Question

Given below are two statements:
Statement I: Check basin irrigation is mostly used for cultivation of rice crop in India
Statement II: The size of the check basins in rice fields varies with the size of the irrigation stream and does not depend on the infiltration characteristics of the soil.
In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. Both Statement I and Statement II are true
• B. Both Statement I and Statement II are false
• C. Statement I is true but Statement II is false
• D. Statement I is false but Statement II is true

Hint:

Remember this design rule for surface irrigation:
- Sandy Soils (High Infiltration) $\rightarrow$ Small Basins.
- Clayey Soils (Low Infiltration) $\rightarrow$ Large Basins.
This ensures uniform water coverage across the entire basin.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Check basin irrigation is a surface irrigation method where the field is divided into relatively flat plots surrounded by low earthen ridges (bunds).
Designing check basins requires selecting a basin size that ensures uniform water distribution without causing excessive deep percolation or runoff losses.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze both statements:
1. Statement I: Check basin irrigation is mostly used for cultivation of rice crop in India.
This statement is correct.
Rice (paddy) is traditionally grown under ponded water conditions in India.
Dividing the fields into level check basins surrounded by strong earthen bunds allows farmers to maintain a continuous pond of water ($5$ to $10\text{ cm}$ deep) across the field, which suppresses weed growth and meets the crop's high water requirements.
Therefore, Statement I is true.
2. Statement II: The size of the check basins in rice fields varies with the size of the irrigation stream and does not depend on the infiltration characteristics of the soil.
This statement is incorrect.
The size of a check basin is determined by several factors, including the soil's infiltration rate:
- On highly permeable soils (such as sandy soils), check basins must be kept small.
If the basin is too large, water will infiltrate near the inlet before reaching the far end, resulting in poor distribution uniformity and high percolation losses.
- On heavy clayey soils with low infiltration rates, check basins can be made much larger.
Therefore, the basin size depends heavily on the soil's infiltration characteristics.
Thus, Statement II is false.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Statement I is true, but Statement II is false because the size of the check basin is directly influenced by the soil's infiltration rate.
Hence, the correct option is (C).