Tropical rain forest soil rich in nutrients; high temp and moisture cause rapid decomposition
Question
Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The soil in tropical rain forests is rich in nutrients. Statement-II: The high temperature and moisture of tropical rain forests cause dead organic matter in the soil to decompose quickly. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Options
Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
Explanation
Statement-I is heavily incorrect; soils in tropical rainforests (oxisols) are notoriously nutrient-poor, highly leached, and acidic. Statement-II is correct; the extreme heat and humidity cause dead organic matter to decompose rapidly. The released nutrients are immediately reabsorbed by the dense vegetation rather than accumulating in the soil, explaining why the soil remains poor.
Answer: (d).
Question details
Year
2023
Paper
GS Paper 1
Question
Q63
Subject
Geography
Sub-topic
World Physical Geography
Type
Assertion-Reason
Difficulty
Medium
Nature
Static
Source hint
NCERT Geography Cl.11 Ch.15
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