Soils self-quiz

Question 1

Which soil is the least developed of the soils in Canada?

Answer 1

Brunisols

Question 2

Brunisols come from […] and can form […] and […] (soil types)

Answer 2

Regosol, luvisol (less acidic), podzol (more acidic)

Question 3

Where are Brunisols found?

Answer 3

In dry and cold regions - Northern Canada.

Question 4

What type of ecosystem is associated with Brunisols?

Answer 4

Coniferous and mixed coniferous/deciduous forests

Question 5

Are Brunisols old or young soils? Explain the impact this has on their structure.

Answer 5

They are young soils. As a result, they are shallow; this is because they are hard to whether due to the presence of igneous rock and gravel.

Question 6

Are Brunisols nutrient rich or nutrient poor? Explain why.

Answer 6

They are rich in nutrients, because they formed on igneous rock that was ground away by glaciers.

Question 7

What is the dominant process in Brunisols? Explain why.

Answer 7

Physical weathering, because they are found in cool regions.

Question 8

What is the texture of brunisols? How does this impact their drainage?

Answer 8

Brunisols are sandy, so they have good drainage.

Question 9

Describe the horizonation of brunisols.

Answer 9

They are young, so they have poor horizonation. They don’t have a clear B horizon, although they do have an E horizon.

Question 10

Where are Podzols found?

Answer 10

They are found in mixed - dominant conifer forests in cold and temperate climates. They are dominant in Quebec and in BC.

Question 11

Podzols were formed by the process of […]

Answer 11

Wave action sorting igneous material of the old sand beaches.

Question 12

What is the relationship between podzols and brunisols? Explain.

Answer 12

Podzols form from Brunisols (same parent material), but since they are in areas with more precipitation, they are more mature with a more developed B horizon.

Question 13

What is the texture of podzols? How does this affect their drainage?

Answer 13

They are sandy, which makes them well to moderately well drained.

Question 14

Describe the horizonation of podzols.

Answer 14

They have more defined horizons because they are older, so they have a well-defined E horizon and a red B horizon rich in oxidized iron and aluminum.

Question 15

Are podzols basic or acidic? Explain why.

Answer 15

They are acidic, because they were formed on an acidic parent material and because the coniferous vegetation above tends to be acidic as well.

Question 16

What is the parent material of podzols?

Answer 16

Igneous rock.

Question 17

Where are luvisols found?

Answer 17

They are found in moderate and cool moist climates, mainly in the prairies.

Question 18

What is the texture of luvisols? How does this affect their drainage?

Answer 18

They are loamy (clay and silt mix), giving them good drainage and making them good for agriculture.

Question 19

What is the parent material of luvisols?

Answer 19

Sedimentary rocks and marine beds.

Question 20

What is the relationship between luvisols and podzols?

Answer 20

They both come from brunisol, but luvisols were formed from sedimentary rock parent material, while podzols were formed from igneous rock parent material.

Question 21

Describe the horizonation of luvisols.

Answer 21

They have a very clay-rich B horizon and have an E horizon.

Question 22

Are luvisols acidic or basic soils? Explain why.

Answer 22

They are neutral to basic, because their parent material (limestone) is rich in Ca and Mg.

Question 23

Where is chernozem found?

Answer 23

It is found in cool, semi-arid regions where the vegetation is grassland. It is only present in the prairies and parts of interior BC.

Question 24

What is the major diagnostic feature of chernozem?

Answer 24

Its dark and thick A horizon due to the high organic carbon content.

Question 25

How much organic carbon do chernozems have.

Answer 25

2-17% in their A horizon.

Question 26

Describe the structure of chernozems and how it affects their drainage.

Answer 26

They have a strong aggregate structure (roots go deep and lots of OM), so they are well- to imperfectly drained soils.

Question 27

Describe the horizonation of chernozems.

Answer 27

They have a lot of calcium in the B and C horizons due to the movement of dissolved salts from the A horizon.

Question 28

What is the parent material of gleysols?

Answer 28

Marine clay deposits from old Champlain sea beds.

Question 29

Describe the texture of gleysols and how this affects their drainage.

Answer 29

Because they are clay-based soils, their drainage is poor, and they are often waterlogged.

Question 30

What type of ecosystems are gleysols associated with?

Answer 30

Wetland or forest

Question 31

What is the diagnostic feature of gleysols?

Answer 31

They are saturated with water and display mottling, meaning red and blue colours from redox reactions (mainly reducing conditions, greyness)

Question 32

Are gleysols acidic or neutral?

Answer 32

They are acidic to neutral near the surface, with a higher pH in the subsurface.

Question 33

Where are croyosols found?

Answer 33

In the northern third of Canada, where the mean annual soil temperature is <0 degrees.

Question 34

What is the major characteristic of cryosols?

Answer 34

They have permafrost within 1 m of the surface.

Question 35

Are cryosols carbon rich or poor? Explain why.

Answer 35

They are very carbon rich because although primary productivity is low, decomposition is also low.

Question 36

Describe the horizonization of cryosols.

Answer 36

They include the active layer, the zone of cryoturbation, and the permafrost zone.

Question 37

What is the distinguishing characteristic of organic soils?

Answer 37

They contain more than 17% organic C and have a minimum of 40 cm of peat.

Question 38

Where are organic soils found?

Answer 38

In wetlands, such as the Hudson Bay.

Question 39

Describe the horizonation of organic soils.

Answer 39

They consist of L, F, and H horizons based on the amount of decomposition and age.