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

PLATINUM SERIES 2.0 | VOL. 222

FRIDAY, 6 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 120 kg of nitrogen per hectare to 2 hectares of land using urea containing 46% nitrogen. Approximately how much urea is required for the entire area:

A. 450 kg

B. 480 kg

C. 500 kg

D. 522 kg

E. 550 kg

Q2. A farmer irrigates 5 hectares of land with 6 cm of water. What is the total volume of irrigation water applied:

A. 3,000 m³

B. 2,500 m³

C. 3,500 m³

D. 4,000 m³

E. 4,500 m³

Q3. Reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is 5 mm per day and the crop coefficient (Kc) is 1.2. What is the estimated crop evapotranspiration (ETc):

A. 4.0 mm/day

B. 5.0 mm/day

C. 5.5 mm/day

D. 7.0 mm/day

E. 6.0 mm/day

Q4. A farmer applies 250 kg of fertilizer having the grade 20:20:0. What quantities of nitrogen, P₂O₅ and K₂O are supplied respectively:

A. 40 kg, 50 kg and 0 kg

B. 50 kg, 50 kg and 0 kg

C. 50 kg, 40 kg and 10 kg

D. 60 kg, 50 kg and 0 kg

E. 50 kg, 60 kg and 10 kg

Q5. Phosphorus fixation in strongly acidic soils is primarily associated with:

A. Sodium and chloride ions

B. Calcium carbonate precipitation alone

C. Iron and aluminium compounds

D. Excessive nitrogen fixation

E. Potassium leaching

Q6. Rice blast disease is caused by:

A. Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae

B. Rhizoctonia solani

C. Ustilaginoidea virens

D. Pyricularia oryzae

E. Alternaria solani

Q7. Heterosis expressed as the superiority of an F₁ hybrid over its better parent is known as:

A. Heterobeltiosis

B. Mid-parent heterosis

C. Inbreeding depression

D. Transgressive segregation

E. Genetic drift

Q8. In Indian seed certification, which colour tag is used for breeder seed:

A. White

B. Azure blue

C. Opal green

D. Purple

E. Golden yellow

Q9. Fertigation in modern irrigation systems refers to:

A. Application of pesticides through irrigation water

B. Application of soluble fertilizers through irrigation water

C. Removal of salts through drainage

D. Application of organic manure before ploughing

E. Irrigation exclusively through rainfall

Q10. Which of the following biofertilizers is primarily used for solubilising unavailable soil phosphorus:

A. Azotobacter

B. Rhizobium

C. Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria (PSB)

D. Blue-green algae

E. Azolla

Q11. Inclusion of leguminous crops in crop rotation primarily helps to:

A. Increase soil acidity permanently

B. Reduce soil organic matter

C. Increase soil salinity

D. Improve soil nitrogen status through biological nitrogen fixation

E. Eliminate the need for all fertilizers

Q12. A soil having an exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) of 18 is conventionally classified as:

A. Sodic soil

B. Saline soil

C. Acid soil

D. Lateritic soil

E. Peaty soil

Q13. Trichogramma species are widely used in biological pest management because they are:

A. Predatory mites

B. Bacterial bioagents

C. Fungal pathogens of weeds

D. Nematode parasites

E. Egg parasitoids of insect pests

Q14. Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), the prescribed maximum farmer premium rates for food and oilseed crops are:

A. Kharif 1%; Rabi 2%

B. Kharif 2%; Rabi 1.5%

C. Kharif 3%; Rabi 2%

D. Kharif 5%; Rabi 3%

E. Kharif 2.5%; Rabi 2%

Q15. The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) primarily performs which function:

A. Direct procurement of all agricultural commodities

B. Distribution of agricultural credit

C. Recommending Minimum Support Prices (MSP) to the Government

D. Implementing crop insurance claims

E. Regulating agricultural exports independently

Q16. A lactometer is primarily used in dairy science to determine:

A. Fat percentage directly

B. Protein percentage

C. Milk acidity

D. Specific gravity of milk

E. Bacterial count

Q17. In induced breeding of Indian major carps, preparations such as Ovaprim primarily act by:

A. Stimulating final gonadal maturation and ovulation through hormonal action

B. Increasing pond water alkalinity

C. Controlling bacterial diseases

D. Improving fish feed digestibility

E. Increasing dissolved oxygen

Q18. An agricultural extension worker demonstrates the correct procedure for operating a seed drill to a group of farmers. This extension method is known as:

A. Result demonstration

B. Field trip

C. Farm publication

D. Group discussion

E. Method demonstration

Q19. Which practice is most effective in reducing deterioration of highly perishable fruits and vegetables during transportation and storage:

A. Prolonged exposure to sunlight

B. Maintaining an uninterrupted cold chain

C. Delaying pre-cooling

D. Increasing repeated handling

E. Uncontrolled storage at ambient temperature

Q20. Price elasticity of demand for an agricultural commodity is measured as:

A. Total cost divided by total production

B. Change in price divided by change in income

C. Percentage change in quantity demanded divided by percentage change in price

D. Gross returns divided by variable costs

E. Total production divided by cultivated area

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SECTION 2: ANSWER KEY

Q1.D

Q2.A

Q3.E

Q4.B

Q5.C

Q6.D

Q7.A

Q8.E

Q9.B

Q10.C

Q11.D

Q12.A

Q13.E

Q14.B

Q15.C

Q16.D

Q17.A

Q18.E

Q19.B

Q20.C

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YOUR TURN – TAKE THE CHALLENGE!

Attempt all 20 questions.

Calculate your score out of 40.

Complete the mock within 15 minutes.

