Question

Assertion :Podzol is a highly leached soil and acidic in reaction. Reason: Excessive moisture content of podzolized soils promotes leaching of the soil.

• A. If A and R both are true and R is correct explanation of A.
• B. If A and R both are true but R is not correct explanation of A.
• C. If A is correct and R is wrong.
• D. If A is wrong and R is true.

Answer 1

The correct option is A If A and R both are true and R is correct explanation of A.

Podzols are the typical soils of coniferous, or boreal forests. Podzols are able to occur on almost any parent material but generally derive from either quartz-rich sands and sandstones or sedimentary debris from magmatic rocks, provided there is high precipitation.

Most podzols are poor soils for agriculture due to the sandy portion, resulting in a low level of moisture and nutrients. Some are sandy and excessively drained. Others have shallow rooting zones and poor drainage, due to subsoil cementation.

A low pH further compounds issues, along with phosphate deficiencies and aluminium toxicity. The best agricultural use of podzols is for grazing, although well-drained loamy types can be very productive for crops if lime and fertilizer are used.