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 evs food for health simple test for nutrients test for nutrients protein and its function nutrients and foodstuffs

Which of the following helps in nutrient conservation?

  1. Leaching

  2. Mineralisation

  3. Nitrification

  4. Immobilisation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B,C Correct answer
Explanation

A.Leaching - the loss of water-soluble plant nutrients from the soil. It does not help in nutrient conservation.

B.Mineralisation – The process of formation of minerals from the organic compounds is called mineralisation. It helps in nutrient conservation.

C.Nitrification – Formation of nitrites or nitrates from ammonia or nitrogenous compounds is called Nitrification. It also helps in nutrient conservation.

D. Immobilisation – elements, cannot be transported from one place to another place in the body is called Immobilisation and the elements are called Immobilised elements.

So, the correct option is ‘Mineralisation or Nitrification’. 

Multiple choice evs soil- our life horizons of soil soil - formation and profile soil-nature

Rate of decomposition depends upon

  1. Chemical composition of detritus

  2. Temperature

  3. Soil moisture and soil pH

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

Rate of decomposition of detritus depends upon chemical mature of detritus, temperature, soil moisture and soil pH. A soil temperature of 25oC and more hastens decomposition. A low temperature of less than 10oC reduces the rate of decomposition. Moisture is essential for decomposition. Excessive moisture also impedes decomposition probably due to anaerobiosis. Neutral and slightly alkaline soils are rich in detritivores, earthworms and decomposer microbes. Acidity decreases the number of detritivores and earthworms. Soil with a small amount of lignin/chitin/cellulose and rich in nitrogen and water-soluble substances(like sugars), decomposes rapidly.

So, the correct answer is 'All of these'.

Multiple choice urea organic compounds with functional group containing nitrogen

 Fertiliser which doesn't affect the texture of the soil is:

  1. urea

  2. ammonium sulphate

  3. ammonium phosphate

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

In general, urea will provide the most nitrogen at the lowest cost. It is easy to store and does not pose as a fire risk for long-term storage. Urea may be mixed with other fertilizers or may be applied on its own. It easily mixes up soil and doesn't affect the texture of the soil.

Multiple choice urea organic compounds with functional group containing nitrogen

Urea is a  ___________ fertilizer

  1. nitrogeneous

  2. potassium

  3. phosphotic

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

More than 90% of world industrial production of urea is destined for use as a nitrogen-release fertilizer. Urea has the highest nitrogen content of all solid nitrogenous fertilizers in common use. Therefore, it has the lowest transportation costs per unit of nitrogen nutrient.

Multiple choice urea organic compounds with functional group containing nitrogen

Biuret formation in urea is kept at minimum (< 1 %), because it is:

  1. toxic and harmful to some crops

  2. corrosive in nature

  3. helpful in the decomposition of urea

  4. explosive in nature
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Biuret is a chemical compound with the chemical formula ${ C } _{ 2 }{ H } _{ 5 }{ N } _{ 3 }{ O } _{ 2 }$. It is also known as carbamylurea. It is the result of condensation of two molecules of urea and is an impurity in urea-based fertilizers.

The most common impurity of synthetic urea is biuret, which impairs plant growth. Biuret is undesirable in fertilizer urea because it is toxic to crop plants, although to what extent depends on the nature of the crop and the method of application of the urea.

Multiple choice urea organic compounds with functional group containing nitrogen

Which of the following fertilisers is used as a cattle feed?

  1. Superphosphate

  2. Calcium ammonium nitrate

  3. Urea

  4. Ammonium sulphate
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

When soybean meal and other plant proteins are high in price, more urea is used to replace plant protein in the ration of beef cattle and sheep. Urea is a non-protein nitrogen (NPN) compound.

Multiple choice physics some natural phenomena introduction to lightning lightning analysis of natural phenomena

In one year lightning produces how much amount of usable nitrogen fertilizer?

