Question

Read the following passage and answer the items that follow. Your answers to these items should be based on the passage only. 

The pulse variety 'Pusa Arhar 16' has the potential to be grown in the paddy-growing regions of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and eventually in all of India. Its yield (about 2000 kg/hectare) will be significantly greater than those of the existing varieties and because its size will be uniform, it will be amenable to mechanical harvesting, an attractive feature for farmers in northern India who currently use this technology for paddy. Most importantly, Arhar straw, unlike paddy straw, is green and can be ploughed back into the soil. In paddy straw, the problem is the high silica content, which does not allow for easy decomposition. In the case of Arhar, the farmer, even after combine harvesting, just needs to run a rotovator to cut the leftover straw into pieces, which can be ploughed back and will decompose very fast. All this is difficult with leftover paddy stalks that cannot be easily salvaged or ploughed back. Farmers, therefore, choose the easiest option of simply burning it. 

Which of the following are the most rational inferences that can be made from the passage?

1. Farmers' income will be higher with pulse cultivation than with paddy cultivation. 

2. Pulse cultivation causes less pollution as compared to paddy cultivation.

3. Pulse straw can be used to improve soil quality.

4. In the context of northern Indian agriculture, paddy straw has no usefulness. 

5. Mechanized agriculture is the main cause for stubble burning. 

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 2, 3 and 5
2. 1, 4 and 5
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1 and 4 only

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : 2 and 3 only

The correct answer is 2 and 3 only

•  Let's go through each option carefully:
  • Farmers' income will be higher with pulse cultivation than with paddy cultivation: According to the passage,
    • The yield of PUSA Arhar-16 will be higher than other existing varieties of pulses but no data is provided about the relative prices of paddy and pulses and also their regional distribution
    • Mechanical harvesting is already being used for paddy which can now be used for PUSA Arhar-16 pulse variety
    • The leftover straw of the new pulse variety can be easily cut, ploughed back into the soil, and decompose, but this does not necessarily mean a greater income for the farmers
  • Pulse cultivation causes less pollution as compared to paddy cultivation: According to the passage,
    • The new pulse variety is green and its leftover straw can be easily cut, ploughed back into the soil and decomposed
    • Paddy, due to its high silica content, does not easily decompose and is not easy to be salvaged
    • This causes the farmers to burn the leftover paddy stalks
  • Pulse straw can be used to improve soil quality: According to the passage,
    • "In the case of Arhar, the farmer, even after combine harvesting, just needs to run a rotovator to cut the leftover straw into pieces, which can be ploughed back and will decompose very fast."
    • Thus it can help in increasing the fertility of the soil, thus its soil quality
  • In the context of northern Indian agriculture, paddy straw has no usefulness: According to the passage, nothing has been mentioned about the usefulness of paddy straw in northern Indian agriculture. Even stubble burning by farmers does not mean it is done everywhere or has no other alternative
  • Mechanized agriculture is the main cause for stubble burning: According to the passage, farmers choose to burn leftover paddy stalks because:
    • They do not decompose easily due to their high silica content
    • They are difficult to be salvaged and ploughed back into the soil
    • Thus, it is not mechanized agriculture but the above facts that are the main reason behind stubble burning

Thus the correct answer is: Pulse cultivation causes less pollution as compared to paddy cultivation; Pulse straw can be used to improve soil quality