IBPS AFO Mains Paper 2024 Agriculture Field Officer

Aroma in scented and basmati rice is due to 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline. The aroma development in rice grain is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.

IR8 rice is known as the “miracle rice” because it helped to fight famine and transformed the lives of many people

Nitrogen fixation in lentils:

• It is a symbiotic relationship in which plants fixed carbon to bacteria in exchange for nitrogen fixation.
• During nitrogen fixation, bacteria convert dinitrogen into ammonia(used by plants).
• Nitrogen fixation helps in increasing soil fertility.

Rhizobium species:

• leguminosarum infects and nodulates lentils.
• This rhizobium does not form spores in its life cycle.
• They appeared as elongated rods under a microscope.

Castor, cowpea, and jatropha are trap crops that can be used to control red hairy caterpillars in groundnut fields: 

• Castor: Can be grown as a trap crop along with groundnut 
• Cowpea: Can be grown as an intercrop to attract adult moths to lay more eggs 
• Jatropha: Can be grown on field bunds to attract caterpillars 

Sulfur is the fourth most important nutrient for oilseeds and pulses, after nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium: 

Sulfur is important for the following reasons:

• Quality of oil: Sulfur improves the quality of oil extracted from oilseed crops. 
• Protein formation: Sulfur is a key component of amino acids, which are essential for protein formation. 
• Yield: Sulfur deficiency can lead to lower yields and quality of pulses. 
• Nitrogen use: Sulfur enhances the use of nitrogen.

The weight of fiber (lint) per seed is typically expressed as lint index (LI), which is the mass of lint per 100 seed (Cook, 1908).

Tillers are branches that arise from nodes of non-elongated internodes at the base of the main shoot but, unlike lateral branches in eudicots, tillers eventually produce adventitious roots. Cereal plants produce many tillers during the vegetative growth phase, some of which senesce before reaching maturity.

subabul can be used for ex situ green manuring: 

Subabul: A shrub that can be used for green leaf manuring 

• Green leaf manuring: The practice of applying leaves and twigs from trees, shrubs, and herbs to the soil 
• Ex situ green manuring: A practice that involves the interaction of green manuring and zinc fertilization

The unit for specific leaf area (SLA) is typically square meters per kilogram (m2/kg) or square millimeters per milligram (mm2/mg)

The ratio of the yield of photochemical product to the total number of quanta used is called quantum yield or quantum efficiency. It is represented by the symbol ϕ

The process of removing excess soil water using the bio-energy of deep-rooted plants is called biodrainage. It’s an eco-friendly technique that uses the sun’s radiation energy and the plant’s bio-energy to remove excess soil water through transpiration

Some trees that are known as fertilizer trees include:

Faidherbia albida: An important fertilizer tree 

• Sesbania: A fertilizer tree 
• Gliricidia: A fertilizer tree 
• Tephrosia: A fertilizer tree

 Nitrogen fixation is a desirable characteristic of trees grown in alley cropping: 

Nitrogen-fixing trees

These trees can contribute to crop nutrition by converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use. Examples of nitrogen-fixing trees include black locust, honey locust, redbud, and goumi. 

Other desirable characteristics

Other desirable characteristics of trees grown in alley cropping include:

• Fast-growing: Benefits are available to the farm family as soon as possible 
• Deep root system: Nutrients and water are drawn from lower soil layers 
• Adaptable to close spacing: Hedgerows require dense planting 
• Shade tolerant: Provide shade to crops during periods of intense heat 
• Stabilize soil: Trees can help stabilize soil and cycle nutrients

Hypsometer is an instrument used for determining the height of standing tree from observations taken at some distance from the tree.

A crescograph is a device that measures the growth of plants

An Abney level is a surveying tool used to measure angles, degrees, topographic elevation, and percent of grade

Coconut water: a perfect liquid base and a rich source of electrolyte minerals. Peanut or almond butter: sources of a healthy dose of protein.

These are all functions of a lubricant:

• Absorb heat from moving parts: Lubricants reduce the heat generated when moving parts rub against each other.
• Minimize wear and tear: Lubricants reduce friction between moving parts, which minimizes wear and tear.
• Provide a cushioning effect: Lubricants create a thin film between moving parts, which provides cushioning.
• Clean parts: Lubricants can carry away metal chips.
• Protect parts from corrosion: Lubricants can protect parts from corrosion.
• Prevent blow-by of gases: Lubricants can prevent blow-by of gases by creating an oil film between the rings and the liner/bore. 

Lubricants can also transmit forces, transport foreign particles, or heat or cool surfaces. 

The depth categories for ploughing are defined as follows:

• 5-6 cm: Shallow ploughing
• 15-20 cm: Medium deep ploughing
• 25-30 cm: Deep ploughing

For Pearl millet (Hybrid), the isolation distance for foundation seeds is 1000m and certified seeds are 200m.

