Agriculture and Environment: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Environment and Ecology)
2 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Agriculture and Environment (Environment and Ecology). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–2 of 2 questions
UPSC 2022Environment and Ecology · Agriculture and Environment
Q1. Among the following crops, which one is the most important anthropogenic source of both methane and nitrous oxide?
Explanation
Methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) are the two most important GHGs after carbon dioxide (CO₂). The most rapid increase in CH₄ emission was found in natural wetlands and rice fields due to increased rice cultivation area and climate warming. N₂O emission increased substantially in all the biome types and the largest increase occurred in upland crops due to increasing air temperature and nitrogen fertilizer use. Rice paddies are considered one of the most important sources of CH₄ and N₂O emissions, which have attracted considerable attention due to their contribution to global warming.
UPSC 2022Environment and Ecology · Agriculture and Environment
Q2. "System of rice Intensification" of cultivation, in which alternate wetting and drying of rice fields is practised, results in: 1. Reduced seed requirement 2. Reduced methane production 3. Reduced electricity consumption Select the correct answer using the code given below
Explanation
The System of Rice Intensification involves cultivating rice with as much organic manure as possible, starting with young seedlings planted singly at wider spacing in a square pattern; and with intermittent irrigation that keeps the soil moist but not inundated, and frequent inter cultivation with weeder that actively aerates the soil. SRI is not a standardised, fixed technological method. It is rather a set of ideas, a methodology for comprehensively managing and conserving resources by changing the way that land, seeds, water, nutrients, and human labour are used to increase productivity from a small but well-tended number of seeds. Advantages of SRI Disadvantages of SRI Higher yields - Both grain and straw Higher labour costs in the initial years Reduced duration Difficulties in acquiring the necessary skills Reduced seed requirement Not suitable when no irrigation source available Lesser chemical inputs Less water requirement Reduced electricity consumption Less chaffy grain rain weight increased without change in grain size Higher head rice recovery Withstand cyclonic gales Cold tolerance Soil health improves through biological activity Reduced methane production
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2022
(b) Rice
2
2022
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Agriculture and Environment?
This page covers 2 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Agriculture and Environment (Environment and Ecology), asked from 2011 to 2022. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Agriculture and Environment?
Questions on Agriculture and Environment (Environment and Ecology) are available for 9 years, from 2011 to 2022. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
