Desertification is a term used to explain a process of decline in the biological productivity of an ecosystem,

Question

Desertification is a term used to explain a process of decline in the biological productivity of an ecosystem, leading to total loss of productivity. While this phenomenon is often linked to the arid, semi- arid and sub- humid ecosystems, even in the humid tropics, the impact could be most dramatic. Impoverishment of human- impacted terrestrial ecosystems may exhibit itself in a variety of ways: accelerated erosion as in the mountain regions of the country, salinization of land as in the semi- arid and arid 'green revolution' areas of the country, e.g., Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, and site quality decline- a common phenomenon due to general decline in tree cover and monotonous monoculture of rice/wheat across the Indian plains. A major consequence of deforestation is that it relates to adverse alterations in the hydrology and related soil and nutrient losses. The consequences of deforestation invariably arise out of site degradation through erosive losses. Tropical Asia, Africa and South America have the highest levels of erosion. The already high rates for the tropics are increasing at an alarming rate (e.g., through the major river systems- Ganga and Brahmaputra, in the Indian context), due to deforestation and ill- suited land management practices subsequent to forest clearing. In the mountain context, the declining moisture retention of the mountain soils, drying up of the underground springs and smaller rivers in the Himalayan region could be attributed to drastic changes in the forest cover. An indirect consequence is drastic alteration in the upland- lowland interaction, mediated through water. The current

concern the tea planter of Assam has is about the damage to tea plantations due to frequent inundation along the flood- plains of Brahmaputra, and the damage to tea plantation and the consequent loss in tea productivity is due to rising level of the river bottom because of siltation and the changing course of the river system. The ultimate consequences of site desertification are soil degradation, alteration in available water and its quality, and the consequent decline in food, fodder and fuel- wood yields essential for the economic well- being of rural communities.

Which of the following is/are the correct inference/ inferencesthat can be made from the passage?

1. Deforestation can cause changes in the course of rivers. 
2. Salinization of land takes place due to human activities only. 
3. Intense monoculture practice in plains is a major reason for desertification in Tropical Asia, Africa and South America.

Select the correct answer using the code given below

Accepted Answer

The explanation for why A is the correct answer is as follows:

1.  Deforestation can cause changes in the course of rivers: The passage states, "The already high rates for the tropics are increasing at an alarming rate (e.g., through the major river systems- Ganga and Brahmaputra, in the Indian context), due to deforestation and ill- suited land management practices subsequent to forest clearing." It further mentions that the damage to tea plantations is "due to rising level of the river bottom because of siltation and the changing course of the river system." Since deforestation leads to increased erosion and siltation, which in turn causes river beds to rise and courses to change, this is a correct inference.

2.  Salinization of land takes place due to human activities only: The passage mentions "salinization of land as in the semi- arid and arid 'green revolution' areas of the country, e.g., Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh." While this links salinization to human activities (Green Revolution), the word "only" makes this statement incorrect as an inference. The passage does not exclude natural causes of salinization; it only provides an example of human-induced salinization.

3.  Intense monoculture practice in plains is a major reason for desertification in Tropical Asia, Africa and South America: The passage states that "monotonous monoculture of rice/wheat across the Indian plains" is a cause for "site quality decline" (a form of impoverishment of ecosystems, linked to desertification). However, it specifically attributes this to the "Indian plains." It does not generalize this as a "major reason for desertification in Tropical Asia, Africa and South America" as a whole. The broader causes mentioned for the entire tropical region are "deforestation and ill-suited land management practices." Therefore, this statement is an overgeneralization and not a correct inference.

Based on the analysis, only statement 1 is a correct inference.

Answer

1 only

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

None of the above is a correct inference

Explanation

Related questions