Epigeal germination occurs in many plants, including:

beans, pumpkin, tomato, cotton, Soybean, sunflower, castor, and onion. 

Epigeal germination is a type of seed germination where the cotyledons are pushed above the ground due to the rapid elongation of the hypocotyl. The term “epigeal” comes from the words “epi” meaning “above” and “geal” meaning “ground”.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is an example of a photoblastic seed. Photoblastic seeds are seeds that require light to germinate. The germination of these seeds is regulated by phytochromes. 

Seeds can also be negatively photoblastic, which means they are inhibited by sunlight and grow best in the dark. Examples of negatively photoblastic seeds include onions, lilies, and nigella

A silent mutation is a DNA sequence alteration that doesn’t change the amino acid sequence or protein function.

Mitochondria and chloroplasts perform oxidative phosphorylation and photophosphorylation reactions by using electron transport chains to create an electrochemical gradient that produces ATP.

The genus of downy mildew that forms secondary and tertiary branches at right angles is Plasmopara: 

• Plasmopara obducens: The genus of impatiens downy mildew 
• Plasmopara viticola: The genus of grape downy mildew, which is a devastating disease in warm and humid climates 
• Downy mildew fungi are identified by the branching structure of their sporangiophores:
• Plasmopara: The tips of the sporangiophores are somewhat swollen with peg-like appendages
• Peronospora: The sporangiophores appear similar to elk or deer antlers

Yes, the ooze test is used to detect the presence of a bacterial pathogen in a plant: 

Paecilomyces lilacinus is a fungus that belongs to the genus Paecilomyces, which is known as a nematophagous fungus. 

Damping-off is primarily caused by fungi present in the growing medium. The fungi include species of Rhizoctonia, Pythium, Fusarium, Phytophthora, Sclerotinia, Sclerotium, Botrytis, and others.

National Research Center for Integrated Pest Management is Located at New Delhi. 

The economic injury level (EIL) is when the cost of controlling a pest is equal to the amount of damage it causes

Other pest management thresholds include:

Damage boundary

• The number of pest insects that must be present before their injury can be measured as yield loss

Economic threshold (ET)

• The number of pest insects that need to be present for a control to be applied

D-Value (Decimal Reduction Value):

• It is the time required at temperature T to reduce a Specific microbial population by 90% or by a factor of 10.

Z-Value:

• It is the number of degrees of temperature change necessary to change the D-Value by a Factor of 10.

 F-Value:

• The F value for a process is the number of minutes required to kill a known population of microorganisms in a given food under specified conditions.
• This F value is usually set at 12 D values to give a theoretical 12 log cycle reduction of the most heat-resistant species of mesophilic spores in a can of food.

Close breeding : This is most intensive breeding where animals are very closely related and can be traced back to more than one common ancestor. Examples: Sire to daughter Son to dam Brother to sister.

Line breeding : Mating animals that are more distantly related which can be traced back to one common ancestor. Examples: Cousins Grandparents to grand offspring, Half-brother to half-sister. Line breeding increases genetic purity amongst the animals of progeny generations.

The gestation period of a domestic animal varies by species, with larger animals typically having longer gestation periods:

• Dog: 62–64 days
• Cat: 58–65 days
• Donkey: 365 days
• Goat: 150 days
• Horse: 335–342 days
• Pig: 112–115 days
• Sheep: 144–151 days
• Cattle: 279–290 days

More terminology Read

in animal science, the term “stag” refers to a male pig that has been castrated after sexual maturity: 

The albumin, or egg white, is a major part of a fowl egg, making up about 60% of its contents. It’s a light liquid that contains water, proteins, minerals, and carbohydrates. The main protein in egg white is ovalbumin, which makes up 75% of the total egg white protein.

3.5 M^{2   =} 37.67 sq feet

According to Option Cow require 40-45 sq feet area in case of covered area. 

Mad cow disease, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), is caused by an abnormal protein called a prion

Kew, Mauritius and Queen are the commercially cultivated pineapple varieties in Tamil Nadu.

Here are some polyembryonic mango varieties:

Chandrakaran: A polyembryonic mango variety from Bellary, India 

Olour: A polyembryonic mango variety from Goa, India 

Mulgoa: A polyembryonic mango variety from Salem, India 

Solan: A polyembryonic mango variety 

Bappakoi: A polyembryonic mango variety 

Kurkan: A polyembryonic mango variety 

Nileswar dwarf: A polyembryonic mango variety 

Turpentine: A small, high fiber mango that is polyembryonic 

High density planting (HDP) is a technique that involves planting fruit trees closer together than normal to maximize productivity per unit area. This technique was first used in Europe for apple orchards in the 1960s and is now used in many countries.

