Soil Erosion Important Questions

---

Very Short Answers Questions [1 Mark Questions]

Ques. In the process of erosion, the removal of materials by solution is called

1. Attrition
2. Sapping
3. Corrasion
4. Corrosion

Ans. The correct answer is d. Corrosion

Explanation: Corrosion is the removal of materials by solution during the erosion process. Corrosion is the chemical or electrochemical process by which a solid material interacts and deteriorates with the environment.

Ques. The soil consists of how many horizons?

1. Seven
2. Four
3. Five
4. One

Ans. The correct answer is b. Four

Explanation: The soil is divided into four horizons. The top layer is known as the O-horizon, the A-horizon is the uppermost layer of soil, the B-horizon, which contains less organic matter, is known as the subsoil, and the C-horizon is the region below the subsoil.

Ques. What is an aquifer?

1. The upper surface of the zone of saturation
2. Saturated zone beneath the water table
3. The lower surface of the saturated zone
4. Unsaturated zone beneath the water table

Ans. The correct answer is b. Saturated zone beneath the water table

Explanation: The term aquifer refers to a saturated area beneath the water table. It is basically an underground layer of permeable water-bearing rock, rock fractures, or unconsolidated materials.

Ques. Soil erosion is caused due to

1. Cutting on trees
2. Rapid urbanization
3. Overgrazing by animals
4. All of the above

Ans. The correct answer is d. All of the above

Explanation: Cutting down trees removes the roots that hold soil in place, making it more prone to erosion. Rapid urbanization results in the removal of vegetation and the construction of impermeable surfaces like roads and buildings. Animal overgrazing may cause damage to plants and expose soil to erosion.

Ques. Arranged in a series of zones, which among the following is termed as matured soils?

1. Soil horizons
2. Soil benches
3. Soil zones
4. Soil textures

Ans. The correct answer is a. Soil horizons

Explanation: The mature soils are arranged in a series of zones known as soil horizons, each with a particular texture and composition. These horizons differ depending on the type of soil.

Ques. Which of the following soil-conservative methods is generally implemented in the coastal and dry regions?

1. Terrace farming
2. Shelter belts
3. Contour ploughing
4. Mulching

Ans. The correct answer is b. Shelter belts

Explanation: Shelterbelts are a method of soil conservation in coastal and dry regions. The method involves planting rows of trees to check wind movement and protect soil cover.

Ques. Gully erosion is an advanced stage of

1. Sheet erosion
2. Rill erosion
3. Splash erosion
4. Wind erosion

Ans. The correct answer is b. Rill erosion

Explanation: Gully erosion is an advanced stage of rill erosion. Rill erosion is the formation of small channels that are less than 30 centimeters deep.

Ques. Soil develops slowly in which season or temperature?

1. Spring
2. Raimy
3. Cold
4. Summer

Ans. The correct answer is c. Cold

Explanation: Climate and time are important factors in soil development. Soils develop slowly in extremely dry or cold climates, but faster in warm and humid climates due to favorable climatic conditions.

Ques. The mixture of all the contents of the soil is known as

1. Soil degradation
2. Loams
3. Soil Erosion
4. Soil Pollution

Ans. The correct answer is b. Loams

Explanation: Loams are soils that have a nearly similar combination of humus, clay, and sand but vary in their quantity of clay, silt, sand, and gravel. The relative amounts of various sizes and types of mineral particles present in soil define its texture.

Ques. What is meant by soil profile?

1. The soil profile is a front view of the horizons of rocks
2. The soil profile is a front view of the horizons in a soil
3. The soil profile is a top view of the horizons of rocks
4. The soil profile is a cross-sectional view of the horizons in a soil

Ans. The correct answer is d. The soil profile is a cross-sectional view of the horizons in a soil

Explanation: The soil profile, which is a cross-sectional view of the horizon in soil, helps in the identification of specific features present in soils. The soil profile can be a significant factor for studying and analyzing the pollution produced by different soils.

---

Short Answers Questions [2 Marks Questions]

Ques. What is soil erosion?

Ans. Soil erosion is a gradual process caused by the effect of water or wind on soil particles, causing the soil to erode. The soil particles are loosened or washed away in valleys, oceans, rivers, streams, or distant places during this process.

