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Q48·GS Paper 1 · Prelims 2022

Identifying leguminous and nitrogen-fixing plants

EnvironmentBotany & FloraStatement-basedHardStatic

Question

Which of the following are nitrogen-fixing plants? Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. 1.

    Alfalfa

  2. 2.

    Amaranth

  3. 3.

    Chickpea

  4. 4.

    Clover

  5. 5.

    Purslane (Kulfa)

  6. 6.

    Spinach

Options

a

1, 3 and 4 only

Answer
b

1, 3, 5 and 6 only

c

2, 4, 5 and 6 only

d

1, 2, 4, 5 and 6

Explanation

Alfalfa, Chickpea, and Clover are leguminous plants (Fabaceae family) that host Rhizobium bacteria in their root nodules to fix atmospheric nitrogen. Amaranth, Purslane, and Spinach are non-leguminous leafy greens that do not fix nitrogen; they rapidly deplete it from the soil.

Nitrogen fixation is overwhelmingly the domain of legumes (beans, peas, clovers, lentils); leafy greens (like spinach and amaranth) are heavy nitrogen consumers, not fixers.

Answer: (a).

Question details

Year

2022

Paper

GS Paper 1

Question

Q48

Subject

Environment

Sub-topic

Botany & Flora

Type

Statement-based

Difficulty

Hard

Nature

Static

Source hint

NCERT Biology Cl.11 Ch.12

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