A state agriculture department reports: "In districts where solar-powered irrigation pumps were distributed at subsidized rates, diesel consumption by farm machinery dropped by $35\%$. Therefore, promoting solar pumps is sufficient to eliminate agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in the state."
Which of the following identifies the primary reasoning flaw in the department's conclusion?
Options:
(A) It assumes that diesel pumps were the sole source of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.
(B) It assumes that solar radiation is available during the day.
(C) It overlooks the initial capital cost of solar panels.
(D) It fails to account for the efficiency of electrical inverters.
Answer Key:
A
Step-by-Step Solution & Explanation
**Method 1: Necessary Assumption Flaw**
The conclusion claims that promoting solar pumps will 'eliminate agricultural greenhouse gas emissions' entirely. However, agriculture produces greenhouse gases from enteric fermentation (methane), paddy cultivation (methane), synthetic nitrogen fertilizer application (nitrous oxide), and other combustion engines (tractors, harvesters). Assuming that reducing pump diesel by $35\%$ eliminates all emissions erroneously assumes diesel pumps were the only emission source. Thus, option **A** identifies the flaw.