Question

Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Statement (1) and other one labelled as Statement (2).
Statement (1): Soil carbon sequestration converts blue water into green water.
Statement (2): Photosynthesis and respiration are synergistic with soil carbon sequestration.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.

• A. Both Statements are correct.
• B. Statement (1) is correct but Statement (2) is incorrect.
• C. Statement (1) is incorrect but Statement (2) is correct.
• D. Both Statements are incorrect.

Hint:

Green water is directly linked to soil organic matter.
Any practice that increases soil carbon (sequestration) will naturally enhance green water capacity.
For carbon balance, think of Photosynthesis as an asset (input) and Respiration as a liability (output).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question deals with agricultural hydrology concepts (blue vs. green water) and the biological processes of the carbon cycle (photosynthesis and respiration) as they relate to soil carbon storage.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze each statement individually:
- Statement (1): In hydrology, blue water refers to freshwater stored in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and deep aquifers.
Green water is the rainwater stored in the soil root zone that is available for plant transpiration.
When organic matter in the soil increases through carbon sequestration, the soil structure, porosity, and aggregate stability are enhanced.
This significantly improves the soil's water-holding capacity.
As a result, more rainwater is retained as soil moisture (green water) instead of running off into streams or draining deep into groundwater (blue water).
Therefore, soil carbon sequestration effectively helps shift or convert potential blue water into green water.
Thus, Statement (1) is correct.
- Statement (2): Photosynthesis and respiration are two opposing biological processes in the carbon cycle.
Photosynthesis captures atmospheric carbon dioxide (\(\text{CO}_2\)) and stores it as biomass, which is the primary source of soil carbon inputs.
Respiration, on the other hand, is the metabolic breakdown of organic compounds by plants, animals, and soil microorganisms, which releases carbon back into the atmosphere as \(\text{CO}_2\).
Because respiration acts to reduce the net carbon storage in the soil, it is antagonistic (not synergistic) to the goal of long-term soil carbon sequestration.
Thus, Statement (2) is incorrect.

Step 4: Final Answer:
Statement (1) is correct, but Statement (2) is incorrect.
Therefore, the correct choice is Option (B).