Environmental Studies · Biology

Soil Science and Fertilizers

1,509 Questions

Soil science focuses on soil formation, classification, and fertility management using fertilizers and organic amendments. Agricultural and environmental science exams heavily feature questions on biofertilizers, mycorrhiza, and phytoremediation. Practice these questions to build a strong understanding of soil nutrient cycles.

Phytoremediation techniquesOrganic soil amendmentsBiofertilizers and mycorrhizaNitrous oxide emissionsIn-situ soil remediationGreen manuring effects

Soil Science and Fertilizers Questions

Multiple choice

NPK stands for

  1. nitrogen, protein, kinetic

  2. nitrogen, protein, potassium

  3. nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium

  4. nitrogen, phosphorus, kinetin
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

NPK stands for Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P) and Potassium (K). 

Multiple choice

All of the following contributes to the availability of nitrogen compounds in the soil, except

  1. azotobacter

  2. thunders from clouds

  3. bacterial decay of animal refuse

  4. addition of lime
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Azotobacter fixes atmospheric nitrogen, lightning converts nitrogen into oxides, and bacterial decay releases nitrogen from organic matter. Lime (calcium carbonate) is used to neutralize soil acidity and does not provide nitrogen compounds.

Multiple choice

Most of the plants obtain nitrogen from the soil in the form of

  1. nitric acid

  2. nitrites

  3. nitrates

  4. free nitrogen gas
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

While plants can absorb nitrogen as ammonium, the most common and abundant form of nitrogen uptake from the soil is nitrate (NO3-). Nitrates are highly soluble and easily transported through the plant's xylem.

Multiple choice

Which of the following substances is obtained from soil by a plant?

  1. Nitrogen

  2. Oxygen

  3. Carbon dioxide

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Plants absorb nitrogen from the soil in the form of nitrates or nitrites through their roots. While oxygen and carbon dioxide are primarily obtained from the air through leaves during respiration and photosynthesis, nitrogen is a crucial mineral nutrient sourced from the ground. Other minerals like phosphorus and potassium are also obtained from the soil.

Multiple choice

A technique used for studying the effect of deficiency or toxicity of mineral nutrients on plant growth and metabolism is called ______.

  1. hydroculture

  2. hydroponics

  3. solution culture

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Solution culture is the standard technique for growing plants in a nutrient solution to study the effects of specific mineral deficiencies or toxicities. Hydroponics is a broader term for growing plants in water, but solution culture is the specific experimental method for nutrient studies.

Multiple choice

A complete fertiliser is the one that

  1. is commercially manufactured using chemicals

  2. contains all three critical minerals like potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen

  3. adds humus to the soil

  4. contains organic farm waste

  5. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer as complete fertiliser is the one that has these three vital elements in it.

Multiple choice

Find the incorrect match.

  1. Biopesticides - Neem leaves and turmeric

  2. Green manure - Sun hemp

  3. Biofertiliser - Cow dung

  4. Vermicompost - Blue green algae

  5. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is an incorrect match as vermicompost is prepared by the actions of earthworms and not of blue green algae.

Multiple choice

Green manure is formed by which of the following?

  1. Decomposing farm waste material in pits

  2. Green plants roots, leaves and stem

  3. Action of earthworm on organic waste

  4. Mulching and ploughing sun hemp into soil

  5. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer because green manure is prepared by mulching and ploughing some plants like sun hemp and guar into the soil. These green plants turn into green manure which helps in enriching soil.

Multiple choice

Find the incorrect statement(s) about fertilisers.

  1. Fertilisers are a commercially produced plant nutrients.

  2. Fertilisers help in destroying soil fertility, if used in excess amount.

  3. Fertilisers are a rich source of potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus.

  4. Fertilisers contain organic matters such as farm waste, cow dung and vegetable waste.

  5. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Fertilisers do not contain any kind of organic matter.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are false?

a. The primary end products of biological weathering are silica, clay, inorganic salts and hydrated oxides. b. Bioaccumulation refers to the storage of a pollutant in body tissues of animals and humans at levels higher than found in the environment. c. A mature soil has minerals stored in the form of organic matter, oxides of nitrogen, NH+ ions, water and air.

  1. Only a

  2. Only a and b

  3. Only b

  4. Only b and c

  5. Only c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as this statement is false. The primary end products of chemical weathering, and not biological weathering, are silica, clay, inorganic salts and hydrated oxides.

Multiple choice

The cattle dung should be used:

  1. as a fuel by making dung cakes

  2. to prepare manure

  3. to prepare bio-gas

  4. both (2) and (3)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Cattle dung is a versatile resource that can be processed into manure for soil enrichment or used in anaerobic digesters to produce bio-gas for energy.

Multiple choice

Composted manure is composed of:

  1. Cattle dung

  2. Animal excreta

  3. Rotten vegetables

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Compost is produced by the decomposition of organic matter, which includes cattle dung, animal excreta, and plant waste like rotten vegetables.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are false?

a. Manures are bulky with low nutrient content. b. Manures are inconvenient to handle, store and transport. c. Manures are nutrient specific.

  1. Only (a)

  2. Both (a) and (b)

  3. Only (b)

  4. Both (b) and (c)

  5. Only (c)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as this is a false statement. Manures are not nutrient specific and thus, are not much useful when a particular nutrient is required for a particular crop.