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 botany plant breeding plant breeding for disease resistance and insect resistance method of plant breeding for crop improvement plant breeding for food production

Which of the following statements is not correct about fertilizer?

  1. It enriches the soil with organic material

  2. It provides nutrients to the soil immediately in concentrated from

  3. It increases the crop production several times

  4. It is available in all seasons
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Manure enriches the soil with organic material (humus). A fertiliser does not provide any Humus to soil.

Multiple choice evs - i agricultural development in india social and economic change food storage and conservation of environment independent india (the first 30 years - 1947-77)

What are the ecological effects of green revolution ?

  1. More irrigation increased the alkalinity & salinity of the soil decreased underground water level

  2. The increase in irrigation created need for dams to harness water

  3. More use of chemical fertilizers made the soil barren and poisonous

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

Green revolution has negative as well as positive effects. Some of the negative effects can be stated as follows - 
a) increase in irrigation created need for more dams to harness water
b) more chemical fertilizers made the soil barren and poisonous
c) many traditional variety of crops which are environment friendly and had disease resistance capacity became extinct
d) more irrigation increased the alkalinity and salinity of the soil and also it depletes the underground water level. 

Multiple choice botany strategies for enhancement in food production balanced diet food production and microbes plant breeding for food production

Which of the following can be used for cultivation of SCP?

  1. Animal manure

  2. Straw

  3. Molasses

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

Large quantities of single cell proteins like Spirulina can be grown easily on materials like waste water from potato processing plants, straw, molasses, animal manure and even sewage.

Multiple choice biology properties of natural resources properties of soil soil pollution and its effects soil and soil pollution

Fragmentation, leaching and catabolism are some of the important steps of decomposition. Study the following statements [(i), (ii) and (iii) regarding these and select the correct option.
(i) Detritivores(e.g., earthworm) breakdown detritus into smaller particles.
(ii) Water soluble inorganic nutrients go down into soil horizon and get precipitated as unavailable salts.
(iii) Decomposes(e.g., bacteria and fungi) secrete digestive enzymes and degrade detritus into simpler inorganic substances.

  1. Leaching-(i), Fragmentation- (ii), Catabolism-(iii)

  2. Leaching-(ii), Fragmentation-(ii), Catabolism-(i)

  3. Leaching-(ii), Fragmentation-(i), Catabolism-(iii)

  4. Leaching-(ii), Fragmentation-(iii), Catabolism-(i)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
The process of decomposition can be categorized as fragmentation of detritus, leaching, and catabolism.
Fragmentation of detritus is the process that causes breakdown of detritus into smaller particles. It is primarily due to the action of detritus feeding invertebrates(detritivores, e.g., termites, earthworms, etc.,) The detritus gets pulverized when passing through the digestive tracts of animals. Due to fragmentation, the surface area of detritus particles is greatly increased.
The extracellular enzymes released by bacteria and fungi carry out catabolism, i.e., enzymatic conversion of the decomposing detritus to simpler and inorganic substances.
Leaching is the process by which dissolved nutrients are moved into lower layers of soil or groundwater to form unavailable salts.
So, the correct answer is 'Leaching-(ii), Fragmentation-(i), Catabolism-(iii)'.
Multiple choice biology properties of natural resources properties of soil soil pollution and its effects soil and soil pollution

A soil is said to be fertile when 

  1. It is rich in organic matter

  2. It has capacity to hold water

  3. It has a capacity to hold nutrients

  4. It holds water and all essential nutrients in a definite proportion

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

Fertile soil has the following characteristics: 

1. It is rich in nutrients necessary for basic plant nourishment. This includes nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It consists of adequate minerals such as boron, chlorine, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, sulphur and zinc. These minerals promote plant nutrition. 
2. It contains soil organic matter, that improves the structure of the soil. This enables the soil to retain more moisture. The soil pH is in the range 6.0 to 6.8. 
3. It has a good soil structure, which results in well-drained soil. 
4. It consists of a variety of microorganisms, that support plant growth. It often contains large amounts of topsoil.

Multiple choice biology properties of natural resources properties of soil soil pollution and its effects soil and soil pollution

Soil fertility is determined by its ability to

  1. Decay organic matter

  2. Hold organic matter

  3. Retain nutrients

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

Soil fertility is the ability of the soil to supply essential plant nutrients and soil water in adequate amounts for plant growth and reproduction, thereby support life. Thus the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice biology properties of natural resources properties of soil soil pollution and its effects soil and soil pollution

Which of the following processes reduces soil fertility?

  1. Decaying organic matter

  2. Crop rotation
  3. The addition of $N _2$ fixing bacteria

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

Intensive agriculture is the commercial agriculture where chemical pesticides and fertilizers are used to increase the crop production for more earning. By the use of the chemical in large amount soil fertility gets reduced. Thus, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice biology properties of natural resources properties of soil soil pollution and its effects soil and soil pollution

Fertility of soil is measured by its ability to 

  1. Retain nutrients

  2. Hold organic materials

  3. Hold water

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

Fertility of the soil is not only decided by its ability to hold water or organic materials or its ability to retain nutrients but it is decided by all the factors combined and how well can it support life. If a soil has a huge thriving of plants, microorganism, etc with the availability of adequate resources then it is considered as very fertile soil.

So the correct answer is 'Support life'.

Multiple choice biology properties of natural resources properties of soil soil pollution and its effects soil and soil pollution

What is the best pH of the soil for cultivation of plants?

  1. 3.4 -5.4

  2. 6.5 -7.5

  3. 4.5 -8.5

  4. 5.5 -6.5
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Soil pH is important because it influences several soil factors affecting plant growth, such as (1) soil bacteria, (2) nutrient leaching, (3) nutrient availability, (4) toxic elements, and (5) soil structure. Bacterial activity that releases nitrogen from organic matter and certain fertilizers is particularly affected by soil pH, because bacteria operate best in the pH range of 5.5 to 7.0. Plant nutrients leach out of soils with a pH below 5.0 much more rapidly than from soils with values between 5.0 and 7.0. Plant nutrients are generally most available to plants in the pH range 5.5 to 6.5. Aluminum may become toxic to plant growth in certain soils with a pH below 5.0. The structure of the soil, especially of clay, is affected by pH. In the optimum pH range (5.5 to 7.0) clay soils are granular and are easily worked, whereas if the soil pH is either extremely acid or extremely alkaline, clays tend to become sticky and hard to cultivate

So, the correct answer is '5.5 -6.5'

Multiple choice biology waste generation and management disposal of waste safe disposal of waste solid waste and its management

Use of sewage, domestic waste, farm yard manure, etc. will decrease the fertility of the degraded lands.

  1. True

  2. False

  3. Nither

  4. Either
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Organic waste, sewage, and manure are rich in nutrients and organic matter, which improve soil structure and fertility. Therefore, their application increases, rather than decreases, the fertility of degraded lands.

Multiple choice evs garbage in, garbage out preparation of compost sewage disposal solid waste management

Vermi-processing toilet is beneficial because

  1. It reduces the diseases.

  2. It increases soil fertility.

  3. Both A and B.

  4. It reduces electricity.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
  • Vermi-processing toilets is a design of a toilet in which humans excreta is treated by earthworms.
  • In this process, human excreta is completely converted to cake like structures called vermi cakes by earthworms. Vermi cakes are used mostly in the soil as manure and fertilizers.
  • The vermi-processing toilet is beneficial because It reduces diseases and increases soil fertility.
  • So, the correct answer is 'Both A and B'.