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Q41 (IAS/2019) Environment & Ecology › Pollution & Conservation › Agricultural pollution Official Key

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?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

The correct answer is option D because all three statements are correct.

**Statement 1 is correct**: Agricultural fertilizers are sources of nitrogen oxides[1], and nitrous oxide is emitted when people add nitrogen to the soil through the use of synthetic fertilizers[2]. Agricultural soils thus release nitrogen oxides into the environment.

**Statement 2 is correct**: Nitrous oxide is also emitted during the breakdown of nitrogen in livestock manure and urine[2]. Additionally, ammonia can potentially harm aquatic life[3], and cattle, being livestock, release ammonia through their waste products including urine and manure.

**Statement 3 is correct**: The poultry industry, being part of livestock operations, releases reactive nitrogen compounds similar to cattle operations. Reactive nitrogen threatens human health, ecosystem services, contributes to climate change and stratospheric ozone depletion[4], and poultry waste contains nitrogen compounds that are released into the environment through manure and urine breakdown.

Therefore, all three statements (1, 2, and 3) are correct, making option D the right answer.

Sources
  1. [1] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 19: Ozone Depletion > Sources > p. 269
  2. [2] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 17: Climate Change > Human induced: > p. 257
  3. [3] Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > 9.56 Indian Economy > p. 342
  4. [4] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 28: International Organisation and Conventions > Sustainable Nitrogen management > p. 388
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Consider the following statements : 1. Agricultural soils release nitrogen oxides into environment. 2. Cattle release ammonia into envi…
At a glance
Origin: From standard books Fairness: High fairness Books / CA: 10/10 · 0/10

