Question

Excessive use of nitrogenous fertilizers in soil can directly lead to

• A. Soil salinization
• B. Soil compaction
• C. Soil acidification
• D. Soil erosion

Hint:

Nitrogenous fertilizers: \[ \boxed{ \text{Excess use} \rightarrow \text{Lower soil pH} \rightarrow \text{Soil acidification} } \]

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Recall what happens to nitrogen fertilizers in soil.
Ammonium based fertilizers such as urea and ammonium sulphate undergo nitrification, where soil bacteria convert ammonium into nitrate.
Step 2: See what this reaction releases.
Nitrification releases hydrogen ions into the soil solution as a byproduct of the conversion.
Step 3: Connect this to soil pH.
A steady buildup of hydrogen ions lowers the soil pH over repeated fertilizer applications, which is soil acidification.
\[ \boxed{\text{Soil acidification}} \]