Explanation

• Barnyard grass (Echinochloa spp.) is a common weed in rice fields.
• It competes with rice plants for nutrients, water, and sunlight.
• Reduces yield and affects crop quality.
• Common in flooded and irrigated rice paddies.
• Effective weed management is crucial for rice cultivation.

Last verified on 12-02-2026

Explanation

• Botanical Name: Gossypium hirsutum
• Common Name: American / Upland cotton
• Global Share: ~90% of world cotton production
• Fiber Type: Medium to long staple
• Main Use: Textile and yarn industry

Additional information:

• Gossypium arboreum — Desi cotton
• Gossypium barbadense — Egyptian cotton

Last verified on 05-02-2026

Explanation

• Soil salinity occurs when excess salts accumulate in soil, reducing fertility.
• Gypsum (Calcium sulfate, CaSO₄·2H₂O) is used to treat saline soils.
• It replaces sodium ions with calcium, improving soil structure.
• Helps crops grow better in affected areas.
• Commonly used in agriculture for soil reclamation.

Last verified on 12-02-2026

Explanation

• L-113, PR-100, and BL-4 are improved varieties of cotton.
• They developed for higher yield and better fiber quality. 
• Cotton is a major cash crop in Pakistan.

Last verified on 11-02-2026

Explanation

• The Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) is a serious pest of stored grains.
• It causing damage to cereals like rice, wheat, barley, and sorghum.
• It is highly destructive and difficult to control.

Additional information:

• Khapra beetle prefers dry, stored grains and can survive long without food.
• Control methods include fumigation, proper storage, and cleaning silos.

Last verified on 11-02-2026

Explanation

• The process of removing excess sodium from saline or alkaline soils to improve fertility is called desodication.
• It helps make the soil suitable for agriculture by reducing soil alkalinity.
• Methods include gypsum application and leaching with good quality water.

Last verified on 11-02-2026

Explanation

• Tomato is a widely grown vegetable with many improved varieties for yield, taste, and disease resistance.
• Money Maker, Roma, and Red Top are some popular tomato varieties.

Additional information:

• Scientific name → Solanum lycopersicum
• Grown in Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
• Harvest period → 70–90 days from transplanting
• Nutritional value → rich in vitamin C and lycopene

Last verified on 11-02-2026

Explanation

• Ladybird beetle (Coccinellidae) → feeds on aphids, mites, and small soft-bodied insects.
• Organic farmers rely on natural predators to reduce pest damage.

Last verified on 11-02-2026

Explanation

• Tobacco is a crop grown in specific seasons depending on temperature and rainfall.
• In Pakistan, it is cultivated as a Zaid–Rabi crop, meaning it is sown in the Zaid season and harvested in Rabi season.

Additional information:

• Major producing areas → Punjab, Sindh
• Soil preference → well-drained sandy loam
• Uses → cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snuff

Last verified on 11-02-2026

Explanation

• Organic farming is a method of growing crops without synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
• It emphasizes sustainability, human health, and environmental protection.
• It relies on natural fertilizers, crop rotation, and biological pest control.

Last verified on 11-02-2026