This is a classic 'Environment Basics' question sourced directly from standard texts like Shankar IAS. It rewards reading the chapters on Climate Change and Pollution with a focus on specific chemical byproducts (NOx vs Ammonia) rather than just generic 'pollution'. If you skipped the specific gas profiles of agricultural activities, you missed a sitter.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Do agricultural soils emit nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the environment?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 17: Climate Change > Human induced: > p. 257
Presence: 5/5
“• Agriculture. Nitrous oxide is emitted when people add nitrogen to the soil through the use of synthetic fertilizers. Nitrous oxide is also emitted during the breakdown of nitrogen in livestock manure and urine, which contributed to 60/0 of Np emissions in zoro.• . Transportation. Nitrous oxide is emitted when transportation fuels are burned.• Industry.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states nitrous oxide is emitted when nitrogen is added to soil via synthetic fertilizers.
  • Also notes nitrous oxide emission from breakdown of nitrogen in livestock manure and urine.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 19: Ozone Depletion > Sources > p. 269
Presence: 4/5
“The sources of nitrogen oxides are mainly explosions of thermonuclear weapons, industrial emissions and agricultural fertilizers.”
Why this source?
  • Lists agricultural fertilizers among the main sources of nitrogen oxides.
  • Places agricultural fertilizer use alongside industrial sources as contributors to NOx emissions.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 5: Environmental Pollution > 3) Agricultural sources: > p. 74
Presence: 3/5
“Fertilizers contain major plant nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Excess fertilizers may reach the ground water by leaching or may be mixed with surface water of rivers, lakes and ponds by runoff and drainage. Pesticides include insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, nematocides, rodenticides and soil fumigants. They contain a wide range of chemicals such as chlorinated hydrocarbons, organophosphates, metallic salts, carbonates, thiocarbonates, derivatives of acetic acid etc.”
Why this source?
  • Describes that fertilizers contain major plant nutrient nitrogen, linking agricultural inputs to nitrogen pathways.
  • Notes excess fertilizers can move into the environment (runoff/leaching), implying potential for related emissions and impacts.
Statement 2
Do cattle release ammonia (NH3) into the environment?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 2: Functions of an Ecosystem > s r n r u l z N ,- / & f . -. : : u ' , \ S ACADEMY * d 6 # . , r '' t u f Y l ' ' J * w { d ) / u Y . / > p. 20
Presence: 5/5
“The nitrates synthesised by bacteria in the soil are taken up by plants and converted into amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. These then go through higher trophic levels of the ecosystem. During excretion and upon the death of all organisms nitrogen is returned to the soil in the form of ammonia. Certain quantity of soil nitrates, being highly soluble in water, is lost to the system by being transported away by surface runoff or ground water. In the soil as well as oceans there are special denitrifying bacteria (e.g. Pseudomonas), which convert the nitrates/nitrites to elemental nitrogen.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states that nitrogen is returned to the soil during excretion and death in the form of ammonia.
  • Links animal excretion directly to environmental ammonia generation (covers the biological pathway).
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 25: Agriculture > Farm Yard Manure > p. 364
Presence: 4/5
“r This is the traditional manure and is mostly readily available to the farmers. Farm yard manure is a decomposed mixture of Cattle dung and urine with straw and litter used as bedding material and residues from the fodder fed to the cattle.”
Why this source?
  • Defines farm yard manure as a decomposed mixture of cattle dung and urine.
  • Identifies cattle waste as the material that can undergo decomposition and release nitrogenous compounds.
Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > 9.56 Indian Economy > p. 342
Presence: 4/5
“• High levels of nitrogen and phosphorus released from fertilisers, manure and animal waste in surface waters (ponds, lakes, rivers, etc.) deplete dissolved oxygen, thereby affecting the aquatic life. • Other chemical compounds such as heavy metals and ammonia can also potentially harm \bulletaquatic life and kill fish. • The chemicals are sprayed on farmland using sprayers, through which droplets are produced \bulletwhich can remain in air and may be carried away by wind.”
Why this source?
  • Specifies that fertilisers, manure and animal waste release high levels of nitrogen and that ammonia is among harmful compounds.
  • Connects manure/animal waste to ammonia entering water and air, showing environmental release and impacts.
Statement 3
Does the poultry industry release reactive nitrogen compounds into the environment?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 17: Climate Change > Human induced: > p. 257
Presence: 5/5
“• Agriculture. Nitrous oxide is emitted when people add nitrogen to the soil through the use of synthetic fertilizers. Nitrous oxide is also emitted during the breakdown of nitrogen in livestock manure and urine, which contributed to 60/0 of Np emissions in zoro.• . Transportation. Nitrous oxide is emitted when transportation fuels are burned.• Industry.”
Why this source?
  • States that nitrous oxide is emitted during the breakdown of nitrogen in livestock manure and urine.
  • Links agricultural animal waste management directly to reactive-nitrogen greenhouse gas emissions.
Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > 9.56 Indian Economy > p. 342
Presence: 4/5
“• High levels of nitrogen and phosphorus released from fertilisers, manure and animal waste in surface waters (ponds, lakes, rivers, etc.) deplete dissolved oxygen, thereby affecting the aquatic life. • Other chemical compounds such as heavy metals and ammonia can also potentially harm \bulletaquatic life and kill fish. • The chemicals are sprayed on farmland using sprayers, through which droplets are produced \bulletwhich can remain in air and may be carried away by wind.”
Why this source?
  • Identifies manure and animal waste as sources of high levels of nitrogen released into surface waters.
  • Mentions related reactive compounds (e.g., ammonia) from animal waste that can harm aquatic life.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 28: International Organisation and Conventions > Sustainable Nitrogen management > p. 388
Presence: 4/5
“The resolution recognizes the multiple pollution threats resulting from anthropogenic reactive nitrogen, with adverse effects on the terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments and contributing to air pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and highlights ways to better manage nitrogen. The global nitrogen use efficiency is low, resulting in pollution by reactive nitrogen which threatens human health, ecosystem services, contributes to climate change and stratospheric ozone depletion. The resolution supports exploring options for better management of the global nitrogen cycle to achieve the SDGs.”
Why this source?
  • Frames anthropogenic reactive nitrogen as a pollutant with adverse effects on terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments.
  • Supports the general claim that human activities (including agriculture/animal production) release reactive nitrogen.
Pattern takeaway: UPSC has moved beyond asking 'Is Nitrogen a pollutant?' to asking specific sources. The pattern is 'Sector-Specific Emission Profiling'. They want you to know the chemical footprint of major economic activities.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Directly solvable from Shankar IAS (Chapters 17 & 19) and basic NCERT Ecology logic. No obscure current affairs required.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: The Nitrogen Cycle and Anthropogenic Emissions. Specifically, the intersection of Agriculture and Climate Change (Greenhouse Gases).
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 'Gas Profile' of other sectors: Rice Paddies (Methane + N2O); Termites (Methane); Thermal Power Plants (SO2, NOx, Hg, Fly Ash); Biomass Burning (Black Carbon, CO, VOCs); Urea usage (Ammonia volatilization).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Create a matrix: Source (Agriculture, Transport, Industry) vs. Pollutant (NOx, SO2, NH3, CH4). UPSC loves asking 'What releases What.' Don't just read 'Agriculture causes pollution'; memorize exactly which gas comes from soil (N2O) vs. gut (CH4) vs. manure (NH3).
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Agricultural nitrous oxide emissions (N2O)
💡 The insight

