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 chemistry for a pollution free nature properties of soil soil pollution and its effects soil and soil pollution

Negative soil pollution is:

  1. reduction in soil productivity due to erosion and over use

  2. reduction in soil productivity due to addition of pesticides and industrial wastes

  3. converting fertile land into barren land by dumping ash, sludge and garbase

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

Negative soil pollution occurs due to the overuse of soil & its erosion hence there will be a decrease in soil productivity. 

The other causes of negative soil pollution such as developmental activities, overgrazing and soil erosion.

Multiple choice chemistry for a pollution free nature properties of soil soil pollution and its effects soil and soil pollution

The over use of NPK fertilizers: 

  1. increases the protein content of wheat, maize, grams, etc.

  2. the carbohydrate quality of such crops also becomes better

  3. reduce quantity of vegetables and crops grown on soil over the years

  4. Excess potassium content in soil increases Vitamin C and carotene content in vegetables and fruits
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The over use of NPK fertilizers reduce quantity of vegetables and crops grown on soil over the years. It also reduces the protein content of wheat, maize, grams, etc., grown on that soil. The carbohydrate quality of such crops also gets degraded. Excess potassium content in soil decreases 
Vitamin C and carotene content in vegetables and fruits. The vegetables and fruits grown on overfertilized soil are more prone to attacks by insects and disease. 

Multiple choice civics agriculture in india - i : introduction agricultural reforms indian agriculture problem and policies plantation of crops

Traditional fertilizer used in India is ________.

  1. Cow dung

  2. Chemical fertilizer

  3. Manure

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

  • Traditionally cow dung has been used as a fertilizer.
  • Cow dung is high in organic materials and rich in nutrients.
  • Cow dung powder can be used more directly to fertilize individual plants.
  • Apart from using it as a fertilizer it can also be used in the production of biogas.

Multiple choice civics agriculture in india - i : introduction agricultural reforms indian agriculture problem and policies plantation of crops

A farmer has been using excess quantities of chemical fertilizer in fields for a number of years.The crop yield began to reduce in spite of using chemical fertilizers.Which of the following statements are true?
a) The soil has become more acidic
b) The soil has become more alkaline
c) The yield can be improved by adding slaked lime to the soil.
d) The yield can be improved by adding some organic matter.
e) The yield can be improved by adding common salt.

  1. A and E

  2. B and D

  3. B and E

  4. A and C
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The soil has become more acidic and the soil acidity can be decreased by adding slaked lime

Multiple choice civics agriculture in india - i : introduction agricultural reforms indian agriculture problem and policies plantation of crops

Which of the following helps in the 'greening process' of crops?

  1. Sunshine

  2. Phosphatic fertilizers

  3. Nitrogenous fertilezers

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

Nitrogenous fertilizers take the foremost place among fertilizers since the deficiency of nitrogen in the soil is the foremost and crops respond to nitrogen better than to other nutrients. More than 80 per cent of the fertilizers used in this country are made up of nitrogenous fertilizers, particularly area.

Nitrogenous fertilizers helps in the greening process of crops

Multiple choice civics agriculture in india - i : introduction agricultural reforms indian agriculture problem and policies plantation of crops

Which of the following fertilisers provides maximum amount of nitrogen?

  1. Calcium Nitrate

  2. Urea

  3. Ammonium Sulphate

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

Urea.
Of the commonly used dry fertilizers, urea contains the highest percentage of nitrogen and is rapidly replacing ammonium nitrate. When surface applied, urea is the most readily volatilized of the dry nitrogen materials. After application to the soil, urea will hydrolyze (combine with water) to form ammonium carbonate.

Multiple choice botany ecological adaptations, succession and ecological services ecosystem services ecosystems ecosystem

Decomposers converts

  1. Organic material into inorganic material

  2. Organic matter into carbon dioxide and nutrients

  3. Kill the soil microbes

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

Detritus is defined as dead and decaying organic matter that includes fallen leaves, dead plant parts and animals. It is the primary source of energy in the detritus food chain in which the microbes such as protozoans, bacteria and fungi help in the breaking down of the complex organic matter. They are called decomposers. Detritus food chain hence helps in soil replenishment by adding nutrients to the soil. They convert organic matter into carbon dioxide and nutrients. Thus the correct answer is option B.

Multiple choice botany ecological adaptations, succession and ecological services ecosystem services ecosystems ecosystem

Plants take nitrogen from the soil by absorption through their roots as

  1. Nitrate ions

  2. Nitrite ions

  3. Ammonium ions

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

Plants take nitrogen from the soil by absorption through their roots as nitrate ions and ammonium ions.Nitrite is intermediate and gets converted to either forms by symbiotic or non-symbiotic bacteria present in plant roots and soil respectively.  Most nitrogen obtained by terrestrial animals can be traced back to the eating of plants at some stage of the food chain.

