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Q83 (IAS/2016) Economy › Agriculture & Rural Economy › Irrigation and watershed Official Key

Which of the following is/are the advantage/advantages of practising drip irrigation? 1. Reduction in weed 2. Reduction in soil salinity 3. Reduction in soil erosion Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: C
Explanation

The correct answer is option C (1 and 3 only).

Drip irrigation discourages weed growth because water is only delivered where it is needed[1], meaning that areas between plants remain dry and inhospitable to weeds. This targeted water application is a key advantage over conventional irrigation methods that wet entire fields.

Drip irrigation systems can also help reduce soil erosion[2] since water is applied slowly at low rates directly to the root zone, preventing the surface runoff and water flow that causes erosion in flood or surface irrigation systems.

However, statement 2 is incorrect. Drip irrigation does not reduce soil salinity; in fact, it requires careful salinity management. Since water is applied close to plants so that only part of the soil in which the roots grow is wetted[3], salts can accumulate in areas where water does not reach. The precise water application actually necessitates careful monitoring and leaching to prevent salt buildup in the root zone.

Therefore, only statements 1 and 3 are advantages of drip irrigation, making option C the correct answer.

Sources
  1. [1] Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 11: Irrigation in India > Advantages: > p. 364
  2. [3] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 2. Drip/Trickle/Micro/Localized Irrigation > p. 334
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Which of the following is/are the advantage/advantages of practising drip irrigation? 1. Reduction in weed 2. Reduction in soil salinit…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 3.3/10 · 3.3/10
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This question rewards 'mechanistic visualization' over rote memorization. While books list advantages, the key was to visualize the water flow: Drip = localized wetness. This logically confirms weed reduction (dry inter-rows) and erosion control (no runoff), but exposes the trap in salinity (no flushing action).

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Does practicing drip irrigation reduce weed growth or weed infestation compared to conventional irrigation methods?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 11: Irrigation in India > Advantages: > p. 364
Presence: 5/5
“• Reduces the water loss due to evaporation and deep drainage. • Prevents fungal disease by minimising water contact. • Discourages weed growth because water is only delivered where it is needed. • Can eliminate many diseases which spread through drained out irrigation water having • harmful chemicals like fertilisers and pesticides. • Increases WUE.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states drip irrigation 'discourages weed growth because water is only delivered where it is needed.'
  • Links the delivery pattern of drip systems directly to reduced weed establishment.
Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 2. Drip/Trickle/Micro/Localized Irrigation > p. 334
Presence: 4/5
“Drip irrigation involves dripping water onto the soil at very low rates (2-20 litres/hour) from a system of small diameter plastic pipes fitted with outlets called emitters or drippers. Water is applied close to plants so that only part of the soil in which the roots grow is wetted, unlike surface and sprinkler irrigation, which involves wetting the whole soil profile. With drip irrigation water, applications are more frequent (usually every 1-3 days) than with other methods and this provides a very favourable high moisture level in the soil in which plants can flourish. Drip irrigation is most suitable for row crops (vegetables, soft fruits like grapes), tree and vine crops where one or more emitters can be provided for each plant.”
Why this source?
  • Describes that drip irrigates only part of the soil (wets root zone) unlike surface/sprinkler which wets the whole soil profile.
  • Provides the mechanistic basis: limited wetted soil area reduces moisture available for non-crop (weed) growth.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 25: Agriculture > Drip irrigation: > p. 366
Presence: 3/5
“• Drip irrigation is also called trickle irrigation and involves dripping water onto the soil at very low rates from a system of small diameter plastic pipes fitted with outlets called emitters. Water is applied close to plants so that only part of the soil in which the roots grow is wetted, unlike surface and sprinkler irrigation, which involves wetting the whole soil profile.”
Why this source?
  • Defines drip (trickle) irrigation and emphasizes water is applied close to plants so only part of the soil is wetted.
  • Supports the inference that reduced overall soil wetting lowers habitat for weeds compared with methods wetting the entire soil surface.
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