

Marking: +2 for correct answer | −0.50 for incorrect answer

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SECTION 1: AGRICULTURE INTELLIGENCE MOCK

Q1. A farmer needs to apply 92 kg of P₂O₅ per hectare through DAP containing 46% P₂O₅. Approximately how much DAP is required, and how much nitrogen will it supply if DAP contains 18% nitrogen:

A. 180 kg DAP and 32.4 kg nitrogen

B. 200 kg DAP and 36 kg nitrogen

C. 220 kg DAP and 39.6 kg nitrogen

D. 240 kg DAP and 43.2 kg nitrogen

E. 250 kg DAP and 45 kg nitrogen

Q2. A farmer irrigates 2 hectares of land with 8 cm of water. What is the total volume of water applied:

A. 800 m³

B. 1,200 m³

C. 1,400 m³

D. 1,600 m³

E. 2,000 m³

Q3. Available soil water capacity is 150 mm per metre of soil depth. If the effective root zone is 0.6 metre and irrigation is scheduled at 50% allowable depletion, what is the net irrigation depth:

A. 30 mm

B. 35 mm

C. 45 mm

D. 50 mm

E. 60 mm

Q4. A farmer applies 50 kg of fertilizer having the grade 12:32:16. What quantities of nitrogen, P₂O₅ and K₂O are supplied respectively:

A. 6 kg, 16 kg and 8 kg

B. 8 kg, 12 kg and 16 kg

C. 12 kg, 16 kg and 8 kg

D. 6 kg, 12 kg and 10 kg

E. 10 kg, 16 kg and 12 kg

Q5. Loose smut of wheat is primarily transmitted through:

A. Soil-borne sclerotia

B. Infected irrigation water

C. Airborne bacterial spores

D. Insect vectors

E. Internally infected seed

Q6. Heterosis expressed as the percentage superiority of an F₁ hybrid over the average performance of its two parents is known as:

A. Better-parent heterosis

B. Economic heterosis

C. Mid-parent heterosis

D. Inbreeding depression

E. Transgressive segregation

Q7. Cytoplasmic-genetic male sterility is particularly useful in hybrid seed production because it:

A. Prevents viable pollen production in the female parent

B. Eliminates the need for pollen transfer

C. Ensures resistance to all crop diseases

D. Increases chromosome number

E. Prevents fertilisation by foreign pollen

Q8. A soil having an exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) of 18 is conventionally classified as:

A. Acid soil

B. Saline soil

C. Peaty soil

D. Sodic soil

E. Lateritic soil

Q9. The stale seedbed technique primarily involves:

A. Allowing weeds to grow throughout the season

B. Encouraging weed germination before sowing and destroying emerged weeds

C. Applying herbicide only after crop maturity

D. Increasing the weed seed bank

E. Manual weeding only after harvest

Q10. Pheromone traps are useful in integrated pest management because they:

A. Destroy soil-borne pathogens

B. Increase beneficial insect reproduction

C. Replace every insecticide application

D. Control weeds

E. Help monitor or mass-trap specific insect pests

Q11. Which of the following is generally classified as a short-day crop:

A. Wheat

B. Barley

C. Soybean

D. Spinach

E. Radish

Q12. Covering developing banana bunches is primarily intended to:

A. Protect fruits from insect damage, physical injury and adverse weather

B. Accelerate fruit drop

C. Increase soil salinity

D. Eliminate nutrient management

E. Prevent root development

Q13. A major advantage of drip irrigation is:

A. Uniform flooding of the entire field

B. Elimination of all water losses

C. Complete prevention of weeds

D. Efficient and targeted water application near the root zone

E. Elimination of filtration and maintenance

Q14. The e-NAM initiative primarily aims to:

A. Provide direct crop insurance settlement

B. Integrate agricultural markets through electronic trading

C. Replace all agricultural cooperatives

D. Supply free fertilisers

E. Fix retail prices of all agricultural commodities

Q15. A farmer incurs a cultivation cost of ₹1,20,000 and obtains gross returns of ₹1,80,000. What is the benefit-cost ratio (gross return/total cost):

A. 1.20

B. 1.25

C. 1.35

D. 1.40

E. 1.50

Q16. Urea treatment of cereal crop residues primarily helps to:

A. Reduce fibre content to zero

B. Convert straw into concentrate feed

C. Improve digestibility and nitrogen content through ammonia treatment

D. Eliminate balanced animal nutrition

E. Increase moisture permanently

Q17. LaSota is a commonly used vaccine strain against:

A. Newcastle disease (Ranikhet disease)

B. Fowl pox

C. Marek's disease

D. Infectious bursal disease

E. Avian influenza

Q18. In induced breeding of Indian major carps, pituitary extract or suitable hormones are administered to:

A. Increase pond alkalinity

B. Improve feed conversion

C. Prevent external parasites

D. Stimulate final maturation, ovulation and spawning

E. Increase dissolved oxygen

Q19. Which intervention is most appropriate for reducing post-harvest losses of perishable horticultural produce during transportation and storage:

A. Prolonged sunlight exposure

B. Maintaining an uninterrupted cold chain

C. Delaying sorting and grading

D. Uncontrolled ambient storage

E. Increasing handling operations

Q20. Which sequence correctly represents the commonly taught stages of agricultural innovation adoption:

A. Trial → Awareness → Adoption → Interest → Evaluation

B. Interest → Adoption → Awareness → Trial → Evaluation

C. Evaluation → Awareness → Trial → Interest → Adoption

D. Awareness → Trial → Interest → Adoption → Evaluation

E. Awareness → Interest → Evaluation → Trial → Adoption

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SECTION 2: ANSWER KEY

Q1.B

Q2.D

Q3.C

Q4.A

Q5.E

Q6.C

Q7.A

Q8.D

Q9.B

Q10.E

Q11.C

Q12.A

Q13.D

Q14.B

Q15.E

Q16.C

Q17.A

Q18.D

Q19.B

Q20.E

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🚀 YOUR TURN – TAKE THE CHALLENGE!

