Soil Revival Challenge Quiz

Explore essential concepts and strategies in soil reclamation, aimed at restoring degraded agricultural land for better productivity. Perfect for those seeking to deepen their understanding of soil recovery methods.

1. Identifying Salinity Issues

   A farmer notices white crust on the soil surface and poor crop yields; which soil reclamation method is most commonly used to address saline soils?

   1. Mulching with plastic
   2. Leaching with freshwater
   3. Application of lime
   4. Spraying insecticides

   Explanation: Leaching with freshwater removes excess soluble salts from saline soils, which is essential for reclamation. Lime application targets acidity, not salinity. Insecticides deal with pests, not soil quality. Plastic mulching controls weeds and moisture but does not address salinity.

2. Amending Acidic Soils

   What amendment is typically added to acidic soils during reclamation to raise their pH and improve crop growth?

   1. Sulfur
   2. Gypsum
   3. Compost tea
   4. Agricultural lime

   Explanation: Agricultural lime neutralizes excess acidity and increases pH in acidic soils, improving nutrient availability for plants. Gypsum is used for sodic soils, sulfur lowers soil pH, and compost tea mainly adds microorganisms rather than changing acidity.

3. Physical Techniques in Soil Recovery

   Which practice can help restore compacted agricultural soils by improving aeration and water infiltration?

   1. Deep tillage
   2. Heavy chemical use
   3. Surface scraping
   4. Flood irrigation

   Explanation: Deep tillage breaks up compacted layers, enhancing soil structure and root penetration. Flood irrigation can worsen compaction, heavy chemicals may harm soil health, and surface scraping removes fertile topsoil rather than restoring it.

4. Organic Matter Incorporation

   A landowner wants to reclaim nutrient-poor soils; which material is best suited for improving organic content and soil fertility?

   1. Raw sand
   2. Granite gravel
   3. Organic compost
   4. Polythene sheets

   Explanation: Organic compost increases organic matter, enriches fertility, and supports soil structure. Granite gravel and sand provide little to no nutrients, and polythene sheets are not biodegradable or nutritive.

5. Preventing Future Degradation

   Which approach is most effective for preventing further soil degradation during and after reclamation?

   1. Excessive irrigation
   2. Daily plowing
   3. Clearing all vegetation
   4. Contour farming

   Explanation: Contour farming reduces erosion by aligning planting along natural land contours. Daily plowing can accelerate degradation, excessive irrigation can cause salinization, and removing vegetation increases erosion risk.