Land Pollution

Q1 Define soil and give its composition?

Soil is the layer of the material that Covers the land and supports the growth of
plants. Soil is a very important constituent of lithosphere.
Soil can be defined as the organic and inorganic materials on the surface of the
earth that provide the medium for plant growth. Soil develops slowly over time and
is composed of many different materials. Inorganic materials, or those materials
that are not living, include weathered rocks and minerals.
Composition:
The soil is composed of different components: 5% organic matter, 45% minerals,
20-30% different gases and 20-30% water. Therefore, the soil is known as a
heterogeneous body.
Q2 Eutrophication? Give its main reason.
Eutrophication is the process in which a water body becomes overly enriched with
nutrients, leading to the plentiful growth of simple plant life. The excessive growth
(or bloom) of algae and plankton in a water body are indicators of this process.
Eutrophication is considered to be a serious environmental concern since it often
results in the deterioration of water quality and the depletion of dissolved oxygen
in water bodies.
Reason
Agricultural practice and the use of fertilizers contribute to such as nitrogen and
phosphorus accumulation responsible for eutrophication.
The direct discharge of industrial waste water into water bodies presents similar
outcome which is eutrophication.
The availability of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus limits the growth of
plant life in an ecosystem.
Q3 Differentiate between macronutrient and micronutrient Give example?
Macro nutrients (major nutrients)
Macronutrients are those elements that are needed for the plant growth at levels
and consequently these are found at substantial levels in the plants bodies and
plant products. Macro nutrients are required in relatively quantity by plants. Their
concentration in plants is usually> 500 mg kg-1 .i.e,C,H,O,N,P,K,Ca,Mg, S
Macro nutrients are further categorized into primary and secondary nutrients .The
primary nutrients are N, P, and K, because they are most often limiting from a crop
production standpoint. All of the other essential macronutrient elements (Ca, Mg
and S) are secondary nutrients because they are rarely limiting, and seldom added
to soils as fertilizers

Micro nutrients (minor nutrients/ trace elements)

