With reference to the circumstances in Indian agriculture, the concept of "Conservation Agriculture" assumes significance. Which of the following fall under the Conservation Agriculture? 1) Avoiding the monoculture practices 2) Adopting minimum tillage 3) Avoiding the cultivation of plantation crops 4) Using crop residues to cover soil surface 5) Adopting spatial and temporal crop sequencing/crop rotations Select the correct answer using the code given below:

The correct answer is C (2, 4 and 5). Conservation Agriculture rests on three principles: minimal soil disturbance, permanent soil cover, and diversified crop rotations or sequences.

• Statement 2 (minimum tillage) is correct. Reduced or zero tillage keeps soil structure, organic matter and moisture intact.
• Statement 4 (crop residue as surface cover) is correct. Mulching with residue protects against erosion, conserves moisture and builds organic carbon. Stubble burning works against this.
• Statement 5 (crop sequencing and rotation) is correct. Rotations break pest and disease cycles and manage nutrients, and this is the diversity element of the concept.
• Statement 1 (avoiding monoculture) is the trap. Its spirit is covered by statement 5, which is how the concept is framed in the standard definition, so it is not counted separately.
• Statement 3 (avoiding plantation crops) is wrong. Conservation Agriculture is a set of practices and says nothing against plantation crops such as tea, coffee or rubber.

Mains connection: the concept links to soil health management, the Soil Health Card scheme, and the case for direct seeding of rice and zero-tillage wheat to reduce residue burning in north-west India.

Trap: students tick option A or D because monoculture and plantation crops sound like agronomic issues. Test each statement against the three defining principles, not against general good practice.