Terms

Question 1

Soil

Answer 1

Soil is naturally-occurring mineral and organic material occurring at the surface of the earth

Question 2

Bulk Density

Answer 2

the mass of a unit volume of dry soil. includes pore and solids. W/V

Question 3

Particle density

Answer 3

the specific gravity of a solid substance

Question 4

Infiltration

Answer 4

The downward movement of water into the soil

Question 5

Endopedon

Answer 5

A diagnostic subsurface horizon that includes the lower part of the soil

Question 6

Soil association

Answer 6

a group of defined and named taxonomic soil units.

Question 7

Albedo (soil)

Answer 7

refection rate of the sun off various surfaces

Question 8

Duripan

Answer 8

subsurface that is cememneted by silica

Question 9

Control Section

Answer 9

class or range of soil features

Question 10

Osmotic potential

Answer 10

that portion of the total soil water potential due to the presence of solutes in the soil water.

Question 11

pedon

Answer 11

the smallest volume that can be called a soil

Question 12

Soil complex

Answer 12

Where two or more defined taxonomic units are so intermixed it’s impractical because of the scale

Question 13

Diagnostic Horizon

Answer 13

the presence or absence of which help determine the place of soil in the classification system

Question 14

Illuvation

Answer 14

process of weathered material moving from one horizon to another

Question 15

Consistence

Answer 15

soil material properties that determine its resistance to crushing and it’s ability to be molded or change shape.

Question 16

Eluvation

Answer 16

The removal of soil material in suspension from a layer or layers of soil

Question 17

Soil water potential

Answer 17

the measure of the difference between the free energy state of soil water and that of pure water

Question 18

Humus

Answer 18

decomposed carbon material

Question 19

Till

Answer 19

1) to plow and prepare for seedling 2)glacial drift deposited consisting of clay, sand, gravel, and boulders

Question 20

Matric potential

Answer 20

total soil water potential due to polar forces between water and soil solids

Question 21

Fragipan

Answer 21

brittle hard subsurface that’s usually made from carbonates

Question 22

Soil texture

Answer 22

% sand, silt, clay

Question 23

Alluvium

Answer 23

weathered material deposited or in transit by streams, usually unconsolidated

Question 24

porosity

Answer 24

part of the soil volume occupied by 35-65% pores 100%-(b/p x100)

Question 25

catena

Answer 25

a sequence of different soil profiles that occur down a slope.

Question 26

mottling

Answer 26

spots or blotches of different color or shades interspersed with the dominant color

Question 27

percolation

Answer 27

movement and filtering of fluids through porous materials.