UPSC Civil Services 2020 Prelims General Studies Paper I

Among the given options, all options 1,2 and 3 are correct as the residue of the previous crops is not burnt which provides organic matter and carbon to the soil. It also facilitates the direct planting of paddy seeds in the wet soil without the need for preparing a rice nursery. This practice has carbon-sequestration potential. Apart from reducing carbon emission, no-tilling practice can also reduce nitrous oxide emissions by 40 to 70%. So option 3 is also correct.

Zero tillage agriculture is rapidly gaining traction due to the side- effects of the conventional methods of farming. It is the process where the crop seed is sown through drillers without prior land preparation and disturbing the soil where previous crop stubbles are present. Zero tillage has multiple benefits- it reduces the cost of cultivation, reduces soil erosion, crop duration and irrigation requirement etc.