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

Black soil contains fine clay particles and is very useful wherever rainfall is less because it is able to _____________.

  1. Absorb moisture

  2. Retain moisture

  3. Release moisture

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

Black soil has a high clay content, which gives it an exceptional capacity to retain moisture for long periods. This makes it highly valuable for agriculture in semi-arid regions with low rainfall.

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

Black soil is suitable for growing cotton because _________________.

  1. It is sticky in nature

  2. It is formed from the disintegration of volcanic rocks

  3. It has the capacity to retain moisture for a long period

  4. It is rich in potash and nitrogen
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The high moisture-retention capacity of black soil ensures that cotton crops receive a steady supply of water during their growing period, even in areas with low rainfall.

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

In list A, types of soils and in list B, places where they are available are given. Identify the group that is matched correctly.

LIST A LIST B
$(1)$ Alluvial soil $(a)$ Deccan Trap
$(2)$ Black soil $(b)$ Peninsular Plateau
$(3)$ Red soil $(c)$ Western Ghats
$(4)$ Laterite soil $(d)$ Brahmaputra Valley
  1. $1-d;2-b;3-a;4-c$
  2. $1-b;2-c;3-a;4-d$
  3. $1-a;2-b;3-d;4-c$
  4. $1-d;2-a;3-b;4-c$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Alluvial soil is deposited by rivers in valleys like the Brahmaputra Valley (1-d). Black soil is formed from volcanic basalt in the Deccan Trap (2-a). Red soil is widely found across the crystalline rocks of the Peninsular Plateau (3-b), and laterite soil is formed due to heavy leaching in high-rainfall areas like the Western Ghats (4-c).

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

Laterite soil is formed in the regions where _________.

  1. The rainfall is heavy

  2. The temperature is very high

  3. There is less rainfall and high temperature

  4. Large amount of salt and phosphate are found
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Laterite soil is formed under conditions of high temperature and heavy rainfall with alternate wet and dry periods. This leads to intense leaching, where silica is washed away, leaving behind iron and aluminum oxides.

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

In list A, types of soils and in list B,their related details are given. Identify the group that is matched correctly.

LIST A LIST B
$(1)$ Mountain soil $(a)$ Tea and Coffee
$(2)$ Black soil $(b)$ Cotton
$(3)$ Red soil $(c)$ Red gram
$(4)$ Laterite soil $(d)$ Wheat
  1. $1-d;2-b;3-c;4-a$
  2. $1-a;2-d;3-c;4-b$
  3. $1-c;2-b;3-d;4-a$
  4. $1-b;2-a,3-d,4-c$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Black soil is highly suitable for cotton (2-b). Red soil is well-suited for pulses like red gram (3-c). Laterite soil, when properly manured, is excellent for plantation crops like tea and coffee (4-a), while mountain soil can support crops like wheat on terraced slopes (1-d).

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

Mountain soil is best suited for the cultivation of tea, coffee and spices because it is rich in _________.

  1. Lime and magnesium carbonates

  2. Nitrogen and organic residues

  3. Ferric oxide and aluminium

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

Mountain soil is rich in organic matter (humus) and nitrogen, which are highly beneficial for plantation crops like tea, coffee, and spices. However, it is generally deficient in potash, phosphoric acid, and lime.

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

Which of the following statements is wrong?

  1. Laterite soils are black in colour.

  2. Mountain soils are shallow and immature.

  3. Black soils have ability to retain moisture for a long time.

  4. Alluvial soils are fertile.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Laterite is a soil and rock type rich in iron and aluminium, and is commonly considered to have formed in hot and wet tropical areas. Nearly all laterites are of rusty-red coloration, because of high iron oxide content.

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

The formation of laterite soil is mainly due to ___________.

  1. weathering

  2. erosion

  3. leaching

  4. deposition
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.

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

Which of the following is not a tropical type of soil?

  1. Red soil

  2. Desert soil

  3. Black soil

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

Brown earth is a type of soil. Brown earths are mostly located between 35° and 55° north of the Equator. The largest expanses cover western and central Europe, large areas of western and trans-Uralian Russia, the east coast of America and eastern Asia.

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

What do you understand by the word regur?

  1. Black soil found in the Deccan

  2. Grey-brown soil found in Russia

  3. Red, colour sticky soil, found in the Amazon area

  4. Black soil found in northern Argentina
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Black soils are also known as regur soils. Black soil is ideal for growing cotton and is also known as black cotton soil. This type of soil is typical of the Deccan trap (Basalt) region spread over northwest Deccan plateau and is made up of lava flows.