Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumConservation of Natural Resources and Environmental Management

Match each soil and water conservation technique on the left with its primary environmental management mechanism on the right.

  • Contour bunding and terracingBreaking the slope length to slow down surface runoff and prevent gully and sheet erosion
  • Establishment of shelterbeltsReducing wind velocity to prevent wind erosion in arid and semi-arid regions
  • Cover cropping with legumesFixing atmospheric nitrogen, suppressing weeds, and protecting soil from rain impact
  • Afforestation of watershedsStabilizing riverbanks, enhancing water infiltration, and protecting hydrological catchment zones

Answer

Contour bunding and terracing matches with breaking the slope length to slow down surface runoff; establishment of shelterbelts matches with reducing wind velocity in arid regions; cover cropping with legumes matches with fixing atmospheric nitrogen and protecting soil from rain impact; afforestation of watersheds matches with stabilizing riverbanks and protecting hydrological catchment zones.
Each conservation technique targets a distinct environmental degradation process: mechanical slope modification (terracing) controls surface water runoff; tree barriers (shelterbelts) reduce wind kinetic energy; ground legumes provide canopy cover and nutrient enrichment; and forest re-establishment (watershed afforestation) secures hydrological catchment stability.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the primary mechanism of contour bunding and terracing
Terracing modifies hillside topography into steps, breaking slope gradient to control surface water movement.
Sloped farmland is prone to severe sheet and gully erosion when runoff flows unimpeded down gradient.
2
Identify the function of shelterbelts
Rows of trees physically block high-velocity winds in drylands.
Wind erosion removes topsoil when vegetation cover is sparse in arid ecosystems.
3
Identify the biological benefits of leguminous cover crops
Low-growing legumes absorb raindrop impact and fix atmospheric nitrogen via Rhizobium nodules.
Ground coverage preserves soil structure while biological nitrogen fixation enhances fertility organically.
4
Identify the hydrological role of watershed afforestation
Deep root systems bind soil and enhance groundwater recharge in river basins.
Forest canopy and roots regulate water flow and prevent siltation of downstream bodies.

Key Concept

Soil and Water Conservation Techniques in Environmental Management
Rate this question

Topics

Conservation of Natural Resources and Environmental Management

More questions from this topic