What are field crops in agriculture?
Field crops are large-scale cultivated crops grown for food, fiber, fodder, or industrial raw materials.

Which crops are classified as field crops?
Field crops include cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fiber crops, sugar crops, and fodder crops grown extensively.

Why are field crops important for food security?
They provide staple foods, edible oils, proteins, and carbohydrates essential for sustaining global populations.

Which field crop is known as the staple food of India?
Rice is India’s staple field crop, forming the primary diet for a majority of the population.

What climatic condition is ideal for rice cultivation?
Rice requires high rainfall, warm temperatures, and waterlogged or flooded soil conditions for optimal growth.

Which field crop is called the king of cereals?
Wheat is known as the king of cereals due to its wide adaptability and high nutritional value.

What soil type is best suited for wheat cultivation?
Well-drained loamy or clay-loam soils with moderate fertility are ideal for wheat production.

Which season is wheat mainly grown in India?
Wheat is primarily grown during the rabi season under cool and dry climatic conditions.

What is maize commonly known as?
Maize is popularly known as corn and serves as food, fodder, and industrial raw material.

Why is maize called a versatile crop?
Maize is used for food, animal feed, starch, ethanol, and several industrial products.

Which climate favors maize cultivation?
Maize grows best in warm climates with moderate rainfall and well-drained fertile soils.

What are pulses in field crops?
Pulses are leguminous field crops grown for protein-rich edible seeds used in human diets.

Why are pulses important in agriculture?
They improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation and provide affordable plant-based protein.

Which pulse crop is widely grown in India?
Gram or chickpea is one of the most widely cultivated pulse crops in India.

What soil condition favors pulse crops?
Light to medium loamy soils with good drainage are best suited for pulse cultivation.

What are oilseed crops?
Oilseed crops are field crops grown mainly for extracting edible and industrial oils.

Which oilseed is called the queen of oilseeds?
Groundnut is called the queen of oilseeds due to its high oil content and versatility.

What climatic condition is suitable for groundnut cultivation?
Groundnut requires warm temperatures, moderate rainfall, and well-drained sandy loam soils.

Which oilseed crop thrives in dry regions?
Mustard thrives in dry, cool climates with low to moderate rainfall conditions.

Why is mustard significant among oilseeds?
Mustard provides edible oil, spices, and plays an important role in crop rotation systems.

What is soybean primarily grown for?
Soybean is grown mainly for oil extraction and protein-rich animal feed production.

Which nutrient is abundant in soybean seeds?
Soybean seeds are rich in high-quality protein and essential amino acids.

What are fiber crops?
Fiber crops are field crops cultivated to obtain natural fibers for textiles and industries.

Which fiber crop is known as white gold?
Cotton is known as white gold due to its economic importance in textile industries.

What climate is suitable for cotton cultivation?
Cotton requires a warm climate, moderate rainfall, and long frost-free growing periods.

Which soil is ideal for cotton farming?
Deep black cotton soil with good moisture-holding capacity is ideal for cotton cultivation.

What is jute mainly used for?
Jute is used for making ropes, sacks, carpets, and eco-friendly packaging materials.

Which climatic condition favors jute growth?
Jute grows well in hot, humid climates with heavy rainfall and fertile alluvial soils.

What are sugar crops?
Sugar crops are field crops grown primarily for extracting sugar and sweeteners.

Which crop is the main source of sugar in India?
Sugarcane is the primary source of sugar production in India.

What climate is best for sugarcane cultivation?
Sugarcane requires a tropical climate with high temperature, rainfall, and long growing season.

Why is sugarcane called a long-duration crop?
Sugarcane takes twelve to eighteen months to mature, making it a long-duration field crop.

Which soil is suitable for sugarcane farming?
Deep, fertile, well-drained loamy soils with good water-holding capacity suit sugarcane cultivation.

What are fodder crops?
Fodder crops are grown to provide green or dry feed for livestock and dairy animals.

Why are fodder crops essential in agriculture?
They support livestock productivity, milk production, and overall farm sustainability.

Which crop is commonly used as green fodder?
Berseem is a popular green fodder crop grown extensively for dairy animals.

What season is berseem cultivated in?
Berseem is mainly cultivated during the rabi season under irrigated conditions.

What is crop rotation in field crops?
Crop rotation is the practice of growing different crops sequentially to maintain soil fertility.

Why is crop rotation important?
It prevents pest buildup, improves soil health, and enhances overall crop productivity.

What is mixed cropping?
Mixed cropping involves growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same field.

What is the advantage of mixed cropping?
It reduces risk of total crop failure and ensures better resource utilization.

What is monocropping?
Monocropping is the repeated cultivation of a single crop on the same land.

