Key Terms

Question 1

Subsoil

Answer 1

B horizon of the soil,roughly just below plow depth

Question 2

Substratum

Answer 2

The part of the soil below rooting depth

Question 3

Subsurface layer

Answer 3

Any surface soil horizon below the surface layer

Question 4

Surface layer

Answer 4

The soil ordinarily moved in tillage, or its equivalent in uncultivated soil, ranging in depth from about 4 to 10 inches (10 to 25 centimeters): also called ‘plow layer’

Question 5

Swampy

Answer 5

Land saturated and/or at times partially covered with water

Question 6

Texture,soil

Answer 6

The relative proportions of sand,silt,and clay particles in a mass of soil; the basic textural classes, in order of increasing proportion of fine particles, are sand,loamy sand, sandy loam, loam, silt loam, silt, sandy clay loam, clay loam,silty clay loam, sandy clay, silty clay,and clay. The sand, loamy sand, and sandy loam classes may be further divided by specifying ‘coarse’,’fine’, or ‘very fine’.

Question 7

Tilth, soil

Answer 7

The physical condition of the soil as related to tillage, seedbed preparation, seedling emergence, and root penetration

Question 8

Topsoil

Answer 8

The upper part of the soil, which is the most favorable material for plant growth; ordinarily rich in organic matter and used to topdress road banks, lawns, and land affected by mining

Question 9

Water table

Answer 9

The upper limit of soil that is completely covered with water

Question 10

Watershed

Answer 10

An area that drains all its ground water into a particular body of water

Question 11

Structure,soil

Answer 11

The arrangement of primary soil particles into compound particles or aggregates. The principal forms of soil structure: platy (laminated), prismatic ( vertical axis of aggregates than horizontal), columnar (prisms with with rounded tops), blocky (angular or subangular), and granular.