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Soil Science NAFS-1300 > Soils Lecture 1 > Flashcards

Soils Lecture 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the properties of the “A” horizon?

A
  • A is the TOPSOIL
  • Dark do to to OM-
  • Leaching of iron, Clay, and other minerals (eluviation)
  • Primary ROOT ZONE
  • High in micro organisms
  • An AP horizon is one that has been plowed (often contains some of the B horizon)
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2
Q

What are the properties of the “E” horizon?

A
  • E for ELUVIATION
  • Lighter colored zone beneath the A horizon
  • OM, clay, iron, etc. has leached out
  • Zone of GREATEST ELUVATION
  • Most often found in high sand soils
  • Not found in all soils
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3
Q

What are the properties of the “O” horizon?

A
  • O for Organic Material

- Some of the leaves and recognizable litter as well as the duff (the unrecognizable OM)

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4
Q

Solum

A
  • A, E, & B horizons
  • where most soil forming occurs
  • also where nearly allroot growth occurs
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5
Q

What are the properties of the “B” Horizon?

A
  • subsoil
  • zone of illuviation (or accumulation)
  • low OM
  • higher clay and iron
  • when clays have substantially illuviated here it is named Bt
  • hardpans can form here
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6
Q

What are the properties of the “C” horizon?

A

C is for zone of parent material – usually with some fragments of partially weathered bedrock (or little changed glacial till) – taprooted plants and prairie species may root here

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7
Q

What are the properties of the “R” horizon?

A

R is for rock – bedrock or parent material unaffected by weathering and with very little
root affect

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8
Q

What are the properties of an “Ap” horizon?

A

Land that has been plowed

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9
Q

Capillary Action

A

-water will climb a very narrow tube on its own
because of the pull of water tension
-this allows trees to get water to great
heights and blood to flow through our smallest blood vessels
-water tension also helps to hold clay together so tightly

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10
Q

Loam

A

-a mix of nearly equal amounts of the three soil texture characteristics (sand, silt, clay)

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11
Q

Soil Tilth

A

Tilth is technically defined as the physical condition of soil as related to its ease of tillage, fitness of seedbed, and impedance to seedling emergence and root
penetration.

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12
Q

Friable

A

a description of how crumbly a soil is

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13
Q

Tilth

A

health of a soil based on its structure, looseness, and potential of root penetration

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14
Q

Loam

A

a suitable mix of sand, silt, and clay

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15
Q

Leaching

A

loss of minerals in a horizon by water action

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16
Q

Eluviation

A

particles or minerals EXITING a soil horizon

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17
Q

Illuviation

A

particles or minerals moving INTO a soil horizon

18
Q

Humus

A

unrecognizable organic matter

19
Q

Solum

A

the A and B Horizons

20
Q

Porosity

A

open space in soils for water or air

21
Q

Salinization

A

build up of salts in soil

22
Q

Decomposition

A

break down of complex mater into simpler (usable compounds)

23
Q

Mineralization

A

breaking Organic matter into usable mineral nutrients

24
Q

Soil Tilth

A

Tilth is technically defined as the physical condition of soil as related to its
-ease of tillage
-fitness of seedbed
-impedance to seedling emergence and root
penetration.

25
Q

The health of a soil based on its structure, looseness, and potential of root penetration is called ______.

A

Tilth

26
Q

The process of breaking organic matter into usable mineral nutrients is called _______.

A

Mineralization

27
Q

The process of breaking down complex mater into simpler (usable compounds) is know as _______.

A

Decomposition

28
Q

Test Q: Roots require what one thing that most people don’t realize?

A

Oxygen

29
Q

Test Q: Distinct layers in soil are known as?

A

Horizons

30
Q

Test Q: What element is the principle component of organic matter and is the basis of all organic life?

A

Carbon

31
Q

Test Q: Name two purposes or uses for soil besides growing crops.

A

Filtering water, Building on…

32
Q

Test Q: Why does clay get so sticky and hold together so well?

A
  • It’s made up of tiny flat particles that have a lot of surface area
  • It has electrical charges that hold particles together
  • It holds water better than silt or sand
33
Q

Soil Mottling

A

Irregular marked spots in the soil profile that vary in color, size and number.
EX: Reddish iron spots

34
Q

Test Q: Mottling in a soil is an indication of what?

A

The soil is not well drained

35
Q

Test Q: Which of the following layers may not be in very many soils?

A

An E that is light colored

36
Q

Test Q: When doing the ribbon test to soil, a ribbon consisting of 4 inches tells you the soil has a lot of?

A

Clay

37
Q

Test Q: Which habitat should you find the deepest and richest A horizon in?

A

A Prairie

38
Q 
Test Q: Which of these will settle out of a soil and water solution first?
• Silt
•Clay
•Organic Matter
•Sand
A

Sand

39
Q

Test Q: Mycorrizae are ….?

A

Fungi hairs that have a symbiotic relationship with plants

40
Q

Test Q: The perfect combination of sand, silt, and clay in soil is known as …?

A

Loam

41
Q

Test Q: In the day plants produce oxygen by photosynthesis, what do they do at night?

A

Respire, take in oxygen and and give out Carbon Dioxide

42
Q

Test Q: On a fertilizer bag the N-P-K content tells you what?

A

It has Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium

Soil Science NAFS-1300 (9 decks)

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