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Agriculture
Irrigation & Water Management
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UPSC Prelims 2021 Paper-1 📅 10 Oct, 2021

Among the following, which one is the least water-efficient crop?

A
Sugarcane
B
Sunflower
C
Pearl millet
D
Red gram
Result Summary
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APEDIA

UPSC Prelims
2021 • 10 Oct, 2021 • Paper-1
Among the following, which one is the least water-efficient crop?
Correct Answer
Sugarcane
Water Efficiency Concept: Water-use efficiency in agriculture refers to the yield of the crop harvested per unit of water consumed (via irrigation and rainfall)......
Ref/Book : UPSC Prelims 2021
Ref. Subject Agriculture
Chapter -
Ref. Topic Irrigation & Water Management
Pg. No -
💡 Analysis & Explanation
Water Efficiency Concept ▼
Water-use efficiency in agriculture refers to the yield of the crop harvested per unit of water consumed (via irrigation and rainfall). A crop requiring massive amounts of water for a long duration is considered 'least efficient'.
Comparative Analysis ▼
Pearl millet (Bajra) and Red gram (Arhar) are inherently drought-resistant dryland crops requiring minimal water. Sunflower also requires moderate irrigation.
Sugarcane's Profile ▼
Sugarcane is a highly water-intensive cash crop. It demands prolonged, continuous irrigation throughout its long growing cycle (often 10 to 18 months), consuming disproportionately massive volumes of groundwater and surface water compared to its biomass output.
Conclusion ▼
Sugarcane stands out as the most water-guzzling and least water-efficient crop among the given options.
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