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Q71 (IAS/2017) Environment & Ecology › Pollution & Conservation › Sustainable agriculture practices Official Key

Which of the following practices can help in water conservation in agriculture ? 1. Reduced or zero tillage of the land 2. Applying gypsum before irrigating the field 3. Allowing crop residue to remain in the field Select the correct answer using the code given below :

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: C
Explanation

The correct answer is option C (1 and 3 only).

Conservation Agriculture practices, which include minimum or no soil disturbance (reduced/zero tillage) and maintenance of permanent soil cover through crop residues, help achieve higher productivity while reducing adverse environmental impacts[1]. These farming and soil management techniques contribute to the preservation of natural resources, including water[2]. Such practices protect organic matter and enable soil and water conservation[3].

Statement 1 is correct because reduced or zero tillage minimizes soil disturbance, which helps retain soil moisture and reduces water loss through evaporation. Statement 3 is correct because mixing crop residue with soils helps increase moisture[4], and maintaining crop residue cover protects soil and conserves water.

However, statement 2 is incorrect. While gypsum application can reduce soil pH and improve soil structure and permeability[5], it is primarily used for soil reclamation in saline-alkaline conditions rather than as a direct water conservation measure in normal agricultural practices.

Sources
  1. [1] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 11.13 Conservation Agriculture > p. 353
  2. [2] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 11.13 Conservation Agriculture > p. 352
  3. [3] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > Advantages of Conservation Agriculture (CA): > p. 353
  4. [4] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 15: Regional Development and Planning > Desertification and Desert Development Programme > p. 47
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PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Which of the following practices can help in water conservation in agriculture ? 1. Reduced or zero tillage of the land 2. Applying gyp…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 6.7/10 · 3.3/10

Statements 1 and 3 are textbook definitions of 'Conservation Agriculture' found in standard Economy/Geography sources. Statement 2 requires a 'second-order logic' jump: knowing Gypsum treats alkaline soil is basic; realizing that treating alkaline soil improves infiltration and thus saves water is the applied step.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Do reduced or zero tillage practices help conserve water in agriculture?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 11.13 Conservation Agriculture > p. 352
Presence: 5/5
“Conservation Agriculture (CA) is defined as a sustainable agriculture production system comprising a set of farming practices adapted to the requirements of crops and local conditions of each region, whose farming and soil management techniques protect the soil from erosion and degradation, improve its quality and biodiversity, and contribute to the preservation of the natural resources, water and air, while optimizing yields.”
Why this source?
  • Defines Conservation Agriculture (which includes reduced/no tillage) as protecting soil and contributing to preservation of natural resources, explicitly mentioning water.
  • Links CA practices to optimized yields while preserving water, implying water-conservation benefits of reduced-tillage systems.
Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > Advantages > p. 360
Presence: 5/5
“• o Higher crop productivity• o Decreased use of water, fertilizers and pesticides which reduces production cost• o Greater efficiency and lower agricultural product prices• o Reduced impact on natural ecosystems• o Less runoff of chemicals into rivers and groundwater”
Why this source?
  • Lists decreased use of water as a direct advantage of Conservation Agriculture.
  • Places reduced water requirement alongside other efficiency gains, supporting the claim that CA (including reduced/no tillage) conserves water.
Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 11.13 Conservation Agriculture > p. 353
Presence: 4/5
“This novel resource conservation practice encompasses no or minimum soil disturbance, providing a vegetative soil cover through crop residues or other cover crops, and crop rotations for achieving higher productivity and reducing adverse environmental impacts. Conservation Agriculture is based on three core principles: • Minimum soil disturbance (No tillage or reduced tillage)• Maintenance of permanent soil covers• Cropping system diversity, crop rotations”
Why this source?
  • Identifies minimum soil disturbance (no tillage or reduced tillage) as a core principle of Conservation Agriculture.
  • Frames reduced/no tillage within a resource-conservation system aimed at reducing adverse environmental impacts, which includes water conservation.
Statement 2
Does applying gypsum to soil before irrigation improve water conservation in agricultural fields?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 4/5
"The findings indicated that gypsum application significantly reduced soil pH, ESP, and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), thereby improving soil structure and permeability."
Why this source?
  • Reports a controlled study showing gypsum application reduced soil pH, ESP and SAR, which are indicators of sodicity that degrade soil structure.
  • States that gypsum application "improv[ed] soil structure and permeability," which is directly relevant to how water infiltrates and is retained during irrigation.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Will likely improve water flow (inferred from improved soil quality in (Saviozzi et al. 2001) Will improve soil quality (Saviozzi et al. 2001)"
Why this source?
  • States that improved soil quality "will likely improve water flow," linking soil-condition improvements to water movement.
  • When combined with [1]'s finding that gypsum improves soil structure/quality, this supports the idea that gypsum can affect irrigation water behavior and conservation.

Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 3. Sprinkler Irrigation > p. 335
Strength: 4/5
“This method is better than surface irrigation in that less water is wasted and water is distributed more evenly. Pipes fitted with sprinklers are laid over or along the field. The sprinklers have rotating heads, which spray water over the crops. Sprinklers are best suited to sandy soils with high infiltration rates although they are adaptable to most soils. Sprinkler irrigation is suited for most row, field and tree crops and water can be sprayed over or under the crop canopy.”
Why relevant

Notes that sprinkler irrigation is best suited to sandy soils with high infiltration rates, linking irrigation efficiency to soil texture and infiltration behaviour.

How to extend

A student could ask whether gypsum changes infiltration/aggregation in sandy vs. other soils, then predict whether that would raise or lower sprinkler efficiency and water loss.

Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 2. Drip/Trickle/Micro/Localized Irrigation > p. 334
Strength: 4/5
“Generally, only high value crops are considered because of the high capital costs of installing a drip system. Drip irrigation is adaptable to any farmable slope. Normally the crop would be planted along contour lines and the water supply pipes (laterals) would be laid along the contour also. This is done to minimize changes in emitter discharge as a result of land elevation changes. Drip irrigation is suitable for most soils. On clay soils water must be applied slowly to avoid surface water ponding and runoff. On sandy soils higher emitter discharge rates will be needed to ensure adequate lateral wetting of the soil.”
Why relevant

Explains that drip irrigation wets only part of the soil near roots and that application rates must account for soil type (e.g., clay needs slower application to avoid ponding).

How to extend

One could test if gypsum alters surface sealing or infiltration on clay soils so drip or surface application timing/volume — and thus water conservation — would be affected.

Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 11: Irrigation in India > 2 1. Surface Irrigation > p. 362
Strength: 4/5
“In this method water is distributed through gravity flow. This method is best suited to flat land, slopes and to medium or fine textured soils like loamy or clayey soil. It is difficult to uniformly distribute water in the long fields with coarse textured soils like gravels and sands. Generally, this method is more labour intensive than other methods of irrigation. This method is widely used because of its simple mechanisms and low maintenance.”
Why relevant

States surface irrigation suits medium/fine textured soils and is difficult on coarse-textured (sandy) soils because of uniform distribution problems tied to infiltration.

How to extend

Use this rule plus maps of field soil texture to hypothesize where a soil amendment that changes infiltration (like gypsum might) would improve surface-irrigation water use.

Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 1. Surface/flood irrigation > p. 333
Strength: 5/5
“Furrow: Furrow irrigation is conducted by creating small parallel channels along the field length in the direction of predominant slope. Water is applied to the top end of each furrow and flows down the field under the influence of gravity. Water may be supplied using gated pipe, siphon and head ditch. The speed of water movement is determined by many factors such as slope, surface roughness and furrow shape but most importantly by the inflow rate and soil infiltration rate. The spacing between adjacent furrows is governed by the crop species, common spacings typically range from 0.75 to 2 metres.”
Why relevant

Indicates furrow irrigation performance depends importantly on soil infiltration rate, inflow rate, slope and surface roughness.

How to extend

A student could investigate whether gypsum application would alter infiltration rate or surface roughness enough to reduce runoff or percolation losses in furrow systems.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 25: Agriculture > Drip irrigation: > p. 366
Strength: 3/5
“• Drip irrigation is also called trickle irrigation and involves dripping water onto the soil at very low rates from a system of small diameter plastic pipes fitted with outlets called emitters. Water is applied close to plants so that only part of the soil in which the roots grow is wetted, unlike surface and sprinkler irrigation, which involves wetting the whole soil profile.”
Why relevant

Describes that drip irrigation wets only the root zone rather than the whole soil profile, implying conservation gains come from limiting wetted volume.

How to extend

Combine this with knowledge of gypsum's potential to change soil water-holding or spatial wetting patterns to predict effects on water needed under drip systems.