Dogridge identified as the best rootstock for drought and salinity resistance in table grape varieties.

Disbudding is a pruning technique that involves removing some or all of the flower buds on a plant to improve the quality and size of the remaining flowers

Patch budding is a propagation technique that involves grafting a bud from one plant onto another by replacing a patch of bark with a similar patch containing a bud.

Patch budding can be faster and less expensive than bark grafting, and it requires less scion material. It can also reduce damage from wood-boring insects.

Molybdenum deficiency in broccoli can cause whiptail, which is a physiological disorder that results in stunted growth and malformed leaves:

CTC (Crush, tear, curl) is a method of processing black tea in which the leaves are passed through a series of cylindrical rollers with hundreds of sharp teeth that crush, tear, and curl the tea into small, hard pellets. This replaces the final stage of orthodox tea manufacture, in which the leaves are rolled into strips. Tea produced using this method is generally called CTC tea or mamri tea.

Explanation: Thioflavin is the chemical compound responsible for the black color of black tea. It is produced during the oxidation process of tea leaves.

Chitala chitala, also known as the Indian featherback, is the state fish of Uttar Pradesh, India

Introducing MPEDA

MPEDA is the central agency responsible for the comprehensive development of the seafood industry in India and for maximizing its export potential.

The establishment of MPEDA took place in 1972 by the Marine Products Export Development Authority Act (MPEDA), 1972.

MPEDA’s vision is to foster the growth of seafood production, processing, marketing, and exports in India.

The headquarters of MPEDA is situated in Kochi, Kerala.

Chloride cells are located in the gills of teleost fish: 

Aquaponics is a cooperation between plants and fish and the term originates from the two words aquaculture (the growing of fish in a closed environment) and hydroponics (the growing of plants usually in a soil-less environment). Aquaponic systems come in various sizes from small indoor units to large commercial units.

The National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR) is located at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

The NBFGR is a public research institute that was established in 1983. The institute’s permanent infrastructure was developed in 1999 and includes a farm, laboratories, administrative block, and residential complex. The campus covers an area of 52 acres. 

The NBFGR has created a database of India’s fish diversity, which includes information on 2,953 finfish species. They also have a database on the fish of the Western Ghats and the Northeast, and a fish diversity assessment list for eight states and three ecosystems

Under the initiative, eligible small and marginal farmers are given a fixed monthly pension of Rs. 3,000 after attaining the age of sixty.

Under PM KUSUM the Government will subsidize 60% and provide a loan of 30% of the total cost. This leads our farmers to bear only 10% of the total cost to install solar plants and solar pumps.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Surakshaevam Utthaan Mahabhiyan Yojana (PM-KUSUM Scheme) was launched in March 2019 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), to subsidize farmers to install solar irrigation pumps for cultivation. Each farmer will receive a 60% subsidy to set up tube wells and pump sets.

Inclusions of PMFBY

PM Fasal Bima Yojana scheme covers:

• Farmers are compensated if adverse weather conditions like heavy rainfall or drought prevent sowing.
• Losses due to natural calamities such as floods, droughts, cyclones, pest attacks, and diseases are covered under PM Fasal Bima.
• Losses that occur during the post-harvest period, particularly those caused by cyclonic rains or unseasonal rainfall, are covered. This protection extends to crops that are left in the field for drying.

Exclusions Under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana

While PMFBY insurance offers comprehensive coverage, certain exclusions apply:

• Losses arising from negligence or poor farming practices.
• Intentional destruction or damage to crops by the farmer.
• Losses caused by war, nuclear risks, or riots.
• Damage that occurs beyond the stipulated reporting period or delay in reporting damage after an event.

The Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure scheme is a part of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PM Kisan SAMPADA Yojana) that aims to create infrastructure facilities along the entire supply chain. The scheme’s objective is to provide a seamless cold chain and preservation infrastructure from the farm to the consumer.

The set of indicators or properties required characterizing soil quality or soil function is known as Soil Quality index (SQI)

Americium-241 (Am-241) and beryllium (Be) are combined to create neutron sources used in a variety of industrial applications

The deterioration or loss of the productive capacity of the soils due to various reasons like human activity is called soil degradation

Bioaugmentation can increase the efficiency of pollutant removal.

The pF value for the hygroscopic coefficient is 4.50. 

Here are some other pF values for soil moisture classes:

Hygroscopic: 4.50–7.00

Wilting point: 4.20

Capillary: 2.54–4.50

The ability of a material to permanently deform without breaking is called plasticity

Pedology is the scientific discipline concerned with all aspects of soils, including their physical and chemical properties, the role of organisms in soil production in relation to soil character, the description and mapping of soil units, and the origin and formation of soils.