Explore essential facts about cumin cultivation, care, and harvesting in agriculture. This quiz covers soil needs, irrigation, pests, harvest timing, and storage for optimal cumin crop health.
Which type of soil is most suitable for growing cumin plants for optimal yield?
Explanation: Well-drained sandy loam is ideal because it prevents waterlogging and provides good root aeration, promoting healthy cumin development. Heavy clay holds too much water, waterlogged peat creates root rot risks, and coarse gravel lacks sufficient nutrients for good crop growth.
If cumin plants are irrigated too frequently, what is the most likely negative result?
Explanation: Frequent over-irrigation leads to moist soil, increasing the risk of root rot and fungal diseases in cumin crops. Increased seed size and rapid flowering do not result from excess water, while improved drought resistance is generally achieved through limited, not excessive, irrigation.
Which pest is commonly known to affect cumin crops during the growing season?
Explanation: Aphids are a frequent pest on cumin, sucking sap and potentially spreading diseases. Cutworms rarely target cumin, rice stem borers are associated with rice, and Colorado potato beetles infest potatoes, not cumin.
At which stage should cumin pods be harvested to ensure high-quality seeds?
Explanation: Cumin pods should be harvested when they turn brown and begin to dry to retain flavor and prevent shattering. Harvesting while green results in immature seeds, harvest at sowing is not possible, and waiting for all leaves to fall risks seed loss.
How should harvested cumin seeds be stored to maintain their quality and prevent spoilage?
Explanation: Cumin seeds retain freshness and resist spoilage when kept in cool, dry, airtight containers. Open trays allow moisture and pests, sunlight can degrade quality, and damp sacks promote mold growth.