Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R.
Assertion A: Earthworms are good for agriculture.
Reason R: Earthworms do not break down the soil into fine particles and make it soft.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → A is correct but R is not correct
Assertion A: Earthworms are good for agriculture. Correct. Earthworms are called the farmer's friends: their burrows let air and water into the soil, and their droppings (worm castings) add nutrients to it.
Reason R: Earthworms do not break down the soil into fine particles and make it soft. Incorrect. Earthworms eat soil along with dead leaves, grind it in their gizzard and pass it out as fine, crumbly castings. They do break the soil into fine particles and loosen it, which is the very reason they help crops.