Environment And Road Safety Education And Violence Against Women And Children And Drug Abuse 2020 Exam With Answers

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5.

What can be the impact of excessive / inappropriate use of nitrogenous fertilizers in agriculture?

1. Proliferation of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms in soil can occur.
2. Increase in the acidity of soil can take place.
3. Leaching of nitrate to the groundwater can occur.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.
A: 1 and 3 only
B: 2 only
C: 2 and 3 only
D: 1,2 and 3

The answer is: C

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Explanation

The correct answer is 2 and 3 only.

Key Points

• More nitrogen in the soil leads to less need for nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
• Excessive/ inappropriate use of nitrogenous fertilizers increases the acidity of soil and Leaching of nitrate to the groundwater.
• Fertilizers in agriculture increase inputs of nutrients to soils affecting their pH value.
• The molecules of nitrogen change soil pH in the form of uncharged urea molecule ([CO(NH₂)₂]0), the cation ammonium (NH₄+), and the anion nitrate (NO₃-).
• The conversion of N from one form to the other involves the generation or consumption of acidity and the uptake of urea, ammonium, or nitrate by plants will also affect the acidity of the soil
• These compounds deposit underground due to the leaching process.