According to the passage, the zai pit technique enhances crop yields primarily because:
Across the semi-arid Sahelian belt bordering northern Nigeria, desertification driven by erratic rainfall and soil erosion poses acute threats to pastoral livelihoods. In response, indigenous agrarian communities have revived the traditional zai pit technique. Farmers dig shallow basins into hardpan clay soils prior to seasonal monsoon rains, filling each depression with organic compost and livestock manure. Termites attracted to the organic matter burrow subterranean channels, dramatically increasing soil permeability and rainwater infiltration. When drought-resistant sorghum and millet seeds are planted within the pits, crop yields frequently quadruple compared to conventional flat tillage, demonstrating the efficacy of affordable, nature-based agricultural resilience.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. It increases soil permeability and captures scarce rainwater through organic compost and termite burrowing.
- Step 1: Scan the reading passage for the explanation of how zai pits improve crop yields.
- Step 2: The text states that farmers dig shallow basins filled with organic compost, which attracts termites whose subterranean burrowing "dramatically increases soil permeability and rainwater infiltration," enabling crop yields to quadruple.
Answer
It increases soil permeability and captures scarce rainwater through organic compost and termite burrowing.
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