Micronutrients are those elements that are required at very low levels for function
of different enzymes in the plant bodies. Micro nutrients required in relatively
smaller quan by plants. These elements are required at trace levels and, if present
at higher levels proc toxic effects. Most of these serve as components of essential
enzymes. Their concentratio plants is usually <100 mg kg-1 i.e.Zn, Cu, B, Fe, Mn,
Cl, Mo.
Q4 How pH of soil affect availability of nutrient?
Soil pH affects nutrient availability to plants. In acidic soil, some nutrients become
more available, while in alkaline soil, some become less available. Nutrient uptake
by plant roots is also influenced by soil pH, which varies for different plant species.
Additionally, soil pH impacts microbial activity, affecting nutrient cycling. Managing
soil pH can optimize nutrient availability for plant growth.
Soil pH affects nutrients available for plant growth. In highly acidic soil, aluminum
and manganese can become more available and more toxic to plant while calcium,
phosphorus, and magnesium are less available to the plant. In highly alkaline soil,
phosphorus and most micronutrients become less available.
Q5 Give atleast 4 volatile compounds that pollute soil
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic chemicals that can evaporate into
the air and, under certain conditions, can contribute to soil pollution when they are
deposited onto the ground.
Benzene, ethylene glycol, toluene, xylene
Q6 Define the term ion exchange capacity of soil?
It is defined as the total exchangeable cations that a soil can hold at specific pH. It
is usually reported in centimoles of charge per kilogram dry soil (cmol (+) kg-1 soil).
It is the interchanging between a cation in the solution of water around the soil
particle, and another cation that is stuck to the clay surface. The number of cations
in the soil water solution is much smaller than the number that is attached to soil
particles.
Q7 How micronutrients help beneficial for plant growth explain briefly
Micronutrients are essential for plant growth as they act as enzyme catalysts,
enable photosynthesis, and aid nutrient uptake. They support cell division,
enhance disease resistance, and play a role in reproductive processes.
Additionally, they activate vital metabolic pathways and are essential for
chlorophyll formation, all of which are critical for overall plant health and
productivity.
Q8 What is the major cause of Soil Erosion?
Soil erosion occurs primarily when dirt is left exposed to strong winds, hard rains,
and flowing water. The major cause of soil erosion is the disruption of natural soil
cover by activities like agriculture, deforestation, and construction. This removal of
vegetation and soil disturbance makes soil vulnerable to erosion by wind and
water, leading to the loss of fertile topsoil, degraded water quality, and
environmental challenges. Soil conservation practices are essential to combat
erosion.
Q9 What is Humus?
Humus is a dark, organic material that forms in the soil as a result of the
decomposition of plant and animal matter. It is a critical component of healthy soil
and is often referred to as "the organic fraction of soil." Humus is rich in organic
carbon and contains various nutrients and beneficial microorganisms. It improves
soil structure, moisture retention, and nutrient-holding capacity. Humus also
enhances soil fertility by releasing nutrients slowly over time, making them
available to plants. Its dark color helps absorb and retain heat in the soil, promoting
microbial activity and root growth. Humus plays a vital role in maintaining soil
health and is essential for productive and sustainable agriculture.
Q10 How soil air is important for fertility.
The process of soil aeration provides air supply underground by moving O2 and
CO2 between the earth pores and the atmosphere. It helps avoid oxygen
starvation in crops and reduce harmful carbon dioxide levels in the subsurface air
if they rise too high.
Soil aeration influences the availability of many nutrients. Particularly, soil air is
needed by many of the microorganisms that release plant nutrients to the soil. An
appropriate balance between soil air and soil water must be maintained since soil
air is displaced by soil water.
Q11 How availability of Phosphorus is affected by soil pH?
If soils are too acidic, phosphorus reacts with iron and aluminum. That makes it
unavailable to plants. But if soils are too alkaline, phosphorus reacts with calcium
and also becomes inaccessible. Phosphorus availability in soil is highest at a
neutral to slightly alkaline pH (around 7-7.5) but decreases in both acidic (pH < 7)
and highly alkaline soils (pH > 7.5). Managing soil pH through appropriate
amendments is essential to optimize phosphorus availability for plant growth.
Q12 Purpose of Reclamation of basic soil
The reclamation of basic or alkaline soils aims to make them suitable for agriculture
and plant growth. This process involves lowering the soil's pH, improving nutrient
availability, enhancing microbial activity, and optimizing soil structure. By
addressing issues like poor nutrient uptake, water retention, and toxic salt levels,
soil reclamation promotes sustainable land use and increased crop productivity,
ensuring that previously unproductive land becomes fertile and useful for
agricultural or horticultural purposes.
Q13 Primary and Secondary minerals of soil
Primary minerals are substances that are formed from primary igneous rocks via
original crystallization. That means; primary minerals form from solidification
processes. The category of primary minerals includes essential minerals (that are
used to assign a classification name to the rock) and accessory minerals (that are
less abundant). Moreover, the dominant form of primary minerals is silicate
mineral.
Secondary minerals are substances that are formed from the alteration of primary
minerals. That means; secondary mineral forms when primary minerals undergo
chemical and geological alterations such as weathering and hydrothermal
alteration.
Primary minerals in soil, like quartz, feldspars, and micas, originate from geological
parent material and weather slowly over time. In contrast, secondary minerals,
such as clay minerals, iron oxides, and aluminum silicates, form as a result of
chemical and physical weathering acting on primary minerals
Q14 Where is the SOIL word come from
The word "soil" is derived from Latin word "Solum" which means earthly material
in which growth of plants takes place. "Soil" may be broadly defined as the
weathered layer of the earth's crust with living organisms and their products of
decay
Q15 The importance of clay in nutrient holding capacity of soil?
Because clays have a large surface area and negative charges, they can attract
and hold positively charged ions. This characteristic is important because many
positively charged ions are plant nutrients, such as calcium, magnesium and
potassium.
Q16 What is CEC? why soil can hold only cation?
CEC stands for Cation Exchange Capacity. It is a measure of a soil's ability to hold
and exchange positively charged ions, or cations, within its structure. Soils are
made up of various minerals and organic matter, and the surfaces of these soil
particles have electric charges. CEC is an inherent soil characteristic and is difficult
to alter significantly. It influences the soil's ability to hold onto essential nutrients
and provides a buffer against soil acidification.
The reason soil can hold only cations is because of the electrostatic interactions
that occur at the soil particle surfaces. Positively charged ions, or cations, are
attracted to the negatively charged surfaces of soil particles. This attraction allows
soil to retain cations, preventing them from leaching away with water. Common
cations that are held by soil particles include calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺),
potassium (K⁺), and sodium (Na⁺).