Explore essential agricultural cultural practices, from crop rotation to soil conservation, enhancing sustainable and effective farm management. Each question tests practical knowledge important for environmentally conscious farming.
Which cultural practice involves changing the type of crop grown on a particular field each season to help improve soil fertility and manage pests?
Explanation: Crop rotation is the practice of alternating crops on the same land to restore soil nutrients and control pests and diseases. Mono-cropping grows the same crop repeatedly, which can deplete soils and encourage pests. Minimum tillage is a soil conservation technique, not specifically about crop changes. Intercropping means growing multiple crops together rather than in sequence.
What method involves covering the soil surface with materials like straw or plastic to reduce evaporation and suppress weeds in agricultural fields?
Explanation: Mulching conserves soil moisture, reduces weed growth, and can enhance soil quality. Flood irrigation is a watering method, not a covering practice. Broadcasting involves scattering seeds, and ploughing is for soil preparation, not moisture retention.
Why is sowing seeds at the recommended time considered a crucial cultural practice in agriculture?
Explanation: Timely sowing aligns crops with the best weather and soil conditions for optimal growth and yields. It does not necessarily reduce manual labor or seed costs, and while it helps with pest management, it does not fully eliminate all pests.
What is the main benefit of maintaining appropriate plant spacing during sowing or transplanting?
Explanation: Proper spacing allows better air flow and sunlight exposure, which lowers disease risk. It doesn't increase seed usage; it may reduce it. Faster ripening is not directly related to spacing, and higher water usage is often the result of poor spacing, not the goal.
Which practice is a non-chemical cultural method to manage weeds on farms?
Explanation: Manual weeding physically removes unwanted plants without chemicals. Herbicide application and aerial spraying rely on chemicals for control. Micro-irrigation is about watering efficiency, not weed management.