Which of the following adds/add nitrogen to the soil?
- 1. Excretion of urea by animals
- 2. Burning of coal by man
- 3. Death of vegetation
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
1 only
2 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2013
2. Burning of coal by man: Combustion of fossil fuels like coal releases nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere. These atmospheric nitrogen compounds can be deposited onto the soil through dry deposition (particles) or wet deposition (acid rain). This process, known as atmospheric nitrogen deposition, adds nitrogen to ecosystems, including soil.
3. Death of vegetation: When plants and other organisms die, their organic matter is decomposed by microorganisms in the soil. This process, called mineralization, breaks down organic nitrogen compounds into inorganic forms (like ammonium), making nitrogen available in the soil for uptake by plants. This is a crucial part of the nitrogen cycle.