Which of the following statements can help in water conservation in agriculture?Reduced or zero till

Q: What is UPSC Prelims?

UPSC Prelims is a competitive examination conducted in India. This question is from the 2017 UPSC Prelims Environment & Ecology paper.

Q: How can I prepare for UPSC Prelims Environment & Ecology?

To prepare for UPSC Prelims Environment & Ecology, practice previous year questions (PYQs), understand concepts thoroughly, and solve mock tests regularly. This 2017 question covers Soil & Land Degradation – Desertification & Remediation topic.

Q: What is the difficulty level of this question?

This UPSC Prelims 2017 Environment & Ecology question has a medium difficulty level and is marked as an important question.

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You can find more UPSC Prelims previous year questions on AspirantMitraa. Browse by subject, topic, year, and difficulty level to practice effectively.

Question

Which of the following statements can help in water conservation in agriculture?Reduced or zero tillage of the landApplying gypsum before irrigating the fieldAllowing crop residue to remain in the fieldSelect the correct answer using the code given below:

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: D — 1, 2 and 3Solution:Statement 1 — Reduced or zero tillage: This helps conserve water. No-till or zero-tillage farming reduces soil disturbance, thereby increasing water infiltration into the soil, reducing surface run-off, and improving moisture retention. The undisturbed soil structure allows rainwater to percolate deeper rather than flowing away. ✓Statement 2 — Applying gypsum before irrigation: This helps conserve water. Gypsum (calcium sulfate) improves soil structure, particularly in sodic/saline soils, by replacing sodium ions with calcium. This creates better soil permeability and drainage, preventing waterlogging and increasing water-use efficiency. Gypsum-treated soils absorb and hold water better, reducing irrigation requirements. ✓Statement 3 — Allowing crop residue to remain: This helps conserve water. Crop residue acts as a mulch layer on the soil surface, reducing evaporation of soil moisture, moderating soil temperature, and suppressing weed growth. This conserves soil moisture and reduces the frequency of irrigation needed. ✓Why other options are incorrect:Options A, B, C: All these options exclude one or more correct statements, making them incomplete answers.Key Concept: Water conservation in agriculture is critical in India, where agriculture accounts for about 70% of total freshwater use. Key water-saving techniques include: drip and sprinkler irrigation, rainwater harvesting, crop rotation, conservation agriculture (zero-tillage + crop residue + cover crops), and soil amendments like gypsum. India loses significant water through poor irrigation efficiency — only about 40-50% of irrigation water reaches crops in traditional flood irrigation. Adoption of these techniques is promoted under schemes like Per Drop More Crop (under PMKSY).

Which of the following statements can help in water conservation in agriculture?Reduced or zero tillage of the landApplying gypsum before irrigating the fieldAllowing crop residue to remain in the fieldSelect the correct answer using the code given below:

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Which of the following statements can help in water conservation in agriculture?Reduced or zero tillage of the landApplying gypsum before irrigating the fieldAllowing crop residue to remain in the fieldSelect the correct answer using the code given below:

Master UPSC Prelims with Our Test Series

More Questions from Soil & Land Degradation – Desertification & Remediation

Frequently Asked Questions