UPSC Prelims 2020 – Question 91

by Edukemy Team March 1, 2024

Here is Question No. 91 a part of our series on UPSC Prelims 2020

Table of Contents

Controlling the alkalinity of irrigation water is possible.
Efficient application of Rock Phosphate and all other phosphatic fertilizers is possible.
Increased availability of nutrients to plants is possible.
Reduction in the leaching of chemical nutrients is possible.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1, 2 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only

Answer: C

Fertigation is a method of fertilizer application in which fertilizer is incorporated within the irrigation water by the drip system. In this system fertilizer solution is distributed evenly in irrigation.
Statement 1 is correct: Drip irrigation also avoids water spillage on the field which could have promoted weed growth or increased soil alkalinity due to water logging. So, controlling the alkalinity of irrigation water is possible through it.
Statement 2 is not correct: Fertigation is the technique of supplying dissolved fertilizers to crops through an irrigation system. However phosphatic fertilizers are insoluble in water and thus cannot be applied to the field by fertigation. Hence, the efficient application of Rock Phosphate and all other phosphatic fertilizers is not possible.
Statement 3 is correct: By this method, fertilizer use efficiency is increased from 80 to 90 percent as they are delivered directly to roots via drip. As water and fertilizer are supplied evenly to all the crops through fertigation there is a possibility for getting 25- 50 percent higher yield. So, increased availability of nutrients to plants is possible

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