Statement 3
Does retaining or allowing crop residue to remain on the field help conserve water in agriculture?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 15: Regional Development and Planning > Desertification and Desert Development Programme > p. 47
Presence: 5/5
“Wind velocity at the lee side of the shelter belt is reduced and also the losses by about 76%.• 3. Soil and Water Conservation Measures: The wetter parts of the arid zone and the semi-arid areas are more prone to water erosion. The counter crusting of soil and its subsequent erosion, a number of practices have been suggested, like contour bunding (low rainfall area) and contour tillage and contour sowing in the agricultural fields. Moreover, mixing of crop residue and organic matter with light-textured soils helps to increase moisture and crop yield.• 4. Management of Pastures: Permanent pastures are most degraded, as they do not have any basal plant-cover.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states that mixing crop residue and organic matter with light-textured soils helps to increase moisture.
  • Directly links residue management with improved crop yield via increased soil moisture.
Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > Advantages of Conservation Agriculture (CA): > p. 353
Presence: 4/5
“• CA based crop management practices not only enhance crop productivity but also reduces cost of production• Improvement of resource use efficiency through residue decomposition, increased recycling and availability of plant nutrients• Protection of organic matter and soil and water conservation• Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions”
Why this source?
  • Lists residue decomposition and increased recycling of plant nutrients as advantages of Conservation Agriculture.
  • Explicitly connects residue management to protection of soil and water conservation.
Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 11.13 Conservation Agriculture > p. 352
Presence: 4/5
“Conservation Agriculture (CA) is defined as a sustainable agriculture production system comprising a set of farming practices adapted to the requirements of crops and local conditions of each region, whose farming and soil management techniques protect the soil from erosion and degradation, improve its quality and biodiversity, and contribute to the preservation of the natural resources, water and air, while optimizing yields.”
Why this source?
  • Defines Conservation Agriculture as soil- and resource‑protecting practices that contribute to preservation of natural resources, including water.
  • Supports the idea that CA practices (which include residue-related measures) help conserve water.
Pattern takeaway: UPSC favors 'Integrated' Agriculture questions. They rarely ask 'What is Gypsum?' anymore; they ask 'What does Gypsum DO to the ecosystem?'. If a scientific practice improves soil health, it almost invariably aids water conservation. The keyword 'Can' suggests possibility, making inclusive options more likely.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Logical Sitter. Statements 1 & 3 are direct hits from 'Conservation Agriculture' chapters (Vivek Singh/Majid Husain). Statement 2 is a logical derivative.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: The 'Sustainable Agriculture' module in Economy/Geography, specifically the 'Conservation Agriculture' (CA) framework promoted by FAO and Indian Govt.
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize these Water/Soil interventions: 1. Lime (treats Acidic soil), 2. Pyrites/Gypsum (treats Alkaline/Sodic soil), 3. Laser Land Leveling (saves 20-30% water), 4. System of Rice Intensification (SRI), 5. Fertigation (Nutrient + Water efficiency), 6. Mulching (Moisture retention).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Don't stop at 'Gypsum cures salinity'. Ask 'How?'. Mechanism: It replaces Sodium -> Flocculation -> Better Porosity -> Better Infiltration. Better infiltration = Less Runoff = Water Conservation. Always link chemical amendments to physical soil properties.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Conservation Agriculture (CA) — core principles
💡 The insight

CA is the umbrella under which reduced/zero tillage is promoted; the references list minimum soil disturbance, soil cover, and crop rotations as CA's three pillars.

High-yield for UPSC: CA is frequently asked in agriculture/environment questions and policy contexts. Mastering its three principles helps answer questions on sustainable farming, resource conservation, and government/FAO recommendations. It links to topics like soil health, climate resilience and farm-level interventions.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 11.13 Conservation Agriculture > p. 353
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > MAJOR REFORMS NEEDED UNDER SECOND GREEN REVOLUTION > p. 353
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 11.13 Conservation Agriculture > p. 352
🔗 Anchor: "Do reduced or zero tillage practices help conserve water in agriculture?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Reduced/no tillage and water-use efficiency
💡 The insight

References directly associate CA (which includes reduced/no tillage) with decreased water use and preservation of water resources.

Important for questions on water conservation, irrigation efficiency and sustainable agriculture policy. Understanding mechanisms (less runoff, better infiltration, lower irrigation needs) helps frame policy reforms and scheme evaluations.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > Advantages > p. 360
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 11.13 Conservation Agriculture > p. 352
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 25: Agriculture > Advantages > p. 356
🔗 Anchor: "Do reduced or zero tillage practices help conserve water in agriculture?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Soil cover/residue management for moisture retention
💡 The insight

Evidence highlights permanent soil cover and crop residues as CA components that reduce runoff and increase soil moisture retention.

Useful for answering integrated questions on soil-water conservation, erosion control, and agronomic practices; connects to land management, watershed programmes and desertification control in geography/environment papers.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 11.13 Conservation Agriculture > p. 353
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 11.13 Conservation Agriculture > p. 352
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 25: Agriculture > Advantages > p. 356
🔗 Anchor: "Do reduced or zero tillage practices help conserve water in agriculture?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Micro‑irrigation (drip/trickle) and water savings
💡 The insight

Multiple references describe micro‑irrigation/drip systems and quantify water savings and efficiency gains versus other methods.

