Question

Assertion (A): Saline water may cause problem for crops.

Reason (B): Some sensitive crops may suffer leaf scorch because of the salt deposits on the leaf after evaporation of water.

Options

• Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

• Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (А).

• (A) is true but (R) is false.

• (A) is false but (R) is true.

Answer 1

Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Explanation:

Saline water reduces agricultural production by introducing high salt concentrations that disrupt plant osmotic balance and limit water absorption. When overhead irrigation is employed, the water evaporates and deposits concentrated salt crusts immediately on the foliage. For sensitive crops, these deposits dehydrate plant cells via exosmosis, resulting in localized tissue death and a searing effect known as leaf scorch, which explains why saline water is so harmful to crops.