EAE 09 Soils

Question 1

What part of the soil is the A horizon?

Answer 1

Topsoil

_{EAE 11aa}

Question 2

What part of the soil is the B horizon?

Answer 2

Subsoil

_{EAE 11ab}

Question 3

What part of the soil is the R horizon?

Answer 3

Weathered or decomposed

_{EAE 11ac}

Question 4

What part of the soil is the O horizon?

Answer 4

Organic materials

_{EAE 11ad}

Question 5

What is the definition of soil?

Answer 5

The uppermost part of earth’s surface, that forms a natural median for growth of land based vegetation.

_{EAE 11ae}

Question 6

What is Loam textured soil?

4 points.

Answer 6

Soil that is ideal for plant growth and is:

• 25% Air
• 25% Water
• Biomass/O.M. 5%
• 455 minerals.

_{EAE 11af}

Question 7

How much of vegetated land is considered degraded?

Answer 7

17% or 1 in 6 hectares.

_{EAE 11ag}

Question 8

What is Humus?

Answer 8

Dark organic matter whose original components can no longer be recognized.

_{EAE 11ah}

Question 9

What is the relationship between air and what in soil?

Answer 9

Water and air take up the same amounts of space in soil and are therefore higher proportions of one mean lower proportion of the other.

_{EAE 11ai}

Question 10

Is all water in soil available to plant why or why not?

Answer 10

No as some water is held in micropores unavailable to plants.

_{EAE 11aj}

Question 11

What are the main factors which influence weathering and erosion?

4 points.

Answer 11

• Rock type
• Topography
• Rainfall
• Wind exposure

_{EAE 11ak}

Question 12

How is surface area affected by the breakdown of a rock?

Answer 12

The more broken down it is the higher the surface area

_{EAE 11al}

Question 13

What is the primary factor in determining soil formation?

Answer 13

Parent material.

Soil forms much slower from bedrock then it does from alluvium.

_{EAE 11am}

Question 14

What are the characteristics of alluvial deposits?

2 points.

Answer 14

• Soils follow pattern of sediments.
• Finer soils form further away.

_{EAE 11an}

Question 15

Why are soils from igneous rocks fertile?

Answer 15

They form a clay rich soil.

_{EAE 11ao}

Question 16

What does temperature affect in soils?

3 points.

Answer 16

• Water balance in the soil.
• Rate of chemical reactions.
• The soil biota present.

_{EAE 11ap}

Question 17

What does temperature and rainfall affect in soils?

6 points.

Answer 17

• Soil depth
• Particle size
• PH
• Organic matter content
• Salt concentration
• Concentration and type of minerals.

_{EAE 11aq}

Question 18

How does evapotranspiration relate to average rainfall?

Answer 18

It is the inverse of the rainfall.

_{EAE 11ar}

Question 19

What are the base cations?

Answer 19

• Ca²⁺
• Mg²⁺
• K⁺
• Na⁺

_{EAE 11as}

Question 20

What are the characteristics of arid dry?

2 points.

Answer 20

• High evapotranspiration.
• High amounts of mineral leaching

_{EAE 11at}

Question 21

What are the characteristics of temperate soil?

2 points.

Answer 21

• Moderate leaching
• Moderate evapotranspiration

_{EAE 11au}

Question 22

What are the characteristics of a Monsoon soil?

2 points.

Answer 22

• Very High soil leaching
• Moderate evapertraperation

_{EAE 11av}

Question 23

What does soil PH set?

Answer 23

The environment in which plants will grow. Ideal is a fairly neutral soil.

_{EAE 11aw}

Question 24

What is the PH of High rainfall environments?

Answer 24

Low PH(more acidic).

_{EAE 11ax}

Question 25

**What is the PH of low rainfall environments?**

Answer 25

High PH (more alkaline). ## Footnote _{EAE 11ay}

Question 26

**What are the key characteristics of arid and semi-arid environments?** ## Footnote 3 points.

Answer 26

* High soil PH * Presence of salts * Low organic matter ## Footnote _{EAE 11az}

Question 27

**What are the key characteristics of alpine and subalpine environments?** ## Footnote 3 points.

Answer 27

* Low PH * Leached salts * High levels of organic matter ## Footnote _{EAE 11ba}

Question 28

**What are the key characteristics of tropical environments?** ## Footnote 3 points.

Answer 28

* Low PH * Salts leached * Low organic matter accumulation ## Footnote _{EAE 11bb}

Question 29

**What is relief?** ## Footnote 4 points.

Answer 29

The configuration of the land's surface. Including the * Slope * Aspect(compass direction) * Elevation * Landscape position _{EAE 11bc}

Question 30

**How does aspect affect soil in Australia?**

Answer 30

North facing slopes are drier and therefore less weathered than the south facing slopes. ## Footnote _{EAE 11bd}

Question 31

**What is the definition of land use?**

Answer 31

It is defined as the purpose to which the land cover is committed. ## Footnote _{EAE 11be}

Question 32

**What is the definition of Land cover?**

Answer 32

Land cover refers to the physical surface of the Earth and includes vegetation, soils exposed rocks, water bodies and built environments. ## Footnote _{EAE 11bf}

Question 33

**What is Land management practice?**

Answer 33

It is defined as the approach taken to achieve a land use outcome. ## Footnote _{EAE 11bg}

Question 34

**What was the green revolution and how was it achieved?** ## Footnote 5 points.

Answer 34

Green revolution was a technological response to food shortage after WWII achieved through: ## Footnote * Use of fertilizers * Irrigation * High yielding varieties * Double cropping(not waiting a season to replant). * Use of modern agricultural equipment. _{EAE 11bh}

Question 35

**What were the impacts of the green revolution on soil?** ## Footnote 4 points.

Answer 35

* Increased soil and water degradation * Increased use of water * Decreased genetic diversity * Increased use of pesticides and fungicides ## Footnote _{EAE 11bi}

Question 36

**What were the initial impacts on agriculture in Australia?** ## Footnote 2 points.

Answer 36

* Removal of vegetation and surface cover causes increased potential for erosion. * Introduction of hard-hooved animals compounded this effect. ## Footnote _{EAE 11bj}

Question 37

**What kinds of erosion can be caused by water?** ## Footnote 3 points.

Answer 37

* Sheet erosion * Kill erosion * Gully erosion ## Footnote _{EAE 11bk}

Question 38

**What is Sheet erosion?**

Answer 38

Uniform removal of surface of soil by raindrop impact and run off. ## Footnote _{EAE 11bl}

Question 39

**What are Rills?**

Answer 39

Channels greater than 30cm deep formed from sheet erosion. ## Footnote _{EAE 11bm}

Question 40

**What is Desertification?**

Answer 40

Land degradation in arid, semi-arid and sub-humid areas. Resulting from climatic variations and human activities. _{EAE 11bn}

Question 41

**What are the causes of Desertification?** ## Footnote 4 points.

Answer 41

* Overgrazing * Over cultivation * Deforestation * Poor irrigation practices. ## Footnote _{EAE 11bo}

Question 42

**What are some management and rehabilitation techniques?** ## Footnote 6 points.

Answer 42

* Establishing seed banks. * Maintaining vegetation cover. * Integrating land and water management * Re-introduction of selected species * Counter erosion through terracing * Addition of soil nutrients. ## Footnote _{EAE 11bp}