Issues on Environment, Biodiversity & Climate Change (Part-IV)

The diversification of agriculture is an alternate way for the regeneration and conservation of land and water. Hence, statement I is correct.

In Legume Intensification, Legumes fix the atmospheric nitrogen, release in the soil high-quality organic matter, and it make soil nutrients' circulation and water retention easy. Legumes improve the stability and health of agro-ecosystems.

Hence, statement 2 is correct.

When the water pressure in the tensiometer is determined to be in equilibrium with the water pressure in the soil, the tensiometer gauge reading represents the matric potential of the soil.

Such tensiometers are used in irrigation scheduling to help farmers and other irrigation managers to determine when to water.
Tensiometer means tension measurement.

In order to absorb water from soil, the plant has to overcome the suction tension of the soil.

This tension is measured by the tensiometer, thus giving indication of the soil moisture at the depth in which it was placed.

Tensiometer helps farmers and other irrigation managers to determine when to water the soil. Hence, statement 3 is correct. Vertical farming is the practice of growing crops in vertically stacked layers. Sometimes it can cause occur environmental damage therefore this practice is not considered eco-friendly.

Hence statement 4 is incorrect.

In the majority of cases an elephant group is headed by a female elephant, named 'matriarch". So, #1 is correct! Answer should be a.

Papikonda National Park is in Andhra Pradesh So, #2 is wrong. In both of these options statements 3 and 4 are common so we have to accept them as correct without checking. Everything boils down to weather Statement#1 is right or not?

Nagarhole National Park is located in Karnataka, and is the in Cauvery basin. So, Answer c.

Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary is in Uttar Pradesh. So, #3 is unlikely t be a Natural habitat of Musk deer. In both of the remaining options first statement is common. Now between the Gangotri and Manas, Manas (Assam) is likely to be a lower altitude place so, A: 1 and 2 should be the answer.

In the Hot Mix Asphalt technology, Asphalt is heated & poured over stone, sand, gravel, then a heavy roller is driven over it to compact the road surface. If you visualise the entire process, it results into emission of many gases because of heating so, does not seem to help reducing the carbon footprint. #4 is wrong and so the answer is a.

Copper slag is a by-product obtained during smelting and refining of copper. Copper slag is non-hazardous, non-toxic material. This eco-friendly industrial by-product is being used in government road projects for the past 3 years now, says the report by Sterlite Copper Company. Research papers published in Springer journal, also tell a similar story. So, #1 is correct, & Answer should be a.

The vegetation of savanna characteristically consists of grassland with scattered small trees, but extensive areas have no trees. In some savannas, herds of grazing herbivores have a profound influence on the vegetation, favoring grasses (which protect their embryonic, actively dividing tissues in buds at or just below ground level) and hindering the regeneration of trees (because these same tissues are exposed to browsing animals and to fire). #3 is right.

Fire, whether natural or human-induced, can be a common hazard in the dry season. #2 is right.

So final answer: (c) 2, 3 and 4.