UPSC Prelims 2020 – Question 83

by Edukemy Team March 1, 2024

Here is Question No. 83 a part of our series on UPSC Prelims 2020

Table of Contents

Sowing of wheat is possible without burning the residue of the previous crop.
Without the need for a nursery of rice saplings, direct planting of paddy seeds in the wet soil is possible.
Carbon sequestration in the soil is possible.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: D

In Zero tillage (No tillage), a new crop is planted in the residues of the previous crop without any prior tillage or seed bed preparation and it is possible when all the weeds are controlled by the use of herbicides.
Statement 1 is correct: Under zero tillage, the direct seeding of wheat into unploughed soil and with rice residues left behind has proved very beneficial. It saved on water, labor and use of agrochemicals, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and improved soil health and crop yield and thus benefitted both farmers and the society at large.
Statement 2 is correct: Direct-seeded rice (DSR) is a viable option to reduce unproductive water flows. DSR refers to the process of establishing a rice crop from seeds sown in the field rather than by transplanting seedlings from the nursery. Conventional rice establishment system requires a substantial amount of water. However, with the increasing shortage of water, dry-DSR with minimum or zero tillage further enhances the benefits of this technology by saving labour.
Statement 3 is correct: No tilled soils tend to be cooler than others, partly because a the surface layer of plant residues is present. Carbon is sequestered in the soil enhancing its quality, reducing the threat of global warming.

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