What is a disadvantage of monocropping?
It increases pest infestation, soil nutrient depletion, and risk of crop failure.

What are kharif crops?
Kharif crops are sown during monsoon and harvested at the end of rainy season.

Name an important kharif field crop.
Rice is an important kharif field crop grown extensively during the monsoon season.

What are rabi crops?
Rabi crops are sown in winter and harvested during spring under cooler conditions.

Which field crop is a major rabi crop?
Wheat is the major rabi field crop cultivated across northern and central regions.

What are zaid crops?
Zaid crops are grown during the short summer season between rabi and kharif crops.

Give an example of a zaid crop.
Watermelon is a common zaid crop grown during hot summer months.

What is intercropping in field crops?
Intercropping involves growing two or more crops in distinct rows within the same field.

Why is intercropping practiced?
It maximizes land use efficiency and reduces pest and disease incidence.

What is the role of irrigation in field crops?
Irrigation supplies water to crops, ensuring proper growth, yield stability, and drought protection.

What is rainfed agriculture?
Rainfed agriculture depends entirely on rainfall without artificial irrigation support.

Which field crops suit rainfed conditions?
Millets, pulses, and oilseeds are well suited for rainfed agricultural systems.

What are millets?
Millets are small-seeded cereal crops grown in dry regions with low water requirements.

Why are millets called climate-resilient crops?
They tolerate drought, poor soils, and extreme temperatures better than major cereals.

Which millet is known as the poor man’s crop?
Jowar is often called the poor man’s crop due to affordability and drought tolerance.

What nutritional benefit do millets offer?
Millets are rich in fiber, minerals, and essential micronutrients supporting balanced diets.

What is green revolution’s impact on field crops?
It increased productivity of wheat and rice through high-yielding varieties and irrigation.

What are high-yielding varieties?
High-yielding varieties are genetically improved crops producing higher output per unit area.

Why are fertilizers important for field crops?
Fertilizers supply essential nutrients required for healthy crop growth and higher yields.

What are organic manures?
Organic manures are natural materials like compost and farmyard manure improving soil fertility.

Why is soil testing important?
Soil testing helps determine nutrient status and guides appropriate fertilizer application.

What is pest management in field crops?
Pest management involves controlling insects, weeds, and diseases to protect crop yields.

What is integrated pest management?
Integrated pest management combines biological, cultural, and chemical methods for sustainable pest control.

Why is weed control necessary?
Weeds compete for nutrients, water, and light, significantly reducing crop productivity.

What is harvesting in field crops?
Harvesting is the process of cutting and collecting mature crops at proper maturity stage.

What is post-harvest management?
It includes drying, storage, and processing to reduce losses after harvesting crops.

Why is storage important for field crops?
Proper storage prevents spoilage, pest attack, and maintains grain quality for longer periods.

What is threshing?
Threshing is the process of separating grains from harvested crop plants.

What is mechanization in field crop farming?
Mechanization involves using machines to increase efficiency and reduce labor requirements.

What is sustainable field crop production?
It focuses on long-term productivity while conserving soil, water, and environmental resources.

Why are field crops important for rural economy?
They provide employment, income, raw materials, and food security to rural populations.

What is cropping intensity?
Cropping intensity measures how many crops are grown on the same land annually.

How does improved seed quality affect yields?
Quality seeds ensure better germination, uniform growth, and higher crop productivity.

What is the role of extension services in agriculture?
Extension services educate farmers on improved techniques, inputs, and modern crop management.

What is seed rate in field crops?
Seed rate refers to the quantity of seed required per unit area for optimum plant population.

Why is correct seed rate important?
Proper seed rate ensures uniform crop stand, efficient resource use, and higher yields.

What is germination percentage?
Germination percentage indicates the proportion of seeds capable of sprouting under favorable conditions.

What is certified seed?
Certified seed is officially approved seed meeting prescribed genetic purity and quality standards.

Why is seed treatment practiced?
Seed treatment protects seeds from soil-borne diseases and pests during early growth stages.

What is nursery raising in field crops?
Nursery raising involves growing seedlings separately before transplanting into the main field.

Which field crop requires nursery raising?
Rice commonly requires nursery raising before transplanting into flooded fields.

What is transplanting?
Transplanting is shifting young seedlings from nursery beds to the main cultivated field.

What is direct sowing?
Direct sowing involves placing seeds directly into the field without nursery preparation.

Which crops are usually direct sown?
Wheat, maize, pulses, and oilseeds are generally grown by direct sowing.

What is tillage in field crops?
Tillage is soil preparation through ploughing to create favorable conditions for crop growth.

