Lab 3

Question 1

Soils are best studied…

Answer 1

in situ

Question 2

5 soil forming factors

Answer 2

time, topography, organisms (biological activity), parent material, climate

Question 3

What is a soil profile?

Answer 3

a vertical section in which the soil horizons can be seen

Question 4

What is a horizon?

Answer 4

horizontal layer of soil with similar chemical and physical properties produced by biological, chemical and physical weathering of the parent material

Question 5

What can soils scientists determine about a soil profile by looking at it?

Answer 5

its limitations

Question 6

What are 3 examples of limitations that a soil scientists might see while observing a soil profile?

Answer 6

acid pH, low OM content, low levels of soil fertility

Question 7

What 7 sections of information should be discussed in a soil profile description?

Answer 7

1. landform, parent material, relief and drainage
2. parent material
3. soil profile
4. stoniness and rockiness
5. erosion and truncation
6. vegetation
7. land use

Question 8

What is relief?

Answer 8

the difference in elevation of the land surface forming hills, slopes and valleys

Question 9

What is landform?

Answer 9

the form or surface expression created by the agency (erosion and deposition) that created the surface.

Question 10

What is parent material?

Answer 10

the accumulated mineral or organic substances on and in which the soil profile has developed

Question 11

What are examples of parent material?

Answer 11

colluvial, eolian, alluvial, lacustrine, morainal, saprolitic, volcanic, marine, undifferentiated, anthropogenic

Question 12

What are different types of classes of surface expression?

Answer 12

hummocky, inclined level, rolling, ridged, steep, terraced, undulating, veneer, apron, blanket, fan

Question 13

What are slope classes used for?

Answer 13

to indicate the dominant slope within a local landform

Question 14

What is the rating scale for slope class?

Answer 14

1 (level) - 10 (very steep slope)

Question 15

What does topography refer to?

Answer 15

the gradient, length, and shape of slopes and their patterns

Question 16

What is used as a rating scale for Simple Topography - Single Slopes (regular surface)? + slope %

Answer 16

A (depression to level) (0-0.5%) - H (extremely sloping) (60% +)

Question 17

What is used as a rating scale for Complex Topography - Multiple Slopes (irregular surface)?

Answer 17

a (nearly level) (0-0.5%) - h (very hilly) (60% +)

Question 18

Once you know the drainage class of a soil, what intelligent decision can you make?

Answer 18

whether or not artificial drainage or irrigation will be required for optimal crop production

Question 19

What clues should be taken into account to estimate drainage?

Answer 19

vegetation, surface water, height of water table, soil colour, presence of mottles

Question 20

What should one write about parent material in their soil profile description?

Answer 20

characteristics, source of parent material and manner in which the parent material originated

Question 21

What is the heart of the soil description?

Answer 21

Soil profile

Question 22

What should one do as they observe a soil profile in order to write their soil profile description with?

Answer 22

1. locate major horizons

2. measure depth + thickness of each horizon

Question 23

What is not included in depth measurements of a soil profile?

Answer 23

LFH layer

Question 24

Description of horizon: color - use what chart?

Answer 24

Munsell color chart

Question 25

When determining color, should the soil be moist or dry?

Answer 25

moist

Question 26

What is the best method for determining texture?

Answer 26

manipulate and feel a moist sample

Question 27

What does texture refer to?

Answer 27

size range of soil mineral particles

Question 28

what does structure refer to?

Answer 28

arrangement of mineral particles into aggregates - size , strength and type or aggregate is important

Question 29

What does effervescence indicate?

Answer 29

limestone or secondary CaCO3

Question 30

How can one determine if a soil shows effervescence?

Answer 30

poor dilute HCl to pends, stones, and rocks and see if it foams

Question 31

What 3 things should be noted about roots in each horizon?

Answer 31

1. abundance 2. size 3. orientation

Question 32

What does the abundance, size and orientation of roots indicate?

Answer 32

aeration and water content

Question 33

Stoniness/rockiness of a soil is expressed using what scale?

Answer 33

0 (no stones) - 5 (extremely stony) | 0 (no rocks) - 5 (extremely rocky)

Question 34

What 2 things should be recorded about stones/rocks for a soil sample report?

Answer 34

depth and distribution

Question 35

What will accelerate erosion of sloping soils?

Answer 35

removal of crop cover

Question 36

In what 2 ways can erosion be estimated?

Answer 36

1. observing the landscape surface | 2. determining whether the surface horizon is shallower than normal

Question 37

What do the type of plants indicate about a soil?

Answer 37

its fertility, drainage, profile type, & type of crop that will grow best

Question 38

Should present land use be recorded into report?

Answer 38

yes

Question 39

Mac farm + Arboretum = how many ha?

Answer 39

640 ha

Question 40

The range in elevation of Mac Campus land ranges from what?

Answer 40

25 m along river to 50 m in Morgan Arboretum

Question 41

St Bernard: parent material?

Answer 41

glacial till

Question 42

St Bernard: topography?

Answer 42

undulating (lots of rocks and trees)

Question 43

St Bernard: vegetation?

Answer 43

deciduous trees, lots of maple (trees that need high fertility/nutrient rich soil)

Question 44

St Bernard: drainage?

Answer 44

good/well because slope

Question 45

St Bernard: soil order

Answer 45

Brunisol

Question 46

St Bernard: what do you notice about the ground cover?

Answer 46

not many leaves - decompose quickly - because of worms

Question 47

What type of pH do earthworms like?

Answer 47

neutral to slightly basic

Question 48

St Bernard: soil profile?

Answer 48

Ah -- topsoil Bm -- modified B is not well developed, not much distinction between Bm & C C -- - no mottling, not much weathering

Question 49

St Bernard: problems for agriculture?

Answer 49

1. low bulk density (very loose soil) 2. hard to till b/c very rocky 3. land is not flat

Question 50

St Bernard: advantages for agriculture?

Answer 50

1. great for deciduous trees 2. good fertility 3. good drainage

Question 51

St Rosalie: parent material

Answer 51

marine clay

Question 52

St Rosalie: soil order

Answer 52

hummic gleysol

Question 53

St Rosalie: soil profile

Answer 53

Ah or Ap (sharp discrimination between A & B horizon) Bg (mottling) Cg

Question 54

St Rosalie: vegetation

Answer 54

grasses, deciduous forests, rice, cranberries

Question 55

St Rosalie: drainage

Answer 55

imperfect

Question 56

St Rosalie: management hazard?

Answer 56

water doesn't go away as fast because of pour drainage

Question 57

St Rosalie: decomposition rate compared to St Bernard?

Answer 57

Lower decomposition rate - higher OM - high NUTR, slow leaching

Question 58

St Rosalie: drainage

Answer 58

poor drainage so not much leaching

Question 59

Uplands: parent material

Answer 59

alluvial (sand over clay)

Question 60

Uplands: soil order

Answer 60

humoferic podzol

Question 61

Uplands: soil profile

Answer 61

LFH Ah (small and unseen) Ae (white salty layer - extensive leaching) Bf (precipitation from illuviation - from Ae (Fe & Al))

Question 62

Uplands: topography

Answer 62

gentle undulating

Question 63

Uplands: vegetation

Answer 63

coniferous trees

Question 64

Uplands: biological activity

Answer 64

slow

Question 65

Uplands: pH - worms?

Answer 65

acidic - no worms

Question 66

Uplands: drainage - depends on what?

Answer 66

good/fast - depends on width of sand layer (larger = faster)