Question

Assertion (A): The break of monsoon at critical stages for soil moisture stress leads to a reduction in yield.
Reason (R): Only when the break of monsoon exceeds 15 days duration or more.

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

Hint:

Monitor crop stages closely during monsoon breaks exceeding 15 days.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

A prolonged break in monsoon (more than 15 days) during critical growth stages can lead to severe soil moisture stress, impacting crop yields significantly.

Answer 2

Alternate approach — Physiological drought-stress mechanism:
When rainfall stops for an extended period during a crop's sensitive growth stages, such as flowering or grain filling, the soil's readily available moisture is depleted and matric suction rises sharply. Once suction crosses a threshold, root water uptake can no longer keep pace with transpiration demand, triggering stomatal closure, reduced photosynthesis, and ultimately reduced grain or biomass yield. Short breaks are usually buffered by residual soil moisture and do not cause measurable stress, but breaks exceeding roughly 15 days exhaust this buffer in most rainfed soils, pushing the crop into a genuine physiological drought.
Since a break of more than 15 days is specifically the threshold at which stored soil moisture is exhausted and yield-reducing stress sets in, Reason (R) correctly explains why Assertion (A) holds, confirming option Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).