Question

Which of the following statements accurately describes desert soils?

1. Desert soils are formed under humid conditions.
2. Leaching is a significant process in the formation of desert soils due to the presence of abundant water.
3. The lack of organic matter results in pale coloration, such as pale grey and pale red.
4. Desert soils are generally infertile and cannot support crop production even with irrigation.

• A. i, iii
• B. ii only
• C. iii only
• D. All

Answer 1

Answer:

C. iii only

• Desert soils form under arid conditions. In the absence of water, leaching plays a limited role in soil formation.

• The absence of organic matter makes the soils pale in colour, pale grey and pale red being com-mon colours.

• Soils are quite fertile and a range of crops are produced wherever irrigation is available.

• The Nile Valley in Egypt, The Imperial Val-ley in USA, and The Indus Valley in Paki-stan are agriculturally productive but the soils need careful management as they are vulner-able to salt build-up and water logging produced wherever irrigation is available.