Environmental Studies · Geography

Soil Science

1,499 Questions

Soil Science examines the formation, classification, and properties of soil as a critical natural resource. This hub offers practice questions covering soil horizons, soil types like laterite and black soil, and regional soil characteristics. The content is highly useful for agriculture exams and civil services preparation.

Soil typesSoil horizonsSoil formation factorsAgricultural soil requirementsIndian soilsForest and mountain soils

Soil Science Questions

Multiple choice

Which of the following areas is best suited for the development of laterite soils?

  1. Mountain areas with sufficient rainfall

  2. Areas of heavy rainfall and high humidity, where there is a good growth of vegetation

  3. Arid and semi-arid regions, and waterlogged and swampy areas

  4. Crystalline igneous rocks in areas of low rainfall

  5. Areas with high temperature and high rainfall
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer. 

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a. Black soils are rich in lime, iron, magnesia, alumina and potash. b. Black soil retains the moisture for a very long time, which helps the rain-fed crops to sustain even during the dry season. c. During the dry season, black soil develops wide cracks and there occurs a kind of ‘self ploughing’.

  1. a, b and c

  2. a and b

  3. a and c

  4. b and c

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer as all statements are correct. 

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are incorrect?

a. Alluvial soils are intensively cultivated. b. Alluvial soils are rich in lime, iron, magnesia and alumina. c. Alluvial soils vary from brown to grey colours.

  1. a only

  2. b only

  3. c only

  4. a and b

  5. b and c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer as both these statements are incorrect. Alluvial soils are rich in potash but poor in phosphorous. The colour of the alluvial soils varies from light grey to ash grey.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a. Soil Survey of India has classified the Indian soils on the basis of their nature and character as per the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Soil Taxonomy. b. There are eight broad types of Indian soils under the classification as per the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Soil Taxonomy. c. The percentage of mollisols type of soil is the highest in India.

  1. a and b

  2. b and c

  3. a and c

  4. a only

  5. a, b and c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Statements 'a' and 'c' are incorrect. ICAR has classified the Indian soils on the basis of their nature and character as per the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Soil Taxonomy. The percentage of inceptisols type of soil is the highest in India. India has the least percentage of mollisols type of soil.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a. Alluvial soils are depositional soils, transported and deposited by rivers and streams. b. Bhangar is the new alluvium and is deposited by floods annually, which enriches the soil by depositing fine silts. c. Alluvial soils are more loamy and clayey in the lower and middle Ganga plain and the Brahamaputra valley.

  1. a only

  2. b only

  3. c only

  4. a and b

  5. a and c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer as both the statements are correct. Alluvial soils are depositional soils, transported and deposited by rivers and streams. Alluvial soils are more loamy and clayey in the lower and middle Ganga plain and the Brahamaputra valley.