Question

Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R
Assertion A: In conservation agriculture, cost of cultivation, time of tillage operation and soil compaction is more over conventional agriculture.
Reason R: Crop diversification, minimum soil disturbance and crop residue cover are pillars of conservation agriculture.
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:

Conservation agriculture is designed to save input costs, especially energy and labor, by eliminating intensive tillage operations. Always remember its three key pillars: no-till, residue cover, and crop rotation.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Conservation agriculture (CA) is a sustainable farming approach that aims to prevent the loss of arable land while regenerating degraded soils.
It is characterized by three core agronomic principles: minimum mechanical soil disturbance, permanent organic soil cover, and diversified crop rotations.
Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze Assertion A and Reason R individually.
Assertion A claims that the cost of cultivation, time of tillage operation, and soil compaction are higher in conservation agriculture than in conventional agriculture.
This statement is incorrect.
One of the primary benefits of conservation agriculture is the significant reduction in tillage operations, which directly decreases fuel consumption, labor requirements, and the overall time needed for field preparation.
Over time, the reduction in heavy machinery traffic and the accumulation of organic matter help decrease subsoil compaction.
Therefore, the cost of cultivation and tillage time are lower in conservation agriculture compared to conventional methods.
Reason R states that crop diversification, minimum soil disturbance, and crop residue cover are the pillars of conservation agriculture.
This is correct.
These three pillars form the definition of conservation agriculture, aiming to enhance soil biological activity, preserve moisture, and improve soil structure.
Thus, Assertion A is incorrect, while Reason R is correct.

Step 2: Final Answer:
Since Assertion A is false and Reason R is true, the correct option is (D).