Which one of the following statements is not correct?

Statement 1 is incorrect because lime is a basic substance used to neutralize soil acidity, not cause it. Application of lime increases soil pH, thereby making the soil more alkaline or neutral [4]. High soil acidity is indeed typical of humid climates because heavy precipitation leaches away basic cations like calcium and magnesium, leaving behind hydrogen and aluminum ions [2]. Increasing soil acidity results in declining soil fertility because it limits nutrient availability, inhibits plant growth, and can lead to toxic levels of iron or aluminum [2]. Conversely, arid and semi-arid climates are characterized by alkaline soils because limited water movement prevents the leaching of calcium-rich parent materials, leading to naturally high pH levels [3]. Therefore, while statements 2, 3, and 4 are scientifically accurate, statement 1 is false as liming is a corrective measure for acidic soils [6].

Sources

1. [2] Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Exploring Substances: Acidic, Basic, and Neutral > 2.3 Neutralisation in Daily Life > p. 18
2. [4] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-02053-4
3. [1] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 25: Agriculture > Sandy soils > p. 368
4. [3] NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 1: The Rise of Nationalism in Europe > Fig. 1.6: Alluvial Soil > p. 9
5. [6] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045653523010251