✅ Attempt all 20 questions.

📊 Calculate your score out of 40.

🎯 TARGET: 36+ MARKS IN 15 MINUTES

💬 Comment your score and challenge fellow AFO aspirants!

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SECTION 3: DETAILED EXPLANATIONS

Q1. Answer: B – 200 kg DAP and 36 kg nitrogen

DAP requirement = 92 ÷ 0.46 = 200 kg.

Nitrogen supplied = 200 × 0.18 = 36 kg.

Q2. Answer: D – 1,600 m³

Area = 2 × 10,000 = 20,000 m².

Depth = 8 cm = 0.08 m.

Volume = 20,000 × 0.08 = 1,600 m³.

Q3. Answer: C – 45 mm

Root-zone available water = 150 × 0.6 = 90 mm.

Net irrigation depth = 90 × 50% = 45 mm.

Q4. Answer: A – 6 kg, 16 kg and 8 kg

For 50 kg of 12:32:16 fertilizer:

N = 6 kg; P₂O₅ = 16 kg; K₂O = 8 kg.

Q5. Answer: E – Internally infected seed

Loose smut of wheat is caused by Ustilago tritici. The pathogen infects the developing embryo during flowering and is carried internally in the seed.

Q6. Answer: C – Mid-parent heterosis

It measures F₁ superiority over the average performance of the two parents.

Q7. Answer: A – Prevents viable pollen production

CGMS facilitates controlled cross-pollination. Its three-line system comprises A-line (male sterile), B-line (maintainer) and R-line (restorer).

Q8. Answer: D – Sodic soil

ESP greater than 15 is the conventional diagnostic criterion for sodic soil. Gypsum is commonly used as an amendment where appropriate.

Q9. Answer: B – Germinate and destroy weeds before sowing

The stale seedbed technique encourages weed emergence before crop sowing, followed by destruction of the emerged weeds.

Q10. Answer: E – Monitoring and mass trapping

Pheromones are chemical communication substances. Synthetic pheromones are used for pest monitoring, detection, mass trapping and mating disruption.

Q11. Answer: C – Soybean

Soybean is generally a short-day crop. Flowering response varies with cultivar and critical photoperiod.

Q12. Answer: A – Protecting developing fruits

Bunch covering protects banana fruits against physical injury, insect damage and adverse weather, improving market quality.

Q13. Answer: D – Targeted water application

Drip irrigation delivers water near the active root zone, improving water-use efficiency and supporting fertigation.

Q14. Answer: B – Integration of agricultural markets

e-NAM promotes electronic trading, market integration, transparency and better price discovery.

Q15. Answer: E – 1.50

B:C ratio = Gross return ÷ Total cost

= 1,80,000 ÷ 1,20,000 = 1.50.

Q16. Answer: C – Improved digestibility and nitrogen content

Urea treatment releases ammonia, which helps improve the digestibility and nitrogen content of low-quality crop residues.

Q17. Answer: A – Newcastle disease

LaSota is a live, lentogenic vaccine strain commonly used against Newcastle (Ranikhet) disease.

Q18. Answer: D – Stimulate spawning

Induced breeding hormones stimulate final gonadal maturation, ovulation and spawning in fish.

Q19. Answer: B – Uninterrupted cold chain

Maintaining suitable temperatures during handling, storage and transportation slows deterioration and preserves produce quality.

Q20. Answer: E – Awareness → Interest → Evaluation → Trial → Adoption

These are the commonly taught stages of the innovation adoption process in agricultural extension.

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SECTION 4: QUICK REVISION CAPSULE

DAP: 18% N and 46% P₂O₅.

Irrigation volume = Area × Depth.

Net irrigation = Root-zone available water × Allowable depletion.

Fertilizer grade = N–P₂O₅–K₂O.

Loose smut of wheat: Ustilago tritici; internally seed-borne.

Mid-parent heterosis: F₁ superiority over parental average.

CGMS: A-line, B-line and R-line.

Sodic soil: Conventional ESP criterion greater than 15.

Stale seedbed: Destroy weeds before sowing.

Pheromones: Pest monitoring and mass trapping.

Soybean: Generally a short-day crop.

Banana bunch covering: Fruit protection and quality.

Drip irrigation: Targeted water application.

e-NAM: Electronic agricultural market integration.

B:C ratio = Gross return ÷ Total cost.

Urea-treated straw: Improved digestibility and nitrogen content.

LaSota: Newcastle disease vaccine strain.

Catla–surface; Rohu–column; Mrigal–bottom feeder.

PMFBY farmer premium: Kharif 2%; Rabi 1.5%; annual commercial/horticultural 5%.

Adoption: Awareness → Interest → Evaluation → Trial → Adoption.

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SECTION 5: SELF-ASSESSMENT

MAXIMUM MARKS: 40 | TIME: 15 MINUTES

🏆 36–40: Excellent – Strong examination readiness

🥇 30–35: Very Good – Competitive performance

📘 22–29: Good – Improve application and analytical skills

📖 Below 22: Revise fundamentals and practise more questions

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Disclaimer: Independently prepared practice material. Not an official IBPS question paper or a prediction of examination questions.