Soils

Question 0

Why is soil a living system?

Answer 0

The micro organisms living inside the soil.

Question 1

Define soil:

Answer 1

A natural system consisting if four components.

Air, water, organic matter and mineral matter.

Question 2

5 major independent soil forming factors

Answer 2

Topography
Time
Climate
Parent material
Organisms

Question 3

Mechanical weathering:

Answer 3

Physical disintegration

Water freezing

Question 4

Chemical weathering:

Answer 4

Change the chemical make up

Acid rain, oxidation

Question 5

Humus:

Answer 5

Dark colored organic material. Contains decomposed pieces of plant and animal wastes and residues. Materials synthesised by micro organisms

Question 6

6 major horizons

Answer 6

O
A
E
B
C
R

Question 7

O horizon contains:

Answer 7

Organic litter from dead plants and animals

Question 8

A horizon contains

Answer 8

Mineral material-rich in humus

Question 9

E horizon contains:

Answer 9

Leaching occurs

Question 10

B horizon contains:

Answer 10

Accumulation of materials that washed down from above horizons

Question 11

C horizon contains:

Answer 11

Parent material- partially weathered bedrock

Question 12

R horizon contains:

Answer 12

Bedrock with little evidence of weathering

Question 13

Soil profile:

Answer 13

Sectional view of the various horizons

Question 14

Soil texture:

Answer 14

Proportions of sand, silt and clay in a particulate

Question 15

Soil structure:

Answer 15

Arrangement of grouping of soil particulates into aggregates

Question 16

Hygroscopic water:

Answer 16

Water in soil which exists as a microscopic level around clay.

Question 17

Hydric soils:

Answer 17

Formed under conditions of saturation long enough to develop anaerobic conditions.
Flooding
Pounding

Question 18

Mollisols:

Answer 18

Most productive

Crop and rangeland

Question 19

Spodosols:

Answer 19

Sandy deposits

Great Lakes
New England

Question 20

Alfisols:

Answer 20

Humid climates

Deciduous forests

Question 21

Ultisols:

Answer 21

Forested subtropical

Less fertile

Question 22

Oxisols:

Answer 22

Warm, wet climate

Tropical rainforests

Question 23

Gelisols:

Answer 23

Young soils- little profile development

Permafrost, Alaska, tundra

Question 24

Do all soils have all horizons?

Answer 24

No.

Question 25

Macro nutrients

Answer 25

Large quantities required

Question 26

Micro nutrients

Answer 26

Small amounts required.

Iron, zinc

Question 27

Macro and micro nutrients are the building blocks for?

Answer 27

Chlorophyll

Question 28

Permeability:

Answer 28

Ease that water and air pass through a layer of soil.

Question 29

Factors that impact water holding capacity:

Answer 29

Type of soil surface

Climate (temp, humidity, velocity)

Question 30

Soils deficient in clay are?

Answer 30

Structureless

Question 31

soils too rich in clay form?

Answer 31

Compacted later

Question 32

Micro pore space is most useful? True or false

Answer 32

true

Question 33

Alifisol:

Answer 33

Forest soils

pH: 6-7

Question 34

Entisol:

Answer 34

New soils

Question 35

Histols:

Answer 35

Organic soils

Swamps and bogs

Question 36

Inceptisols:

Answer 36

Moderately developed
Coniferous forests (BWCA)
A on R or C

Question 37

Mollisols:

Answer 37

Prairie soils

Question 38

Spodosols:

Answer 38

Forest soil: infertile. Sandy

Question 39

Aridsol:

Answer 39

Desert soil

Question 40

Ultisol:

Answer 40

Forest leached soil

Oldest soil
Appalachian mountains

Question 41

Oxisols:

Answer 41

Rainforest not in us

Question 42

Soil profiles depend on 2 soil forming factors :

Answer 42

Climate and organisms

Question 43

6 measures of system being sustainable:

Answer 43

Conservation
Economically viable
Environmentally friendly
Resource conserving
Socially responsible
Yields of high quality

Question 44

Erosion:

Answer 44

Wind

Water