Correct Option
The correct option is (b).
Explanation
Drought is a period of unusually dry weather that persists long enough to cause serious hydrological imbalances. Soil properties, particularly texture and composition, significantly influence water retention, which determines plant survival during water-deficit conditions.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Incorrect. Droughts are characterized by a deficiency of precipitation over an extended period, resulting in a water shortage. Excessive precipitation over a short period typically leads to floods, not droughts.
- Statement 2 is Correct. Heavy soils with high clay content consist of very fine particles with small pore spaces. These small pores create strong capillary forces that hold water effectively against gravity. Consequently, clay soils have a high water retention capacity compared to sandy or loamy soils.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect. Agricultural research has led to the development of numerous drought-tolerant crop varieties. Crops such as millets (sorghum, pearl millet) are naturally drought-tolerant, and scientific breeding has produced varieties of rice, wheat, and maize specifically designed to withstand water scarcity.
Key Takeaway
Clay soils possess high water retention capabilities due to fine particle size. Droughts are defined by a lack of precipitation, and modern agriculture utilizes specific drought-resistant crop varieties to mitigate yield loss.