  1. $250000 tons$
  2. $25000 tons$
  3. $250 tons$
  4. $25 tons$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

$Answer:-$ A

The processes of the nitrogen cycle transform nitrogen from one form to another. Atmospheric nitrogen must be processed, or fixed, in a usable form to be taken up by plants. Between $5\times 10^{12}$ and $10\times 10^{12}$ g per year are fixed by lightning strikes.

Multiple choice biology air and atmosphere natural cycles and resources constituents of air medicinal use of microorganism component of air - nitrogen

Which of the following fertilizers does not replenish nitrogen in the soil?

  1. CAN

  2. Urea

  3. Superphosphate lime

  4. Ammonium phosphate
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Phosphate rock is too insoluble for direct use, and is commonly treated with sulfuric acid to make a mixture of calcium sulfate and the more soluble calcium hydrogen phosphate, called superphosphate.The use of superphosphate usually supplies adequate calcium. 

Multiple choice geography land use urban land use and urban problems and solutions urban settlements land use patterns

The toxic chemicals present in the soil can decrease soil fertility and therefore decrease in the soil yield, this is the __________.

  1. water pollution

  2. soil pollution

  3. air pollution

  4. none of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

B.  Soil Pollution


The toxic chemicals present in the soil can decrease soil fertility and therefore decrease in the soil yield. The contaminated soil is then used to produce fruits and vegetables which lacks quality nutrients and may contain some poisonous substance to cause serious health problems in people consuming them.

Multiple choice geography land use urban land use and urban problems and solutions urban settlements land use patterns

_______ is the change in physical, chemical and biological conditions of the soil through man's intervention resulting in degradation in quantity and productivity of the soil.

  1. Soil pollution

  2. Water pollution

  3. Air pollution

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

Soil or land pollution can be defined as the changes in physical, chemical and biological conditions of the soil through man’s intervention/misuse of land and hence resulting in degradation in quantity and productivity of the soil. Causes of soil pollution are as follows:

  • Accidental spills and leaks.
  • Agricultural activities.
  • Transportation activities.
  • Chemical waste dumping.
Multiple choice bio-chemistry digestive system of human absorption mechanism absorption digestion

What is the basic difference between fertilizers and manures?

  1. Fertilizers are natural and manures are artificial

  2. Fertilizers are artificil and manures are natural

  3. Fertilizers increase the fertility of the soil and manures reduce the fertility of the soil

  4. Fertilizers prevents the growth of crop and manures increase the fertility of the soil

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

  • Fertilizers are  chemicals manufactured industrially, added to soil or land to increase its fertility.
  • Manure is organic matter, mostly derived from animal feces except which can be used as organic fertilizer in agriculture.

So, the correct option is 'Fertilizers are artificial and manures are natural'.

Multiple choice waste management - need for management of waste sanitation and solid waste management pollution, sources, effects and preventive measures man and environment geography treatment and disposal of waste waste generation and management - methods of safe disposal of waste

The process which involves in the decomposition of organic waste into humus is known as ___________.

  1. manure

  2. fertilizer

  3. compost

  4. none of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Composting is the process of biodegrading the organic matter into simpler substances aerobically (in the presence of oxygen) or anaerobically (in the absence of oxygen) by the action of microorganisms including bacteria and fungi which results into formation of compost or humus that is a dead and decayed matter which is further used as manure and fertilizers.

Multiple choice waste management - need for management of waste sanitation and solid waste management pollution, sources, effects and preventive measures man and environment geography treatment and disposal of waste waste generation and management - methods of safe disposal of waste

Which of the following are the major benefits of composting?

  1. It enhances soil nutrients and water retention capacity of soils

  2. It suppresses plant disease

  3. It rejuvenates poor soil by adding humus

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

Composting is the natural way of recycling which involves bio-degradation of organic waste and turning it into organic fertilizer. In this process, various microorganisms including bacteria and fungi break down the organic matter into simpler substances. It enhances the soil nutrients and water retention capacity of soil by moderating soil temperature and maintains the pH of the soil. It suppresses plant disease by providing them adequate nutrients to absorb and make the soil fertile.