Agricultural Engineering Interview Questions & Answers

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► Lithologic including composition, texture, sequence of rock types and the thickness of rock formations.
► Structural, including chief faults and folds that interrupt the uniformity of occurrence of rock types or sequence of rock types also beds, joints, fissures, cracks, etc
► Hydrologic characteristics of the aquifers permeability, porosity, transmissivity, storability, etc

1: Basic characteristics
► Geometric factors:
Drainage area,
shape,
slope
and stream density.

► Physical factors:
Land use,
surface infiltration conditions,
soil types etc.

2: Channel characteristics:
carrying capacity and storage capacity

► Climate factors
► Rainfall: its intensity, duration and distribution
► Snow
► Evapo-transpiration.

Run-off cycle is a part of the hydrologic cycle, will help us to understand the origin and the interdependence of these two categories of water resources.

When you are improving and enriching your soil, be sure not to mix a different type of soil with your existing soil. For example, you wouldn't want to mix a sandy soil with a clay soil this would produce disastrous results. Also, when adding organic material, make sure you don't use plant residue that consists of diseased plants or organic material that has meat scraps. Finally, sewage sludge can be used but it may contain high levels of lead and cadmium so it is best to use this material only on plants that you are not intending to ingest.

A soil's texture, refers to its particle content, the size of particles, and how cohesive they are. Sandy soils have very large particles, for example, whereas soils with a lot of clay have very small particles. Both soil with a lot of sand and soil with a lot of clay can be problematic. Sandy soil permits air, roots, and water to move too freely while soil with a lot of clay does not offer enough room for air, roots, or water.

The quality of a soil is usually determined by examining its fertility and texture. A soil's fertility is determined by a combination of essential nutrients and a pH that makes these nutrients available to the plants. The basic nutrients required by plants are nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Nitrogen is responsible for the healthy growth of the plant's leaf and stem, phosphorous is important for the root growth of the plant, and potassium is required for the overall health of the plant, keeping the plant growing and boosting its immune system. In addition to these three nutrients, plants also require trace elements such as calcium, magnesium, molybdenum, and zinc in order to be healthy. The pH of a soil tells us its acidity or alkalinity level and is measured on a scale between 1.0 and 14.0. A pH level of 7.0 is considered neutral. Soil with a pH higher than 7.0 is considered acidic and soil with a pH higher than 7.0 is considered to be alkaline.

Good soil is ninety percent of the secret to a successful garden. Without it, you will be fighting a losing battle no matter how diligent you are with watering, weed control, ensuring proper sunlight, and pest control.

Agricultural Engineering comprises of four main branches:
► Farm Implements and Power.
► Rural Structures
► Soil conservation, drainage and irrigation
► Rural Electricity

►University of Southern Queensland, Australia
►Tennessee Tech University, USA
►Iowa State University, USA
►University of Kentucky University of Arizona

Agriculture Engineering is a technologically sophisticated field that offers bright career prospects and opportunity in any country around the world, and in various sectors.
Some of the higher study options for the B.Tech graduates in agriculture are: M.Tech in Agricultural Engg, M.Tech in Farm Machinery and Power Engg, M.Tech in Renewable Energy, M.Tech in Crop Production, M.Sc in Rural Technology, PhD in Agri-Informatics, PhD in Rural Technology
Well-paid careers are available for qualified agricultural engineers in government and public sector organizations, agribusiness firms, food processing and retail industry, research organizations and laboratories, banks and financial corporations, central and state government organizations and private firms

Design agricultural machinery components and equipment, using computer-aided design (CAD) technology
Test agricultural machinery and equipment to ensure that they perform properly
Design food-processing plants and supervise manufacturing operations
Plan and direct construction of rural electric-power distribution systems
Design structures to store and process crops
Design housing and environments to maximize animals’ comfort, health, and productivity
Provide advice on water quality and issues related to managing pollution, controlling rivers, and protecting and using other water resources
Design and supervise environmental and land reclamation projects in agriculture and related industries
Discuss plans with clients, contractors, consultants, and other engineers so that the plans can be evaluated and any necessary changes made

Agricultural engineers—also known as biological and agricultural engineers—work on a variety of activities. These activities range from aquaculture (raising food, such as fish, that thrive in water) to land farming to forestry; from developing biofuels to improving conservation; from planning animal environments to finding better ways to process food.

Agricultural engineers must have a bachelor’s degree, preferably in agricultural engineering or biological engineering. Employers also value practical experience, so cooperative-education engineering programs at universities are valuable as well.

Agricultural engineers work much of the time in offices. They also spend time at a variety of worksites, both indoors and outdoors, traveling to agricultural settings to see that equipment and machinery are functioning according to both the manufacturers’ instructions and federal and state regulations.

Agricultural engineers—also known as biological and agricultural engineers—work on a variety of activities. These activities range from aquaculture (raising food, such as fish, that thrive in water) to land farming to forestry; from developing biofuels to improving conservation; from planning animal environments to finding better ways to process food.

How did you prepare for this work?
Do you work well under pressure?
Do you have any questions for me?
What is more important to you: the money or the work?
A team experience you found disappointing?

What do you think you can bring to this position?
You have not done this sort of job before. How will you succeed?
What is the difference between a good position and an excellent one?
Have you ever had difficulty working with a manager?
How do you think you can make a contribution to this company?

What were your annual goals at your most current employer?
Why did you decide to pursue this career?
What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?
How do you react to instruction and criticism?
How would you describe the experience of working here?

What is a typical career path in this job function?
What type of work environment do you prefer?
What irritates you about other people?
Describe a recent unpopular decision you made?
What three character traits would your friends use to describe you?

Where do you see yourself in five years time?
Describe a situation in which you had to collect information?
Give some examples of teamwork?
How have you changed in the last five years?
What problems have you encountered at work?

List five words that describe your character?
Who else have you applied to/got interviews with?
What do you believe are your key strengths?
Time when you made a suggestion to improve the work?
What has been your most successful experience in speech making?

What are your long-term goals or career plans?
What are the qualities of a good leader?
What are three positive character traits you don't have?
When were you most satisfied in your job?
Tell me about yourself?

Water resources are divisible into two distinct categories : the surface-water resources and the ground-water resources. Each of these categories is a part of the earth’s water circulatory system, called the hydrologic cycle, and is ultimately derived from precipitation, which is rainfall plus snow. They are interdependent, and frequently the loss of one is the gain of the other.

What have you learned from mistakes on the job?
Has anything ever irritated you about people you've worked with?
How do you decide what gets top priority when scheduling your time?
Give an example of a time you successfully worked on a team?
What can you do for us that other candidates cant?