Agriculture releases nitrous oxide from fertilizer application and manure management, making soils a source of nitrogen oxides.

High-yield for environment and climate-change questions: links greenhouse-gas sources to agricultural practices and mitigation (fertilizer management, manure handling). Helps answer questions on sources of emissions, policy responses, and sustainable agriculture.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 17: Climate Change > Human induced: > p. 257
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 19: Ozone Depletion > Sources > p. 269
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 5: Environmental Pollution > 3) Agricultural sources: > p. 74
🔗 Anchor: "Do agricultural soils emit nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the environment?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Denitrification and soil nitrogen cycling
💡 The insight

Soil microbes convert nitrogen compounds (nitrates/nitrites) to elemental gaseous forms, connecting soil nitrogen inputs to atmospheric outputs.

Core ecosystem concept relevant to questions on nutrient cycles, soil health, and gaseous emissions; links ecology, agriculture, and climate topics and supports explanation of how management affects emissions.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 2: Functions of an Ecosystem > s r n r u l z N ,- / & f . -. : : u ' , \ S ACADEMY * d 6 # . , r '' t u f Y l ' ' J * w { d ) / u Y . / > p. 20
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 17: Climate Change > Human induced: > p. 257
🔗 Anchor: "Do agricultural soils emit nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the environment?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Fertilizer use, leaching and soil pollution
💡 The insight

Excess chemical fertilizers change soil chemistry and can reach groundwater or surface water via leaching and runoff.

Important for questions on environmental degradation, water-quality and agricultural policy; connects soil pollution, public health, and sustainable inputs/technologies.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 5: Environmental Pollution > 3) Agricultural sources: > p. 74
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 6: Environmental Degradation and Management > 1. Soil Pollution > p. 34
🔗 Anchor: "Do agricultural soils emit nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the environment?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Nitrogen cycle: excretion and ammonia formation
💡 The insight

Excretion and decomposition convert organic nitrogen into ammonia that enters soil and the broader environment.

High-yield for ecosystem and environment questions: explains a major pathway of reactive nitrogen formation, links to soil fertility and nutrient cycling, and supports answers on sources of nitrogen pollution and mitigation measures.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 2: Functions of an Ecosystem > s r n r u l z N ,- / & f . -. : : u ' , \ S ACADEMY * d 6 # . , r '' t u f Y l ' ' J * w { d ) / u Y . / > p. 20
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 2: Functions of an Ecosystem > c) The Nitrogen Cycle > p. 19
🔗 Anchor: "Do cattle release ammonia (NH3) into the environment?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Animal waste and farmyard manure as emission sources
💡 The insight

Cattle dung and urine form farmyard manure, which is a direct reservoir of nitrogenous compounds capable of releasing ammonia.

