Question

Which of the soils is very poor in humus content?
A.Laterite Soil
B.Alluvial Soil
C.Arid Soil
D.Regular Soil

Answer 1

Hint: Soil is a composition of the following materials- soil organic matter, minerals, water, gas, and living organisms. Soil minerals are further divided into clay, sand, and silt. Humus is the substance formed in the soil by the decomposition of leaves and other biotic material in the soil.

Complete answer: Option A: Laterite soil is abundant in iron and aluminum and is generally thought to have formed in warm and wet areas in the tropics. This type of soil is low in humus content because this soil is found in areas with high temperatures. Due to the temperature no bacteria survives hence no humus.
Option B: Alluvial soils are the soils that are deposited by surface water. They are usually found along rivers, in floodplains and deltas, stream terraces, and areas called alluvial fans. This type of soil has low content of humus.
Option C: Arid soils are generally sandy in configuration and saline in nature. In some areas, the salt content is very high and therefore common salt is procured by evaporating the salty water. Due to the high temperature and increased evaporation, they lack moisture and humus.
Option D: Regular soil is also known as black cotton soil. It is predominantly found in the Deccan region of India. It is composed of lava flow, which is made up of igneous and metamorphic rocks. This kind of soil has humus in it.

Therefore the correct answer is option A- Laterite soil.

Note: It must be noted that while all three- laterite, alluvial, and arid soil are low in humus content, laterite has the lowest and hence it should not be confused with the other two.