Question

“Some wastelands are rendered unfit for agriculture by human activities.” Choose the correct option related to the statement:
(i) Shifting cultivation area
(ii) Coastal plains
(iii) Degraded pastures
(iv) Bhabar areas

• A. Only ii
• B. Both ii and iv
• C. Only iii
• D. Both i and iii

Hint:

When considering human impact on land, remember that activities like shifting cultivation and overgrazing contribute significantly to soil degradation, turning fertile land into wasteland.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

- Shifting cultivation (i) causes deforestation and soil degradation, rendering the land unsuitable for agriculture over time, leading to unusable wastelands.
- Coastal plains (ii) are fertile and typically unaffected by human activity to the point of becoming wastelands. Thus, option (A) is incorrect.
- Degraded pastures (iii), due to overgrazing or poor management, experience soil erosion, making them unsuitable for agriculture. Therefore, (iii) is a component of the correct answer.
- Bhabar areas (iv), alluvial deposits near the Himalayas, are not typically made unfit for agriculture by human activities. Consequently, option (B) is incorrect.
The correct answer is (D) Both i and iii.