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Q41·GS Paper 1 · Prelims 2019

Nitrogen and ammonia in environment

EnvironmentAgricultural and industrial emissionsStatement-basedMediumStatic

Question

Consider the following statements:

1Agricultural soils release nitrogen oxides into environment.
2Cattle release ammonia into environment.
3Poultry industry releases reactive nitrogen compounds into environment.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1.

    Agricultural soils release nitrogen oxides into environment.

  2. 2.

    Cattle release ammonia into environment.

  3. 3.

    Poultry industry releases reactive nitrogen compounds into environment.

Options

a

1 and 3 only

b

2 and 3 only

c

2 only

d

1, 2 and 3

Answer

Explanation

All three statements are correct. Agricultural soils release nitrogen oxides (NOx) as a result of microbial processes in the soil, particularly nitrification and denitrification. Cattle and other livestock release ammonia (NH3) as a byproduct of their digestive processes and manure management. The poultry industry also releases reactive nitrogen compounds through waste management and bird excretion. These are well-documented sources of nitrogen pollution in agriculture and animal husbandry. > ALL three sources—soils, cattle, and poultry—contribute to reactive nitrogen pollution in the environment. Answer: (d).

Question details

Year

2019

Paper

GS Paper 1

Question

Q41

Subject

Environment

Sub-topic

Agricultural and industrial emissions

Type

Statement-based

Difficulty

Medium

Nature

Static

Source hint

Environmental Science textbooks

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