Soil (final)

Question 1

Soil erosion control measures

Answer 1

In zero till
Shelterbelts
Control structures

Question 2

Soil erosion

Answer 2

It is estimated that topsoil is eroding faster than it forms on more than one third of the world’s croplands

Question 3

Cover crops

Answer 3

Any crop grown primarily to provide ground cover to improve soil properties, rather than providing a harvestable yield. It is normally grown in the time period between regular crops, although it may be seeded in the preceding crop

Question 4

Hydrologic cycle

Answer 4

Continuous circulation of water within the earth’s hydrosphere

Question 5

Groundwater

Answer 5

GW is an important water source

Question 6

Cone of depression

Answer 6

When a substantial amount of water is withdrawn from a well, the water table around the well is lowered in a conical in shape

Question 7

Geological work of Groundwater

Answer 7

GW typically contains carbonic acid
Water “picks up; carbonic acid as rain passes the air and as the GW percolates through zones of decaying plant material
When GW contacts limestone the carbonic acid reacts with calcite and forms calcium bicarbonate

Question 8

Caverns

Answer 8

Dissolving process slowly creates cavities and gradually enlarges them into caverns

Question 9

When water table is lowered, cavities are filled with air and the following can form

Answer 9

Stalactites
Stalagmites
Columns

Question 10

What are the 10 longest rivers in the world?

Answer 10

Nile
Amazon
Yangtze
Mississippi
Yenisel
Yellow River
Ob
Rio de la Plata
Congo
Amur

Question 11

What are the 10 longest rivers in Canada?

Answer 11

Mackenzie
Yukon
Saint Lawrence
Nelson
Slave
Columbia
Saskatchewan
Peace
Churchill
South Saskatchewan

Question 12

Soil

Answer 12

The connection of natural bodies on the earth’s surface supporting or capable of supporting plants

Question 13

Three discriptors of our local soil

Answer 13

Rich
Saturated
Dense

Question 14

Soil formation

Answer 14

Parent material
Soild matter making up of soil
Influences soil property (texture, PH, fertility)

Question 15

Residual soils

Answer 15

Remain at site of formation

Question 16

Transported soils

Answer 16

Transported from site of parent

Question 17

Time

Answer 17

Weathering for a short time (parent material strongly influence the characteristics of material and soil)

Question 18

Biota

Answer 18

Plants and animals supply organic matter to the soil
Microorganisms play an active role in in the decay of plant and animal remains

Question 19

Topography

Answer 19

Length and steepness of slopes significantly affect the amount of erosion and the water content of soil

Question 20

Soil horizons

Answer 20

Vertical differences divide soil into layers

Question 21

Soil profile

Answer 21

Verticle section through all soil horizons

Question 22

O horizon

Answer 22

Upper layer of O
Lower
High biodiversity

Question 23

A horizon

Answer 23

Mostly mineral material, some humus, biological activity still high

Question 24

E horizon

Answer 24

Contains little organic material

Question 25

B horizon

Answer 25

Where much of the material removed from the E horizon by eluviation isn deposited

Question 26

C horizon

Answer 26

Partly altered parent material (easily identifiable)
Not considered true soil

Question 27

What is nitrogen fixation?

Answer 27

The process by which atmospheric nitrogen is converted by either a natural or an industrial means to a form of nitrogen

Question 28

Ideal agricultural soils

Answer 28

Loamy
Includes equals parts in sand, silt, and clay

Question 29

Rills

Answer 29

Smaller channels

Question 30

Gullies

Answer 30

Deeper channels created as rills enlarge

Question 31

Topsoil, how we conserve it

Answer 31

Cover cropping, composting, conservation tillage, and organic fertilization