Questions - Answers on: Conservation Agriculture

1. Explain the concept of conservation tillage.

Answers:

Explain the concept of conservation tillage: Conservation tillage is not explicitly defined in the document. However, it generally refers to farming practices that maintain a minimum soil disturbance, ensuring a permanent soil cover, often with crop residues or cover crops, and utilizing diversified crop rotations. It aims to improve soil health, reduce erosion, and enhance biodiversity.

2. Discuss the role of conservation agriculture in mitigation of climate change. 

Answers:

Discuss the role of conservation agriculture in mitigation of climate change: Conservation agriculture contributes to climate change mitigation by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing carbon sequestration in the soil. It involves practices like minimum tillage, maintaining a permanent organic soil cover, and diversified crop rotations, which improve soil organic matter and reduce the need for energy-intensive farming inputs.

3. Elaborate the impact of conservation agriculture on productivity, water-use efficiency and soil health.

Answers:

Elaborate the impact of conservation agriculture on productivity, water-use efficiency, and soil health: Conservation agriculture positively impacts productivity by improving soil structure and fertility. Water-use efficiency is enhanced through better infiltration and reduced evaporation. Soil health benefits from increased organic matter content, reduced erosion, and enhanced microbial activity.

4. Give sequence of events for the propagation of conservation tillage.

Answers:

Give sequence of events for the propagation of conservation tillage: The document does not provide a specific sequence of events for the propagation of conservation tillage. Generally, this would involve the development and adoption of conservation tillage practices, influenced by factors like technological advances, environmental awareness, and policy support.

5. Explain the principles of conservation agriculture.

Answers:

Explain the principles of conservation agriculture: The three basic principles of conservation agriculture are minimal soil disturbance (no tillage), permanent soil cover (with crop residues or cover crops), and diversified crop rotations (including legumes).

6. Give a brief account of conservation agriculture practices.

Answers:

Give a brief account of conservation agriculture practices: Conservation agriculture practices include no-tillage or reduced tillage, maintaining a permanent organic cover on the soil, diversified crop rotations, and employing cover crops or green manures. These practices aim to improve soil health, reduce erosion, and enhance biodiversity.

7. Discuss the limitations/constraints in adoption of conservation agriculture under Indian conditions.

Answers:

Discuss the limitations/constraints in adoption of conservation agriculture under Indian conditions: The document does not detail specific limitations or constraints in the adoption of conservation agriculture in India. However, typical challenges could include the need for new farming equipment, changes in weed and pest management strategies, and farmers' reluctance to adopt new practices without clear, immediate benefits.

8. Justify the statement that we have to think globally but have to act locally while conducting research and adopting conservation agriculture.

Answers:

Justify the statement that we have to think globally but have to act locally while conducting research and adopting conservation agriculture: This statement emphasizes the importance of considering global environmental challenges like climate change while implementing local agricultural practices that are sustainable and suitable for specific local conditions.

9. Discuss the present status and future of direct seeded rice under Indian condition 

Answers:

Discuss the present status and future of direct seeded rice under Indian condition: The document does not specifically address the current status and future of direct-seeded rice in India. However, direct-seeded rice is generally considered a water-efficient and labor-saving alternative to traditional transplanted rice, with potential for wider adoption in Indian agriculture.

Fill in the blanks:

(i) .. .. regarded as Father of Tillage

(ii) Book entitled 'Plowman's Folly: A Second Look' was written by ... ..

(iii) Mouldboard Plough was first introduced in ........ AD

(iv) ......... is regarded as the father of conservation tillage

(v) Conservation tillage concept was first developed in .........

(vi) Three pillars of conservation agriculture are

(vii) Greenhouse gases contributed by agriculture are .............. .. and

(viii) ......... has the potential to regulate climate change

(ix) According to one projection, a rise in temperature by 1°C will increase crop water demand by .........%

(x) As per FAO projection 2016, worldwide ......... ha area is under conservation agriculture.

(xi) USA, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, and Australia account for ........ of the area under conservation agriculture worldwide

(xii) Laser land leveling results in the saving of irrigation water by .....

(xiii) The lower limit of covering the soil surface with a crop is .......% to qualify for conservation tillage.

(xiv) Major benefits of zero tillage are ..............

(xv) In direct-seeded rice, the saving of irrigation water ranges from ....... as compared to transplanted rice

(xvi) ......... is a labor, fuel, time, and water-saving technology besides reducing methane emission.

(xvii) ......... ......... ...... ......... are used to knock down the Sesbania in brown manuring

(xviii) ....... is a suitable break crop for the rice-wheat cropping system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains.

(xix) .......... .. and ......... are suitable options for replacing rice in the rice-wheat cropping system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains.

(xx) The global average GHGs emissions from agriculture are ....... % (IPCC 2007).

Answers:

1. (i) Jethro Tull is regarded as the Father of Tillage.
2. (ii) The book entitled 'Plowman's Folly: A Second Look' was written by Edward H. Faulkner.
3. (iii) The Mouldboard Plough was first introduced in 1100 AD.
4. (iv) Edward H. Faulkner is regarded as the father of conservation tillage.
5. (v) The Conservation tillage concept was first developed in the USA.
6. (vi) The three pillars of conservation agriculture are Minimum soil disturbance, Permanent soil cover, and Diversified crop rotation.
7. (vii) The greenhouse gases contributed by agriculture are CO2, CH4, and N2O.
8. (viii) Conservation agriculture has the potential to regulate climate change.
9. (ix) According to one projection, a rise in temperature by 1°C will increase crop water demand by 10%.
10. (x) As per FAO projection 2016, worldwide 157 million hectares area is under conservation agriculture.
11. (xi) The USA, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, and Australia account for 84% of the area under conservation agriculture worldwide.
12. (xii) Laser land leveling results in saving of irrigation water by 20-30%.
13. (xiii) The lower limit of covering of soil surface with crop is 30% to qualify for conservation tillage.
14. (xiv) Major benefits of zero tillage are Reduced cost, Timely planting of crops, Reduced weed density, and Build up of soil carbon.
15. (xv) In direct seeded rice, saving of irrigation water ranges from 30-40% as compared to transplanted rice.
16. (xvi) Direct seeded rice is a labor, fuel, time, and water-saving technology beside reduction in methane emission.
17. (xvii) 2-4 D ethyl ester @ 0.25-0.50 kg/ha or Bispyribac-Na @ 20-25g/ha are used to knock down the Sesbania in brown manuring.
18. (xviii) Greengram is a suitable break crop for the rice-wheat cropping system in Indo-Gangetic Plains.
19. (xix) Cotton, Pigeonpea, and Maize are suitable options for replacing rice in the rice-wheat cropping system in Indo-Gangetic Plains.
20. (xx) The global average GHGs emissions from agriculture is 13.5% (IPCC 2007).

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