Assertion : In tropical rain forests, O-horizon and A-horizon of soil profile are shallow and nutrient-poor.
Assertion : In tropical rain forests, O-horizon and A-horizon of soil profile are shallow and nutrient-poor.
Reason : Excessive growth of microorganisms in the soil depletes its organic content.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A and R are false
1 Answers
Correct option (b)
Explanation :
A cross section of well developed soil shows more or less distinct layers called horizons. O-horizon is the topmost layer of soil and A-horizon comes below O horizon. In the topmost layer, vegetation grows and various biological activities takes place. Tropical rain forests are found in topical zone of the world and are characterized by very high temperature and abundance of rainfall. Soil in these area are red latosols and are exceedingly thick. Leaching of minerals from the top soil occurs rapidly but cycling of nutrients also occur here. The laterite soils are generally infertile because of intensive leaching and not due to growth of micro-organism.