2012 · EnvironmentPrevious Year Question
Q98.
Consider the following agricultural practices: 1. Contour bunding 2. Relay cropping 3. Zero tillage In the context of global climate change, which of the above helps/help in carbon sequestration/storage in the soil?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 3 only
C. 1, 2 and 3
D. None of them
Answer

C

Explanation

All three agricultural practices help in carbon sequestration: (1) Contour bunding reduces soil erosion and maintains organic matter in soil, helping sequester carbon. (2) Relay cropping (growing a second crop before harvesting the first) maintains continuous soil cover and adds organic matter, helping carbon storage. (3) Zero tillage (no-till farming) is specifically recognized as an important carbon sequestration practice — it avoids ploughing which releases stored soil carbon. All three contribute to keeping carbon in the soil rather than releasing it.