Environmental Studies · Biology

Soil Science and Fertilizers

1,537 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

Which of the following is not a parameter for determining the quality of soil?

  1. Amount of humus

  2. Population of microscopic organisms

  3. Nutrient content

  4. Urbanisation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Urbanisation is not a parameter for determining the quality of soil. Soil quality indicators are physical, chemical, and biological properties, processes, and characteristics that can be measured to monitor changes in the soil.

Multiple choice

What happens to tropical soils when the rainforest is cleared?

  1. The soil improves to the extent that soluble nutrients are no longer depleted by the trees

  2. There is little effect on the soil because of its depth of richness

  3. Clearing interrupts the critical nutrient cycle and leads to soil leaching

  4. The soils stabilise and become excellent for grain crops
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

 When rain-forest is cleared, the humus formation almost ceases, thereby depleting soils critical nutrients. High rainfall also results into leaching of soil nutrient in the absence of tree cover.

Multiple choice

As per the fertilizer policy, which of the following is the only controlled fertilizer in India?

  1. Urea

  2. Phosphatic

  3. Gobar Khad

  4. Nitrogen
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

For sustained agricultural growth and to promote balanced nutrient application, it is imperative that fertilizers are made available to farmers at affordable prices. With this objective, urea being the only controlled fertilizer, is sold at statutory notified uniform sale price, and decontrolled Phosphatic and Potassic fertilizers are sold at indicative maximum retail prices (MRPs). The problems faced by the manufactures in earning a reasonable return on their investment with reference to controlled prices, are mitigated by providing support under the New Pricing Scheme for Urea units and the concession Scheme for decontrolled Phosphatic and Potassic fertilizers. 

Multiple choice

Choose the incorrect statement.

  1. Earthworm softens the soil.

  2. Earthworm also eats the dead leaves and plants.

  3. The droppings of earthworms fertilise the soil.

  4. Earthworm damages the crops by eating them.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Earthworms never harm the crop.

Multiple choice biology food production uses of animals agro-complimentary occupations improvement of crop production

The nitrogen deficiency of soil can be fulfilled by using the principle of

  1. Crop rotation

  2. Transplantation

  3. Multiple cropping

  4. Broadcasting
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Crop rotation is a simple process of growing alternatively legume crops after every cycle of a commercial crop. The leguminous plant have root nodules in which nitrogen fixing bacteria resides which convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms by plants and hence increase the fertility of the soil.

Broadcasting is a method of throwing seeds randomly on the soil for germination. Transplantation is the process of uprooting in replanting the plants at some other place. Multiple cropping is growing two or more crops together in the same piece of land in the same season.These cannot help in curing the Nitrogen deficiency of the soil.
Thus, the correct answer is 'Crop rotation.'

Multiple choice botany plant breeding biotechnology for improved food quality plant breeding for food production

Which of the following technique can fill the deficiency of micronutrients?

  1. Biological nitrogen fixation

  2. Biofortification

  3. Bioremediation

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

Biofortification is the method in which the food is added or supplemented with the required nutrients. It is a process of breeding crops with higher levels of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fat content. The micronutrients are not present in every type of food and results in the deficiency diseases. The plants can be developed to produce the micronutrients through hybridization or selective breeding. These foods can be helpful to prevent deficiency disorders. 

Thus, the correct answer is option B. 

Multiple choice need of water transport in plants biology

Plant ash indicates.

  1. Organic matter of plant

  2. Mineral salts absorbed by plants

  3. Both mineral salts and organic matter

  4. Silica absorbed by plants
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

When a plant is burned, organic matter is oxidized and released as gases, leaving behind the inorganic mineral salts that were absorbed from the soil.