Critical for questions on agricultural pollution and waste management: ties livestock management to emissions, informs policy discussion on manure handling, and appears in questions about reducing farming-related environmental impacts.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 25: Agriculture > Farm Yard Manure > p. 364
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > 9.56 Indian Economy > p. 342
🔗 Anchor: "Do cattle release ammonia (NH3) into the environment?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Environmental effects of ammonia and nitrogen pollution
💡 The insight

Ammonia and dissolved nitrogen from manure can deplete dissolved oxygen and harm aquatic life and alter soil processes.

Common UPSC theme linking pollution to ecosystem health and human welfare: useful in essays and mains answers on eutrophication, water quality, acid rain impacts and agricultural run-off policies.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > 9.56 Indian Economy > p. 342
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 5: Environmental Pollution > 5.15.5.Impact Of Acid Rain > p. 104
🔗 Anchor: "Do cattle release ammonia (NH3) into the environment?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Reactive nitrogen sources in agriculture
💡 The insight

Agricultural practices release reactive nitrogen through fertilisers, manure and animal waste into air and water.

High-yield for questions on causes of eutrophication, water pollution and links between agriculture and environmental degradation; ties directly into topics on pollution control, agricultural policy and ecosystem services. Mastery helps answer questions on sectoral drivers of nitrogen pollution and mitigation measures.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > 9.56 Indian Economy > p. 342
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 17: Climate Change > Human induced: > p. 257
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 19: Ozone Depletion > Sources > p. 269
🔗 Anchor: "Does the poultry industry release reactive nitrogen compounds into the environme..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

The 'Colombo Declaration' on Sustainable Nitrogen Management. Since the question covers reactive nitrogen, the next logical step is the global policy framework governing it (halving nitrogen waste by 2030). Also, look out for 'Ground-level Ozone' formation, which requires NOx (from Statement 1) + VOCs + Sunlight.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

The 'Permissive Science' Heuristic. In Environment/Sci-Tech, statements claiming 'Biological Source X releases Chemical Y' are 95% likely to be correct unless there is a blatant chemical impossibility (e.g., 'Cattle release Gold'). Biological waste (manure/urine) is chemically complex and inevitably degrades into ammonia and reactive nitrogen. If it's biologically plausible, mark it correct.

🔗 Mains Connection

Mains GS-3 (Agriculture): This links directly to 'Neem Coated Urea'. The scientific logic for Neem Coating is to inhibit nitrification, slowing down the release of Nitrogen to reduce N2O emissions (Statement 1) and leaching, thereby increasing Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE).

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2020 · Q29 Relevance score: 3.44

Consider the following statements : 1. Coal ash contains arsenic, lead and mercury. 2. Coal-fired power plants release sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen into the environment. 3. High ash content is observed in Indian coal. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

CAPF · 2025 · Q103 Relevance score: 3.10

Consider the following statements: 1. The circulation of nitrogen from the inorganic compounds in the soil to form protein in plants and animals and back again is known as the nitrogen cycle. 2. The preparation of ammonia by Haber process is an endothermic reaction. 3. Urea is synthetically made by the action of ammonia and carbon dioxide under high temperature and high pressure. Which of the statements given above is/are **not** correct?

CDS-II · 2016 · Q45 Relevance score: 0.10

Which of the following statements regarding soil is/are correct? 1. Alluvial soils are rich in nitrogen content. 2. Black soils are rich in iron and lime but deficient in nitrogen. 3. Laterite soils are rich in iron and aluminium but deficient in nitrogen and potassium. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

IAS · 2015 · Q93 Relevance score: -0.26

With reference to bio-toilets used by the Indian Railways, consider the following statements : 1. The decomposition of human waste in the bio-toilets is initiated by a fungal inoculum. 2. Ammonia and water vapour are the only end products in this decomposition which are released into the atmosphere. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

IAS · 2022 · Q10 Relevance score: -0.55

Consider the following : 1. Carbon monoxide 2. Nitrogen oxide 3. Ozone 4. Sulphur dioxide Excess of which of the above in the environment is/are cause(s) of acid rain ?