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 biology improvement in food resources manure manures and fertilisers role of organic manures in soil management

Which of the following is a synthetic substance?

  1. Manure

  2. Nutrients

  3. Minerals

  4. Fertilizers
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
  • Fertilizers, chemically synthesized substances that are rich in plant nutrients such as NPK. 
  • They are artificially made but have a rapid response. The overuse of fertilizers can cause negative effects like loose soil fertility.
Multiple choice biology improvement in food resources manure manures and fertilisers role of organic manures in soil management

Animal manure can be contaminated due to

  1. Paper

  2. Wool

  3. Stones

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

Animal manure is organic matter, which is used as a fertilizer in agriculture. The manure gets contaminated only when micro-organisms attack. Animal manure can improve the soil aggregation so that the soil becomes more fertile. Horse manure is mostly used in agriculture apart from the horse manure cattle manures like cow dung, sheep manure.

So, the correct option is ' None of the above'.

Multiple choice biology improvement in food resources manure manures and fertilisers role of organic manures in soil management

.......... is a most important fertilizer.

  1. Carbon

  2. Phosphorous

  3. Nitrogen

  4. Oxygen
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
  • Nitrogen is considered to be the most important fertilizer, and plants absorb more nitrogen than any other element. Nitrogen is essential in making sure plants are healthy as they develop and nutritious to eat after they are harvested. That is because nitrogen is essential in the formation of protein, and protein makes up much of the tissues of most living things. 
Therefore, the correct answer is option C.
Multiple choice biology improvement in food resources manure manures and fertilisers role of organic manures in soil management

The increased use of nitrogen fertilizers results in .......... in the atmosphere.

  1. Greenhouse effect

  2. Global warming

  3. Ozone depletion

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

  • The increased use of nitrogen fertilizer, adds to the already existing amount of reactive nitrogen in the atmosphere, in the form of nitrous oxide (N2O) through the nitrogen cycle. 
  • It is the third most important greenhouse gas following carbon dioxide and methane. Greenhouses gases, including nitrous oxide, causes global warming by absorbing the solar energy in the atmosphere and global warming leads to the stratospheric ozone depletion. 

Therefore, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice biology improvement in food resources manure manures and fertilisers role of organic manures in soil management

Which of the following descriptions is true for describing a fertiliser?

  1. Used in large quantity

  2. Organic in nature

  3. Does not cause pollution

  4. Produced in factories
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Fertilizer is a natural or an artificial material that is used in agriculture to grow the crops. Fertilizers are mixed with soils for the better growing of crops and to supply minerals and nutrients to plants. Fertilisers may be organic and inorganic. Fertilisers are mainly made up of horse manure and cow dung.

So, the correct option is 'Produced in industries'.

Multiple choice biology improvement in food resources manure manures and fertilisers role of organic manures in soil management

.......... contains large quantities of organic matter and also supplies small quantities of nutrients to the soil.

  1. Manure

  2. Water

  3. Seeds

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

Manure is an organic substance produced by the decomposition of plant and animal wastes in the presence of microorganism and used as fertilizers because it contains nutrients such as nitrogen, that are trapped by bacteria in the soil. Manure contains large quantities of organic matter and also supplies small quantities of nutrients to the soil.


Multiple choice biology improvement in food resources manure manures and fertilisers role of organic manures in soil management

Fertilizer are used for _______

  1. Ensure good vegetative growth (leaves, branches and flowers),

  2. Giving rise to healthy plants

  3. All of the above

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

Fertilizers provide essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are necessary for overall plant health, vegetative growth, and reproductive development.

Multiple choice biology improvement in food resources manure manures and fertilisers role of organic manures in soil management

Fertilizers gets washed away due to 

  1. Excessive irrigation

  2. Not fully absorbed by the plants

  3. Above A and B

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

Fertilisers, chemically synthesized substances which are rich in plant nutrients such as NPK. They are artificially made but have a rapid response. Fertilizers are any solid, liquid or gaseous substances that are applied to the soil, directly on the plant (foliage) or added to aqueous solutions (as in fertigation) to maintain soil fertility, improve crop development, yield and/or crop quality. Sometimes fertilizers get washed away due to excessive irrigation and are not fully absorbed by the plants. Overuse of fertilisers can cause negative effects like loose soil fertility, bioaccumulation etc.

Thus, the correct answer is option C.

Multiple choice biology improvement in food resources manure manures and fertilisers role of organic manures in soil management

Fertilizers should be applied carefully in terms of .......... , for their complete utilisation.

