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← HistoryWhich irrigation risk increased when Incan agricultural terraces exceeded a critical height during rapid spring melt?
A)Structural collapse from hydrostatic pressure✓
B)Nutrient leaching from topsoil erosion
C)Crop disease spread through standing water
D)Salt accumulation from capillary action
💡 Explanation
When terrace height is excessive during snowmelt, hydrostatic pressure increases because the saturated soil exerts lateral force exceeding the terrace wall's strength leading to collapse. Therefore structural failure is the primary risk, rather than nutrient loss, disease or salinization which stem from different erosion or evaporation mechanisms.
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