Question

Florida is one of the largest producers of phosphate, a non renewable resource used in fertilizer the state requires mining companies to develop a plan to restore mined land at the companycompletion of the mining process. At many sites the topsoil that was removed to access thephosphate is kept to use in the restoration process. which of the following best describes abenefit of keeping topsoil for this process?A. New plant species will grow in the areas where the topsoil was stored during the miningprocess.B. replacing the topsoil allows native species or other plant species to grow in the areasused for mining.C. the topsoil carries bacteria that decompose the organic matter remaining after the mining process is complete.D. the additional nutrients in their replaced topsoil result in new plant species migrating to the areas used for mining.

Answer 1

The correct answer is C. the topsoil carries bacteria that decompose the organic matter remaining after the mining process is complete. Top soil is a complex interface where bacteria and microarthropods collaborate together to degrade organic matter which ultimately leads to recyle of nutrients.