Assertion: Temperature and soil moisture are the important climatic factors that regulate the process of decomposition.
Reason: Warm and moist environment favours decomposition whereas low temperature and anaerobiosis inhibit decomposition.

Options

A. a) Both assertion and reason are correct and reason is the correct explanation for assertion.
B. b) Both assertion and reason are correct and reason is not the correct explanation for assertion.
C. c) Assertion is correct and reason is incorrect
D. d) Both assertion and reason are incorrect.

Answer

B

Explanation

Decomposition is largely an oxygen-requiring process. The rate of decomposition is controlled by chemical composition of detritus and climatic factors. Temperature and soil moisture are the most important climatic factors that regulate decomposition through their effects on the activities of soil microbes. Warm and moist environment favour decomposition whereas low temperature and anaerobiosis (due to excessive moisture) inhibit decomposition resulting in build up of organic materials.