Nature of Soils

Question 1

Characteristics of soils?

Answer 1

mineral matter, organic matter, water and air

Question 2

Amount of textural classes in soil texture

Answer 2

12

60% primarily sand
30% clay
10% silt

Question 3

What are the 2 soil textures?

Answer 3

Fine Earth Fraction-Clay Silt Sand

Coarse Fraction-Gravel Cobble Stone Boulder

Question 4

Factors that affect soil?

Answer 4

Permeability
Surface Area
Adsorption

Question 5

Other characteristics of soil?

Answer 5

structure, organic matter, living organisms, aeration, moisture content, pH, and fertility

Question 6

The ability of water and air to pass through soil

Answer 6

Permeability

Question 7

5 major factors of soil formation responsible for the kind of soil that develops in an area, the rate, and extent

Answer 7

Climate, parent material, organisms, topography, and time

Question 8

The acidity, neutrality, and alkalinity of soil reaction

Answer 8

pH
4.5-7 in humid regions
7-9 in arid regions
most vegetation grows in soils between 6 and 7

Question 9

A cross section view of the various horizons characterized by a specific thickness, texture, structure, and chemical composition

Answer 9

Soil Profile

Question 10

Each horizon has specific thickness, color, texture, structure and chemical composition. How many soil horizons are there?

Answer 10

6: 
O-above topsoil
A topsoil
E-subsurface
B-subsoil
C-parent material
R-hard bedrock

Question 11

The most dominant factor of soil formation?

Answer 11

Climate (temperature and precipitation which influence weathering)

Question 12

The unconsolidated material from which solids form

Answer 12

Parent Material

Question 13

Semi-stable dark colored organic material that consists of the decomposed products of plants and animal wastes and residues. Vital to healthy soil.

Answer 13

Humus