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 soil as a natural resource natural resources - air, water and land land physical resources biology

Which of the following factors does not lead to soil formation in nature?

  1. The sun

  2. Water

  3. Wind

  4. Polythene bags
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
Weathering is the name given to the process by which rocks are broken down to form soils. There are three main types of weathering, physical, chemical and biological. Polythene bags does not lead to soil formation in nature.
When they are thrown on land it makes soil less fertile. They slowly release toxic chemicals that certain animals use as a resource. These are a non-biodegradable waste. So, the correct answer is option D.
Multiple choice soil as a natural resource natural resources - air, water and land land physical resources biology

Major source of formation of soil is

  1. Rocks

  2. Snow covered mountains

  3. River beds

  4. Volcanoes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
The parent material is the substance by which the soil is formed, these are generally rocks. Weathering and disintegration of rocks lead to the formation of soil. This is the major source of soil formation. So, the correct answer is option A.
Multiple choice soil as a natural resource natural resources - air, water and land land physical resources biology

Which of the following factor does not help in the formation of soil?

  1. Wind and water

  2. Decomposed plants and animals

  3. Rocks and temperature

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

The surface layer of the earth's crust is called soil. It forms by the process of weathering and erosion. It takes a long time to form the soil. There are several factors that affect the process of soil formation. These are climate, topography, parent material, organic material and time span. Rainfall influence the rate of weathering and humus formation. Parent rocks determine the texture, colour, chemical properties, mineral content and quality. Topography i.e. slope and altitude decide the accumulation of soil. Flora, fauna and microbes affect the rate of humus formation. Time span determines the thickness of soil layer. Water accumulation does not help in the formation of soil.

So, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice soil as a natural resource natural resources - air, water and land land physical resources biology

The most determining factor for soil formation is

  1. Parent rock

  2. Running water

  3. Humus

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

the presence and type of parent rock is the most determining factor in the formation of soil. This is because the parent decides what type of soil will be formed. The soil constituents, chemical nature, what type of crops it can grow is all determined by the type of parent rock.

So the correct answer is "A".

Multiple choice soil as a natural resource natural resources - air, water and land land physical resources biology

Which three layers form the soil profile?

  1. Air, water and soil

  2. Minerals, organic matter and living organisms

  3. Clay, silt and sand

  4. The topsoil, subsoil and parent material
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

A soil profile is a vertical section of soil that displays its various layers, known as horizons. The primary horizons are typically classified as topsoil (A-horizon), subsoil (B-horizon), and parent material (C-horizon).

Multiple choice soil as a natural resource natural resources - air, water and land land physical resources biology

Which one of the following factors does not lead to soil formation in nature?

  1. Sunlight

  2. Water

  3. Wind

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

Rain, wind, ice and temperature changes break the tough, hard parent material or rocks. This process is very slow but it steadily continues. Such broken parts are further withered by same factors as well as some other factors as acids etc. Therefore, wind, water and the Sun are involved in soil formation. 

Polythene bags are not involved in soil formation. However, plastic bags are threat to environment, because these bags are non-degradable, i.e., do not decay and thus, do not lead to soil formation.

Multiple choice geography properties of natural resources properties of soil soil pollution and its effects soil and soil pollution

Which of the following soils is suitable for cultivation of almost all kinds of crops?

  1. Black soil

  2. Red soil

  3. Laterite soil

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

Alluvium is loose, unconsolidated soil or sediment that has been eroded, reshaped by water in some form, and redeposited in a non-marine setting. Alluvium is typically made up of a variety of materials, including fine particles of silt and clay and larger particles of sand and gravel. When this loose alluvial material is deposited or cemented into a lithological unit, or lithified, it is called an alluvial deposit.

Multiple choice geography properties of natural resources properties of soil soil pollution and its effects soil and soil pollution

The most fertile soil of India is __________.

  1. Alluvial soil

  2. Red soil

  3. Laterite soil

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

Alluvial soils are formed mainly due to silt deposited by Indo-Gangetic-Brahmaputra rivers. They are the largest soil group covering about 15 lakh sq km or about 6 percent of the total area. They support more than 40% of India’s population by providing the most productive agricultural lands.

Multiple choice geography properties of natural resources properties of soil soil pollution and its effects soil and soil pollution

The soils which have supported agriculture for centuries without much manuring or fallowing are _____________.

  1. alluvial and late rite soils

  2. red and laterite soils

  3. black and alluvial soils

  4. laterite and black soils
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Black soils (regur) and alluvial soils are known for their high fertility and ability to sustain agriculture over long periods without intensive manuring.

Multiple choice geography properties of natural resources properties of soil soil pollution and its effects soil and soil pollution

Black soils are ideal for cultivation of cotton because ______________.

  1. their colour is black

  2. they can retain moisture

  3. they are made of lava

  4. they are found on plateau regions
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Black soil is ideal for growing cotton and is also known as black cotton soil. These soils are made up of extremely fine i.e. clayey material. They are well-known for their capacity to hold moisture.  

Multiple choice geography properties of natural resources properties of soil soil pollution and its effects soil and soil pollution

Which of the following soil is the most fertile?

  1. Black soil

  2. Alluvial soil

  3. Red soil

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

Alluvial soils as a whole are very fertile. Mostly these soils contain an adequate proportion of potash, phosphoric acid and lime which are ideal for the growth of sugarcane, paddy, wheat and other cereal and pulse crops. Due to its high fertility, regions of alluvial soils are intensively cultivated and densely populated.