Question

Paheli gave the following ill effects of the practice of burning dried leaves and other plant parts

i Burning degrades the soil.
ii Burning produces harmful gases/fumes.
iii Precious raw materials to obtain manure at low cost is lost.
iv Lot of heat is generated unnecessarily.

The correct reasons of why we should not burn leaves are
a. i ii and iv only
b. i ii iii and iv
c. ii and iii only
d. ii iii and iv only

Answer 1

Burning dried leaves and plant parts results in air pollution, soil degradation, loss of low-cost manure, and unnecessary heat generation, indicating that all provided reasons (i, ii, iii, and iv) support why this practice should be avoided. Thus, the correct reasons why we should not burn leaves are (b) i, ii, iii, and iv.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question about the ill effects of burning dried leaves and other plant parts rightfully points out several negative consequences associated with this practice. Burning biomass, such as dried leaves and plant parts, produces harmful gases like carbon monoxide and particulate matter, contributing to air pollution and causing health hazards for humans. Moreover, soil degradation occurs as these organic materials, which could naturally decompose and enrich the soil with nutrients, are instead incinerated, resulting in nutrient loss and poor soil quality. This can lead to increased soil erosion and negatively affect agricultural productivity. Additionally, the practice leads to the loss of potential manure, which is a low-cost source of fertilization for crops. Thus, the correct reasons why we should not burn leaves are (b) i, ii, iii, and iv.