Tillage, Seedbed Preparation and Sowing Methods MCQs 2026

The most serious risk of excessive pulverization by repeated rotary tillage is

1. APermanent increase in organic matter✓
2. BLoss of soil structure and formation of compact layers✓
3. CGuaranteed pest elimination✓
4. DConversion of saline soil into neutral soil✓

Relay cropping means sowing the succeeding crop

1. ABefore harvesting the preceding crop✓
2. BOnly after a long fallow✓
3. COnly in nursery beds✓
4. DAfter burning all residues✓

Intercropping is the practice of growing

1. AOne crop after another with a fallow gap✓
2. BOnly weeds with the main crop✓
3. CTwo or more crops together in a definite pattern✓
4. DOne crop only in a greenhouse✓

A stale seedbed technique controls weeds by

1. ASowing crop before any irrigation✓
2. BApplying fertilizer only after harvest✓
3. CKeeping field under deep water always✓
4. DAllowing weeds to emerge and killing them before sowing✓

Strip tillage means

1. ATilling only narrow strips where rows will be planted✓
2. BPloughing the entire field repeatedly✓
3. CKeeping all soil permanently submerged✓
4. DRemoving all crop residues by burning✓

Contour cultivation reduces soil erosion by tilling

1. AStraight up and down the slope✓
2. BAcross the slope along contour lines✓
3. COnly in circular basins✓
4. DOnly after burning residues✓

Fallow tillage in dry farming is primarily meant to

1. AIncrease transpiration losses✓
2. BDestroy soil structure deliberately✓
3. CControl weeds and conserve soil moisture✓
4. DDelay all sowing for several years✓

A roller or packer after sowing is used to

1. ADeep plough the field✓
2. BIncrease clod size✓
3. CSeparate weed seed from crop seed✓
4. DFirm the seedbed and improve seed-soil contact✓

A cloddy seedbed usually results in

1. APoor seed-soil contact and uneven emergence✓
2. BPerfect seed placement✓
3. CZero runoff risk✓
4. DHigher germination in every crop✓

Good seed-soil contact is essential mainly for

1. AIncreasing weed seed dormancy✓
2. BRapid water uptake and uniform germination✓
3. CReducing oxygen around seed to zero✓
4. DPreventing fertilizer placement✓

Late sowing of wheat in Punjab often reduces yield because grain filling faces

1. APermanent frost throughout summer✓
2. BExcessively long vegetative period✓
3. CComplete absence of weeds✓
4. DTerminal heat stress✓

Selection of sowing time is important because it matches crop growth with

1. AHighest land rent✓
2. BSeed bag colour✓
3. CSuitable temperature and moisture conditions✓
4. DDistance from market only✓

Rhizobium inoculation is recommended for legume seed mainly to improve

1. APhosphorus mining by roots only✓
2. BBiological nitrogen fixation✓
3. CSeed coat thickness✓
4. DGrain milling quality✓

Seed treatment before sowing is commonly done to

1. AProtect seedlings from seed- and soil-borne diseases✓
2. BReduce seed purity✓
3. CLower germination percentage intentionally✓
4. DMake all seed dormant✓

Seed priming is best described as

1. ADry heating seed until viability is lost✓
2. BMixing seed with harvested grain✓
3. CControlled hydration before sowing to improve germination✓
4. DIncreasing seed dormancy deliberately✓

A bed planter is an implement that

1. AOnly measures plant height✓
2. BOnly harvests fodder✓
3. COnly applies pesticide dust✓
4. DForms beds and sows seed in one operation✓

Wet direct seeding of rice commonly uses

1. APre-germinated seed on puddled soil✓
2. BDry seed in deep cracks✓
3. CVegetative cuttings only✓
4. DSeedlings uprooted after flowering✓

Direct dry seeding of rice means seed is sown

1. AOnly as nursery seedlings✓
2. BIn dry or moist non-puddled soil before flooding✓
3. COnly by aerial spraying in deep water✓
4. DAfter grain harvest of rice✓

A rotavator is used mainly for

1. ADeep ripping below 60 cm only✓
2. BMeasuring seed moisture✓
3. CThreshing wheat grain✓
4. DPulverizing and mixing surface soil✓

The Happy Seeder is mainly used for

1. ATransplanting cotton seedlings✓
2. BHarvesting sugarcane setts✓
3. CSowing wheat into standing rice residues✓
4. DSpraying orchards✓

A precision planter is designed to

1. APlace single seeds at accurate spacing✓
2. BScatter seed randomly✓
3. CPuddle soil before rice transplanting✓
4. DHarvest mature pods✓

For rectangular spacing, plant population per hectare is calculated as

1. ARow spacing multiplied by seed weight✓
2. B10000 divided by row spacing and plant spacing in metres✓
3. CSeed rate divided by rainfall✓
4. DGermination percentage multiplied by fertilizer dose✓

Seed rate is calculated mainly from desired plant population, seed weight and

1. ALeaf colour at maturity✓
2. BNumber of irrigations only✓
3. CGermination percentage✓
4. DSoil pH only✓

Excessively deep sowing generally causes

1. AImmediate flowering✓
2. BHigher germination in all soils✓
3. CComplete weed suppression✓
4. DDelayed and poor emergence✓

