Free Silviculture MCQs with Answers

• A. All of the above
• B. Bamboo
• C. Conifers
• D. Palm trees

Explanation: A crown is the above-ground leafy portion of a tree or woody plant, and its form differs among palms, bamboos and conifers.

• A. In young age crowns are usually conical in shape but as the time passes the crown shape becomes rounded
• B. Drooping forms also occur in many species e.g. Polyalthia longifolia
• C. Both (a) & (b)
• D. None of these

Explanation: Young trees commonly have conical crowns that become broader or rounded with age, while some species retain distinctive drooping forms.

• A. Sometimes two shoots appear at the same time, giving usually a larger crown but from the forester's point of view, this is a most unsatisfactory bole
• B. Forking is often caused by injuries such as those resulting from frost damage, wind or hail storms, insect attack, particularly by budwarm (Salmalia)
• C. None of these
• D. Both (a) & (b)

Explanation: A forked stem may result from simultaneous development of two shoots, producing a broad crown but an undesirable bole.

• A. Both (a) & (b)
• B. Inner part - living (Cortext)
• C. Outer part - dead
• D. None of these

Explanation: Bark has an outer, generally dead protective portion and an inner living portion associated with the cortex and conducting tissues.

• A. As a protective material against extreme conditions of temperature
• B. If the temperature is very light or very cold whatever the case may be
• C. Both (a) & (b)
• D. None of these

Explanation: Bark insulates the stem against temperature extremes, protecting living tissues from both excessive heat and severe cold.

• A. Such irregularity may be the result of epicormic branches
• B. Also because of insect attack and genetical inheritance
• C. None of these
• D. Both (a) & (b)

Explanation: Fluting or buttressing may be associated with irregular growth around epicormic branches and can also be influenced by insect injury and…

• A. It is generally characteristics of species, which are growing in a dry area
• B. Are longer when present in a young coppice or shoot
• C. None of these
• D. Both (a) & (b)

Explanation: Thorniness is commonly associated with species growing under dry conditions, and thorn development may be more pronounced or longer on…

• A. Seedling
• B. All of the above
• C. Pole
• D. Tree stages
• E. Sapling

Explanation: A tree generally progresses through seedling, sapling, pole and mature tree stages.

• A. Form of roots
• B. All of the above
• C. Special roots
• D. Root growth

Explanation: A root system describes the arrangement or form of roots, their growth pattern and special root types or modifications.

• A. Girdling method
• B. Root pruning
• C. Typing a knot
• D. Grafting
• E. All of the above

Explanation: Girdling, root pruning, tying or bending a branch, and grafting can all alter hormone or nutrient movement and stimulate earlier flowering…

• A. All of the above
• B. Mechanical
• C. Fire treatment
• D. Water treatment
• E. Weathering

Explanation: Seed dormancy may be broken by weathering, mechanical scarification, fire or heat treatment, and soaking or other water treatments.

• A. Cultural operation are the operations undertaken for the completion
• B. Both (a) & (b)
• C. Or assistance of regeneration/afforestation
• D. None of these

Explanation: Tending consists of cultural operations carried out after or during regeneration to assist the establishment and development of a forest…

• A. Hundred percent successful stocking from the first sowing
• B. Or planting out is rarely attained except with the more elaborate methods
• C. All of the above
• D. The causalities have to be replaced to give good results

Explanation: Complete stocking after sowing or planting is rarely achieved, so dead or missing plants, called casualties, are replaced through beating…

• A. Both (a) & (b)
• B. They are usually removed at an early stage as soon as they have served this purpose
• C. Trees are raised with the preliminary object of helping a less hardy species
• D. None of these

Explanation: A nurse crop is established to shelter or assist a less hardy species during its early development.

• A. Crops of subsidiary species, (usually low shrubs but on occasion small trees or even herbs)
• B. All of the above
• C. It minimizing the known deterioration consequent on exposure
• D. Intentionally introduced into a plantation with the primary object of restoring a cover to the soil as quickly as possible

Explanation: Cover crops are usually low-growing subsidiary plants introduced to restore soil cover, reduce exposure and limit deterioration such as…

• A. It is sometimes recommended for plantations as for natural regeneration to put a controlled ground fire through as soon as possible
• B. As a fire protection measure where the fire risk is great, as often with chir pine
• C. Both (a) & (b)
• D. None of these

Explanation: Controlled burning is used both to prepare or assist regeneration and to reduce hazardous fuel where fire risk is high, notably in…

• A. Involved in uprooting weeds as compared with cutting them, has been the subject of experiments
• B. Which indicate that local experience is necessary
• C. As sometimes the gain is considerable, whilst at other times, perhaps mainly with light soil and only moderate weeds
• D. All of the above

Explanation: Experiments show that uprooting weeds through soil working can sometimes give substantial benefits, but its success depends on soil type…

• A. Suppression of weeds, by restricting the amount of light on the ground surface and thus hindering their germination and growth
• B. All of the above
• C. Maintenance or improvement of soil structure, by eliminating or mitigating the severity of rain and wind action
• D. Conservation of soil, by preventing erosion

Explanation: Mulches reduce weed germination by blocking light, limit erosion from rain and wind, and protect soil aggregates and structure.

• A. Enhanced humification and microbial activity leading to higher nutrient availability
• B. Improvement of soil structure, by incorporation of plant residues and by encouraging soil fauna.
• C. All of the above
• D. Even in more humid climates it may have very beneficial effects with certain species, e.g., the poplar
• E. Mulching is of profound importance in dry regions

Explanation: Besides insulating the soil and increasing dew deposition, organic mulch decomposes into humus, stimulates microbes and soil fauna, and…

• A. Artificial mulches: Paper and plastic mulches
• B. Natural mulches
• C. Inorganic; soil mulch and stone mulch
• D. All of the above
• E. Organic; branches, twigs and leaves, leaf litter, grass weed

Explanation: Mulches may be artificial, natural organic, or inorganic. Paper and plastic are artificial, while soil, stones, branches, leaves and grass…