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 evs mud and stones soil types types of soil soil - types, uses and need for conservation

......... is a mixture of sandy and clay.

  1. Humus

  2. Clayey

  3. Silt

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

Loamy soil is a mixture of clay, sand and silt. Particles of loamy soil are smaller than sand and larger than clay. Loamy soil has also a good water holding capacity and suitable for plants growth. Thus, the correct answer is D.

Multiple choice evs mud and stones soil types types of soil soil - types, uses and need for conservation

Soil best suited for plant growth is

  1. Clay

  2. Sandy loam

  3. Sandy

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

Sandy loam is considered ideal for plant growth because it balances the drainage properties of sand with the nutrient and water-retention capabilities of clay and silt. Pure clay is often too waterlogged, while pure sand drains too quickly.

Multiple choice evs mud and stones soil types types of soil soil - types, uses and need for conservation

Least porous soil is

  1. Silt soil

  2. Peat soil

  3. Clay soil

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

Soil can be classified on the basis of the size of the particle and its water holding capacity into clay soil, sand soil and loam soil, silt soil. Clay soil has the finest particles of all the soils. Hence, it is the least porous soil. Sand soil has the largest size of particles. They are the most porous soil.

Thus, the correct answer is 'Clay soil.' 

Multiple choice evs mud and stones soil types types of soil soil - types, uses and need for conservation

Which is the characteristic feature of a physiologically dry soil? 

  1. There is plenty of water in the soil

  2. Light available to the plants is not sufficient

  3. Concentration of salts is very high in soil water

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

Physiologically dry soil have very high concentration of salts. It is basicly dead soil from lack of oxygen and high salt content. The halophytes are plants of physically wet but physiologically dry habitats. Such plants are commonly found near sea-shores where mesophytes and freshwater hydrophytes cannot thrive well. Although these plants grow in the areas which are well saturated with water yet they cannot avail of the water because of high concentration of salts in the soils. 

Therefore, the correct answer is option C. 

Multiple choice evs mud and stones soil types types of soil soil - types, uses and need for conservation

Water logged soil is

  1. Physically as well as physiologically dry

  2. Physically wet but physiologically dry

  3. Physically dry

  4. Physically as well as physiologically wet
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A soil may be physically wet; but if the plants absorb the water only with difficulty, as in a salty marsh water logged soil, then the soil is physiologically dry. The halophytes are plants of physically wet but physiologically dry habitats. Such plants are commonly found near sea-shores where mesophytes and freshwater hydrophytes cannot thrive well. Although these plants grow in the areas which are well saturated with water yet they cannot avail of the water because of high concentration of salts in the soils. 

Therefore, the correct answer is option B. 

Multiple choice evs mud and stones soil types types of soil soil - types, uses and need for conservation

Plants growing on sandy soil are

  1. Lithophytes

  2. Psammophytes

  3. Hydrophytes

  4. Xerophytes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
  • Psammophytes are plants that thrive in shifting sands, primarily in deserts. They have a number of adaptations that enable them to exist on wind-blown sands. 
  • Lithophytes are plants that grow on stones and rocks or in their crevices.
  • Hydrophytes are aquatic plants that live in water and are evolutionarily suited to thrive in aquatic environments.
  • Xerophytes are plant species that have adapted to live in dry or desert conditions. They have evolved to bear and survive in extreme and harsh environments.
Multiple choice biology transport in plants transport of food, water and minerals theories of translocation transport in the phloem of plants

The major source of minerals in the soil is

  1. Parent rock from which soil is formed

  2. Plants

  3. Animals

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

The absorption, distribution and metabolism of various mineral elements by plants are called mineral nutrition. The mineral elements play important role in the performance and maintenance of life activities. All microelements are absorbed by plants in traces and derived from the parent rock by the process of weathering. 

So, the correct answer is option A.

Multiple choice evs mud and stones soil - formation and profile soil-nature soil profile

Which of the following layer of soil is called as zone of leaching?

  1. $A _0$
  2. $A _{00}$
  3. $A _2$
  4. $A _1$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Leaching is the process by which soluble nutrients are lost from the soil. The A horizon of the soil is the surface layer that consists largely of minerals. The A$ _2$ horizon of this layer shows the maximum leaching. 

So, the correct option is 'A$ _2$'.