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

 🔥 PLATINUM SERIES 2.0 | VOL. 201

📅 16 OCTOBER 2026 | FRIDAY

🎯 TARGET: IBPS AFO • Agriculture Officer • NABARD • RRB

📝 20 MCQs | 20 MARKS | 15 MINUTES

⚠️ NEGATIVE MARKING: −0.25 PER INCORRECT ANSWER

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🔥 THE AGRICULTURE INTELLIGENCE CHALLENGE

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Test your ability to apply agricultural science, solve numerical problems and select appropriate farm-management practices.

📌 Select the single best answer.

📌 Attempt all 20 questions before checking the key.

📌 Correct: +1 | Incorrect: −0.25 | Unattempted: 0

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🌱 SECTION 1: PLATINUM AGRICULTURE MOCK

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Q1. A farmer plants a crop at 60 cm between rows and 20 cm between plants. Assuming one plant per planting position and no area loss, approximately how many plants can be accommodated per hectare:

A. 50,000

B. 83,333

C. 60,000

D. 100,000

E. 120,000

Q2. Under conventional irrigation scheduling, which growth stage is generally considered critical for irrigation in wheat because water stress can substantially reduce yield:

A. Grain maturity

B. Late dough stage

C. Crown Root Initiation (CRI)

D. Harvesting

E. Post-harvest stage

Q3. A soil test identifies strongly acidic soil conditions that restrict nutrient availability. Which amendment is commonly used to correct soil acidity:

A. Agricultural lime

B. Gypsum in every case

C. Common salt

D. Urea alone

E. Zinc sulphate alone

Q4. Which microorganism is commonly inoculated into compatible legume seeds to promote biological nitrogen fixation in root nodules:

A. Azotobacter exclusively

B. Nitrosomonas

C. Lactobacillus

D. Rhizobium

E. Pseudomonas fluorescens exclusively

Q5. A farmer applies 200 kg of DAP fertiliser graded 18-46-0. How much phosphorus, expressed as P₂O₅, is supplied:

A. 18 kg

B. 46 kg

C. 92 kg

D. 36 kg

E. 100 kg

Q6. In integrated pest management, what does the Economic Threshold Level (ETL) indicate:

A. The point at which every pest must be eliminated

B. The pest population level at which control action should begin to prevent reaching the Economic Injury Level

C. The maximum permissible pesticide concentration in soil

D. The number of seeds required per hectare

E. The stage at which crop harvesting must begin

Q7. A farmer wants to monitor the seasonal activity of a particular insect pest and support timely, targeted control. Which tool is useful for monitoring many species-specific insect pests:

A. Random application of broad-spectrum insecticide

B. Increasing nitrogen fertiliser

C. Flood irrigation

D. Burning crop residues

E. Species-specific pheromone traps

Q8. What is a major advantage of properly designed and managed drip irrigation compared with conventional surface irrigation:

A. It eliminates all weeds and diseases

B. It guarantees maximum yield in every soil

C. It removes the need for water-quality assessment

D. It delivers water near the root zone and can reduce avoidable water losses

E. It makes drainage unnecessary in every field

Q9. Which combination represents the three core principles of conservation agriculture:

A. Intensive tillage, residue burning and monocropping

B. Continuous flooding and repeated deep ploughing

C. Maximum soil disturbance and bare soil

D. Exclusive reliance on chemical fertilisers

E. Minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil cover and crop diversification

Q10. Which platform facilitates electronic agricultural trading through participating agricultural markets in India:

A. CERSAI

B. e-NAM

C. CKYCR

D. TReDS

E. NDS-OM

Q11. Why should a newborn calf receive adequate good-quality colostrum promptly after birth:

A. It replaces water throughout the animal's life

B. It eliminates the need for vaccination

C. It supplies maternal antibodies and supports early immunity

D. It prevents every infectious disease

E. It replaces all future dietary protein requirements

Q12. Silage is prepared primarily by preserving chopped green fodder through:

A. Controlled anaerobic fermentation

B. Open-air burning

C. Complete exposure to rainwater

D. Mixing fodder with soil

E. Prolonged storage in an uncovered heap

Q13. Which crop is commonly recognised as an important bee-pollinated oilseed crop in India:

A. Rice

B. Wheat

C. Pearl millet

D. Mustard

E. Sugarcane

Q14. Which crop is commonly used as green manure before rice cultivation to add organic matter and contribute biologically fixed nitrogen:

A. Cotton

B. Potato

C. Sunflower

D. Tobacco

E. Dhaincha (Sesbania)

Q15. Chickpea plants show yellowing and wilting associated with a suspected soil-borne Fusarium wilt problem. Which long-term management approach is most appropriate:

A. Apply excess nitrogen as the sole treatment

B. Use resistant or tolerant varieties and suitable crop rotation

C. Grow chickpea continuously in the same field

D. Increase plant density without diagnosis

E. Ignore field sanitation and retain infected residues

Q16. Which practice is generally appropriate for maintaining the viability of orthodox seeds during extended storage:

A. Store wet seeds in sealed containers

B. Expose seeds continuously to high humidity

C. Dry seeds to a suitable safe moisture level and store them under cool, dry conditions

D. Keep seeds in direct sunlight throughout storage

E. Store seeds in warm, damp heaps

Q17. A farm has a net sown area of 120 hectares and a gross cropped area of 180 hectares. What is its cropping intensity:

A. 150%

B. 120%

C. 60%

D. 180%

E. 200%

Q18. On suitable sloping agricultural land, which practice helps slow surface runoff and reduce soil erosion by retaining or directing water along the contour:

