Irrigation affects water sources by causing which of the following?

Irrigation affects water sources by causing which of the following?

• A. Depletion of aquifers and ground subsidence
• B. Increased biodiversity
• C. Increased rainfall
• D. Decreased soil salinity

Answer: (A)

Irrigation uses water from groundwater and other sources, and pumping that water faster than it’s recharged lowers the water table. As groundwater is withdrawn, the porous underground materials can compact over time, leading to ground subsidence. This direct result of extracting water for irrigation links clearly to the depletion of aquifers and subsidence. The other options don’t fit as typical effects on water sources: irrigation doesn’t inherently increase biodiversity, rainfall is a atmospheric phenomenon not caused by irrigation, and decreased soil salinity isn’t a guaranteed outcome of irrigation (in fact, improper irrigation can raise salinity through salt buildup if drainage is poor). So irrigation affects water sources mainly by depleting aquifers and causing ground subsidence.

Irrigation uses water from groundwater and other sources, and pumping that water faster than it’s recharged lowers the water table. As groundwater is withdrawn, the porous underground materials can compact over time, leading to ground subsidence. This direct result of extracting water for irrigation links clearly to the depletion of aquifers and subsidence.

The other options don’t fit as typical effects on water sources: irrigation doesn’t inherently increase biodiversity, rainfall is a atmospheric phenomenon not caused by irrigation, and decreased soil salinity isn’t a guaranteed outcome of irrigation (in fact, improper irrigation can raise salinity through salt buildup if drainage is poor).

So irrigation affects water sources mainly by depleting aquifers and causing ground subsidence.