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 geography abiotic resources: land, soil and water classification of soils abiotic resources soils in india

The soil that has very poor fertility status _______________.

  1. Alluvial soils

  2. Black cotton or regular soils

  3. Laterite soils

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

Laterite has been derived from the Latin word ‘later’ which means brick. The laterite soil develops in areas with high temperature and heavy rainfall. This is the result of intense leaching due to heavy rain. Humus content of the soil is low because most of the micro organisms, particularly the decomposers, like bacteria, get destroyed due to high temperature. Laterite soils are suitable for cultivation with adequate doses of manures and fertilizers. These soils are mainly found in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and the hilly areas of Odisha and Assam. 

Multiple choice geography abiotic resources: land, soil and water classification of soils abiotic resources soils in india

The most fertile soil is ______.

  1. Red soil

  2. Alluvial soil

  3. Laterite soil

  4. Mountainous 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 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. 

Multiple choice geography abiotic resources: land, soil and water classification of soils abiotic resources soils in india

Black soils are largely found in _____.

  1. Maharashtra

  2. Arunachal Pradesh

  3. Assam

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

These soils are black in colour and are also known as regur soils. They cover the plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and extend in the south-east direction along the Godavari and the Krishna valleys.

Multiple choice geography abiotic resources: land, soil and water classification of soils abiotic resources soils in india

Black soil is rich in _____.

  1. Calcium carbonate

  2. Magnesium

  3. Potassium and lime

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

The black soils are made up of extremely fine i.e. clayey material. They are well-known for their capacity to hold moisture. In addition, they are rich in soil nutrients, such as calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime. These soils are generally poor in phosphoric contents. 

Multiple choice geography abiotic resources: land, soil and water classification of soils abiotic resources soils in india

Which is the most fertile soil among the following?

  1. Black Soil

  2. Red Soil

  3. Laterite Soil

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

This is the most widely spread and important type of soil. In fact, the entire Northern Plains are made of alluvial soil. The alluvial soil consists of various proportions of sand, silt and clay. Alluvial soils as a whole are very fertile. Mostly these soils contain adequate proportion of potash, phosphoric acid and lime.

Multiple choice geography abiotic resources: land, soil and water classification of soils abiotic resources soils in india

The soil suitable for cultivation of orchard crops is ________.

  1. Alluvial soil

  2. Laterite soil

  3. Sandy soil

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

Orchards can very well be grown in mountainous soil. These soils are heterogeneous in nature and their character changes with parent rocks, ground-configuration and climate. Consequently, they differ greatly even if they occur in close proximity to one another. 

Multiple choice geography abiotic resources: land, soil and water classification of soils abiotic resources soils in india

Which of the following soils are less fertile and need heavy manuring and irrigation?

  1. Alluvial soil

  2. Black soil

  3. Red soil

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

Red soil is a type of soil that develops in a warm, temperate, moist climate under deciduous or mixed forest, having thin organic and organic-mineral layers overlying a yellowish-brown leached layer resting on an illuvium red layer. Red soils are generally derived from crystalline rock. They are usually poor growing soils, low in nutrients and humus and difficult to cultivate because of its low water holding capacity. Red soils are an important resource.