Small-seeded crops are generally sown

1. ADeeper than all large-seeded crops✓
2. BShallower than large-seeded crops✓
3. COnly by transplanting✓
4. DOnly under standing water✓

Optimum sowing depth mainly depends on seed size, soil type and

1. ASoil moisture condition✓
2. BColour of harvested grain✓
3. CMarket price of crop✓
4. DNumber of leaves at maturity✓

Line sowing is preferred over broadcasting because it facilitates

1. ALoss of plant population✓
2. BUneven germination by design✓
3. CInterculture and weed control✓
4. DComplete absence of row spacing✓

Transplanting refers to

1. AScattering dry seed before rain✓
2. BBreaking a hardpan with a chisel✓
3. CApplying pesticide to stored seed✓
4. DMoving seedlings from nursery to the main field✓

Broadcasting of seed means

1. AScattering seed uniformly over the field surface✓
2. BPlanting each seed by hand at fixed depth✓
3. CMoving seedlings from nursery to field✓
4. DSowing only on raised beds✓

Dibbling is the method of sowing in which seeds are

1. AScattered over the field surface✓
2. BPlaced in holes at fixed spacing✓
3. CMixed with irrigation water✓
4. DPlaced only by aircraft✓

A seed drill is used to place seed

1. ARandomly on the soil surface only✓
2. BOnly in nursery trays✓
3. CAt uniform depth and spacing in rows✓
4. DOnly after transplanting✓

A broad bed and furrow system is mainly adopted to

1. AIncrease runoff erosion deliberately✓
2. BRemove excess water from the root zone✓
3. CBroadcast seed unevenly✓
4. DStore harvested grain in field✓

Raised-bed planting often helps farmers to

1. AEliminate all fertilizer needs✓
2. BIncrease seed rate without limit✓
3. CPrevent root growth below 2 cm✓
4. DSave irrigation water and improve drainage✓

Ridge sowing is particularly useful where the objective is to

1. AImprove drainage around crop roots✓
2. BKeep seed permanently submerged✓
3. CPrevent any interculture operation✓
4. DReduce row visibility✓

Laser land levelling improves crop production mainly by

1. AIncreasing seed dormancy✓
2. BReducing all nutrient uptake✓
3. CMaking soil permanently acidic✓
4. DImproving irrigation uniformity and field grade✓

A plough pan is commonly formed by

1. AOne-time green manuring✓
2. BSurface mulching only✓
3. CRepeated tillage at the same depth✓
4. DBalanced fertilizer application✓

Tilth refers to the

1. APhysical condition of soil as related to crop growth✓
2. BChemical formula of fertilizer✓
3. CGenetic purity of seed✓
4. DMarket grade of grain✓

An ideal seedbed for most small-grain crops is

1. AVery loose to unlimited depth✓
2. BFine and moist near seed with firm soil below✓
3. CCompletely dry and cloddy✓
4. DCovered with standing weeds✓

Minimum tillage aims to

1. AMaximize number of ploughings✓
2. BEliminate seed placement control✓
3. CReduce tillage operations to the least necessary✓
4. DKeep soil permanently flooded✓

Conservation tillage is characterized by

1. ARetention of crop residues on the soil surface✓
2. BComplete removal of all residues✓
3. CDeep inversion before every crop✓
4. DUse of only animal-drawn implements✓

Zero tillage means sowing a crop

1. AOnly after three ploughings✓
2. BOnly by transplanting seedlings✓
3. CAfter burning all residues✓
4. DWithout prior conventional tillage✓

Puddling in lowland rice mainly helps to

1. AIncrease soil macropores permanently✓
2. BReduce percolation losses and suppress weeds✓
3. CPromote deep taproot growth✓
4. DDry the soil profile rapidly✓

A field cultivator is commonly used for

1. ADeep subsoil blasting only✓
2. BGrain storage aeration✓
3. CSeed certification testing✓
4. DInter-row cultivation and shallow soil stirring✓

Harrowing after ploughing is a secondary tillage operation mainly used to

1. AInvert soil to full depth✓
2. BTransplant seedlings✓
3. CBreak clods and level the seedbed✓
4. DMeasure soil moisture tension✓

A subsoiler is primarily used for

1. ASeparating grain from straw✓
2. BBreaking hardpan below the normal plough layer✓
3. CCalibrating a seed drill✓
4. DMeasuring soil pH✓

A chisel plough is used to loosen soil with

1. ALittle or no inversion✓
2. BComplete puddling✓
3. CSeed metering✓
4. DChemical weed killing only✓

A disc plough is especially useful in soils that are

1. AOnly flooded and puddled✓
2. BPure sand without residues✓
3. CHard, dry, trashy or sticky✓
4. DAlready finely pulverized✓

A mouldboard plough is designed mainly to

1. AMeasure seed germination✓
2. BApply foliar spray✓
3. CHarvest standing crop✓
4. DInvert and turn the furrow slice✓

Primary tillage is generally the first major soil-working operation performed

1. AAfter harvest and before seedbed preparation✓
2. BOnly after crop emergence✓
3. COnly for fertilizer top dressing✓
4. DAfter threshing but not in the field✓

Tillage in agronomy means the mechanical manipulation of soil to

1. AIncrease seed dormancy✓
2. BCreate favourable conditions for crop growth✓
3. CRemove all soil organisms permanently✓
4. DConvert clay into sand✓