Chapter Two - Soil Composition

Question 1

1. Fill in the pie chart below –
   Composition of soil? Put in % of each component part?

Air =
Water =
Mineral Matter =
Organic Matter =

Answer 1

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Question 2

What percentage of the soil is made up of water?
A) 5%
B) 10%
C) 25%
D) 45%

Answer 2

C - 25%

Question 3

3. What percentage of soil is made up of mineral matter?
   A) 10%
   B) 25%
   C) 45%
   D) 15%

Answer 3

C -45%

Question 4

List TWO characteristics of a sandy soil?

Answer 4

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Question 5

What four portions are soils sometimes described as being composed of?

Answer 5

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Question 6

Describe solid portion of soil?

Answer 6

Question 7

Describe liquid portion of Soil?

Answer 7

Question 8

Describe the Gases/air portion of soil?

Answer 8

Question 9

. Sandy soils are….

A) Prone to waterlogging
B) Heavy to work with
C) Slow to warm up in spring
D) Poor at retaining nutrients

Answer 9

D Poor at retaining nutrients.

Question 10

When carrying out soil texture by feel analysis, which of the following soil types would be described as feeling “sticky in your hands and is easy to roll into a ball”?

 A) Sandy soils
 B) Clay soils 
 C) Silty soils 
 D) Organic soils

Answer 10

Clay soils

Question 11

When carrying out soil texture by feel analysis, which of the following soil types would be described as feeling “smooth or silky when rolled between the fingers” ?
A) Sandy soils
B) Organic soils
C) Silty soils
D) Clay soils

Answer 11

C Silty Soils

Question 12

List TWO disadvantages of a clay soil?

Answer 12

Heavy to work, warms up slowly, prone to waterlogging.

Question 13

List TWO practices farmers can do to improve soil structure?

Answer 13

Question 14

The pH of a soil describes its degree of acidity or alkalinity. It is measured on a scale of
A) 0 - 14
B) 1 - 10
C) 0 - 7
D) 0 – 10

Answer 14

A) 0-14

Question 15

A soil with a pH less than 7 is described as __________ soil?
A) Alkaline
B) Acidic
C) Neutral
D) None of the above

Answer 15

B) Acidic soil

Question 16

A soil with a pH of 7 is described as __________ soil?
A) Alkaline
B) Acidic
C) Neutral
D) None of the above

Answer 16

C) Refers to a Neutral Soil

Question 17

A soil with a pH above 7 is described as __________ soil?
A) Alkaline
B) Acidic
C) Neutral
D) None of the above

Answer 17

A) Alkaline soil

Question 18

In regards pH what is the optimum pH for….

Mineral soils - _____________
Organic soils - _____________

Answer 18

Mineral Soils - 6.5

Organic Soils - 5.8

Question 19

List TWO indicators of a low soil pH?

Answer 19

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Question 20

Which ONE of the following four options is NOT an indicator of a low soil pH?

A) None of these options indicate low soil pH
B) Appearance of weeds such as sorrel
C) Occurrence of diseases like club root in brassicas
D) Rapid decay of organic matter

Answer 20

D) Rapid Decay of Organic matter.

Question 21

What is the term used when there is no more water in the soil available to plants?

A) Dry
B) Saturation
C) Field Capacity
D) Wilting Point

Answer 21

D) Wilting Point

Question 22

Which ONE of the following sentences best describes what occurs when soil is at “Field Capacity

) All pores are full of water. Gravitational water is lost
B) Available water for plant growth
C) No more water is available to the plant

Answer 22

B)Available water for plant growth.

Question 23

. Which ONE of the following would NOT be considered a benefit associated with spreading organic matter?

A) Provides nutrients to plants
B) Improves soil structure
C) Improves earthworm activity
D) Improves soil texture

Answer 23

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Question 24

Give TWO reasons why organic matter is important in our soils?

Answer 24

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Question 25

Describe field drainage, saturation and wilting point?

Answer 25