High‑yield for UPSC: micro‑irrigation is frequently tested in questions on water conservation, agricultural technology and rural schemes. Understanding its water‑saving, energy and input efficiency helps answer policy and impact questions and compare irrigation options. Learn advantages, limitations and typical savings figures.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 11: Irrigation in India > 4. Micro-Irrigation > p. 365
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 2. Drip/Trickle/Micro/Localized Irrigation > p. 334
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 25: Agriculture > Drip irrigation: > p. 366
🔗 Anchor: "Does applying gypsum to soil before irrigation improve water conservation in agr..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Irrigation method suitability by soil texture and infiltration
💡 The insight

References note that sprinkler, drip and surface methods perform differently on sandy, loamy or clay soils due to infiltration rates and ponding risk.

Essential for problem‑solving: links soil science with irrigation planning and water conservation. Useful for questions asking which irrigation is appropriate for given soil types, and for designing efficient water application strategies.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 3. Sprinkler Irrigation > p. 335
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 2. Drip/Trickle/Micro/Localized Irrigation > p. 334
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 11: Irrigation in India > 2 1. Surface Irrigation > p. 362
🔗 Anchor: "Does applying gypsum to soil before irrigation improve water conservation in agr..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Surface/flood and furrow irrigation: distribution and limitations
💡 The insight

Evidence describes gravity‑based surface methods, factors controlling water movement (slope, infiltration), and their relative inefficiency on coarse soils.

Important for comparative questions on irrigation efficiency and field practices. Mastering these concepts helps in evaluating tradeoffs between low‑cost methods and water use efficiency, and in answering policy/design questions on irrigation infrastructure.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 11: Irrigation in India > 2 1. Surface Irrigation > p. 362
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 1. Surface/flood irrigation > p. 333
🔗 Anchor: "Does applying gypsum to soil before irrigation improve water conservation in agr..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Crop residue management & soil moisture
💡 The insight

Evidence explicitly links mixing/retaining crop residue with increased soil moisture and better yields.

High-yield for questions on sustainable farming: residue management appears in conservation-agriculture discussions and groundwater/soil moisture topics. Mastering this helps answer questions on farm practices that conserve water, improve soil health, and boost yields.

📚 Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 15: Regional Development and Planning > Desertification and Desert Development Programme > p. 47
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > Advantages of Conservation Agriculture (CA): > p. 353
🔗 Anchor: "Does retaining or allowing crop residue to remain on the field help conserve wat..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

Laser Land Leveling. It is frequently cited alongside Zero Tillage and Gypsum in government soil health cards and water efficiency manuals. Expect a question on its specific benefits (reducing water time, increasing arable area).

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

The 'Benevolent Science' Heuristic: In Science/Agri questions, if the question asks 'Which can help?' and the options are established scientific practices (not random acts), the answer is usually 'All of the above'. Unless a practice is mutually exclusive (e.g., 'Flood irrigation' vs 'Water conservation'), assume positive synergy.

🔗 Mains Connection

Mains GS-3 (Agriculture): This directly feeds into 'Per Drop More Crop' under PMKSY. Use these three points (Tillage, Amendments, Residue) as a ready-made answer for 'Strategies to mitigate water stress in Indian Agriculture'.

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

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Consider the following agricultural practices : 1. Contour bunding 2. Relay cropping 3. Zero tillage In the context of global climate change, which of the above helps/help in carbon sequestration/storage in the soil ?

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What is/are the advantage/advantages of zero tillage in agriculture ? 1. Sowing of wheat is possible without burning the residue of previous crop. 2. Without the need for nursery of rice saplings, direct planting of paddy seeds in the wet soil is possible. 3. Carbon sequestration in the soil is possible. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

IAS · 2010 · Q23 Relevance score: -2.11

With reference to soil conservation, consider the following practices : 1. Crop rotation 2. Sand fences 3. Terracing 4. Wind breaks Which of the above are considered appropriate methods for soil conservation in India ?

NDA-I · 2015 · Q49 Relevance score: -4.02

A farmer in a semi-arid area claims that his farming practice is very environment friendly. Which of the following practices on his farm can justify his claim ? 1. Planting a tree belt. 2. Practising crop rotation. 3. Carrying out a large scale irrigation system. 4. Using organic fertilizers. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

IAS · 2020 · Q20 Relevance score: -4.77

In the context of India, which of the following is/are considered to be practice(s) of eco-friendly agriculture ? 1. Crop diversification 2. Legume intensification 3. Tensiometer use 4. Vertical farming Select the correct answer using the code given below :