Unsustainable farming environmental effect – UGC NET Question

Excessive tilling breaks down soil structure and exposes bare soil to wind and water. Removing all crop residues leaves the surface unprotected, making it easier for topsoil to be washed or blown away. Over time, this erosion removes nutrient-rich layers and organic matter, leading to reduced fertility and productivity. Thus, the most likely environmental consequence is increased soil erosion and declining soil quality, as described in option D.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because unsustainable practices usually reduce organic matter by exposing it to rapid decomposition and erosion. Permanent increases in fertility require conservation measures, not intensive disturbance.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect; such practices tend to worsen, not eliminate, soil erosion. Protective cover and conservation tillage are needed to significantly reduce erosion rates.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because rapid groundwater recharge is more closely linked to practices like contour bunding, percolation tanks and maintaining soil structure. Intensive tilling and residue removal can increase runoff instead of infiltration.

Option D:
Option D is correct since it captures how soil mismanagement can degrade land over time. Loss of topsoil diminishes the land’s capacity to support crops and can contribute to siltation of downstream water bodies.