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Biophysical Lab Exam > Lab 3 > Flashcards

Lab 3 Flashcards

1
Q

Soils are best studied…

A

in situ

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2
Q

5 soil forming factors

A

time, topography, organisms (biological activity), parent material, climate

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3
Q

What is a soil profile?

A

a vertical section in which the soil horizons can be seen

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4
Q

What is a horizon?

A

horizontal layer of soil with similar chemical and physical properties produced by biological, chemical and physical weathering of the parent material

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5
Q

What can soils scientists determine about a soil profile by looking at it?

A

its limitations

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6
Q

What are 3 examples of limitations that a soil scientists might see while observing a soil profile?

A

acid pH, low OM content, low levels of soil fertility

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7
Q

What 7 sections of information should be discussed in a soil profile description?

A
  1. landform, parent material, relief and drainage
  2. parent material
  3. soil profile
  4. stoniness and rockiness
  5. erosion and truncation
  6. vegetation
  7. land use
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8
Q

What is relief?

A

the difference in elevation of the land surface forming hills, slopes and valleys

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9
Q

What is landform?

A

the form or surface expression created by the agency (erosion and deposition) that created the surface.

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10
Q

What is parent material?

A

the accumulated mineral or organic substances on and in which the soil profile has developed

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11
Q

What are examples of parent material?

A

colluvial, eolian, alluvial, lacustrine, morainal, saprolitic, volcanic, marine, undifferentiated, anthropogenic

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12
Q

What are different types of classes of surface expression?

A

hummocky, inclined level, rolling, ridged, steep, terraced, undulating, veneer, apron, blanket, fan

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13
Q

What are slope classes used for?

A

to indicate the dominant slope within a local landform

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14
Q

What is the rating scale for slope class?

A

1 (level) - 10 (very steep slope)

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15
Q

What does topography refer to?

A

the gradient, length, and shape of slopes and their patterns

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16
Q

What is used as a rating scale for Simple Topography - Single Slopes (regular surface)? + slope %

A

A (depression to level) (0-0.5%) - H (extremely sloping) (60% +)

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17
Q

What is used as a rating scale for Complex Topography - Multiple Slopes (irregular surface)?

A

a (nearly level) (0-0.5%) - h (very hilly) (60% +)

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18
Q

Once you know the drainage class of a soil, what intelligent decision can you make?

A

whether or not artificial drainage or irrigation will be required for optimal crop production

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19
Q

What clues should be taken into account to estimate drainage?

A

vegetation, surface water, height of water table, soil colour, presence of mottles

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20
Q

What should one write about parent material in their soil profile description?

A

characteristics, source of parent material and manner in which the parent material originated

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21
Q

What is the heart of the soil description?

A

Soil profile

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22
Q

What should one do as they observe a soil profile in order to write their soil profile description with?

A
  1. locate major horizons

2. measure depth + thickness of each horizon

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23
Q

What is not included in depth measurements of a soil profile?

A

LFH layer

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24
Q

Description of horizon: color - use what chart?

A

Munsell color chart

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25
Q

When determining color, should the soil be moist or dry?

A

moist

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26
Q

What is the best method for determining texture?

A

manipulate and feel a moist sample

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27
Q

What does texture refer to?

A

size range of soil mineral particles

28
Q

what does structure refer to?

A

arrangement of mineral particles into aggregates - size , strength and type or aggregate is important

29
Q

What does effervescence indicate?

A

limestone or secondary CaCO3

30
Q

How can one determine if a soil shows effervescence?

A

poor dilute HCl to pends, stones, and rocks and see if it foams

31
Q

What 3 things should be noted about roots in each horizon?

A
  1. abundance
  2. size
  3. orientation
32
Q

What does the abundance, size and orientation of roots indicate?

A

aeration and water content

33
Q

Stoniness/rockiness of a soil is expressed using what scale?

A

0 (no stones) - 5 (extremely stony)

0 (no rocks) - 5 (extremely rocky)

34
Q

What 2 things should be recorded about stones/rocks for a soil sample report?

A

depth and distribution

35
Q

What will accelerate erosion of sloping soils?

A

removal of crop cover

36
Q

In what 2 ways can erosion be estimated?

A
  1. observing the landscape surface

2. determining whether the surface horizon is shallower than normal

37
Q

What do the type of plants indicate about a soil?

A

its fertility, drainage, profile type, & type of crop that will grow best

38
Q

Should present land use be recorded into report?

A

yes

39
Q

Mac farm + Arboretum = how many ha?

A

640 ha

40
Q

The range in elevation of Mac Campus land ranges from what?

A

25 m along river to 50 m in Morgan Arboretum

41
Q

St Bernard: parent material?

A

glacial till

42
Q

St Bernard: topography?

A

undulating (lots of rocks and trees)

43
Q

St Bernard: vegetation?

A

deciduous trees, lots of maple (trees that need high fertility/nutrient rich soil)

44
Q

St Bernard: drainage?

A

good/well because slope

45
Q

St Bernard: soil order

A

Brunisol

46
Q

St Bernard: what do you notice about the ground cover?

A

not many leaves - decompose quickly - because of worms

47
Q

What type of pH do earthworms like?

A

neutral to slightly basic

48
Q

St Bernard: soil profile?

A

Ah – topsoil
Bm – modified
B is not well developed, not much distinction between Bm & C
C –

  • no mottling, not much weathering
49
Q

St Bernard: problems for agriculture?

A
  1. low bulk density (very loose soil)
  2. hard to till b/c very rocky
  3. land is not flat
50
Q

St Bernard: advantages for agriculture?

A
  1. great for deciduous trees
  2. good fertility
  3. good drainage
51
Q

St Rosalie: parent material

A

marine clay

52
Q

St Rosalie: soil order

A

hummic gleysol

53
Q

St Rosalie: soil profile

A

Ah or Ap
(sharp discrimination between A & B horizon)
Bg (mottling)
Cg

54
Q

St Rosalie: vegetation

A

grasses, deciduous forests, rice, cranberries

55
Q

St Rosalie: drainage

A

imperfect

56
Q

St Rosalie: management hazard?

A

water doesn’t go away as fast because of pour drainage

57
Q

St Rosalie: decomposition rate compared to St Bernard?

A

Lower decomposition rate - higher OM - high NUTR, slow leaching

58
Q

St Rosalie: drainage

A

poor drainage so not much leaching

59
Q

Uplands: parent material

A

alluvial (sand over clay)

60
Q

Uplands: soil order

A

humoferic podzol

61
Q

Uplands: soil profile

A

LFH
Ah (small and unseen)
Ae (white salty layer - extensive leaching)
Bf (precipitation from illuviation - from Ae (Fe & Al))

62
Q

Uplands: topography

A

gentle undulating

63
Q

Uplands: vegetation

A

coniferous trees

64
Q

Uplands: biological activity

A

slow

65
Q

Uplands: pH - worms?

A

acidic - no worms

66
Q

Uplands: drainage - depends on what?

A

good/fast - depends on width of sand layer (larger = faster)

Biophysical Lab Exam (5 decks)

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