QUESTION 8
GS3
12.5 marks
What is allelopathy? Discuss its role in major cropping systems of irrigated agriculture.
WRITE IN
9 min
200 words
What the examiner wants
Define allelopathy and discuss its effects and uses in major irrigated cropping systems.
What... DiscussAnswer exactly what the question asks.
Demand-wise check
- 1Definition: chemicals released by one plant affecting growth of another (via residues, roots, leaching)≈35 words
- 2Cropping systems: rice-wheat (residue effects, wheat sown after rice), sorghum/sunflower residues suppress weeds, autotoxicity in continuous wheat, Eucalyptus near fields≈35 words
- 3Uses: natural weed control, mulching, cover crops, intercropping, reduced herbicide use≈35 words
- 4Limits: yield harm to next crop if residues mismanaged≈35 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
DefinitionMechanismPositive and negative effects in cropping systemsUse in weed managementConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Not knowing the term and writing on pests
- No crop examples
Draw this
- Sketch: plant releasing allelochemicals from roots and residues to neighbouring weed
Value addition
- FactThe term 'allelopathy' was coined by Hans Molisch in 1937.Molisch, 1937
- ExampleSorghum roots release sorgoleone, which suppresses weeds; sorghum mulch is used for weed control.Agronomy research
- ExampleBlack walnut releases juglone, a classic allelochemical that inhibits nearby plants.Plant physiology texts
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 7 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 9 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Aniket Ranjan · AIR 48 · Page 29 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 9 minutes, then get it checked.