Soil Development Systems Flashcards
In mineral soils, minerals make up approximately _____________ % of the total soil volume?
45
If soil erosion removes the top few inches of soil, the pedogenic process that has taken place is:
Losses
Which option has the soil moisture regimes in the proper order from wettest to driest?
aquic, udic, ustic, aridic
The Miamian soil series (state soil of Ohio) is classified as a fine, mixed, active, mesic Oxyaquic Hapludalf. To what soil order does the Miamian series belong?
Alfisols
The five soil forming factors (CLORPT)
CLimate Organisms Relief Parent material Time
If a primary mineral, such as mica, weathers and changes into a secondary clay mineral, what pedogenic process has taken place?
Transformations
A soil profile has a transition horizon between the B and C horizons. This transition horizon has properties of both the B and C horizons, but is more like a B horizon. There are no areas where there are distinct parts that are B horizon or C horizon material. What would the horizon designation be?
BC
Soil air content is ______ related to soil water content.
inversely
The Cecil soil series (state soil of North Carolina) is classified as a fine, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludult. Because it belongs to the Ultisol soil series, is has a base saturation at 2 m in depth that is:
below 35%
Of the following soil profiles (horizons listed top to bottom), which one would be the oldest soil?
A E Bt C
A Bw C
A C
A E Bt C
____________ is the primary driving force behind soil horizonation.
Water
Which of these soil development processes would be classed in the “transformations” category of soil forming process?
Feldspar weathering and re-precipitating as a secondary clay mineral.
A soil mapping unit contains two different soil series that are similar to each other. This mapping unit is considered a ____________.
association
Which horizon is considered a zone of “elluviation”, or loss?
O, A, E, B, C
E horizon
A soil has a thick, dark surface that has a low base saturation. The diagnostic epipedon is a ____________ epipedon.
umbric
Which of the following parent materials is not deposited by wind?
dune sand, loess, alluvium, volcanic ash
Alluvium
The Casa Grande soil series (state soil of Arizona) belongs to the “Natrargids” great group. To what soil order does the Casa Grande series belong?
Aridisols
Which answer has a diagnostic epipedon that is shallow and does not have much organic matter, and has a diagnostic subsoil horizon that depicts minimal soil development. umbric, spodic ochric, cambic mollic, natric histic, agrillic
ochric, cambic
A soil mapping unit contains two different soil series that are distinct from each other. This mapping unit is considered a __________.
complex
This horizon has not undergone pedogenic processes, but is still able to be dug by hand.
C horizon
Which of the following landscape positions is the most stable, which allows for development of the oldest soils?
Summit
The soil pore space filled with air is _________ related to soil pore space filled with water.
inversely
The diagnostic subsurface horizon associated with an accumulation of sodium is known as a/an _________ horizon.
natric
Which of these soil development processes would be classed in the “translocations” category of soil forming process?
Increase in the clay content of the B horizon due to illuviation
Under what combinations of climate conditions would you expect the least amount of weathering?
cold, dry
When the Yellowstone super volcano erupts, it is predicted to cover the state of Kansas with 30 to 100 mm of volcanic ash. This would be an example of what pedogenic process?
Additions
For soil profile descriptions, capital letters signify ___________ while lowercase letters signify ___________.
master horizons, subordinate horizons
Where in Kansas would you expect to find the highest amount of leaching and horizon development based on the climate?
Eastern Kansas
Which option has the soil moisture regimes in the proper order from driest to wettest?
aridic, ustic, udic, aquic
Which of the following soil orders would be considered the oldest? Ultisol Oxisol Mollisol Inceptisol
Oxisol
Where would you expect to find a soil profile with the highest amount of leaching and horizonation based on climate?
Southeastern US
Colluvium is deposited by what?
Gravity
If a bear poops in the forest, what pedogenic process has taken place?
Additions
A soil has shrink-swell clays,and has a clay content greater than 30% to a depth of at least 50 cm. To what soil order would this soil belong?
Vertisols
A soil has a thick O horizon that is over 20 cm thick. The diagnostic epipedon is a _______ epipedon.
histic
A soil mapping unit contains two different soil series that are distinctly different from one another. This mapping unit is a:
Complex
Which of the following is a mineral horizon found at the soil surface and is usually dark in color due to the presence of organic matter?
A horizon
A soil has the following properties: highly weatherable parent material on a stable landscape, high humidity and rainfall, and many well-defined horizons. What age would the soil be considered?
