| 1. | Fragmentation - breakdown of detritus into smaller particles by detrivores |
| 2. | Leaching - water soluble inorganic nutrients go down into the soil horizon and get precipitated as unavailable salts |
| 3. | Catabolism - bacterial and fungal enzymes degrade simple inorganic substances into detritus |
| 4. | Humification - accumulation of a dark coloured amorphous substance that is highly resistant to microbial action and undergoes decomposition at an extremely slow rate |
| Statement I: | Decomposition is a process in which the detritus is degraded into simpler substances by microbes. |
| Statement II: | Decomposition is faster if the detritus is rich in lignin and chitin. |
| 1. | Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct. |
| 2. | Both Statement I and Statement II are correct. |
| 3. | Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect. |
| 4. | Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect. |
Identify the correct set of statements with regard to the properties of humus.
| (a) | Highly resistant to microbial action |
| (b) | Dark-colored amorphous substance |
| (c) | End product of detritus food chain |
| (d) | Reservoir of nutrients |
| (e) | Undergoes decomposition very fast |
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
1. (a), (b), and (d) only
2. (a),(b) and (e) only
3. (a) and (b) only
4. (b), (c), and (a)