11th October 2020, Static Quiz on Indian Geography

Solution: D
Justification: Statement 1 and 2: For e.g. Tundra is an area where tree growth is difficult because of cold temperatures and short seasons. Vegetation in tundra is limited to a few shrubs, grasses, and mosses. Statement 3: Slope not only determines the stability of soil (for vegetation growth) but also the ability of soil to retain and hold water. On too steep slopes, water may not be allowed to seep down resulting in drier soils and poor vegetation.
Statement 4: Thicker the soil, greater are the chances of finding minerals and organic matter in the soil. Statement 5: With the change in height, the climate changes and that changes natural vegetation.

Solution: A
Justification: These are essentially southern wet temperate forests which are found in Kerala along the crest of Western Ghats in Palakkad, Wayanad, Idukki and Thiruvananthapuram districts. Grasslands constitute about 80 per cent of such forests. It is found in Indira Gandhi National Park, Annamalai etc.

Solution: C
Justification: Statement 1: Evergreen forests do not shed their leaves simultaneously in any season of the year. Deciduous forests shed their leaves in a particular season to conserve loss of moisture through transpiration.
Statement 2: This is responsible for the seasonal variation which affects the timing when trees shed their leaves.

Solution: C
Justification: Option A: Temperature is a little higher but the seasons are not well defined. Moreover, the soil is not fertile due to persistent leaching owing to high rainfall. Option B: Temperature is higher in deciduous forests and rainfall is not evenly distributed. Option D: These are tundra forests.

Solution: A
Justification: Limestone deposits with a calcium carbonate content around 90% can be quarried to be used by the farming sector. By crushing the limestone, various grades (based on particle size) can be produced. These products are marketed as ‘agricultural lime. Soil acidity is one of the factors that can influence plant growth and can seriously limit crop production. By spreading agricultural lime onto the paddock or soil, the calcium carbonate content of the limestone is capable of neutralising some of the acid in the soil. This also has the effect of freeing up some of the soil minerals, such as phosphates, and making them available for absorption into the plant.

Solution: A
Justification: The characteristics of alluvial soils will be clear from the distinction between khadar and bangar soils. In the Upper and Middle Ganga plain, two different types of alluvial soils have developed, viz. Khadar and Bhangar. Khadar is the new alluvium and is deposited by floods annually, which enriches the soil by depositing fine silts. Bhangar represents a system of older alluvium, deposited away from the flood plains. Both the Khadar and Bhangar soils contain calcareous concretions (Kankars). These soils are more loamy and clayey in the lower and middle Ganga plain and the Brahamaputra valley. The sand content decreases from the west to east. The colour of the alluvial soils varies from the light grey to ash grey. Its shades depend on the depth of the deposition, the texture of the materials, and the time taken for attaining maturity.

Solution: B
Justification: Statement 1: Alkaline soils are difficult to take into agricultural production. Due to the low infiltration capacity, rain water stagnates on the soil easily and, in dry periods, cultivation is hardly possible without copious irrigated water and good drainage.
Statement 2: Soil may be regarded as waterlogged when it is nearly saturated with water much of the time such that its air phase is restricted and anaerobic conditions prevail. Various crops need air (specifically, oxygen) to a greater or lesser depth in the soil. Waterlogging of the soil stops air getting in and reduces the produce.

Solution: D
Justification: Sandy loam soil is suitable for the growth of cotton plants as it can easily drain water and is well aerated. Clayey soil is best suited for paddy, as it can retain water for a longer time. This is also suitable for wheat and grams. Loamy soil is considered the best for almost all types of crops. It is suitable for lentils and other pulses.

Solution: D
Justification:

Solution: A
Justification: The laterite soils develop in areas with high temperature and high rainfall. These are the result of intense leaching due to tropical rains. With rain, lime and silica are leached away, and soils rich in iron oxide and aluminium compound are left behind. Humus content of the soil is removed fast by bacteria that thrives well in high temperature. These soils are poor in organic matter, nitrogen, phosphate and calcium, while iron oxide and potash are in excess. Hence, laterites are not suitable for cultivation; however, application of manures and fertilisers are required for making the soils fertile for cultivation. Red laterite soils in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala are more suitable for tree crops like cashewnut.