  1. Proper dose

  2. Time

  3. Observing pre- and post-application precautions

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

Fertilisers, chemically synthesized substances which are rich in plant nutrients such as NPK. They are artificially made but have a rapid response. Overuse of fertilisers can cause negative effects like loose soil fertility, bioaccumulation etc. Fertilizers should be applied carefully in terms of proper dose, time, and observing pre and post-application precautions for their complete utilisation.

Thus, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice biology improvement in food resources manure manures and fertilisers role of organic manures in soil management

Why is organic manure considered better than fertilizers?

  1. It cannot be prepared in fields

  2. It is less rich in plant nutrients

  3. It improves the fertility and texture of the soil

  4. It decreases the water holding capacity of the soil
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Organic manure or organic fertilizer is made up of organic biodegradable waste like animal excreta and agriculture wastes. As it biodegradable it cannot harm the environment and increase the soil fertility it is better than chemical fertilizer. But chemical fertilizers are nutrient specific and prepared in chemical factories. Thus, the correct answer is option C.

Multiple choice biology improvement in food resources manure manures and fertilisers role of organic manures in soil management

Which of the following materials of biological origin are commonly used to maintain and improve soil fertility?

  1. Green manure

  2. Biofertilizers

  3. Bioinsecticides

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

Green manure and biofertilizers maintain and improve soil fertility. Green manure is prepared by the waste leaf from the plants. The waste leaf of the plant is mainly dumped in the soil which is further decomposed by bacteria of the soil.

Biofertilizers are prepared by the strains of microorganism which fix the essential nutrients for the soil.
So, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice biology improvement in food resources manure manures and fertilisers role of organic manures in soil management

Among the given options, which one is not correct for the use of large amount of fertilisers and pesticides?

  1. Fertilisers are eco-friendly.

  2. Fertilisers turn the fields barren after some time.

  3. Fertilisers remove the useful component from the soil.

  4. Fertilisers destroy the soil fertility.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Pesticides and fertilizers are the chemically synthesized compound used for agriculture purpose. The use of pesticides and fertilizers over a long period of time can destroy soil fertility or soil structure by killing the soil microorganism that recycles nutrients in the soil as they are artificial chemical compounds. It also kills earthworms which are instrumental in making rich humus.

Therefore, the correct answer is option A.

Multiple choice biology improvement in food resources manure manures and fertilisers role of organic manures in soil management

Among the given options, which one is not correct for the use of a large amount of fertilizers and pesticides?

  1. Fertilizers are eco-friendly.

  2. Fertilizers turn the fields barren after some time.

  3. Fertilizers adversly affect the useful component from the soil.

  4. Fertilizers destroy the soil fertility.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Fertilizers and pesticides are composed of chemical components. These chemicals are harmful to the soil and the environment. These fertilizers and pesticides if put in excess degrades the soil fertility and quality by destroying its natural properties. The chemicals from the fertilizers and insecticides make the soil acidic in nature which leads the soil to lose its fertility to become dry and barren. These chemicals also harm the natural soil tillers, decomposers and the organisms that naturally enhance the soil quality and fertility. Therefore adversely affecting the useful components of soil by depleting the natural nutrient of the soil like nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous, etc. Fertilizers cannot be eco-friendly as it harms the soil, water, and environment, unlike biofertilizers which are organic in nature and are eco-friendly too.
Therefore, the correct answer is option A.

Multiple choice biology improvement in food resources manure manures and fertilisers role of organic manures in soil management

Which of the following is not true for fertilisers?

  1. They increase the yield.

  2. Their excessive use disturbs the balance of nutrients in soil.

  3. They are generally used in small quantity.

  4. They are environment friendly.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
The by-products of fertilizer industries are pesticides and some chemical fertilizers. They are non-biodegradable, so they get accumulated at each trophic level. These mix up with soil and water. From there, these pesticides are absorbed by the growing plants along with water and minerals.
When herbivores eat these, these poisonous chemicals pass into their bodies through the food chain. When carnivores eat herbivores, these pesticides transfer to their bodies. Man being omnivore, eats both plants and herbivores and these gets accumulators into their body.
Thus, pesticides enter the food chain at the producer level and in the process of transfer of food through food chains, these harmful chemicals get concentrated at each trophic level. This is called bio magnification.
Therefore, the correct answer is option D.
Multiple choice biology improvement in food resources manure manures and fertilisers role of organic manures in soil management

Which of the following statement is not true for organic manure?

  1. It enhances water holding capacity of soil

  2. It has a balance of all plant nutrients

  3. It provides humus to soil

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

  • Manure is an organic substance produced by the decomposition of plant and animal wastes in the presence of the microorganism. 
  • Organic manure contains a few nutrients. It enhances the water holding capacity of soil. 
  • This makes more water available to plants. It has a balance of all plant nutrients. It provides humus (organic matter ) to soil. 

Therefore, option D is correct.