NCERT Question 1 (i)

Which one of the following is the main cause of land degradation in Punjab?
(a) Intensive cultivation
(b) Deforestation
(c) Over irrigation
(d) Overgrazing

Answer: (c) Over irrigation

Explanation:

• Punjab practices intensive agriculture, especially for water-intensive crops like rice and wheat.

• To support this, farmers rely heavily on canal and tube well irrigation.

• Excessive irrigation leads to waterlogging (accumulation of excess water in the soil).

• Waterlogging causes salinisation—salts accumulate in the soil, making it less fertile.

• These factors together result in land degradation over time.