UPSC Prelims 2019 · Question 81 of 99

UPSC Prelims 2019 question on Nitrogen Emissions Agriculture

Consider the following statements:

1. Agricultural soils release nitrogen oxides into environment.

2. Cattle release ammonia into environment.

3. Poultry industry releases reactive nitrogen compounds into environment.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 and 3 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 2 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3
Show answer

Answer: D. 1, 2 and 3

Verdict

All three statements are correct → Option (d).

Statement by statement

Statement 1 – CORRECT: A major direct source of nitrous oxide from agricultural soils is that of synthetic fertilizer use. Where large applications of fertilizer are combined with soil conditions favorable to denitrification, large amounts of nitrous oxide can be produced and emitted to the atmosphere.

Statement 2 – CORRECT: Ammonia is a common by-product of animal waste due to the often inefficient conversion of feed nitrogen into animal product. Emissions of ammonia from livestock farming are responsible for the acidification and eutrophication of deposited ammonia in the environment.

Statement 3 – CORRECT: Reactive nitrogen includes — ammonia, nitrate, nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N2O). Livestock and Poultry are both responsible for emissions of these.

More questions on Pollution

All 40 questions on Pollution →

← Full 2019 question paper · All Environment and Ecology questions