Target: 36+ marks.

Comment your score and challenge fellow AFO aspirants!

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SECTION 3: DETAILED EXPLANATIONS

Q1. Answer: D – 522 kg

Total nitrogen requirement = 120 × 2 = 240 kg.

Urea requirement = 240 ÷ 0.46

= 521.74 kg ≈ 522 kg.

Q2. Answer: A – 3,000 m³

Area = 5 × 10,000 = 50,000 m².

Water depth = 6 cm = 0.06 m.

Volume = Area × Depth

= 50,000 × 0.06

= 3,000 m³.

Q3. Answer: E – 6 mm/day

Crop evapotranspiration:

ETc = ETo × Kc

= 5 × 1.2

= 6 mm/day.

Q4. Answer: B – 50 kg, 50 kg and 0 kg

For 250 kg of 20:20:0 fertilizer:

Nitrogen = 250 × 20/100 = 50 kg.

P₂O₅ = 250 × 20/100 = 50 kg.

K₂O = 0 kg.

Q5. Answer: C – Iron and aluminium compounds

In strongly acidic soils, phosphorus reacts with iron and aluminium compounds, forming relatively insoluble compounds. This reduces phosphorus availability to plants.

Q6. Answer: D – Pyricularia oryzae

Rice blast is caused by Pyricularia oryzae, also known as Magnaporthe oryzae. Typical symptoms include spindle-shaped lesions on leaves and neck blast.

Q7. Answer: A – Heterobeltiosis

Heterobeltiosis refers to the superiority of an F₁ hybrid over its better parent.

Mid-parent heterosis measures superiority over the average performance of both parents.

Q8. Answer: E – Golden yellow

Indian seed certification tag colours:

Breeder seed – Golden yellow.

Foundation seed – White.

Certified seed – Azure blue.

Truthfully labelled seed – Opal green.

Q9. Answer: B – Application of soluble fertilizers through irrigation water

Fertigation combines fertilizer application with irrigation. It enables targeted nutrient application, improves fertilizer-use efficiency and supports precision agriculture.

Q10. Answer: C – Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria

PSB convert insoluble soil phosphorus into more soluble forms, improving phosphorus availability to crops.

Q11. Answer: D – Biological nitrogen fixation

Leguminous crops develop symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Rhizobium. This contributes nitrogen to the cropping system and improves soil fertility.

Q12. Answer: A – Sodic soil

An ESP greater than 15 is the conventional criterion for sodic soil classification.

Gypsum is commonly used as a chemical amendment to replace exchangeable sodium with calcium, subject to soil testing and appropriate management.

Q13. Answer: E – Egg parasitoids

Trichogramma species are minute parasitoid wasps that parasitise insect eggs, particularly those of several lepidopteran pests. They are important biological control agents in IPM.

Q14. Answer: B – Kharif 2%; Rabi 1.5%

Under PMFBY, the maximum farmer premium rates are:

Kharif food and oilseed crops – 2%.

Rabi food and oilseed crops – 1.5%.

Annual commercial and horticultural crops – 5%.

The remaining actuarial premium is shared by the Central and State Governments as per scheme provisions.

Q15. Answer: C – Recommending MSP

CACP recommends Minimum Support Prices for mandated agricultural commodities to the Government of India, considering factors such as production costs, demand-supply conditions and market trends.

The final MSP decision is taken by the Government.

Q16. Answer: D – Specific gravity of milk

A lactometer measures the specific gravity of milk. It helps assess milk density and can support quality assessment, but it does not directly measure fat percentage.

Q17. Answer: A – Hormonal stimulation

Ovaprim contains a GnRH analogue and a dopamine antagonist. It stimulates the hormonal processes associated with final gonadal maturation, ovulation and spawning in suitable fish species.

Q18. Answer: E – Method demonstration

Method demonstration explains and shows how to perform a particular agricultural operation or practice.

Result demonstration shows the practical benefits and results of adopting a recommended technology under field conditions.

Q19. Answer: B – Uninterrupted cold chain

A properly maintained cold chain controls temperature during pre-cooling, storage, transportation and distribution. It slows respiration, microbial growth and deterioration, thereby reducing post-harvest losses.

Q20. Answer: C – Percentage change in quantity demanded divided by percentage change in price

Price elasticity of demand:

Ed = Percentage change in quantity demanded ÷ Percentage change in price.

It measures the responsiveness of demand to changes in commodity prices. The coefficient is generally negative; its absolute value is commonly used to describe elasticity.

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SECTION 4: QUICK REVISION CAPSULE

Urea: 46% nitrogen.

Irrigation volume: Area × Water depth.

Crop evapotranspiration: ETc = ETo × Kc.

Fertilizer grade: N–P₂O₅–K₂O.

Acid soil phosphorus fixation: Iron and aluminium compounds.

Rice blast: Pyricularia oryzae (Magnaporthe oryzae).

Better-parent heterosis: Heterobeltiosis.

Seed tags: Breeder – Golden yellow; Foundation – White; Certified – Azure blue.

Fertigation: Application of fertilizers through irrigation water.

PSB: Phosphate solubilisation.

Legumes: Biological nitrogen fixation.

Sodic soil: Conventional ESP criterion greater than 15.

Trichogramma: Egg parasitoid.

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

CACP: Recommends MSP.

Lactometer: Specific gravity of milk.

Ovaprim: Induced breeding hormone preparation.

Extension methods: Method demonstration versus result demonstration.

Cold chain: Temperature-controlled post-harvest management.

Price elasticity: Percentage change in quantity demanded ÷ percentage change in price.

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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.