Soils developed in forest settings tend to be more fertile than those developed in grasslands. This statement is:

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not sure
• D. Partially true

Answer: (B)

Fertility is about how readily plants can access essential nutrients, and grassland soils usually build up a thick, organic, nutrient-rich surface horizon. Perennial grasses contribute large amounts of organic matter that stays in the root zone, giving a high cation exchange capacity and buffering nutrients, so those soils—often called Mollisols in temperate grasslands—tend to be among the most fertile for agriculture and turf.

Forest soils, especially in humid regions, face more leaching of base cations (like calcium and magnesium) from acidic litter, leading to thinner, more weathered mineral horizons with lower nutrient availability in the root zone. Organic matter tends to be concentrated in the surface litter layer, and mineral soil can be less fertile for plant roots, even though a rich forest floor supports nutrient cycling.

So, the statement is not generally true; soils developed under grasslands are typically more fertile than those developed under forests. There are exceptions, but the overall trend supports grassland soils as more fertile.