Agricultural Practices and Land Use

Effective farming techniques further help in soil erosion. In plain areas, strip cropping can be used for soil conservation where strips of grass are allowed to stand between crops in large fields. These strips of grass reduce the force of wind and thus, prevent soil erosion.

Terrace farming is one way of soil conservation and involves cutting terraces along a slope. These terraces reduce the speed of water flowing down the slope and help in soil conservation.

Contour ploughing is also beneficial in reducing the flow of water down the slope and involves ploughing at right angles to the natural slope of land.

The harmful change in the colour, texture, and quality of soil due to addition and removal of any material is called soil pollution. Soil pollution reduces the productivity of the soil. There are several pollutants that cause soil pollution. For example, agricultural wastes, radioactive wastes and discarded materials of hospitals etc. Weeds are the unwanted crops that compete with the main crop. Weedicides are the chemicals used to kill the weeds so that plants can grow properly. Cropping techniques should be improved to prevent the growth of weeds to minimise soil pollution. Other chemicals like pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers etc. are also used to promote the growth of crops. These are the chemicals that get consumed with the food by the living beings and are also involved in changing the pH of the soil. These are harmful to living beings and the ecosystem. For example, repeated use of fertilizers makes the soil acidic which in turn decreases the productivity of the soil. So, use of pesticide and fertilizers should be minimised, fertilizers should be replaced by manures and composts. Therefore, the correct option is D.

• Mulching is a process of covering (as of straw, compost, or plastic sheeting) the soil and make more favorable conditions for plant growth and development.
• Mulch is a layer of material applied to the surface of the soil. Reasons for applying mulch include conservation of soil moisture, improving fertility and health of the soil, reducing weed growth and enhancing the visual appeal of the area.
  
• Hence Mulching is helpful in Increasing soil fertility, Prevent soil erosion and Control weeds.
• So, the correct answer is 'All the above'.

Agrostologic method of soil conservation means in which grasses are grown to check the soil erosion. In dry farming, crop production, animal husbandry and grazing fields are used to prevent soil erosion. It is carried out in low and moderate rainfall areas. 

Terracing is the practice of creating nearly level areas in a hillside area. The terraces form a series of steps, each at a higher level than the previous. Terraces are protected from erosion of soil. 

Soil conservation is a technique aimed at preserving the soil. There are various methods for soil conservation such as afforestation, manuring and crop rotation, step farming, windbreaks, strip cropping, mulching. Strip cropping is the method of farming in which the field is partitioned into long, narrow strips which are alternated in a crop rotation system. Crop rotation is the method of farming in which different types of crops are grown in the same area in different seasons. Mulching is the process of applying a layer of material on the soil in order to conserve soil moisture, improve fertility.

• Soil conservation is the protection of soil from erosion and other types of deterioration, so as to maintain soil fertility and productivity.
• Dryland Farming is the cultivation of crops without irrigation in regions of limited moisture, typically less than 20 inches (50 centimeters) of precipitation annually. It helps in soil conservation.
  
• Hence an agrostologic method of soil conservation is Dry Farming.
  
• So, the correct answer is 'Dairy farming'.

Tillage is the method of mechanical agitation of various types like as digging, stirring, and overturning to improve the crop yield. Crop rotation helps in increase in soil fertility. It is the process of growing a series of different crops in the same area in sequenced seasons. Terrace farming is a type of farming that consists of various steps or terraces. In contour farming, several grasses are left out in soil after the crop is harvested. In contour farming, crops are placed perpendicular to slopes to follow the contours of a slope of a field. This helps in breaking down the flow of water and prevent soil erosion.

Mulch is a protective layer of a material, that is spread on top of the soil. Mulches can either be organic - such as grass clippings, straw, bark chips, or inorganic - such as stones, brick chips, and plastic. Materials used as mulches are used to retain soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, suppress weed growth, and for aesthetics. They are applied to the soil surface, around trees, paths, flower beds, to prevent soil erosion on slopes, and in production areas for flower and vegetable crops. Mulch layers are normally two inches or more deep when applied.

Finance used to purchase seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and related agricultural tools and credit taken for the purpose of permanently enhancing the productivity of land are known as productive credit.

Use of bio-tech is optional and not obligatory to make farming 'green'. But in the case of India it looks better to use it as part of the second green revolution as it can be handy in the development of so many suitable inputs which may increase production and cut prices of the agriculture products.