[Mission 2022] QUIZ – 2022: INSIGHTS STATIC QUIZ, 24 November 2021 – Geography – INSIGHTSIAS

Solution: c)

Soil organic matter is made up of organic compounds and includes plant, animal and microbial material, both living and dead.

A small part of the organic matter consists of the living cells such as bacteria, molds, and actinomycetes that work to break down the dead organic matter.

Solution: c)

Loose soil has more air trapped in it than tight soil.

Roots get more oxygen and loose space this way and grow properly.

Tight soil prohibits the growth of microbes as well as their movement.

Loosening of soil allows for microbe action which decomposes organic matter to form humus in the soil.

Solution: c)

Alluvial soils are widespread in the northern plains and the river valleys. These soils cover about 40 per cent of the total area of the country. They are depositional soils, transported and deposited by rivers and streams. Through a narrow corridor in Rajasthan, they extend into the plains of Gujarat. In the Peninsular region, they are found in deltas of the east coast and in the river valleys.

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.

Soils in the drier areas are more alkaline and can be productive after proper treatment and irrigation.

Solution: a)

Depending on soil pH test results, agricultural lime may need to be applied to maintain pH, or to recover pH to an appropriate level. Liming is the most economical method of ameliorating soil acidity.

Its solubility makes it ineffective to grow major crops as limestone reacts with water at a rapid pace. Moreover, the landforms made by limestone make an area difficult as a habitat for humans. So, few agricultural communities can be found in such areas.

Solution: b)

Tropical Deciduous Forests:

These are the most widespread forests in India. They are also called the monsoon forests. They spread over regions which receive rainfall between 70-200 cm. On the basis of the availability of water, these forests are further divided into moist and dry deciduous.

The Moist deciduous forests are more pronounced in the regions which record rainfall between 100-200 cm. These forests are found in the north-eastern states along the foothills of Himalayas, eastern slopes of the Western Ghats and Odisha.