A. Ploughing straight down the slope

B. Burning all crop residues

C. Removing all vegetation cover

D. Contour bunding

E. Increasing slope length without barriers

Q19. Under the general PMFBY premium provisions for notified Kharif food and oilseed crops, what is the prescribed maximum farmer premium rate, subject to applicable scheme provisions:

A. 1% of sum insured

B. 1.5% of sum insured

C. 5% of sum insured

D. 10% of sum insured

E. 2% of sum insured

Q20. What is the primary purpose of a Soil Health Card:

A. Guarantee a fixed yield every season

B. Provide information on soil nutrient status and fertiliser recommendations

C. Guarantee MSP for every crop

D. Replace all agronomic advice

E. Certify that the farm is free from every pest

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🗝️ SECTION 2: ANSWER KEY

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Q1. B

Q2. C

Q3. A

Q4. D

Q5. C

Q6. B

Q7. E

Q8. D

Q9. E

Q10. B

Q11. C

Q12. A

Q13. D

Q14. E

Q15. B

Q16. C

Q17. A

Q18. D

Q19. E

Q20. B

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📘 SECTION 3: QUICK EXPLANATIONS

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Q1. B — 83,333 plants/ha

Area per plant = 0.60 × 0.20 = 0.12 m².

Plants/ha = 10,000 ÷ 0.12 ≈ 83,333.

Q2. C — CRI stage

Crown Root Initiation is a critical irrigation stage in conventionally grown wheat, generally around 20–25 days after sowing. Actual timing depends on crop establishment, soil moisture and weather.

Q3. A — Agricultural lime

Liming materials help neutralise soil acidity. The rate should be based on soil testing and lime requirement.

Q4. D — Rhizobium

Compatible Rhizobium strains form root nodules in legumes and fix atmospheric nitrogen.

Q5. C — 92 kg P₂O₅

DAP contains 46% P₂O₅.

200 × 0.46 = 92 kg P₂O₅.

Q6. B — Economic Threshold Level

The ETL indicates when control action should begin to prevent the pest population from reaching the Economic Injury Level.

Q7. E — Pheromone traps

Species-specific pheromone traps help monitor the activity of susceptible insect pests and guide targeted management.

Q8. D — Root-zone water delivery

Drip irrigation supplies water near the root zone and can reduce avoidable losses when correctly designed and maintained.

Q9. E — Conservation agriculture

The three core principles are minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil cover and crop diversification.

Q10. B — e-NAM

The electronic National Agriculture Market facilitates online agricultural trading across participating markets.

Q11. C — Colostrum

Colostrum supplies immunoglobulins that provide passive immunity to newborn calves. Early feeding improves antibody absorption.

Q12. A — Anaerobic fermentation

Silage is preserved by fermentation under oxygen-limited conditions, with suitable moisture, compaction and sealing.

Q13. D — Mustard

Mustard benefits from insect pollination, including bee activity, under suitable field conditions.

Q14. E — Dhaincha

Dhaincha (Sesbania) is commonly used as green manure, contributing organic matter and biologically fixed nitrogen.

Q15. B — Resistant varieties and rotation

Resistant or tolerant varieties, appropriate crop rotation, healthy seed and field sanitation help manage soil-borne wilt.

Q16. C — Cool, dry storage

Orthodox seeds generally tolerate drying and are better maintained under suitable cool, dry conditions. Exact requirements depend on the species and storage duration.

Q17. A — 150%

Cropping intensity = Gross cropped area ÷ Net sown area × 100.

= 180 ÷ 120 × 100 = 150%.

Q18. D — Contour bunding

Contour bunds slow runoff and reduce soil erosion on suitable slopes.

Q19. E — 2%

The general farmer premium rate for notified Kharif food and oilseed crops under PMFBY is 2% of the sum insured, subject to applicable scheme provisions.

Q20. B — Soil nutrient assessment

A Soil Health Card reports soil nutrient status and provides nutrient-management recommendations. It does not guarantee a particular yield.

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🧠 SECTION 4: QUICK REVISION CAPSULE

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🌱 Crop establishment — Plant population

🌾 Agronomy — Wheat CRI stage and green manuring

🧪 Soil science — Acidity and nutrient management

🦠 Microbiology — Rhizobium and nitrogen fixation

🐛 Plant protection — ETL and pheromone monitoring

💧 Irrigation — Drip irrigation and water conservation

🚜 Conservation agriculture — Minimum tillage and soil cover

🐄 Animal husbandry — Colostrum and calf immunity

🌿 Fodder management — Silage preparation

🌼 Pollination — Mustard and bee activity

📦 Seed science — Orthodox seed storage

📊 Farm management — Cropping intensity

🌍 Soil conservation — Contour bunding

🏛️ Agricultural schemes — PMFBY and Soil Health Card

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🏆 SECTION 5: SELF-ASSESSMENT

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Correct answers: ____

Incorrect answers: ____

Unattempted: ____

Score = Correct answers − (0.25 × incorrect answers)

🔥 18–20: Excellent

🟢 16–17: Strong

🟡 12–15: Needs revision

🔴 Below 12: Strengthen fundamentals

These are IBR practice benchmarks, not official IBPS cut-offs.

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🎯 SECTION 6: YOUR ACTION ZONE

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📌 ATTEMPT — Finish in 15 minutes.

📌 REVIEW — Recalculate numerical questions.

📌 ANALYSE — Identify weak agricultural topics.

📌 COMMENT — Share your score out of 20.

📌 PRACTISE — Continue with IBR Agriculture Intelligence Mocks.

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Disclaimer: This is independently prepared educational practice material, not an official IBPS question paper. Scheme provisions and examination rules should be checked against current official notifications.