Question

Agronomical measure for soil conservation is

• A. Contour furrow
• B. Contour ridge
• C. Strip cropping
• D. Contour ridge and furrow

Hint:

Agronomic = Plants/Crops.
Mechanical = Earthworks/Stone/Structure.
Whenever you see "cropping" or "mulching," think Agronomic.
Whenever you see "bunding" or "furrowing" (large scale), think Mechanical.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks to identify which of the listed practices is classified as an "Agronomical" measure rather than a "Mechanical" or "Engineering" measure for soil conservation.
Detailed Explanation:

• Classification of Soil Conservation Measures:
Soil conservation is generally divided into two main categories:
Agronomical Measures: These involve manipulating the crops, cropping patterns, and soil management without permanent earth-moving. They are usually low-cost and seasonal.
Mechanical/Engineering Measures: These involve large-scale construction and changing the topography (e.g., bunding, terracing, dams). These are permanent and expensive.

• Analysis of Options:
Contour furrows and ridges: While they follow the contour, they involve physical land shaping (creating ridges of earth). These are often considered "mechanical" or "structural" measures, especially if they are reinforced.
Strip cropping: This is purely an agronomic practice. It involves growing erosion-permitting crops (like Maize) and erosion-resisting crops (like Groundnut) in alternate strips across the slope.

• How Strip Cropping Works:
The erosion-resisting strips act as a filter. When water runs off from the maize strip, it hits the groundnut strip, which slows down the velocity and catches the sediment.
It combines the benefit of contouring with biological protection.

• Benefits of Agronomic Measures:
They improve soil organic matter, enhance biological activity, and are easier for small-scale farmers to adopt without heavy machinery.

Step 2: Final Answer:
Strip cropping is the most representative agronomic measure among the choices provided.