Ques. What is erosion?

Ans. Erosion is the action of surface processes that move soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the crust of the Earth to another where it is deposited.

Ques. What is humidity?

Ans. The concentration of water vapor in the air is defined as humidity. Water vapor, or water in its gaseous form, is often invisible to the human eye. Humidity indicates the possibility of precipitation, dew, or fog. Humidity is affected by the temperature and pressure of the system under consideration.

Ques. What is gully erosion?

Ans. Gully erosion is a type of soil erosion caused by water runoff concentrating in small channels and cutting into the soil. These channels can deepen and spread over time, generating gullies. Gullies may be many meters deep and wide, and repairing them can be difficult and expensive.

Ques. What is sheet erosion?

Ans. Sheet erosion refers to the detachment of soil particles by raindrop impact and their removal downslope by water flowing overland as a sheet rather than in distinct channels or rills. Sheet erosion is common in recently plowed fields or other areas with poorly consolidated soil material and scant vegetative cover.

Ques. Does soil erosion affect the fertility of soil?

Ans. Yes, soil erosion reduces the fertile top layer of the soil. This exposes the hard rocky deeper layers, which are less fertile and have less humus, reducing soil fertility.

Ques. What is topsoil?

Ans. The topsoil is the top layer of soil. It contains the most organic materials and microorganisms and is the region of the majority of biological soil activity on Earth.

Ques. What is soil conservation?

Ans. Soil conservation is the prevention of erosion of the uppermost layer of soil or the reduction of fertility due to overuse, acidification, salinization, or other chemical soil pollution.

Also Read:

---

Long Answers Questions [3 Marks Questions]

Ques. How soil erosion can be prevented?

Ans. Soil erosion is harmful to the environment, but it can be prevented by following ways

• Plant trees on barren lands to reduce soil erosion.
• To avoid soil erosion, use mulch and rocks underneath the plants and grass.
• Mulch matting can be used to prevent erosion on the slopes.
• Put a chain of fiber logs to keep water and dirt from washing away.
• A wall at the bottom of the slope could help to keep the soil from eroding.
• A wall at the bottom of the slope could help to keep the soil from eroding.
• Every residence should have a good drainage system so that water may flow down into proper water collection systems.

Ques. How does urbanization affect soil erosion?

Ans. The effects of urbanization on soil erosion are as follows

• Roads, buildings, and sidewalks are more common in urban regions than in rural areas. Impermeable surfaces restrict water from absorbing the soil, increasing runoff and perhaps causing soil erosion.
• Vegetation, such as forests and grasslands, is rapidly destroyed due to urbanization. Vegetation helps to hold soil and the prevention of erosion.
• Soil compaction caused by urbanization makes the soil less permeable and more prone to erosion.

Ques. What is the difference between soil erosion and soil degradation?

Ans. Soil erosion is the removal of soil particles from the ground surface by water, wind, or other factors. Soil degradation refers to a decrease in soil quality caused by a variety of reasons, including soil erosion, but also by nutrient depletion, salinization, and pollution.

Soil erosion is a natural process, although human activities such as deforestation, agriculture, and overgrazing may speed up it. Soil degradation is caused by both human activity and natural phenomena such as climate change and drought.

Ques. Why is the issue of soil erosion a cause of growing concern?

Ans. Soil is a natural resource that appears limitless but is constrained. 

• Soil is the result of hundreds of years of processes. 
• The topsoil nearest to the land provides all of the nutrients required by a crop. 
• This layer is at risk of soil erosion caused by wind or water. 
• This reduces soil fertility, which has a negative impact on crop production.
• Soil remains accumulate in the water bodies, raising the water level and, as a result, causing floods. 
• Soil erosion is a global issue because the soil is being eroded more rapidly than it is being formed. 
• As a result, an increasing amount of land is becoming unsuitable for agricultural uses.

---

Very Long Answers Questions [5 Marks Questions]

Ques. What are the different types of soil erosion?

