How is permaculture farming different from conventional chemical farming?
1. Permaculture farming discourages monocultural practices but in conventional chemical farming, monoculture practices are pre-dominant.
2. Conventional chemical farming can cause increase in soil salinity but the occurrence of such phenomenon is not observed in permaculture farming.
3. Conventional chemical farming is easily possible in semi-arid regions but permaculture farming is not so easily possible in such regions.
4. Practice of mulching is very important in permaculture farming but not necessarily so in conventional chemical farming.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 and 3

1, 2 and 4

4 only

2 and 3

APEDIA

UPSC Prelims

2021 • 10 Oct, 2021 • Paper-1

How is permaculture farming different from conventional chemical farming?
1. Permaculture farming discourages monocultural practices but in conventional chemical farming, monoculture practices are pre-dominant.
2. Conventional chemical farming can cause increase in soil salinity but the occurrence of such phenomenon is not observed in permaculture farming.
3. Conventional chemical farming is easily possible in semi-arid regions but permaculture farming is not so easily possible in such regions.
4. Practice of mulching is very important in permaculture farming but not necessarily so in conventional chemical farming.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Correct Answer

1, 2 and 4

Diversity vs Monoculture: Permaculture focuses on designing resilient ecosystems by mimicking nature's diversity (polyculture). Conversely, conventional chemica......

💡 Analysis & Explanation

Diversity vs Monoculture ▼

Permaculture focuses on designing resilient ecosystems by mimicking nature's diversity (polyculture). Conversely, conventional chemical farming relies heavily on mass-producing a single crop (monoculture) to maximize short-term yield. Thus, statement 1 is correct.

Soil Salinity Dynamics ▼

Heavy reliance on synthetic fertilizers and intense irrigation in chemical farming often leads to severe soil salinization. Permaculture builds soil health organically, naturally preventing and reversing such phenomena. Thus, statement 2 is correct.

Climatic Adaptability ▼

Permaculture techniques (like building swales, retaining rainwater, and dense planting) are exceptionally effective in rehabilitating semi-arid and degraded lands, often outperforming chemical farming which struggles without constant artificial water inputs. Hence, statement 3 is fundamentally incorrect.

Role of Mulching ▼

Covering the soil with organic matter (mulching) to retain moisture, build soil, and suppress weeds is a foundational pillar of permaculture. In industrial farming, bare soil is common and mulching is optional or non-existent. Thus, statement 4 is correct.

Conclusion ▼

Statements 1, 2, and 4 accurately describe the distinct advantages of permaculture.

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