Question

Given below are two statements, one is labeled as Assertion (A) and the other one is labeled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): Alternate wetting and drying is practiced in paddy field.
Reason (R): Draining out the standing water from the paddy field checks the population of brown plant hopper and white backed plant hopper.
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:

Consider whether draining water is a genuine pest-management reason for this practice.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) is indeed a well-established, recommended water-saving irrigation method for paddy fields, so Assertion (A) is correct.
Reason (R) is also correct, and it genuinely explains why AWD helps beyond just saving water: periodically draining standing water removes the constantly flooded habitat that brown plant hopper and white-backed plant hopper populations depend on to build up their numbers.
Since draining the field is a direct, well-documented reason AWD suppresses these pests, (R) is a correct explanation of (A), making option 1 the right choice.