Ans. The following are the different types of soil erosion

• Gully erosion: Gully erosion occurs as a result of surface water runoff, resulting in the loss of soil with drainage lines. Gullies, once formed, will move through headward erosion or collapsing of side walls unless and until suitable efforts are made to stabilize the disturbance.
• Splash or Raindrop erosion: Raindrop or splash erosion is the disintegration of the crumb structure caused by the impact of falling raindrops on the soil surface.
• Rill erosion: Rill erosion is a type of water erosion that occurs through a series of narrow, more or less straight channels known as streamlets or headcuts. Rill is the most common form of erosion, which may also be seen during heavy rain.
• Stream bank erosion: Bank erosion is the wearing away of the banks of a stream or river. It is a natural process, but it can be accelerated by human activities such as deforestation, overgrazing, and agriculture. 
• Sheet erosion: Sheet erosion is the consistent removal of soil from the ground surface in thin layers caused by wind. Sheet erosion is more common in places with loose, shallow topsoil overlying compact soil.

Ques. What are the causes of soil erosion?

Ans. The following are the different causes of soil erosion

• Rainfall and flooding: Soil erosion can also be caused by heavy rains. Raindrops infiltrate the soil and carry it away into nearby rivers and streams. Soil erosion is common in areas that receive a lot of rain.
• Overgrazing: When cattle or other animals graze on the same piece of ground repeatedly, they consume all of the available grass, including the roots, and the vegetation is removed. The topsoil becomes weakened and liable to being blown away by wind or running water.
• Wind: Strong winds carry away the topsoil as well as all organic material. This especially occurs in desert and dry places where the land lacks of vegetation and grass and where strong winds blow often.
• Agriculture: Agricultural activities cause soil erosion by clearing land, plowing, and leaving it uncultivated in winter. Tractor tires also create grooves that facilitate erosion.
• Logging and mining: Trees prevent soil erosion by holding the soil with their roots and intercepting rainfall with their canopy. Logging and mining remove trees and disturb the soil, making it more prone to erosion.
• Deforestation: Large-scale tree cutting for different purposes such as building, industrialization, and so on contributes to soil erosion caused by running water or powerful winds.
• Construction: Because of the construction of buildings and roads, the land becomes increasingly prone to soil erosion. As more trees, woods, and grasslands are cut down for construction, the soil becomes more exposed.

Ques. What are the effects of soil erosion?

Ans. The major effects of soil erosion are

• Air pollution: The soil dust particles that are swept away by the wind combine with the air. This causes air pollution. When some of the poisonous substances used in petroleum and pesticides are inhaled, they are extremely toxic and harmful to health.
• Destruction of infrastructure: The efficiency of such infrastructure projects decreases when soil sediments collect along banks and dams as a result of soil erosion. As a result, large-scale infrastructure destruction can happen as a result of soil erosion.
• Desertification: Desertification occurs when soil erosion affects the habitable zones of desert areas. This eventually leads to a loss of biodiversity, changes in the ecology, and degradation of the soil.
• Loss of arable land: The top layer of soil contains all of the important elements required by plants for development. Soil erosion degrades soil quality, making it unfit for healthy agricultural cultivation and yielding low crop productivity.
• Clogging of waterways: Insecticides, pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals were abundant in agricultural soil. When this soil washes into water bodies after erosion, it pollutes the water. The sediments of the soil accumulate and raise water levels, increasing the possibility of flooding.

---

Previous Year Questions

1. Extraction of metal from the ore cassiterite involves...[JEE Advanced 2011]
2. Commonly used vectors for human genome sequencing are...[NEET UG 2014]
3. Interfascicular cambium and cork cambium are formed due to​..
4. Pneumotaxic centre is present in​...[UP CPMT 2007]
5. Reaction of HBr with propene in the presence of peroxide gives….[NEET UG 2004]
6. Assuming the expression for the pressure exerted by the gas on the walls of the container, it can be shown that pressure is...[MHT CET 2016]
7. Which among the following is the strongest acid?...[TS EAMCET 2017]
8. Isopropyl alcohol on oxidation forms​..
9. A vector is not changed if​..
10. Which of the following arrangements does not represent the correct order of the property stated against it?...[JEE Main 2013]

For Latest Updates on Upcoming Board Exams, Click Here: https://t.me/class_10_12_board_updates

---

Check-Out: