Pir Mehr Ali Shah

Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi

Office of the controller of Examinations
Mid Exam / Spring 2021 (Paper Duration 12 hours)
To be filled by Teacher

Course No.: AGR-302 Course Title: SUMMER CROPS

Total Marks: 12 Date of Exam: 26-04-2021
Degree: B. Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture Semester: 2nd Section: B (Morning)
Marks
Q.No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Obtained/
Total Marks
Marks
Obtaine
d
Marks obtained in Words:

Name of the teacher: Dr. Safdar Ali

Who taught the course:Signature of teacher / Examiner:

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Registration No.: ………………………………………….……… Name:……………………………………………………..

Answer the following questions.

Q. No. 1 Discuss in detail the importance and processes of puddling in rice, earthing up in sugarcane
and thinning in cotton? (4)

Answer:

Q. No. 2 Discuss in detail the importance and processes of delinting of cotton seed, seed inoculation
of legumes with rhizobium strains of bacteria and seed setts treatment of sugarcane with
fungicides? (4)

Answer:
Two general methods have been developed for removing the lint from cottonseed, which
are removing the lint by acid and by delinter machine respectively.
The acid delinting of cottonseed has been used extensively, particularly when the seeds are
used for planting. Both sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid have been used for acid delinting
respectively. Due to the generation of heat from the reaction of acid with the moisture, the
short cotton fibers on the seed would quickly disintegrate. The residue can be washed away
with water. After washing, the seed need to be neutralized with soda ash, lime or anhydrous
ammonia, which is regard as the wet acid method. However, the concentrated sulfuric acid
is extremely corrosive to machinery and dangerous to handle. Some serious problems could
emerge, like consuming a large amount of energy to dry the seed and causing soil and water
pollution.
Mechanical delinting is the most common process for delinted seed available in the feed
trade. Mechanically delinted seed retains about 1-2% residual linters which usually appear
on the ends of the seeds
seed inoculation of legumes with rhizobium strains of bacteria
Most inoculants come as a very fine powder that looks similar to dry graphite lubricant, and
are available through commercial seed dealers. This powder must adhere to the seed to be
certain the Rhizobia is carried into the soil with the seed during planting. This is
accomplished by using a sugary liquid solution as a sticking agent to moisten the seed and
adhere the inoculant. The solution may be made by adding sugar to water, diluting syrups,
or even using sugar containing soft drinks and sodas. Place the seed in a large, open topped
tub or other similar container; a small concrete or soil mixer works well if available. While
stirring the seed, mix in a cup or two of the sugar solutions. The seed should be damp, but
not saturated; no standing liquid or wet, clumped seed should be visible. Once the seed is
mixed thoroughly with the solution, gradually add the inoculant powder while continuously
mixing, approximately 6.5 ounces of inoculant per 100 pounds of seed. It is easiest to do
small batches rather than large amounts of seed unless a mechanical mixer is available.
Seed should be planted within 24 hours of being inoculated to insure the viability of the
Rhizobia.
seed setts treatment of sugarcane with fungicides?
Role of sett treatment for the management of primary source of red rot inoculum
from setts and soil has been established earlier, but could not be recommended for large-
scale application due to practical limitations. Hence, in the present investigation, a
practically feasible mechanized means of sett treatment has been standardized and
compared with conventional overnight soaking method. Both the methods of treatment
were evaluated for selecting fungicidal dosage, duration of sett treatment, compatibility
among the fungicides, their efficacy and phytotoxic effect on sugarcane growth. Results of
tissue bioassay, green house and field experiments revealed that the efficacy of fungicides
was found to be at par for both the methods of treatment. Among the fungicides tested,
thiophanate methyl was found to be highly suitable under mechanized treatment, while
azole fungicides were phytotoxic at elevated concentrations. However, combination of
fungicides had added advantage than the individual use of fungicides. Besides, the
mechanized treatment had certain advantages such as rapidity, economical as it requires
less chemical, less cumbersome in handling material, capable of delivering more than one
agrochemical and suitability for large-scale application under farmer’s field condition.

Q. No. 3 Discuss the problems and opportunities of rainfed agriculture? (4)

Answer: