IBPS SO Professional Knowledge - Agriculture Field Officer (Scale I) Syllabus

What is a watershed in the context of agriculture?

A geographic area where all rainwater drains to a common outlet; managed as a unit for soil and water conservation and integrated development.

Define soil texture and name the three primary particle types.

Soil texture is the relative proportion of particle sizes: sand (largest), silt, and clay (smallest).

What is the ideal soil pH range for most crops?

Slightly acidic to neutral, about 6.0 to 7.5.

Which is India's most widespread and most fertile soil type?

Alluvial soil, found in the Indo-Gangetic plains; it is the most widespread and agriculturally important.

What is black cotton soil (regur) best suited for and what is its key property?

Ideal for cotton; it is clayey, rich in calcium and magnesium, high moisture-retentive, and develops deep cracks on drying (self-ploughing).

How are red soils formed and what is their typical limitation?

Formed by weathering of crystalline igneous rocks; their red colour is due to iron oxide. They are generally poor in nitrogen, phosphorus and humus.

Name the primary, secondary and major micronutrients required by plants.

Primary (macro): N, P, K. Secondary: Ca, Mg, S. Micronutrients: Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo, Cl (and Ni).

What deficiency symptom is characteristic of nitrogen?

General yellowing (chlorosis) of older/lower leaves and stunted growth, since N is mobile and moves to younger tissue.

What is the typical symptom of phosphorus deficiency?

Purplish/reddish discoloration of older leaves and stems and delayed maturity.

What does potassium deficiency look like in crops?

Scorching, yellowing and browning along the margins and tips of older leaves, and weak stalks (lodging).

Which micronutrient deficiency causes interveinal chlorosis in young leaves first?

Iron (Fe) deficiency causes interveinal chlorosis of young leaves because Fe is immobile in the plant.

What deficiency causes 'khaira' disease in rice and 'white bud' in maize?

Zinc (Zn) deficiency.

Differentiate between manures and fertilizers.

Manures are organic, bulky, low in nutrients but improve soil structure (e.g., FYM, compost); fertilizers are concentrated inorganic sources of specific nutrients (e.g., urea, DAP).

What is the nitrogen percentage in urea and the N-P content of DAP?

Urea contains 46% N; DAP (diammonium phosphate) contains 18% N and 46% P2O5.

What is Integrated Nutrient Management (INM)?

The combined and judicious use of chemical fertilizers, organic manures and biofertilizers to maintain soil fertility and sustain crop productivity.

Name two common biofertilizers and their function.

Rhizobium (fixes nitrogen in legumes) and Azotobacter/Azospirillum (free-living N fixers); PSB (phosphate-solubilizing bacteria) makes P available.

What is contour bunding used for?

A soil and water conservation measure where bunds are built along contour lines to reduce runoff velocity and check soil erosion on sloping land.

Name two mechanical methods of soil and water conservation.

Terracing and contour bunding/contour trenching; also gully plugging and check dams.

What is the main pollinating agent for fruit crops and which crop is wind-pollinated among cereals?

Bees (insects) are the main pollinators of fruit crops; maize is wind (cross) pollinated among cereals.

Which Indian state is the largest producer of mango, and what is mango's botanical importance?

Uttar Pradesh is the largest mango producer; mango is the 'King of fruits' and India's national fruit.

Name three major plantation crops of India.

Tea, coffee, rubber; also coconut, arecanut, cocoa and cashew.

Define IPM (Integrated Pest Management).

An eco-friendly approach combining cultural, mechanical, biological and chemical methods to keep pest populations below economic injury level while minimizing pesticide use.

What is the Economic Threshold Level (ETL) in pest management?

The pest population density at which control measures must be applied to prevent the pest from reaching the economic injury level.

Name a major fungal disease of wheat and a viral disease of crops.

Wheat rust (black/brown/yellow rust caused by Puccinia spp.) is a major fungal disease; Tobacco mosaic and leaf curl are common viral diseases.

Which breeds are famous Indian milch (dairy) cattle and buffalo breeds?

Cattle: Sahiwal, Gir, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar. Buffalo: Murrah, Mehsana, Surti, Jaffarabadi.

What is broiler poultry versus layer poultry?

Broilers are chickens reared for meat (fast weight gain); layers are hens reared for egg production.

Define sericulture, apiculture and pisciculture.

Sericulture is silkworm rearing for silk; apiculture is beekeeping for honey and wax; pisciculture (fish farming) is rearing fish.

What is NABARD and when was it established?

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, the apex development bank for agriculture and rural development, established on 12 July 1982.

What is the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme?

A scheme providing farmers timely and adequate short-term credit for crop cultivation and allied activities through a single revolving credit limit.

What is the three-tier structure of short-term rural cooperative credit in India?

State Cooperative Bank (state level), District Central Cooperative Bank (district level), and Primary Agricultural Credit Society (village level).

Match these schemes to their purpose: PM-KISAN, PMFBY, PMKSY, e-NAM.

PM-KISAN: Rs 6000/year income support to farmers. PMFBY: crop insurance. PMKSY: irrigation ('Har Khet ko Pani', per drop more crop). e-NAM: electronic National Agriculture Market for online trading of produce.