Consider the following statements:Statement I: Soils in the taiga clim...
- Boreal forests, or taiga is the term applied to the huge area of dense coniferous forests of North America, northern Europe and Asia occurring at high latitudes where the climate is characterised by very cold winters, usually about 40cm of rainfall and a short summer growing season. The dominant species are evergreens, such as pine, spruce, fir, whose water loss through transpiration is low in winter at the time when the soils may be permanently frozen.
- Unlike tropical forests which have a huge range of species, the boreal forest usually have rather few species of trees, shrubs and plants. In fact the undergrowth of boreal forests is almost non-existent. The species present are able to get their nutrient requirements from the very shallow layer of soil above the permafrost. The trees present have a notable climatic tolerance and survive on rather infertile soils.
- Most of the soils are strongly leached as a result of centuries of leaching and somewhat impoverished parent materials. The soils are generally strongly acid and the main soil process under this dominantly leaching climate is 'podzolisation' leading to podsolic soils. The extreme climate coupled with the strong soil acidity means that relatively few organisms exist in the soil and the turnover of organic matter is slow.
- Therefore, low temperature and anaerobiosis (lack of oxygen) inhibit decomposition resulting in a buildup of organic matter, and soils become acidic in taiga climate. Hence option (a) is the correct answer.
Consider the following statements:Statement I: Soils in the taiga clim...
Explanation:
Statement I: Soils in the taiga climate are acidic
- This statement is correct because soils in the taiga climate, also known as boreal forests, are typically acidic due to factors such as slow decomposition rates, leaching of nutrients, and accumulation of organic matter.
- The cold temperatures in the taiga climate slow down the decomposition process, leading to the accumulation of organic matter in the soil.
- The acidic nature of the soil in the taiga climate is also influenced by factors such as the type of vegetation and the presence of coniferous trees.
Statement II: Low temperatures and anaerobiosis in taiga climate inhibit decompositions
- This statement is correct because the low temperatures in the taiga climate inhibit the decomposition of organic matter by slowing down the activity of soil microorganisms.
- Additionally, the waterlogged conditions in some parts of the taiga climate lead to anaerobiosis, which further inhibits decomposition by limiting the availability of oxygen to soil organisms.
- As a result, the accumulation of organic matter in the soil contributes to its acidic nature.
Therefore, both Statement I and Statement II are correct, and Statement II is the correct explanation for Statement I. The acidic nature of soils in the taiga climate is a result of low temperatures and anaerobiosis inhibiting decomposition processes.
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