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 biology the soil soil erosion (geo) soil erosion, soil conservation and uses of soil soil erosion and conservation

Eroded soils are

  1. Devoid of plant nutrients

  2. Richer in plant nutrients

  3. Unaltered in plant nutrients

  4. Fit for agriculture
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Soil erosion is the removal of top soil, top soil has all the nutrients necessary for plant growth. Eroded soil is low on fertility

So, the correct answer is 'Devoid of plant nutrients'

Multiple choice evs - i issues of the environment eco-system and its destruction ecology and ecosystem ecology and ecosysytem

Which of the following is an abiotic component?

  1. Plants

  2. Animals

  3. Soil

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

The correct answer is 'soil'

The biosphere consists of two components-biotic and abiotic component. Biotic components are the living things while non-living things make up the abiotic component. Plants, animals and microbes being living make up the abiotic component whereas soil being non-living is a part of an abiotic sphere.

Multiple choice zoology soil pollution industrial chemicals and their harmful effects toxic wastes and their effects soil pollution-causes

Which of the following statements is incorrect?

  1. Biofertilizers are used to maintain and improve soil fertility.

  2. Chemical fertilizers pollute soil and water resources.

  3. Chemical fertilizers are expensive.

  4. Most pesticide used these days are specific in nature.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Pesticides are chemicals used to eliminate or control a variety of agricultural pests that can damage crops and livestock and reduce farm productivity. The most commonly applied pesticides are insecticides (to kill insects), herbicides (to kill weeds), rodenticides (to kill rodents) and fungicides (to control fungi, mold, and mildew). Most pesticide used these days are not specific in nature. One pesticide can act on more than one type of pest. 

A biofertilizer (also bio-fertilizer) is a substance, which contains living microorganisms which, when applied to seed, plant surfaces or soil, colonizes the rhizosphere or the interior of the plant and promotes growth by increasing the supply or availability of primary nutrients to the host plant. Biofertilizers are used to maintain and improve soil fertility. 
Chemical fertilizers pollute soil and water resources and also they are expensive. 
Thus, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice zoology soil pollution industrial chemicals and their harmful effects toxic wastes and their effects soil pollution-causes

Which one of the following statements is correct?

  1. At present, it is not possible to grow maize without chemical fertilizers.

  2. Extensive use of chemical fertilizers may lead to eutrophication of nearby water bodies.

  3. Both, Azotobacter and Rhizobium fix atmospheric nitrogen in root nodules of plants.

  4. Cyanobacteria such as Anabaena and Nostoc are important mobilizers of phosphates and potassium for plant nutrition in soil.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Eutrophication occurs when a lake gets too many nutrients, causing blue-green algae growth. Eventually, the growth peaks and crashes as oxygen is consumed faster than it can be replenished, a condition called as eutrophication. Extensive use of chemical fertilizers leads to eutrophication of nearby water bodies. 
Thus, the correct answer is option B.
Multiple choice zoology soil pollution industrial chemicals and their harmful effects toxic wastes and their effects soil pollution-causes

The soil pollutants that affect the food chain and food web by killing microorganisms and plants are

  1. Nitrogen oxides

  2. Pathogens

  3. Pesticides

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

Pesticides are the chemical compounds which are used for the elimination of the harmful pests and insects. When the pesticides are used in excess, it results in the degradation of the soil and water quality. These are non-biodegradable compounds which enter the food chain and the concentration increases with the increase in the trophic level. The pesticides accumulation in the tissues causes toxicity in the organisms and leads to death. 

Thus, the correct answer is option C. 

Multiple choice economics sustainable development with equity introduction to social movements and its types social movements liberalisation

_________ leads to fall in productivity due to deterioration in the quality of soil used for cultivation.

  1. Soil erosion

  2. Air pollution

  3. Global warming

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

Soil erosion is a type of phenomenon where the upper most layer of the soil gets washed away by the acts of wind and water. This leads to a fall in the overall productivity due to deterioration in the quality of soil used for cultivation. 

Multiple choice botany bacteria bacteria - friend and foe useful and harmful bacteria bacteria; benefits and harmful effects

Which organism is most useful for soil fertility?

  1. Algae

  2. Fungi

  3. Bacteria

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

Free-living and symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria fix atmospheric inert nitrogen into biologically useful ammonia thereby adding nitrogen to the soil and increasing its fertility. Algae increase the organic carbon content of the soil upon their death. Mycorrhizae are the symbiotic fungi that reside in roots of higher plants and increase soil fertility by nitrogen fixation. Phages are the bacterial viruses that replicate within the bacterial cell with a polyhedral head, a helical tail and fibers for attachment to the host cell. Thus, the correct answer is option C.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence environmental pollution and industries air pollution and its effects the environment and us environment and conservation

Agricultural chemicals pollute the soil by

  1. Changing the pH of the soil

  2. Causing infertility of soil

  3. Increasing the mineral content in the soil

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

Agricultural chemicals like fertilizers and pesticides can alter soil pH and accumulate toxic residues, which negatively impact soil fertility and microbial health.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence environmental pollution and industries air pollution and its effects the environment and us environment and conservation

Which of the following is a major cause of soil acidification?

  1. Nitrate Leaching

  2. Nitrification

  3. Soil erosion

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

Nitrate leaching is a major cause of soil acidification because it removes basic cations (like calcium and magnesium) from the soil, which are then replaced by hydrogen ions.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence environmental pollution and industries air pollution and its effects the environment and us environment and conservation

How do pesticides adversely affect the fertility of soil?

  1. By changing the pH of the soil

  2. By increasing the number of soil microorganism

  3. By decreasing the number of soil microorganism

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

Soil pollution is caused by the addition of substances which decrease its productivity. It is caused by agrochemicals, industrial wastes, municipal wastes etc. It adversely affects the fertility of the soil. Pesticides are used in agricultural practices and these chemicals penetrate into the soil and changes the pH of the soil. Also, pesticides affect the fertility of soil by decreasing the number of soil microorganisms. 

Thus, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice biology living in harmony climate factors abiotic components organisms and environment

Edaphic factor refers to.

  1. Water

  2. Soil

  3. Relative humidity

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

Edaphic factors are classified under the abiotic factors affecting an ecosystem. Edaphic factors include factors of soil, e.g., soil texture, substratum, topography, mineral composition, pH, etc. These factors can influence the distribution and interrelationships of organisms, as well as rate of decomposition.

Multiple choice biology living in harmony climate factors abiotic components organisms and environment

All of these are examples of abiotic factors except 

  1. Mushrooms

  2. Soil type

  3. Average yearly rainfall

  4. Sunlight

  5. Relative humidity
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
The environment is a complex of many factors which surround an organism. These factors are known as environmental factors or ecological factors which may be either living or biotic and non-living or biotic. 
Biotic factors include plants, animals, microbes etc.
Abiotic factors are the non-living factors, substances, and conditions of the environment which influence the physiology, survival, function, and reproduction of organisms. These factors are divided as:
1. Direct factors- For example, light, temperature, humidity of the air, soil air, soil water, soil nutrients etc.
2. Indirect factors- For example, soil structure, soil organisms, altitude, wind, slopes etc.
Hence, Mushrooms will be included under biotic factors and soil type, average yearly rainfall, sunlight and relative humidity will be included under abiotic factors.
So, the correct answer is 'Mushrooms'.