Question

Soil tilling is a farming practice where farmers mix or turn over the soil between growing seasons. Soil tilling can have the following effects:

- It makes the soil more compact, which reduces the amount of water that it can absorb.
- It decreases the number of microbes and earthworms in the soil, which makes the soil less fertile.
- It breaks apart clumps in the top layer of soil, which makes the soil more likely to erode.
- No-till farming is an alternative farming practice.

In this practice, farmers do not till the soil between growing seasons. What is a benefit of no-till farming?
A. It increases the amount of water released as surface runoff by farms.
B. It can help conserve Earth's soil and water while increasing soil fertility.
C. It can make farms more productive by decreasing the growth of microbes.
D. It allows more soil to be transported from farms to surrounding environments.

Answer 1

No-till farming helps conserve soil and water, increases soil fertility by protecting soil organisms, and aids in preventing soil erosion, making it an environmentally beneficial agricultural practice. The correct option is option B.

Step-by-step explanation:

Soil tilling is a common agricultural practice that prepares the soil for planting by breaking up compacted clods, but it has several negative consequences such as reducing water absorption, destroying soil microbes and earthworms, and promoting soil erosion. On the other hand, no-till farming is an alternative approach that offers a range of benefits for the soil and the environment.

No-till farming conserves soil moisture, protects soil organisms which in turn can increase soil fertility, encourages water infiltration, and helps to prevent topsoil erosion. This approach can also lower farming costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to carbon sequestration in the soil, therefore, helping in the fight against global warming. No-till practices have been successful in various parts of the world, including Latin America, South Asia, and Africa, supporting sustainability on both local and global scales.

Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question about the benefit of no-till farming is It can help conserve Earth's soil and water while increasing soil fertility.