Question

Which of the following statements are correct for "Dryland agriculture"?

(A) Growing season in dryland agriculture is < 300 days.
(B) Rainfall should be < 1800 mm.
(C) Main constraints are wind and water erosion.
(D) Growing regions are mainly humid and tropical as well as uplands.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. (A) and (B) only.
• B. (A) and (C) only.
• C. (B), (C) and (D) only.
• D. (B) and (C) only.

Hint:

Recall the rainfall and growing season limits used to define dryland regions.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
We need to check four statements about dryland agriculture and pick the combination that is fully correct.

Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Dryland agriculture covers regions with low and uncertain rainfall, generally under about 1150 mm a year, with a short crop growing period under roughly 200 days, occurring mainly in arid and semi-arid tracts, not humid tropical belts.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
(A) The actual growing season in dryland regions is well under 200 days, so saying it is less than 300 days is a true, though loose, statement, so (A) holds.
(B) Dryland areas get far less rain than 1800 mm, the accepted upper limit is close to 1150 mm, so calling the limit 1800 mm is wrong, and (B) fails.
(C) Because rain is scarce and comes in short, intense spells, and the soil is often left bare between crops, both wind erosion in the drier tracts and water erosion from sudden heavy showers are the two big constraints, so (C) is correct.
(D) Dryland farming happens in arid and semi-arid tracts, the opposite of humid tropical zones, so (D) is wrong.

Step 4: Final Answer:
Only (A) and (C) are correct, which matches option 2.