Question

Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and other one labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): In strip cropping both close growing and row crops are planted in alternate strips in the same field.
Reason (R): In comparison to contour farming, strip cropping is a more effective method to control erosion.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.

• 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:

To check if R is the correct explanation of A, read them together using the word ______"because"______:
"Crops are planted in alternate strips ______because______ strip cropping is more effective than contour farming."
This does not make logical sense, proving that while both facts are true, R is not the explanation of A.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Soil conservation measures can be biological (agronomic) or engineering.
Strip cropping and contour farming are highly effective agronomic practices used to reduce soil erosion on sloping lands.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze both statements:
- Assertion (A): In strip cropping, both close-growing and row crops are planted in alternate strips in the same field.
This is correct. The layout consists of alternate strips of erosion-permitting row crops (like maize or cotton) and erosion-resistant close-growing crops (like legumes or grasses) running across the slope.
- Reason (R): In comparison to contour farming, strip cropping is a more effective method to control erosion.
This is also correct. Simple contour farming only involves performing farm operations along contour lines.
Strip cropping adds an additional biological filter; the dense close-growing strips slow down the velocity of runoff water and filter out the soil particles eroded from the row-crop strips.
However, let us evaluate the relationship between (A) and (R):
The reason why we define strip cropping as having alternate strips of crops (A) is not because it is more effective than contour farming (R).
Instead, it is defined based on its spatial crop arrangement.
Thus, both (A) and (R) are correct statements, but (R) is not the logical explanation for the structural definition of strip cropping given in (A).

Step 3: Final Answer:
Both (A) and (R) are correct, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A), which corresponds to option (B).