Consider the following statements : Statement-I : The soil in tropical rain forests is rich in nutrients. Statement-II : The high temperature and moisture of tropical rain forests cause dead organic matter in the soil to decompose quickly. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
A
Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
B
Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
C
Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
D
Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
Correct Answer
Explanation
Option (D) is correct because tropical rainforest soils are actually nutrient-poor due to intense leaching by heavy rainfall, while the warm, humid climate facilitates rapid decomposition of organic matter as stated in Statement-II. Option (A) is the most tempting wrong choice because the lush vegetation creates a false impression of high soil fertility, whereas nutrients are primarily stored in the living biomass rather than the ground. The core concept being tested is the nutrient cycle and soil characteristics of the tropical rainforest biome.
BiogeographyTropical Rainforest EcosystemsTropical rainforestssoil nutrientshigh temperaturemoisturedead organic matterdecompositionhumus