Which of the following statements regarding Soil is/are FALSE? 1. Fertile soil supports plant growth by providing plants with nutrients, acting as a water holding body and serving as the substrate to which plants anchor their roots. 2. Vegetation, tree cover and forest prevents soil degradation and desertification by stabilizing the soil, maintaining water and nutrient cycling. 3. Grass found on pasture lands cannot protect the soil against soil erosion and also inhibits the soil biological activities. Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• The fertile soil helps in the growth and development of the plants. The plants are healthy and provide food, clothing, furniture, and medicines. It supports many life forms including bacteria, fungi, algae, etc. These microbes, in turn, maintain environmental balance by retaining the moisture and decaying the dead organisms.
• The organic matter present in the soil increases the fertility of the soil which is responsible for the growth of the plants. It also contains certain minerals and elements that are necessary for the plants to carry out their cellular activities.
• The soil absorbs the rainwater. This water is evaporated and released into the air during sunny days, making the atmosphere cooler.
• Hence statement 1 and 2 are correct.

Additional Information

We can reduce soil erosion by:

• Maintaining a healthy, perennial plant cover : Mulching.
• Planting a cover crop – such as winter rye in vegetable gardens. Includes annual grasses, small grains, legumes and other types of vegetation planted to provide a temporary vegetative cover. Cover crops are often tilled under serving also as a “green manure” crop.
• Placing crushed stone, wood chips, and other similar materials in heavily used areas where vegetation is hard to establish and maintain.
• Using other erosion controls that include the use of geo-textile materials or other methods such as sodding or hydro seeding that result in the establishment of permanent cover. Addressing problem areas of that get lots of storm water runoff. Solutions to these problem areas include redirecting storm water and roof runoff to areas that can settle and dissipate water, such as a rain garden.