Soils and Vegetation — GK Questions with Answers

1. Shortage of which two elements in Indian soils usually lowers yield per hectare?
   1. Nitrogen only
   2. Phosphorus and nitrogen
   3. Potassium and sulphur
   4. Aluminium and iron
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   Answer: (B) Phosphorus and nitrogen

   Most Indian soils are poor in nitrogen, phosphorus and humus.

2. Which soil is made fit for crops by adding gypsum? (IAS 2011)
   1. Alkaline soil
   2. Acidic soil
   3. Waterlogged soil
   4. Soil very high in clay
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   Answer: (A) Alkaline soil

   Calcium in gypsum replaces sodium; lime is added to acidic soil.

3. Which of these has the lowest water-holding capacity?
   1. Sandy loam
   2. Loamy sand
   3. Clay loam
   4. Loam
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   Answer: (B) Loamy sand

   Loamy sand has the most sand and least clay — water drains out fastest.

4. Which state has India’s largest area of alkaline (sodic) soil?
   1. Gujarat
   2. Haryana
   3. Punjab
   4. Uttar Pradesh
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   Answer: (D) Uttar Pradesh

   Uttar Pradesh leads in alkaline soil; Gujarat in saline soil.

5. Correct statements about laterite soils — 1. usually red 2. rich in nitrogen and potash 3. well developed in Rajasthan and UP 4. tapioca and cashew grow well (IAS 2013)
   1. 1, 2 and 3
   2. 2, 3 and 4
   3. 1 and 4
   4. 2 and 3
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   Answer: (C) 1 and 4

   Laterite is poor in nitrogen and found on the higher parts of the peninsula, not in Rajasthan-UP.

6. Which area suffers most severely from soil erosion?
   1. Malwa plateau
   2. Terai
   3. Coastal Andhra
   4. Chambal valley
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   Answer: (D) Chambal valley

   Gully erosion has carved deep ravines in the Chambal valley.

7. Suitable soil-conservation practices — 1. crop rotation 2. sand fences 3. terracing 4. windbreaks (IAS 2010)
   1. 1, 2 and 3
   2. 2 and 4
   3. 1, 3 and 4
   4. All of these
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   Answer: (D) All of these

   All four are accepted measures — sand fences stop drifting sand in deserts.

8. Of Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Mizoram, which have tropical wet evergreen forests? (IAS 2015)
   1. 1 only
   2. 2 and 3
   3. 1 and 3
   4. All
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   Answer: (C) 1 and 3

   Himachal has temperate-coniferous forests.

9. Which forest covers the largest area in India? (IAS 2010)
   1. Montane wet temperate
   2. Sub-tropical dry evergreen
   3. Tropical moist deciduous
   4. Tropical wet evergreen
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   Answer: (C) Tropical moist deciduous

   Among the options, tropical deciduous forests are the most widespread.

10. Which of these is NOT a Himalayan species? (IAS 2008)
    1. Juniper
    2. Mahogany
    3. Silver fir
    4. Spruce
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    Answer: (B) Mahogany

    Mahogany is a tree of tropical evergreen forests.

11. Teak is a dominant species of which forest type? (IAS 2015)
    1. Tropical moist deciduous
    2. Tropical rain forest
    3. Tropical thorn scrub
    4. Temperate forest with grasslands
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    Answer: (A) Tropical moist deciduous

    Sal and teak — the leading trees of moist deciduous forests.

12. Where are mangrove, evergreen and deciduous forests all found together? (IAS 2005)
    1. North coastal Andhra Pradesh
    2. South-west Bengal
    3. Southern Saurashtra
    4. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
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    Answer: (D) Andaman and Nicobar Islands

    Mangroves on the island coasts, evergreen and deciduous forests inland.

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