Ques. 1AIPMT 2008
The slow rate of decomposition of fallen logs in nature is due to their:
- low moisture content
- poor nitrogen content
- anaerobic environment around them
- low cellulose content
Answer
(1) low moisture content
Solution
⇒ As per NCERT, decomposition is largely an oxygen-requiring process; its rate is controlled by the chemical composition of detritus and by climatic factors.
⇒ Temperature and soil moisture are the most important climatic factors, as they regulate the activities of soil microbes; warm and moist environments favour decomposition, whereas low temperature and dryness inhibit it.
⇒ A fallen log has a low moisture content inside, so few decomposers can grow in it and it decomposes slowly. Logs lie in the open air (not anaerobic) and wood is rich in cellulose.
Answer: (1)