Question

Find out the correct sentence about manure.
1. Manure contains large quantities of organic matter and small quantities of nutrients
2. It increases the water holding capacity of sandy soil
3. It helps in draining out excess water from the clayey soil
4. Its excessive use pollutes the environment because it’s made up of animal excretory waste.
A. 1 and 3
B. 1 and 2
C. 2 and 3
D. 3 and 4

Answer 1

Hint: The soil fertility on the surface of earth is not uniform. They are greater in some regions and poor in others. So, farmers adopt several methods to increase the fertility of the soil. One such method is using organic manure in the soil.

Complete answer: There are several bacteria present in the soil that are able to decompose organic matter. These microbes are called decomposers. They break down complex organic substances into simpler inorganic forms. This process is called decomposition. The raw material for decomposition is called detritus. It is formed by remains of dead organic matter including animal body, plant body, excretory matter, and so on. There are several steps for the decomposition process. They are fragmentation, leaching, catabolism, humification, and mineralization. Manure is nothing other than the dead and decaying organic matter of plants and animals. They are commonly used to make the soil fertile as it is rich in minerals needed by the plants. The manure increases the porosity of the soil. It is the water holding capacity of the soil. Manure also increases the nutrient richness of the soil and also has properties that reduce soil erosion. Examining the composition of manure, it contains large quantities of organic matter and relatively small amounts of nutrients. As it contains organic matter, it is preferred to chemical fertilizers as the latter causes water and soil pollution.
Hence, the correct option is B.

Note: The excess use of chemical fertilizers are not good for our soil. Continuous use of these chemical fertilizers decreases the mineral content of the soil and causes the depletion of soil fertility over time. It also causes acidification of soil that kills microbes that are present in the soil and are beneficial to plants.