Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow:
The earthworm is often referred to as the farmer's 'friend' due to its beneficial role in the breakdown of complex organic matter and soil aeration. Similarly, decomposers play a crucial role in converting complex organic matter into inorganic substances like carbon dioxide, water, and nutrients through the process of decomposition. Detritus, consisting of dead plant remains (leaves, bark, flowers) and animal waste, serves as the raw material for decomposition. Decomposition involves several important steps: fragmentation, leaching, catabolism, humification, and mineralization.
What is the breakdown of detritus into smaller particles by detritivores called?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Fragmentation
Decomposition has several steps that act on detritus at the same time. In one of them, detritivores such as the earthworm break detritus into smaller particles; this step is called fragmentation.
Option (1) Leaching — Incorrect. Leaching is the step in which water-soluble inorganic nutrients go down into the soil horizon and get precipitated as unavailable salts.
Option (2) Fragmentation — Correct. The breakdown of detritus into smaller particles by detritivores is fragmentation.
Option (3) Humification — Incorrect. Humification leads to the formation of humus, a dark coloured amorphous substance.
Option (4) Catabolism — Incorrect. Catabolism is the degradation of detritus into simpler inorganic substances by bacterial and fungal enzymes.
NCERT Extract:
Decomposition – “Detritivores (e.g., earthworm) break down detritus into smaller particles. This process is called fragmentation. By the process of leaching, watersoluble inorganic nutrients go down into the soil horizon and get precipitated as unavailable salts. Bacterial and fungal enzymes degrade detritus into simpler inorganic substances. This process is called as catabolism.”