Sustainable, Organic and Conservation Agriculture MCQs 2026

Certified organic crop production most directly prohibits the routine use of:

1. ACrop rotations and green manuring✓
2. BSynthetic fertilizers and synthetic pesticides not allowed by standards✓
3. CFarmyard manure after proper handling✓
4. DBiological pest control agents✓

In IPM, a trap crop is planted to:

1. ASupply synthetic pesticide to adjacent crops✓
2. BAttract pests away from the main crop for easier management✓
3. CPrevent pollination of the main crop✓
4. DIncrease pest damage in the main crop deliberately✓

Residue mulch often improves infiltration by:

1. AReducing crusting and slowing surface runoff✓
2. BSealing all soil pores permanently✓
3. CIncreasing raindrop impact on bare soil✓
4. DDiverting rainfall away from the field✓

A common challenge during transition from conventional to organic farming is:

1. AInstant premium prices without inspection✓
2. BImmediate disappearance of all pests and weeds✓
3. CNo need for soil fertility planning✓
4. DPossible temporary yield decline and added certification or market requirements✓

Which practice is an in-situ moisture conservation measure on sloping rainfed land?

1. AStraight downhill furrows to speed runoff✓
2. BComplete removal of crop cover before rain✓
3. CContour bunding or tied ridging to hold rainfall where it falls✓
4. DDeep drainage channels across all crop rows✓

Intercropping can improve sustainability because it often:

1. AAlways reduces biodiversity to one species✓
2. BUses resources more completely and can reduce pest or disease spread✓
3. CRequires burning residues between crop rows✓
4. DEliminates the need for sunlight in crops✓

Precision land leveling supports sustainable water management by:

1. AImproving uniform water distribution and reducing irrigation losses✓
2. BIncreasing high and low spots across the field✓
3. CPreventing any crop emergence after irrigation✓
4. DRequiring deeper ploughing after every watering✓

Composting livestock manure before field application is recommended because it can:

1. AIncrease viable weed seeds in all cases✓
2. BRemove all plant nutrients from the manure✓
3. CMake manure unsuitable for soil organisms✓
4. DReduce pathogens and weed seeds while stabilizing nutrients✓

Which feature best indicates that compost has become stable humus-like material?

1. AFresh green leaves with strong ammonia smell✓
2. BVisible plastic pieces throughout the compost✓
3. CLow heating, earthy smell, and uniform decomposed texture✓
4. DHigh temperature continuing for several months after application✓

In rice-wheat systems, zero-till wheat after rice can save:

1. AAll seed costs in every season✓
2. BTime, fuel, and some irrigation water compared with repeated tillage✓
3. CThe need for any weed management✓
4. DEvery nutrient input regardless of soil fertility✓

In IPM, the economic threshold is the pest level at which:

1. AControl action should be taken to prevent economic loss✓
2. BAll pesticides must be banned permanently✓
3. CThe crop has already suffered total loss✓
4. DBeneficial insects must always be destroyed✓

Soil carbon sequestration is generally promoted by:

1. AFrequent residue burning✓
2. BContinuous bare fallow✓
3. CRemoving all organic inputs from soil✓
4. DAdding residues or cover crops and reducing unnecessary tillage✓

A sustainable approach to managing saline soils commonly includes:

1. AUsing saline water without drainage indefinitely✓
2. BBurning all crop residues after irrigation✓
3. CAdequate drainage, quality irrigation water, and planned leaching where feasible✓
4. DApplying only nitrogen fertilizer to remove salts✓

Bacillus thuringiensis biopesticides are most effective against:

1. AAll nematodes in every soil type✓
2. BSusceptible caterpillar larvae of certain insect pests✓
3. CRust fungi inside wheat leaves✓
4. DAll annual grasses after emergence✓

A common leguminous green manure crop in Pakistan is:

1. ASesbania, locally known as dhaincha or jantar✓
2. BWheat grown for grain✓
3. CSugarcane trash only✓
4. DCotton stalk without leaves✓

Minimum tillage reduces erosion primarily by:

1. APulverizing soil into fine dust before every rain✓
2. BIncreasing runoff velocity in furrows✓
3. CRemoving all plant cover from the field✓
4. DMaintaining more residues and stable soil aggregates at the surface✓

Buffer zones on organic farms are maintained mainly to:

