Question

“The pressure on agricultural land increases not only due to the limited availability, but also by deterioration of quality of agricultural land.” In the context of this statement read the following reasons carefully and choose the correct option.

I. Soil erosion and waterlogging.
II. Salinisation and alkalinisation of soil.
III. Rich land fertility and multiple cropping.
IV. Decline in land productivity.

• A. Only I, II and III are correct.
• B. Only I, II and IV are correct.
• C. Only I, III and IV are correct.
• D. Only II, III and IV are correct.

Hint:

Soil degradation is a major concern in agriculture. Factors like erosion, salinisation, and waterlogging significantly impact land productivity.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The statement indicates that the degradation of agricultural land intensifies the demands on agricultural output. The contributing factors are as follows:- Soil erosion and waterlogging: These significantly degrade agricultural land. Soil erosion removes fertile topsoil, and waterlogging reduces soil oxygen, both impacting crop yields and increasing pressure on the land.- Salinisation and alkalinisation of soil: The buildup of salts or alkalis in the soil impairs its fertility and reduces productivity, a primary driver of soil degradation and increased agricultural land pressure.- Rich land fertility and multiple cropping: These are generally beneficial for agricultural output, not detrimental to land quality. Thus, this factor is irrelevant to land deterioration.- Decline in land productivity: This is a direct consequence of soil degradation from factors such as erosion, waterlogging, salinisation, and improper cultivation. Diminished land quality leads to reduced productivity.Consequently, option (B) is the correct selection because statements I, II, and IV accurately represent factors contributing to agricultural land pressure, while statement III does not.