So, the correct answer is 'nitrate ions' and 'ammonium ions'

Multiple choice biology interdependence in living beings - plants and animals animals as consumers scavengers and decomposers interdependence between plants and animals

Which of the following can convert organic substance into inorganic substance?

  1. Producers

  2. Decomposers

  3. Primary consumers

  4. Secondary consumers
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
  • Decomposers are organisms that break down the dead organic matter into carbon dioxide, water, minerals and other simple chemicals called inorganic substances.
  • These inorganic substances are utilized by green plants. 
  • Leaf litter, dead wood, animal carcasses and faeces are the organic matter present in the soil.
  • So, the correct answer is 'Decomposers'.
Multiple choice biology interdependence in living beings - plants and animals animals as consumers scavengers and decomposers interdependence between plants and animals

Maintenance of soil fertility without addition of nutrition is due to

  1. Floods

  2. Crop residue

  3. Favourable temperature

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

Soil fertility is the ability of a soil to sustain agricultural plant growth. It is maintained without addition of nutrition due to microbial activity. Microbes increase the amount of nutrients in soil available for plants. Maintaining soil fertility naturally using microbes can reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

Thus, the correct answer is 'Microbial activity.' 

Multiple choice biology interdependence in living beings - plants and animals animals as consumers scavengers and decomposers interdependence between plants and animals

What will happen if all the bacteria and fungi are destroyed?

  1. There will be no disease and death.

  2. No antibiotics would become available.

  3. Dead bodies and excretions will pile up.

  4. Soil will become depleted of all nutrients.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A food chain is series of plants/animals which are interrelated in the form of organism being eaten as food by the other. It consists of producers, consumers and decomposers. The plants are producers. The animals eating plants are called as primary consumers and animals eating primary consumers are called as secondary consumers. Decomposers like bacteria and fungi are those which decomposes the waster organic matter like dead bodies and excretions and release energy back in the environment. Hence, if all the bacteria and fungi are destroyed, dead bodies and excretions will pie up.

Thus, the correct answer is 'Dead bodies and excretions will pile up.'

Multiple choice biology interdependence in living beings - plants and animals animals as consumers scavengers and decomposers interdependence between plants and animals

Which of the following is not true for reducers ? 

  1. Reduces inorganic remains of earth

  2. Essential component of an ecosystem

  3. Help in cycling of nutrients

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

There are four components of the ecosystem namely, abiotic substances, producers, consumers, and reducers also called as decomposers. 

The reducers are an essential component of the ecosystem as they help in the cycling of the nutrients by breaking down the dead organic matter (animal and waste matter) and therefore also called as natural scavengers. Eg- fungi and certain bacteria species.
So, the incorrect statement from the given statements is 'Reduces inorganic remains of the earth'.

Multiple choice biology interdependence in living beings - plants and animals animals as consumers scavengers and decomposers interdependence between plants and animals

Decomposers helps in ______

  1. Breaking dead waste

  2. Recycle nutrients

  3. Both A and B

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

Decomposers are also unable to make their own food. Hence, they break down waste products and dead organisms for food. These broken down materials are returned to the soil to be recycled and used by plants again.

Multiple choice biology interdependence in living beings - plants and animals animals as consumers scavengers and decomposers interdependence between plants and animals

Which statement is correct about the role of decomposers in the environment?

  1. Decomposers break down the dead and decaying organic matter.

  2. Decomposers return the nutrients to the soil.

  3. Decomposers play a very important role in the nutrient re-cycling.

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

Decomposers are organisms such as bacteria and fungi that break down the organic matter in the dead bodies of plants and animals. As the decomposers feed on the dead animals, they break down the organic compounds into simple nutrients to the soil. Organic matter is recycled in an ecosystem by decomposers.

Multiple choice geography production in a factory - a paper mill production in a paper mill information technology industry automobile and electronic industries

Which fertilizer is mostly consumed in India?

  1. Nitrogen

  2. Phosphorus

  3. Potash

  4. All are used in equal ratio
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

  • A fertilizer is a natural or synthetic material that is supplied to plant or soil to provide one or more essential nutrients to plant.
  • Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plant growth, development and reproduction. Despite nitrogen being the abundant element on earth, its deficiency is seen in plants. To avoid this nutrient deficiency nitrogen fertilizers are added to the soil.
  • It is fertilizer that is consumed most in India.