UPSC Prelims 2018 Q59: Environment & Ecology – Sustainable Agriculture & Forestry

UPSC Prelims 2018, General Studies Paper I · Environment & Ecology

With reference to the circumstances in Indian agriculture, the concept of 'Conservation Agriculture' assumes significance. Which of the following fall under the Conservation Agriculture? 1. Avoiding the monoculture practices 2. Adopting minimum tillage 3. Avoiding the cultivation of plantation crops 4. Using crop residues to cover soil surface 5. Adopting spatial and temporal crop sequencing/crop rotations Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 3 and 4
(b) 2, 3, 4 and 5
(c) 2, 4 and 5
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 5

Answer: (c) 2, 4 and 5

Explanation

Conservation Agriculture (CA) - Principles

Conservation Agriculture, as defined by the FAO, rests on three interlinked principles: minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil cover, and crop diversification/rotation.

Practice	Part of CA?	Detail
1. Avoiding monoculture	Partially - CA promotes diversification, but 'avoiding monoculture' is broader than CA.	Not among the specific 3 CA principles.
2. Minimum tillage	YES	Principle 1 of CA: reduce soil disturbance to preserve structure and organic matter.
3. Avoiding plantation crops	NO	Plantation crops (tea, coffee, rubber) can be part of CA; the restriction is on tillage/soil handling, not on crop type.
4. Crop residues covering soil	YES	Principle 2 of CA: maintain permanent soil cover with residues or cover crops (mulching).
5. Spatial/temporal crop rotations	YES	Principle 3 of CA: diversify crops in space (intercropping) and time (rotation).

Answer: (c) 2, 4 and 5.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Incorrect. Includes plantation-crop avoidance (3, false) and misses the core tillage/residue/rotation principles.
(b) Incorrect. Includes plantation-crop avoidance (3), which is not a CA principle.
(c) CORRECT. The three FAO-defined CA principles are: minimum tillage (2), soil cover with residues (4), and crop rotation/diversification (5).
(d) Incorrect. Includes plantation-crop avoidance (3) which is not part of CA principles.

Key point

FAO Conservation Agriculture (CA) - 3 principles: (i) Minimum soil disturbance (no/low tillage), (ii) Permanent soil cover (residues, mulch, cover crops), (iii) Crop rotation and diversification (spatial + temporal).

Remember

Conservation Agriculture rests on three FAO-defined principles: minimum soil disturbance (low or zero tillage), permanent soil cover (through crop residues or cover crops), and crop diversification through spatial and temporal rotations. Avoiding plantation crops or monocultures alone is not part of the CA framework - CA is about how soil is managed, not which crops are excluded.

Common mistakes

Adding 'no monoculture' or 'no plantations' - these are not FAO-defined CA principles; CA focuses on soil handling and crop diversity.
Confusing conservation agriculture with organic farming - CA is a soil-preservation approach; organic prohibits synthetic inputs.
Missing the linkage - all three CA principles work together for soil health and productivity; adopting only one is not CA.

Exam tip

CA mnemonic: MRD = Minimum tillage, Residue cover, Diversification. FAO's global promotion of CA aims at climate-smart agriculture, especially for India's degraded soils.

Sources

FAO - Conservation Agriculture Principles (fao.org)
ICAR - Bulletin on Conservation Agriculture Practices in India

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