Correct Option
The correct option is It devastates natural eco-systems and depletes the soil..
Explanation
Conventional agriculture, often associated with the Green Revolution, relies heavily on synthetic inputs such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides to maximize crop yields. While this approach increases productivity in the short term, it generates significant negative environmental externalities affecting soil health and surrounding ecosystems.
Option Analysis
- It increases the gestation period of crops. is incorrect: Chemical fertilizers provide plants with readily available nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium), which typically accelerates plant growth and maturity. Consequently, they tend to decrease, rather than increase, the gestation period of crops.
- It devastates natural eco-systems and depletes the soil. is correct: The excessive and continuous use of chemical fertilizers degrades soil structure, alters soil pH (often making it acidic), and destroys beneficial soil microorganisms essential for nutrient cycling. Additionally, nutrient runoff (leaching) leads to eutrophication in water bodies, causing algal blooms that deplete oxygen and devastate aquatic ecosystems.
- It reduces the need for irrigation. is incorrect: Crops grown with high doses of chemical fertilizers generally require more water to dissolve and absorb the nutrients effectively. This high water demand often leads to the over-exploitation of groundwater resources rather than reducing the need for irrigation.
- It prevents pests from entering the food supply. is incorrect: Fertilizers are designed to supply nutrients, not to control pests. In some cases, the lush, succulent growth resulting from excessive nitrogen application can actually make crops more susceptible to pest attacks. Pest control is the function of pesticides, not fertilizers.
Key Takeaway: Intensive chemical agriculture disrupts the ecological balance by degrading soil fertility, reducing soil organic matter, and causing pollution through nutrient runoff, making the system unsustainable in the long run.