Food security depends on improving crop yield, animal productivity, and sustainable farming. AMU asks 1–2 MCQs — focus on crop types (Kharif/Rabi), manure vs fertilizer, irrigation methods, cropping patterns, and cattle/poultry/fish farming.
1) Crop types and seasons
| Season | Months | Crops | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kharif (Rainy / Summer) | June–October | Sown at onset of monsoon | Rice, Maize, Cotton, Groundnut, Sugarcane, Jute, Soybean, Tur (Arhar) |
| Rabi (Winter) | November–April | Sown after monsoon | Wheat, Barley, Pea, Gram, Mustard, Linseed, Potato |
| Zaid (Summer) | April–June | Short duration between Rabi & Kharif | Cucumber, Watermelon, Muskmelon, Fodder crops |
🔥 AMU PYQ: Rice and maize are examples of:
(A) Rabi crops (B) Kharif crops (C) Zaid crops (D) Cash crops Ans: B
(A) Rabi crops (B) Kharif crops (C) Zaid crops (D) Cash crops Ans: B
2) Crop variety improvement
Objectives: Higher yield, better quality, disease/pest resistance, stress tolerance (drought, salinity, waterlogging), wider adaptability, improved nutritional content.
| Method | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Hybridization | Crossing genetically dissimilar parents to get desirable traits in offspring | Hybrid maize (high yield), hybrid rice |
| Genetic modification (GM) | Direct manipulation of DNA; inserting genes from another species | Bt cotton (pest resistant), Golden Rice (β-carotene enriched) |
| Mutation breeding | Inducing mutations (radiation, chemicals) to create new varieties | Sharbati Sonora wheat (high protein) |
| Selection | Choosing plants with desirable traits over generations | Traditional: farmer selection of best seeds |
3) Nutrient management
3.1 Essential plant nutrients
| Category | Elements | Key role |
|---|---|---|
| Macronutrients (needed in large amounts) | N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S | N (proteins, growth), P (ATP, nucleic acids), K (enzyme activation, water balance) |
| Micronutrients (needed in trace amounts) | Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo, B, Cl | Enzyme cofactors, chlorophyll synthesis, electron transport |
3.2 Manure vs Fertilizer
| Feature | Manure | Fertilizer |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Organic (decomposed plant/animal waste) | Manufactured (chemical/inorganic) |
| Nutrient content | Low but balanced; improves soil texture | High, specific (N:P:K ratio) |
| Effect on soil | Adds humus → improves water retention & aeration | Can cause soil acidity/alkalinity; reduces fertility over time |
| Environmental impact | Safe, eco-friendly | Can cause eutrophication (water pollution) |
| Types | Compost, Vermicompost, Green manure (Sesbania/Sunn hemp ploughed back), Farmyard manure | Urea (N), Superphosphate (P), Potash (K), NPK complex |
🔥 AMU PYQ: Which of the following is a green manure crop?
(A) Wheat (B) Rice (C) Sunn hemp (D) Mustard Ans: C (Sesbania/Sunn hemp — grown and ploughed back to enrich soil nitrogen)
(A) Wheat (B) Rice (C) Sunn hemp (D) Mustard Ans: C (Sesbania/Sunn hemp — grown and ploughed back to enrich soil nitrogen)
4) Irrigation
| Method | Description | Water efficiency | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drip irrigation | Water drips slowly at plant roots via tubes | 95% (most efficient) | Fruits, vegetables, gardens (water-scarce areas) |
| Sprinkler system | Water sprayed like rain through nozzles | 70–80% | Uneven land, sandy soil, lawns, cereals |
| Furrow/Flood | Water flows through channels between rows | 40–50% | Traditional, water-abundant areas |
5) Cropping patterns
| Pattern | Definition | Example | Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed cropping | Two+ crops grown simultaneously on same land with no definite row pattern | Wheat + Gram; Groundnut + Sunflower | Insurance against crop failure; both get some yield |
| Intercropping | Two+ crops grown in definite row patterns | Soybean + Maize; Finger millet + Pigeon pea | Better resource use (light, water, nutrients); pest reduction |
| Crop rotation | Different crops grown in same field in planned succession | Rice → Wheat → Legume; Maize → Potato → Mustard | Prevents soil depletion; legumes fix nitrogen for next crop |
6) Pest control
• Pesticides: Insecticides (kill insects), Fungicides (kill fungi), Herbicides (kill weeds), Rodenticides (kill rodents).
• Biological control: Use natural predators — Ladybird beetle (eats aphids), Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt — kills insect larvae), Trichoderma (fungus against soil pathogens), NPV (Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus — against caterpillars).
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Combine biological, chemical, cultural, and mechanical methods for sustainable pest control.
• Biological control: Use natural predators — Ladybird beetle (eats aphids), Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt — kills insect larvae), Trichoderma (fungus against soil pathogens), NPV (Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus — against caterpillars).
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Combine biological, chemical, cultural, and mechanical methods for sustainable pest control.
7) Animal husbandry
7.1 Cattle farming
• Indigenous breeds: Sahiwal, Gir, Red Sindhi (dairy); Nagori, Malvi (draught).
• Exotic breeds: Jersey, Holstein-Friesen (high milk yield).
• Cross-breeding: Indigenous × Exotic → combines disease resistance (indigenous) with high yield (exotic).
• Diseases: Foot & Mouth Disease (viral), Anthrax (bacterial), Mastitis (udder infection).
• Exotic breeds: Jersey, Holstein-Friesen (high milk yield).
• Cross-breeding: Indigenous × Exotic → combines disease resistance (indigenous) with high yield (exotic).
