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Botany and Soils > Module 12: Chemical Properties of Soil > Flashcards

Module 12: Chemical Properties of Soil Flashcards

1
Q

What are chemical components of Earth’s crust?

A

Oxygen (O)
Silicon (Si)
Aluminum (Al)
Iron (Fe)
Calcium (Ca)

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2
Q

What is the percentage of oxygen in Earth’s crust?

A

46.10%

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3
Q

What is the percentage of silicon in earth’s crust?

A

28.20%

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4
Q

What is the percentage of Aluminium in Earth’s crust?

A

8.23%

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5
Q

What is the percentage of iron in Earth’s crust?

A

5.63%

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6
Q

What is the percentage of calcium in earth’s crust?

A

4.15%

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7
Q

What are some macronutrients in soil?

A

Nitrogen (N)
Phosphorus (P)
Potassium (K)
Sulphur (Su)
Calcium (Ca)
Magnesium (Mg)

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8
Q

What are some micronutrients in Earth’s soil?

A

Iron (Fe)
Manganese (Mn)
Boron (B)
Copper (Cu)
Zinc (Z)
Molybdenum (Mo)

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9
Q

What is Nitrogen (N) and what does it do for plant growth?

A

Important for rapid plant growth, increases seed and fruit yields, enhances the value of leaf and forage crops

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10
Q

What does Nitrogen (N) do within a plant?

A

Forms part of the chlorophyll and all proteins, including enzymes

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11
Q

What is the purpose of Phosphorus in plant growth?

A

Plays role in photosynthesis
Used in production of oils, starches, sugars
Helps plant combat stress
Speeds up growth
Increases flowering and root production

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12
Q

What is the role of Potassium (K) in plant growth?

A

Helps with protein production
Plays role in photosynthesis
Improves fruit quality
Reduces disease

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13
Q

What is pH?

A

Potential of hydrogen

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14
Q

What is soil pH?

A

Measure of how acidic or alkaline a soil is

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15
Q

What is another term for soil pH?

A

Soil reaction

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16
Q

What is the pH scale range?

A

0 to 14

pH of 7 = neutral

17
Q

How is pH determined?

A

Depends on the concentration of hydrogen ions (+ charged atoms) in the soil

18
Q

What happens when hydrogen ions increase in soil?

A

When the number of H ions in the soil goes up, the soil pH decreases and the soil becomes more acidic

19
Q

What happens when the amount of hydrogen ions in soil decrease?

A

When number of hydrogen ions decreases, soil pH increases and the soil becomes more alkaline or basic

20
Q

Why is soil pH important in plant growth?

A

Soil with suitable pH is in chemical balance and allows the plant to absorb all the nutrients from the soil

21
Q

What soil pH do most plants grow well in?

A

pH close to neutral (pH 6.6-7.4) or slightly acidic (pH 6.0 to 6.5)

22
Q

What plants require an acidic soil to growth healthily?

A

Rhododendrons and blueberry plants (pH 4.5 to 5.5)

23
Q

What plants grow well in alkaline soil?

A

Chrysanthemums and columbine

24
Q

What happens when the soil pH is outside of the preferred range of the plant?

A

Plant is stressed and grows unhealthily

Fungi, algae and moss may be more suited to the pH and take over the soil

25
Q

What are some factors that affect soil pH?

A

Fertilizers (makes soil more acidic)
Rain (makes soil more acidic)
Pine needles (makes soil more acidic; good to grow rhodos)
Mulch (makes soil more acidic)
Grass clippings (makes soil more acidic)
Local manufacturing/businesses (makes soil more acidic)
Snow (makes soil more acidic)
Pets (makes soil more acidic)
Chemical treatments; pesticides, fungicides (makes soil more acidic)
Septic tanks (makes soil more acidic)
Watering; tap water (makes soil more alkaline)

26
Q

What is an ion?

A

Atom or molecule with an electrical charge

27
Q

What is a cation?

A

Ion with a positive charge (H+, NH4+, Ca++, Mg++)

Gives away electrons

28
Q

What is an anion?

A

Ion with a negative charge (NO3-)

Takes electrons

29
Q

What are cations typically attracted to in soil?

A

Negatively charged surfaces of clay particles and organic matter particles

Clay particles and organic matter particles are naturally negatively charged, so positive ions are attracted to them

30
Q

What is the Cation Exchange Capacity?

A

Extent to which a soil could hold and exchange cations

31
Q

What is the attraction of cations in soil called?

A

Adsorption. Ions stays on the surface and are not absorbed

32
Q

Why is Cation Exchange Capacity important?

A

Soils that have a higher CEC can hold and make nutrients more likely available to plants as opposed to losing them through leaching

Low CEC = nutrients leached

33
Q

How is Cation Exchange Capacity affected by soil texture?

A

The more alkaline the soil is, the higher the CEC

The more organic particles and clay particles, the higher the CEC

34
Q

The pH scale is ______

A

Logarithmic by 10

35
Q

What do the numbers on a fertilizer bag mean?

A

N - P - K

36
Q

What two soil particles have no charge?

A

Silt and sand particles

Botany and Soils (15 decks)

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