Site Characterization

Question 1

O horizon

Answer 1

• accumulation of organic matter

Question 2

A horizon

Answer 2

• mineral horizon at the surface or below the O horizon
  
  • lost much or all of the original rock structure
  • accumulation of Organic matter
  • often acted upon by man

Question 3

B horizon

Answer 3

• Could have any of the following
  
  • illuviation (deposition) of clay, iron, aluminum, organic matter, carbonates, gypsum and / or silica
  • removal of carbonates
  • residual sesquioxides or coating of sesquioxides reflecting in reddish color of soil
  • clay weathering
  • structural development
  • brittleness

Question 4

C horizon

Answer 4

• little affected by soil forming (pedogenic) processes, but not hard bedrock

Question 5

Parent material

Answer 5

• the rock, unconsolidated material, or organic matter that forms soil after
  
  • physical, chemical, or biological pedogenic processes have occurred

Question 6

Calculate Area of a field

Answer 6

• Several ways to determine field area
  
  • break field into squares
  • triangles 1/5 length x width
  • total acres is square feet / 43,560 ft/acre

Question 7

Determine Slope

Answer 7

• topographic map, percent of slope is change in landscape elevation in feet for a given distance in feet multiplied by 100.
• several slopes can be averaged

Question 8

Characteristics of Well Drained Soils

Answer 8

Characteristics of well-drained soils include:

• soils are oxidized, iron and manganese are insoluble, soils have color
• good aeration
• good avail soil water unless excessively drained leading to drought
• aerobic microbial processes like nitrification active
• good root and top growth
• decomp of most organic materials

Question 9

Characteristics of Poorly Drained Soils

Answer 9

• soils reduced, iron / manganese soluble, soil color is grey
• mottles (areas of color)
• poor aeration
• excessive soil water
• poor soil structure of peds are not water stable
• anaerobic microbial processes like denitrification
• poor plant growth unless the plant is aquatic like rice
• slow decomp of organic materials
  
  • plant diseases develop

Question 10

Surface and Subsurface Drainage

Answer 10

• surface drainage systems
  
  • ditches
  • grassed waterways
  • levees
  • precision leveled land
• subsurface drainage
  
  • corrugated and PVC pipes
  • mole drains
  • interceptor drains at base of slope
  • groundwater pumps

subsurface drainage designed to lower water table in soil

Question 11

Tract of Land

Answer 11

• legal description
  
  • Range (R7E)
  • Township (T5N)
    
    • area of 36 square miles (6 x 6)
      
      • each divided in 36 sections (square mile, 640 acres)

Question 12

Limit Land Use and Management

Leaching potential

Answer 12

• leaching potential varies
• Septic Filter Fields limited to soils where leaching potential is within certain limits for water renovation and protection of groundwater
• Biosolids or manure land application sites are limited to areas where both leaching potential and runoff potential is minimal

Question 13

Limit Land Use and Management

Soil Erosion

Answer 13

• as erosion potential rises, practices that accentuate erosion should be replaced
  
  • till vs no till
  • row crop vs pasture
• land management limited in areas classified as wetlands

Question 14

Limit Land Use and Management

Soil Drainage Class

Answer 14

• measure of soils
  
  • ability to drain water natrually before human modification
  • the time soil is wet or saturated (presence of water table)