Question

Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and other one labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A) : Primary objective of summer ploughing is opening of the soil crust and turn the soil underneath.
Reason (R) : It facilitates to sow the crops immediately after onset of monsoon.
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:

Exposing soil-borne pathogens and insect pests to the hot summer sun during ploughing is a highly effective, zero-cost cultural control method known as 'soil solarization' or 'sun baking'.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Summer ploughing is a primary tillage operation performed during the dry summer months (April to May) immediately after harvesting the rabi crop.
This operation is critical for optimizing soil structure and managing pests before the next cropping season begins.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Let us evaluate both statements:
- Assertion (A): This statement is correct.
During the hot summer months, clay-rich soils dry out, forming a hard surface crust that restricts water and air movement.
The primary objective of summer ploughing is to break up this hard crust and turn the soil over.
This process exposes the deeper soil layers to solar heat and air, which helps sterilize the soil, destroy weed seeds, and kill soil-borne pathogens and hibernating insect pupae.
- Reason (R): This statement is also correct.
Tilling the soil in summer improves its porosity and infiltration capacity.
When the monsoon rains arrive, the loosened soil absorbs rainwater quickly, reducing runoff and soil erosion.
Because the land has already been tilled, farmers can sow their kharif crops immediately after the first monsoon rains without delaying for initial land preparation.
- Evaluating the Relationship: The reason directly explains why breaking the crust and turning the soil in summer (A) is beneficial, as it prepares the seedbed to allow for immediate sowing at the onset of the monsoon (R).
Thus, both statements are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Step 4: Final Answer:
Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A), corresponding to option (A).