IAS Mains Previous Years Paper : Agriculture (1997)

PAPER - I
SECTION A
1. Write short notes on any three of the following in about 200 words each:
(a) Soil pollution
(b) Retting injute
(c) Sugarcane ratooning
(d) Agroforestry

2. Give in tabular form the varieties, spacing and row proportion, fertilizer and irrigation schedules of
(a) sugar + wheat
(b) potato + mustard
(c) cotton + green gram.

3. Define plant ecology. Discuss the role of autotoxiciry in crop production.

4. Differentiate fertilizer-use-efficiency and fertilizer-ulilization-efficiency, Discuss the important agrotechnique for increasing fertilrzer-use-efficiency in rice in sandy loam soil.

SECTION B
5. Write short notes on any three of the following in about 200 words each:
(a) Water logging
(b) Watershed management
(c) Soil moisture depletion approach
(d) Training and visit system

6. Define dryland agriculture. Discuss the agro-techniques for stabilizing production under such condition.

7. Define maximum economical yield (MEY) Describe the important inputs and operations in wheat after toria.

8. Give a hit of non-monetary input Technology for small and marginal farmers in India. Discuss any four of them in detail.

PAPER-II
SECTION A
1. Answer any three of the following in about 200 words each
(a) Write Mendel in principles in your own words.
(b) Describe the Genetic Purity of Seed.
(c) Explain the Growth Promoters and Growth Retardants
(d) What is male sterility? How can it be used for crop improvement?

2. (a) Explain integrated pest management. How does it differ from insect pest management?
(b) What are the conditions under which insecticides should not be applied?
(c) Describe the insects and pests of cotton.

3. (a) Define growth. Describe main stages of growth in plants.
(b) Describe the role of Physiology in crop improvement

4. Write short notes on:
(a) Acid Treatment of Seed
(b) Methods of Lawn establishment
(c) Genetic Engineering
(d) Foundation Seed
(e) Structures for Grain Storage

SECTION B
5. Answer/Comment upon any three of the following in about 200 words each:
(a) What is Sustainable Agriculture? How does it differ from Modern Agriculture?
(b) Why are hybrids preferred in maize instead of variety? Explain
(c) What is Synthetic Variety? How does a synthetic variety differ from a pure line?
(d) Describe translocation of Photosynthates.

6. (a) What is the situation of fruit and vegetable processing industry in India? What arc their export projections? Support your answer with figures.
(b) Describe fruit and vegetable production in India vis-a-vis world production. Support your answer with figures.

7. (a) Define Seed. What are the major constraints in quality seed production in India? Mention the main seed production centres of forage crops in the country.
(b) What are the storage problems in India? How can the storage lossed be minimised?

8. Write short notes on:
(a) Characteristics of quality seed (b) Organochlorines
(c) Canning (d) Allelic Genes
(e) Plant Cell