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 economics environment pollution strategies to control environmental pollution strategies to control pollution strategies to control environmental pollution and green chemistry

______ or using fungus to metabolize contaminants and accumulate heavy metals.

  1. Bioremediation

  2. Phytoremediation

  3. Both A and B

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

Mycoremediation is a form of bioremediation, the process of using fungi to degrade or sequester contaminants in the environment. Stimulating microbial and enzyme activity, mycelium reduces toxins in-situ. Some fungi are hyperaccumulators, capable of absorbing and concentrating heavy metals in the mushroom fruit bodies.

Multiple choice biology food production food production and microorganisms microbial products - food, medicines and industrial products uses of microorganisms

Technologies break down various plant materials (for example, cellulose, lignin and xylan from crops) and it results in a

  1. Non-biodegradeable

  2. Less toxic

  3. Biomass

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

The productivity of plants as biofuel or biomaterial crops is established by both the yield of plant biomass per unit area of land and the efficiency of conversion of the biomass to biofuel. Genomics approaches support genetic selection strategies to deliver significant genetic improvement of plants as sources of biomass for biofuel manufacture. Genetic modification of plants provides a further range of options for improving the composition of biomass and for plant modifications to assist the fabrication of biofuels. The relative carbohydrate and lignin content influences the deconstruction of plant cell walls to biofuels. Key options for facilitating the deconstruction leading to higher monomeric sugar release from plants include increasing cellulose content, reducing cellulose crystallinity, and/or altering the amount or composition of noncellulosic polysaccharides or lignin. Modification of chemical linkages within and between these biomass components may improve the ease of deconstruction. Expression of enzymes in the plant may provide a cost-effective option for biochemical conversion to biofuel.

Therefore, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice history tribals, dikus and the vision of a golden age indigo rebellion struggles storms jungles the revolts of peasants and the tribals

Which of the following is the nutrient that is added to the soil due to slash and burn technique?

  1. Nitrogen

  2. Zinc

  3. Potash

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

In shifting agriculture, after two or three years of producing vegetable and grain crops on cleared land, the migrants abandon it for another plot. Trees, bushes and forests are cleared by slashing, and the remaining vegetation is burnt. The ashes add potash to the soil. Then the seeds are sown after the rains.

Multiple choice transpiration major activities of living organisms biology

Which of the following will not make minerals more available to plants?

  1. Increasing the rainfall in a wet forested area.

  2. Raising the pH of a very acidic soil.

  3. Tillering a packed-down or water-logged soil.

  4. Introducing fungi that can form mycorrhiza into a soil that lacks them.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Increased rainfall will lead to washing away of mineral elements along water, hence, it will not make minerals more available to plants.

Multiple choice landforms on earth and external processes general physical geography general knowledge

Salinisation occurs when the irrigation water accumulated in the soil evaporates, leaving behind salts and minerals. What are the effects of salinization on the irrigated land?

  1. It greatly increases the crop production

  2. It makes some soils impermeable

  3. It raises the water table

  4. It fills the air spaces in the soil with water
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Salinization leads to the accumulation of salts in the soil, which can alter soil structure, making it dense and impermeable, thereby hindering water infiltration and root growth.

Multiple choice zoology garbage in, garbage out plastic waste recycling of paper thermocol

Plastic can .......... the soil fertility

  1. Increases

  2. Decreases

  3. Neutral

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

Plastic waste in soil prevents water and nutrient absorption, creates physical barriers for roots, and leaches chemicals, all of which decrease soil fertility.

Multiple choice geography agriculture in india - ii : food crops pulses cultivation in india production of agricultural crops food crops in india

The important crop that helps to restore soil fertility by nitrogen fixation and is also a good source of protein is _________.

  1. Cereals

  2. Pulses

  3. Vegetables

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

Nitrogen is the most essential nutrient for plant. Pulses can utilize nitrogen present in the soil by symbiotic relation with nitrogen fixing bacteria that live inside roots of the plants.

Pulses also improve fertility of soil and hence are grown as rotation crops in between the different crops.

Multiple choice geography agriculture in india - ii : food crops pulses cultivation in india production of agricultural crops food crops in india

Plants which fix nitrogen in soil and improve soil fertility are called ________.

  1. Nitrogenous plants

  2. Leguminous plants

  3. Plantation

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

  • Leguminous crops are plants which belong to Leguminosae family. Legumes are grown primarily for their grain seed called pulse.
  • Nitrogen fixing capabilities; In the roots of legumes, a special type of bacteria Rhizobia is present. They fix nitrogen and make it available to the plant.

Multiple choice evs improvement in food resources crop yield improvement food supply crop improvement methods and organisations

Which of the following methods of cultivation will result in the loss of soil fertility?
I.Crop rotation
II. Shifting cultivation
III. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers

  1. I and II only

  2. III only

  3. I and III only

  4. I, II and Ill
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

When there is excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the chemical salts accumulate in the soil and affect the quality and fertility of the soil. 

Thus, the correct answer is option B. 

Multiple choice biology improvement in food resources crop yield improvement food supply crop improvement methods and organisations

Growing different crops in different seasons in the same field will deplete the soil of nutrients.

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The particular type of plants requires certain set of nutrients. For example, sugarcane requires a large amount of nitrogen. Also, some plants render the soil with some nutrients. For example, leguminous plants make soil nitrogen rich. 
If crop rotation is carried out then the soil will not deplete with certain nutrients. Hence, growing different crops in different seasons in the same field will be beneficial for economy as well as for soil quality too.

Multiple choice biology wastewater story origin of waste products waste generation waste and its types

______ is the most dangerous soil contaminant.

  1. Organic waste

  2. Radioactive waste

  3. Chemical fertilizer

  4. Both A and B
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Radioactive substances resulting from explosions of nuclear testing laboratories and industries giving rise to nuclear dust radioactive wastes, penetrate the soil and accumulate giving rise to land/soil pollution.

Multiple choice biology mineral nutrition in plants nutrients and nutrition essential and non-essential mineral elements transport in the xylem of plants

Hydroponics or soilless culture helps in knowing _______________.

  1. Essentiality of an element

  2. Deficiency symptoms caused by an element

  3. Toxicity caused by an element

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

Hydroponics or soilless culture helps to know the essentiality of mineral elements, deficiency symptoms developed due to non-availability of particular nutrient, toxicity to plant when element is present in excess, possible interaction among different elements present in plants and role of essential element in the metabolism of plant.

Multiple choice biology mineral nutrition in plants nutrients and nutrition essential and non-essential mineral elements transport in the xylem of plants

Plants obtain mineral nutrients from.

  1. Rocks

  2. Breakdown products of rocks

  3. Soil

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

Plants obtain minerals from the soil, which are derived from the weathering and breakdown of rocks. Therefore, all these sources contribute to the mineral content available to plants.

Multiple choice zoology bio-geo chemical cycles in nature nitrogen cycle biogeochemical cycles - gaseous nutrient cycles

Which one helps in absorption of phosphorus from soil by plants?

  1. Frankia

  2. Anabaena

  3. Glomus

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

Frankia, Anabaena and Rhizobium are nitrogen-fixing bacteria that absorbs nitrogen from the soil. Glomus is a myccorhizal fungi. The fungal symbiont in these associations absorbs phosphorus from soil and passes it to the plant.
Thus, the correct answer is option (C).