• Diseases: Foot & Mouth Disease (viral), Anthrax (bacterial), Mastitis (udder infection).
7.2 Poultry farming
| Type | Purpose | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Layers | Egg production | White Leghorn (high egg laying) |
| Broilers | Meat production | Cornish, Plymouth Rock (fast growth) |
7.3 Fish production
• Marine fisheries: Pomfret, Tuna, Sardines, Mackerel, Bombay duck — caught using nets/trawlers.
• Inland fisheries: Freshwater (Rohu, Catla, Mrigal), Brackish water — cultured in ponds, tanks, reservoirs.
• Composite fish culture: Different fish species reared together (surface, middle, bottom feeders) — maximizes pond productivity.
• Inland fisheries: Freshwater (Rohu, Catla, Mrigal), Brackish water — cultured in ponds, tanks, reservoirs.
• Composite fish culture: Different fish species reared together (surface, middle, bottom feeders) — maximizes pond productivity.
7.4 Beekeeping (Apiculture)
• Species: Apis cerana indica (Indian bee), Apis mellifera (Italian bee — high yield, less swarming).
• Products: Honey (carbohydrates, minerals, enzymes), Bee wax (cosmetics, candles), Royal jelly, Propolis, Bee venom.
• Pasturage: Available flowers for nectar/pollen — quality determines honey taste & yield.
• Products: Honey (carbohydrates, minerals, enzymes), Bee wax (cosmetics, candles), Royal jelly, Propolis, Bee venom.
• Pasturage: Available flowers for nectar/pollen — quality determines honey taste & yield.
Fig: Modern beekeeping (apiary) showing hive boxes
7.5 Organic farming
• No synthetic fertilizers/pesticides — uses manure, compost, biofertilizers (Rhizobium, Azospirillum, blue-green algae), biopesticides.
• Benefits: Healthier food, soil health preserved, eco-friendly.
• Challenges: Lower initial yield, more labour-intensive, requires knowledge.
• Benefits: Healthier food, soil health preserved, eco-friendly.
• Challenges: Lower initial yield, more labour-intensive, requires knowledge.
8) AMU PYQs — quick revision
Q1. The process of growing two or more crops simultaneously in the same field in a definite pattern is called:
(A) Crop rotation (B) Mixed cropping (C) Intercropping (D) Multiple cropping Ans: C
(A) Crop rotation (B) Mixed cropping (C) Intercropping (D) Multiple cropping Ans: C
Q2. Which of the following is a micronutrient for plants?
(A) Nitrogen (B) Phosphorus (C) Zinc (D) Potassium Ans: C (Zn is needed in trace amounts)
(A) Nitrogen (B) Phosphorus (C) Zinc (D) Potassium Ans: C (Zn is needed in trace amounts)
Q3. The water-efficient irrigation method is:
(A) Drip (B) Sprinkler (C) Flood (D) Furrow Ans: A
(A) Drip (B) Sprinkler (C) Flood (D) Furrow Ans: A
Q4. Which bacteria help in nitrogen fixation in legume root nodules?
(A) E. coli (B) Rhizobium (C) Azotobacter (D) Nitrosomonas Ans: B
(A) E. coli (B) Rhizobium (C) Azotobacter (D) Nitrosomonas Ans: B
Q5. The variety of bee commonly used for honey production in India is:
(A) Apis dorsata (B) Apis cerana (C) Apis mellifera (D) Both B and C Ans: D
(A) Apis dorsata (B) Apis cerana (C) Apis mellifera (D) Both B and C Ans: D
Q6. Which of the following is a Kharif crop?
(A) Wheat (B) Mustard (C) Rice (D) Pea Ans: C
(A) Wheat (B) Mustard (C) Rice (D) Pea Ans: C
Q7. Vermicompost is produced using:
(A) Bacteria (B) Fungi (C) Earthworms (D) Protozoa Ans: C
(A) Bacteria (B) Fungi (C) Earthworms (D) Protozoa Ans: C
Q8. A group of animals related by descent and similar in most characters is called:
(A) Breed (B) Species (C) Genus (D) Family Ans: A
(A) Breed (B) Species (C) Genus (D) Family Ans: A
Q9. In composite fish culture, species of different feeding habits are farmed together to:
(A) Increase disease resistance (B) Use all pond zones efficiently (C) Reduce water usage (D) Improve taste Ans: B
(A) Increase disease resistance (B) Use all pond zones efficiently (C) Reduce water usage (D) Improve taste Ans: B
Q10. Which of the following is NOT a rabi crop?
(A) Wheat (B) Mustard (C) Pea (D) Sugarcane Ans: D (Sugarcane is Kharif)
(A) Wheat (B) Mustard (C) Pea (D) Sugarcane Ans: D (Sugarcane is Kharif)
Q11. The process of crossing two genetically different plants is called:
(A) Selection (B) Hybridization (C) Mutation (D) Polyploidy Ans: B
(A) Selection (B) Hybridization (C) Mutation (D) Polyploidy Ans: B
Q12. The main nutrient required for protein synthesis in plants is:
(A) Phosphorus (B) Nitrogen (C) Potassium (D) Magnesium Ans: B
(A) Phosphorus (B) Nitrogen (C) Potassium (D) Magnesium Ans: B
📝 Pro Tip for AMU: Remember Kharif (Rain — June) vs Rabi (Winter — Nov). Manure (organic, improves soil) vs Fertilizer (chemical, specific NPK). Irrigation efficiency: Drip > Sprinkler > Flood. Cropping patterns: Intercropping (definite row) vs Mixed (no row). Beekeeping: Apis mellifera (Italian) = most popular. Composite fish culture uses multiple species at different pond depths.