To help students prepare for agriculture-related competitive exams.
🎯 Target Audience
Aspirants of Agriculture Officer, Assistant Agriculture Officer, IBPS AFO, Food Safety Officer, Agriculture Supervisor, B.Sc & M.Sc Agriculture, and similar exams.
🧠Quiz Content
Covers topics from Soil Science (Soil and its Component)
âś… Benefits
Self-assessment, revision aid, topic-wise practice, and confidence booster.
⏱️ Format
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with instant answers and explanations.
1. The Latin word 'Solum', from which the word 'Soil' is derived, means?
Earth
Floor or Ground
Mantle
Rock
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Correct Answer: Floor or Ground The term 'Soil' originates from the Latin word 'Solum'. 'Solum' directly translates to Floor or Ground.
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2. According to V. V. Dokuchaiev's initial model, which of the following is NOT explicitly listed as a primary soil forming factor?
Parent material
Climate
Organisms
Relief
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Correct Answer: Relief Dokuchaiev's early equation for soil formation (S = f(p, cl, o...)) included parent material (p), climate (cl), and organisms (o). Relief (r) was added later by Hans Jenny.
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3. Hans Jenny expanded the soil formation equation by adding which two factors?
Climate and Organisms
Parent material and Time
Relief and Time
Organisms and Relief
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Correct Answer: Relief and Time Hans Jenny (1941) modified Dokuchaiev's model by incorporating relief (r) and time (t) as crucial soil forming factors. His equation is represented as S = f(cl, r, p, b, t,...).
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4. Which factors did J.S. Joffe classify as 'Active' soil forming factors?
Parent material and Relief
Climate and Biosphere
Relief and Time
Parent material and Time
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Correct Answer: Climate and Biosphere J.S. Joffe (1949) categorized the soil forming factors into active and passive groups. Climate and Biosphere (organisms) were designated as the active factors influencing soil development.
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5. Soils formed predominantly under the influence of climate are known as?
Endodynamomorphic soils
Ectodynamomorphic soils
Pedogenic soils
Topomorphic soils
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Correct Answer: Ectodynamomorphic soils When climate is the dominant factor in soil formation, the resulting soils are termed Ectodynamomorphic soils. Examples include Laterite and Podzol soils formed under specific climatic conditions.
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6. The term 'Catena', referring to a sequence of topographically related soils, was introduced by?
V. V. Dokuchaiev
Hans Jenny
G. Milne
J.S. Joffe
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Correct Answer: G. Milne G. Milne (1935) introduced the term 'Catena'. It describes a sequence of soils down a slope, where differences are primarily due to relief or topography, assuming other factors are relatively constant.
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7. Soils formed primarily under the influence of parent material are called?
Ectodynamomorphic soils
Climatic soils
Biosphere soils
Endodynamomorphic soils
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Correct Answer: Endodynamomorphic soils Soils whose characteristics are mainly dictated by the nature of their parent material are known as Endodynamomorphic soils. This contrasts with Ectodynamomorphic soils, which are primarily influenced by climate.
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8. Approximately how many years are estimated for the formation of one inch of soil under favourable conditions?
10-20 years
50-100 years
200-300 years
800-1000 years
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Correct Answer: 200-300 years Soil formation is a slow process. Under favourable conditions, it is estimated to take about 200-300 years to form one inch of topsoil.
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9. Who is widely regarded as the 'Father of Soil Science' and the founder of modern pedology?
Hans Jenny
J.S. Joffe
V. V. Dokuchaiev
J.B. Leather
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Correct Answer: V. V. Dokuchaiev V. V. Dokuchaiev is recognized as the 'Father of Soil Science'. He is also considered the founder of modern pedology, establishing soil as a natural body worthy of independent study.
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10. Who defined soil as 'a natural body developed by natural forces acting on natural material'?
Ruffin
Hilgard
Jenny
Joffe and Marbut
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Correct Answer: Joffe and Marbut Joffe and Marbut provided a definition of soil emphasizing its natural origin. They described it as a natural body developed through the action of natural forces on natural materials.
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11. By volume, what is the approximate percentage of mineral materials in a typical soil?
5%
25%
45%
50%
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Correct Answer: 45% A typical soil composition by volume consists of solids and pore space. Mineral materials (inorganic solids) constitute about 45% of the total soil volume.
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12. By volume, what percentage of a typical soil is occupied by pore space (Air and Water combined)?
5%
25%
45%
50%
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Correct Answer: 50% Pore space, which holds soil air and soil water, accounts for approximately 50% of the total volume in a typical soil. This space is roughly equally divided between air (25%) and water (25%) under ideal conditions.
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13. The study of the genesis, survey, classification, and distribution of soil as a natural body is known as?
Edaphology
Pedology
Soil Chemistry
Soil Physics
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Correct Answer: Pedology Pedology is the branch of soil science focused on understanding soil as a natural body. It encompasses the study of soil formation (genesis), classification, mapping (survey), and distribution.
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14. Which branch of soil science studies soil properties in relation to plant growth?
Pedology
Soil Mineralogy
Edaphology
Soil Geography
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Correct Answer: Edaphology Edaphology is the branch of soil science that investigates soil from the perspective of plant growth. It focuses on how soil properties affect plants and how soil serves as a habitat for them.
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15. Which organization in India is primarily responsible for soil survey and maintaining a repository of soil information?
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP)
Department of Agriculture Cooperation & Farmers Welfare
Ministry of Earth Sciences
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Correct Answer: National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP) The National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP) acts as the main repository for soil information in India. It is responsible for soil surveys and delineating agro-ecological regions.
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