Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — 2, 4 and 5

Conservation Agriculture is based on three core principles: minimum soil disturbance (minimum/no tillage), permanent soil cover (using crop residues or mulches), and crop diversification (through rotations and intercropping). Options 2, 4, and 5 directly align with these principles, while options 1 and 3 are not recognized components of Conservation Agriculture.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Minimum tillage is a fundamental principle of Conservation Agriculture that reduces soil disturbance and erosion.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: While crop diversification is encouraged, avoiding monoculture is not explicitly defined as a Conservation Agriculture practice.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Conservation Agriculture does not exclude plantation crops; these can be cultivated using conservation practices.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Maintaining permanent soil cover using crop residues is a core principle of Conservation Agriculture.
✅ Statement 5 – Correct: Crop rotations and sequencing are essential for crop diversification under Conservation Agriculture.

📝 Short Notes: Conservation Agriculture

• Definition: A sustainable farming system based on three interlinked principles that enhance agricultural productivity while protecting the environment.
• Three Core Principles:
  • Minimum Soil Disturbance: No-till or minimum tillage farming reduces soil erosion and improves soil structure.
  • Permanent Soil Cover: Use of crop residues, mulches, or cover crops to protect soil from erosion and maintain moisture.
  • Crop Diversification: Crop rotations, intercropping, and crop sequencing to improve soil fertility and break pest cycles.
• Benefits: Reduces soil erosion, improves water retention, enhances soil organic matter, reduces input costs, and increases resilience to climate variability.
• FAO Support: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) actively promotes Conservation Agriculture globally as a climate-smart practice.
• Application in India: Particularly relevant in water-stressed regions and areas with declining soil health; promoted through various government schemes.