When a sample of soil is mixed with some water inside a beaker, the upper layer of soil always floats on top. This layer is called humus. What is it composed of?

Light clay particles

No worries! We‘ve got your back. Try BYJU‘S free classes today!

Small rocks

No worries! We‘ve got your back. Try BYJU‘S free classes today!

Sand particles

No worries! We‘ve got your back. Try BYJU‘S free classes today!

Dead remains of plants and animals

Right on! Give the BNAT exam to get a 100% scholarship for BYJUS courses

Open in App

Solution

The correct option is D
Dead remains of plants and animals

Humus is the lightest layer of soil profile and floats on top of water. It is composed of dead and decomposing remains of animals and plants. It helps increase the quality of soil by adding nutrients to it. It makes the soil more suitable for plant growth.

Suggest Corrections

Similar questions

Q. When a sample of soil is mixed with some water inside a beaker, the upper layer of soil always floats on top. This layer is called humus. What is it composed of?

When the surface of Earth is dug deeper and deeper, we reach a level where all the spaces between particles of soil and the gaps between rocks are filled with water. What is the upper limit of this layer called?

Q. The four main components of soil are

(a) tiny pieces of rock, humus, air and sand
(b) humus, clay, water and salts
(c) air, water, tiny pieces of rock and manure
(d) tiny pieces of rock, air water and humus

Q. A man digging the ground near a water body found that the soil was moist.As he kept digging deeper and deeper he reached a level where all the spaces between particles of soil and gaps between rocks were filled with water. The upper limit of this layer is called:

Q. Farmers generally like the soil to be a mixture of sand, silt, clay and humus. Why? What is such soil called?

Join BYJU'S Learning Program