Old
Nutrients in which of the following pools in the soil are most readily available for plant uptake?
nutrients dissolved in the soil solution
A soil mapping unit contains one soil series, with very few inclusions of other soil series. This mapping unit is considered a ___________.
consocation
A soil formed in sandy parent material under a coniferous forest has formed a well-defined E horizon and a Bhs horizon. This soil belongs to what soil order?
Spodisol
In mineral soils, the pore space that is filled with either water or air makes up approximately _________ of the volume of the soil.
50%
The __________ is the interface of the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.
pedosphere
The Bayamon soil series (official soil of Puerto Rico) is classified as a very-fine, kaolinitic, isohyperthermic Typic Hapludox. To what soil order does the Bayamon series belong?
Oxisols
The Tama soil series (state soil of Iowa) has the following Taxonomic classification: fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Argiudoll. Because it is a Mollisol, it’s base saturation would be:
above 50%
Moving water in streams and rivers deposit ____________ parent materials.
alluvial
If a primary mineral, such as mica, weathers and changes into a secondary clay mineral, what pedogenic process has taken place?
Transformations
The solum is defined as:
unconsolidated material that has undergone pedogenic processes
The subordinate horizon designation “k”, as in “Bk”, implies that the B horizon ____________.
has accumulated calcium.
A soil formed in saprolite, or rotten rock which weathered in place. This parent material is known as what?
Residuum
_________ parent materials form as lake sediments.
Lacustrine
Composition of soil
Mineral: 45%
Organic: 5%
Pore Space: 50%
The subordinate horizon designation “t”, as in “Bt”, implies that the B horizon ________.
has accumulated clays
The Myakka soil series (state soil of Florida) has the following Taxonomic classification: sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Aeric Alaquods. Therefor, the Myakka series belongs to what soil order?
Spodosols
Roots take up nutrients from the soil via three methods, including diffusion, _________, and root interception.
mass flow
A soil profile has the following soil horizons: Ap1 Ap2 E Bt 2Bt 2C What does the "2" to the left of the 2Bt and 2C horizons indicate?
A different parent material begins at the 2Bt horizon.
The regolith is defined as:
unconsolidated material
Leaves falling onto the soil surface is an example of what pedogenic process?
Additions
At which of the following landscape positions would the accumulation of colluvial material take place?
Footslope
Under what combinations of climate conditions would you expect the most intense weathering?
warm, wet
Which of the following soil orders would be considered the youngest? Entisol Inceptisol Ultisol Spodosol
Entisol
A soil profile has a transition horizon between the A and the E horizons. This transition horizon has properties of both the A and E horizons, but is more like an E horizon. There are no areas where there are distinct parts that are A horizon or E horizon material. What would the horizon designation be?
EA
A soil profile that consists of an A horizon directly underlain by a C horizon would be considered old.
True/False
False
A Spodosol profile contains a Bs horizon. The “s” subordinate horizon indicates illuvial _________.
Fe and Al oxides
Which of the following landscape positions would exhibit the highest rates of erosion?
Backslope
Which of the following parent materials is not deposited by water?
Loess, lacustrine, outwash, alluvium
Loess
What is the pedosphere
Interface of the atmosphere (air), biosphere (living things), hydrosphere (water), and lithosphere (rock).
In a soil survey, a soil mapping unit that contains at least two or more soil series that are similar to each other is termed a/an __________.
association
Illuviation/elluviation
depostion of materials through elluviation (downward movement)
Which answer has a diagnostic epipedon that is shallow, does not have much organic matter, and has a diagnostic subsoil horizon that depicts extreme weathering and high clay content (80%) which mostly consists of iron oxides.
Ochric, oxic
Nutrients in which of the following pools in the soil are least available for plant uptake?
nutrients contained in the structural framework
If clays that formed near the soil surface are moved to lower portions of the soil profile, what pedogenic process has taken place?
Translocations
The diagnostic subsurface horizon associated with the accumulation of clay, is designated by a “Bt” horizon, has bright colors, and has low activity (low CEC) clays, is known as a/an ______________ horizon.
kandic
A horizon in which the top 6 to 8 inches of soil has been mixed and homogenized due to cultivation is designated using what subordinate horizon?
p
Which of the following soil moisture regimes depict a climate with cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers?
Aquic, Ustic, Udic, Aridic, Xeric
Xeric
The diagnostic subsurface horizon associated with an accumulation of illuviated clays is known as a/an _________ horizon.
argillic