1. AIncrease pesticide drift into the organic crop✓
2. BStore synthetic herbicides beside irrigation channels✓
3. CReduce contamination risk from adjacent conventional fields✓
4. DPrevent inspection of farm boundaries✓

Biodynamic agriculture is best described as:

1. AA system based only on synthetic fertilizers✓
2. BAn organic farming approach using specific preparations and whole-farm ecological management✓
3. CA method that excludes compost and livestock integration✓
4. DA practice limited to hydroponics without soil✓

Burning crop residues is discouraged in sustainable farming because it:

1. ALoses organic carbon and nutrients while causing air pollution✓
2. BImproves soil organic matter every time✓
3. CIncreases beneficial soil fauna immediately✓
4. DPrevents greenhouse gas emissions✓

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi mainly help crops by:

1. AProducing synthetic urea in the leaves✓
2. BBlocking all root growth✓
3. CIncreasing soil erosion under residues✓
4. DImproving phosphorus and water uptake through fungal hyphae✓

An organic or natural source often used to supply phosphorus is:

1. ADiesel fuel✓
2. BCommon table salt✓
3. CRock phosphate✓
4. DPlastic mulch ash only✓

Conservation tillage is commonly described as tillage that leaves at least about:

1. A0 percent residue and a completely bare surface✓
2. B30 percent crop residue cover on the soil surface after planting✓
3. C90 percent of roots removed from the soil✓
4. D100 percent of residues burned before sowing✓

Which is a useful soil health indicator affected by conservation practices?

1. AAggregate stability✓
2. BPaint color of the farm machinery✓
3. CNumber of shops near the field✓
4. DBrand name of the seed bag✓

Agroforestry contributes to sustainable agriculture by:

1. ARemoving all perennial vegetation from farms✓
2. BUsing only one crop species on all land✓
3. CPreventing nutrient cycling through litter fall✓
4. DIntegrating trees with crops or livestock to diversify production and ecosystem services✓

Organic weed management relies most on:

1. ACrop rotation, mulches, competitive crops, and mechanical or manual weeding✓
2. BRoutine use of non-approved synthetic herbicides✓
3. CLeaving the field bare for the whole year✓
4. DApplying insecticides at higher doses✓

Successful no-till seeding usually requires:

1. AComplete removal of all soil organic matter✓
2. BA seed drill able to place seed accurately through surface residues✓
3. CDeep mouldboard ploughing immediately before sowing✓
4. DFlooding the field for several weeks before planting✓

If a large amount of high C:N residue is incorporated, the immediate effect can be:

1. AInstant conversion of all carbon to nitrate✓
2. BSterilization of the soil profile✓
3. CTemporary immobilization of mineral nitrogen by microbes✓
4. DPermanent elimination of nitrogen fertilizer need✓

Agroforestry contributes to sustainable agriculture by:

1. ARemoving all perennial vegetation from farms✓
2. BUsing only one crop species on all land✓
3. CPreventing nutrient cycling through litter fall✓
4. DIntegrating trees with crops or livestock to diversify production and ecosystem services✓

Which is a useful soil health indicator affected by conservation practices?

1. AAggregate stability✓
2. BPaint color of the farm machinery✓
3. CNumber of shops near the field✓
4. DBrand name of the seed bag✓

Conservation tillage is commonly described as tillage that leaves at least about:

1. A0 percent residue and a completely bare surface✓
2. B30 percent crop residue cover on the soil surface after planting✓
3. C90 percent of roots removed from the soil✓
4. D100 percent of residues burned before sowing✓

An organic or natural source often used to supply phosphorus is:

1. ADiesel fuel✓
2. BCommon table salt✓
3. CRock phosphate✓
4. DPlastic mulch ash only✓

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi mainly help crops by:

1. AProducing synthetic urea in the leaves✓
2. BBlocking all root growth✓
3. CIncreasing soil erosion under residues✓
4. DImproving phosphorus and water uptake through fungal hyphae✓

Burning crop residues is discouraged in sustainable farming because it:

1. ALoses organic carbon and nutrients while causing air pollution✓
2. BImproves soil organic matter every time✓
3. CIncreases beneficial soil fauna immediately✓
4. DPrevents greenhouse gas emissions✓

Minimum tillage reduces erosion primarily by:

1. APulverizing soil into fine dust before every rain✓
2. BIncreasing runoff velocity in furrows✓
3. CRemoving all plant cover from the field✓
4. DMaintaining more residues and stable soil aggregates at the surface✓