Question

Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and other one labelled as Reason (R).

Assertion (A): Zero-tillage practice in rice-wheat cropping system is a climate change adaptation strategy.

Reason (R): It helps to avoid terminal heat stress of wheat.

In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below.

• A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
• B. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A).
• C. (A) is true but (R) is false.
• D. (A) is false but (R) is true.

Hint:

Think about how skipping tillage changes the wheat sowing date after rice harvest.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

This question checks whether we understand the real reason zero-tillage in the rice-wheat system is treated as a climate adaptation practice.

1. Assertion: Zero-tillage in rice-wheat systems is indeed promoted as a climate adaptation strategy because it changes how and when wheat is established after rice.
2. Reason: Avoiding terminal heat stress of wheat is true and is also the actual mechanism behind the benefit named in the assertion.

Under conventional tillage, wheat sowing after rice harvest is delayed by the time needed to plough, level and prepare the field. Zero-tillage drills wheat seed directly into the rice stubble without this delay, so sowing happens earlier. Earlier sowing means the grain filling period of wheat finishes before the hot, dry weather of late season sets in, so the crop avoids terminal heat stress, which otherwise cuts short grain filling and lowers yield. Because rising temperatures under climate change make this heat stress risk worse, timely sowing through zero-tillage becomes a direct adaptation tool.

Let's summarize:

• Zero-tillage speeds up wheat sowing after rice.
• Earlier sowing lets wheat escape terminal heat stress during grain filling.
• This escape from heat stress is the reason zero-tillage counts as climate adaptation.

So both statements are true and the reason correctly explains the assertion, matching option 1.