What is primary tillage?
Primary tillage involves deep ploughing to loosen soil and remove weeds before sowing.

What is secondary tillage?
Secondary tillage refines soil structure and prepares a fine seedbed after primary tillage.

What is minimum tillage?
Minimum tillage reduces soil disturbance while maintaining crop productivity and soil health.

Why is conservation tillage important?
It prevents soil erosion, conserves moisture, and improves long-term soil fertility.

What is soil moisture conservation?
It involves practices that reduce water loss and maintain adequate moisture for crops.

What is mulching?
Mulching covers soil surface with materials to conserve moisture and suppress weed growth.

What are green manure crops?
Green manure crops are grown and incorporated into soil to improve fertility and structure.

Name a commonly used green manure crop.
Dhaincha is widely used as a green manure crop in Indian agriculture.

What is crop spacing?
Crop spacing refers to the distance maintained between plants and rows during sowing.

Why is proper spacing necessary?
It reduces competition for nutrients, light, and water, improving crop growth.

What is thinning in field crops?
Thinning removes excess seedlings to maintain optimum plant population.

What is gap filling?
Gap filling replaces missing plants to ensure uniform crop stand.

What is lodging in crops?
Lodging occurs when crop plants bend or fall due to wind, rain, or weak stems.

Which crops are prone to lodging?
Wheat and rice are commonly affected by lodging under high nitrogen application.

What is nutrient management?
Nutrient management ensures balanced supply of essential nutrients for crop growth.

What are macronutrients for field crops?
Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are major macronutrients required in large quantities.

What are micronutrients?
Micronutrients are nutrients required in small amounts, like zinc, iron, and boron.

Why is nitrogen important for crops?
Nitrogen promotes leafy growth and increases chlorophyll formation.

What deficiency symptom shows nitrogen shortage?
Yellowing of older leaves indicates nitrogen deficiency in crops.

Why is phosphorus important?
Phosphorus supports root development, flowering, and energy transfer in plants.

What role does potassium play?
Potassium enhances disease resistance, water regulation, and grain quality.

What is biofertilizer?
Biofertilizers contain beneficial microorganisms that improve nutrient availability to plants.

Name a common biofertilizer.
Rhizobium is widely used biofertilizer for pulse crops.

What is crop maturity?
Crop maturity is the stage when crops are ready for harvesting.

What happens if harvesting is delayed?
Delayed harvesting increases grain losses due to shattering and pest damage.

What is crop yield?
Crop yield is the amount of produce harvested per unit area.

What is yield gap?
Yield gap is the difference between potential yield and actual farm yield.

What factors affect crop yield?
Climate, soil fertility, seed quality, irrigation, and management practices influence yield.

What is drought stress?
Drought stress occurs when crops face prolonged water deficiency.

Which crops tolerate drought better?
Millets and pulses have higher drought tolerance compared to cereals.

What is waterlogging?
Waterlogging occurs when excess water saturates soil, reducing oxygen availability.

Which crop tolerates waterlogging?
Rice tolerates waterlogged conditions better than most field crops.

What is crop diversification?
Crop diversification involves growing different crops to reduce risk and improve income.

Why is crop diversification encouraged?
It improves soil health, reduces pests, and stabilizes farmer income.

What is climate-smart agriculture?
It promotes sustainable practices to adapt crops to climate change impacts.

What is precision farming?
Precision farming uses technology to optimize input use and maximize productivity.

What is remote sensing in agriculture?
Remote sensing uses satellite data to monitor crop health and field conditions.

What is soil erosion?
Soil erosion is the removal of fertile topsoil by water or wind.

How does erosion affect field crops?
It reduces soil fertility, moisture retention, and crop productivity.

What are contour farming practices?
Contour farming follows land contours to reduce runoff and soil erosion.

What is terrace farming?
Terrace farming involves step-like fields on slopes to prevent soil erosion.

What is organic farming?
Organic farming avoids synthetic inputs and emphasizes natural crop management practices.

What is conventional farming?
Conventional farming relies on chemical fertilizers and pesticides for higher yields.

What is cropping pattern?
Cropping pattern refers to the sequence and proportion of crops grown in an area.

What is double cropping?
Double cropping means growing two crops on the same land within one year.

What is triple cropping?
Triple cropping involves growing three crops annually using irrigation and short-duration varieties.

What is farm mechanization?
Farm mechanization uses machines to increase efficiency and reduce human labor.

Why is mechanization important today?
It saves time, reduces costs, and increases agricultural productivity.

What is sustainable agriculture goal?
Its goal is long-term productivity while protecting environment and natural resources.

Why are field crops vital to national economy?
They support food supply, agro-industries, employment, and export earnings.