Q. With reference to the circumstances in Indian agriculture, the concept of “Conservation Agriculture” assume significance. Which of the following fall under the Conservation Agriculture?

  1. Avoiding monoculture practices
  2. Adopting minimum tillage
  3. Avoiding the cultivation of plantation crops
  4. Using crop residues to cover soil surface
  5. Adopting spatial and temporal crop sequencing/crop rotations

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  • 1, 3 and 4
  • 2, 3, 4 and 5
  • 2, 4 and 5
  • 1, 2, 3 and 5

Answer: (c) 2, 4 and 5

Notes:

  • According to Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, Conservation agriculture (CA) can be defined as “a concept for resource-saving agricultural crop production that strives to achieve acceptable profits together with high and sustained production levels while concurrently conserving the environment”
  • Conservation agriculture systems utilize soils for the production of crops with the aim of reducing excessive mixing of the soil and maintaining crop residues on the soil surface in order to minimize damage to the environment.
  • The 3 principles of CA are:
    • minimun tillage and soil disturbance
    • permanent soil cover with crop residues and live mulches
    • crop rotation and intercropping