SOIL

Question 1

Define soil

Answer 1

a loose mixture of small rock fragments, organic matter, water and air that can support the growth of vegetation.

Question 2

1st step of soil formation is

Answer 2

weathering of a parent rock

Question 3

in soil formation, the parent rock is the source of

Answer 3

inorganic particles

Question 4

soil forms where

Answer 4

directly above the parent rock

Question 5

what breaks down the parent rock?

Answer 5

weathering

Question 6

parent rock is broken into smaller pieces and mixes with what

Answer 6

organic matter

Question 7

what two things form soil?

Answer 7

small pieces of parent rock + organic matter

Question 8

what are two decomposers that live in soil

Answer 8

bacteria and fungi

Question 9

the decomposers break down the remains of

Answer 9

plants and animals

Question 10

the remains of decayed organic matter is called

Answer 10

humus

Question 11

humus is found where

Answer 11

the top layers of soil

Question 12

humus contains

Answer 12

the nutrients that plants need to grow

Question 13

larger animals such as earthworms and moles do what to the soil

Answer 13

loosen and mix

Question 14

when animal loosen and mix soil, what results

Answer 14

increases the air in soil and improves soil ability to drain water

Question 15

what are the 4 main factors determine how long it takes for soil to form

Answer 15

rock type, climate, topography, plants/animals

Question 16

rock types weather at different rates and different ways T or F?

Answer 16

true

Question 17

weathering of the rock depends on the

Answer 17

structure and minerals that make up the rock

Question 18

soil usually develops more quickly in what climate

Answer 18

warm and wet

Question 19

soil develops faster in what topography

Answer 19

flatter (not steep slopes)

Question 20

soil in areas with lots of plants and animals develop

Answer 20

FASTER than in areas without plants and animals

Question 21

a vertical section of soil that shows layers is called

Answer 21

soil profile

Question 22

each layer of soil have different physical properties called

Answer 22

soil horizon

Question 23

what is A horizon?

Answer 23

the top of the soil profile

Question 24

what is B horizon?

Answer 24

below horizon A

Question 25

what is C horizon?

Answer 25

below the B horizon

Question 26

in what layers do decomposers live

Answer 26

Horizon A

Question 27

which layer has most decayed matter

Answer 27

Horizon A

Question 28

what color is humus on Horizon A

Answer 28

very dark color

Question 29

what layer is the most developed and rich?

Answer 29

horizon A

Question 30

which layer has the most humus

Answer 30

horizon A

Question 31

in what layer does leaching happen

Answer 31

horizon B

Question 32

what causes horizon B to be reddish in color?

Answer 32

leaching

Question 33

explain leaching

Answer 33

after it rains, water seeps from layer A to layer B and washes away minerals and clay from soil.

Question 34

what layer is least developed

Answer 34

horizon C

Question 35

horizon C lies directly above the what

Answer 35

parent rock

Question 36

does horizon C have organic matter

Answer 36

NO

Question 37

what layer has largest rock fragments

Answer 37

horizon C

Question 38

what are 6 properties of soil

Answer 38

texture, color, chemistry, pore space, fertility, permeability

Question 39

what describes the size of soil particles

Answer 39

texture

Question 40

soil particles are classified

Answer 40

as sand, silt or clay

Question 41

most soils have all three--sand, silt, clay T or F

Answer 41

TRUE

Question 42

what is the largest soil particle

Answer 42

SAND

Question 43

what is sand particle size?

Answer 43

.05mm to 2mm

Question 44

soils with a lot of sand feel

Answer 44

coarse

Question 45

silt particles are what size

Answer 45

0.002mm to .05mm

Question 46

soil with a lot of silt feel

Answer 46

smooth and silky

Question 47

clay particles are how big

Answer 47

less than .002mm

Question 48

soil with a lot of clay feel

Answer 48

smooth and sticks together when wet

Question 49

soil can be what colors

Answer 49

black, brown, red, orange, yellow, gray and white

Question 50

what determines the color of soil

Answer 50

the amount of minerals and organic matter in soil

Question 51

what makes soil orange or reddish

Answer 51

iron

Question 52

what makes soil black or brown

Answer 52

lots of humus

Question 53

color of soil can be a clue about

Answer 53

environmental conditions

Question 54

what does gray soil mean

Answer 54

too wet and poor drainage

Question 55

soils are usually what color

Answer 55

a mixture of alot of colors

Question 56

soil PH is determined by

Answer 56

combination of minerals, sediment and organic matter in soil

Question 57

the soil PH measures how

Answer 57

acidic or basic a soil is

Question 58

soil PH is measured on a scale of what to what

Answer 58

0 - 14

Question 59

if ph is less than 7, soil is

Answer 59

acidic

Question 60

if pH is more than 7 soil is

Answer 60

basic

Question 61

a ph of 7 means

Answer 61

neutral--nor acid or basic

Question 62

the PH level is used to determine

Answer 62

whether or not soil can support different plants

Question 63

soy beans grow best at what PH

Answer 63

6 and 7

Question 64

peanuts thrive at PH of

Answer 64

5.3 and 6.6

Question 65

pore space describes

Answer 65

the space between soil particles

Question 66

what is found between the pore spaces of soil

Answer 66

water and air

Question 67

water and air move more easily through soils with

Answer 67

many well connected pore spaces--good plant growth

Question 68

what percentage of soil is pore space

Answer 68

between 25 and 60 percent

Question 69

the best soil for growing has about ____ pore space

Answer 69

50% (equally divided between water and air)

Question 70

how do you describe soil fertility

Answer 70

how well soil can support plant growth

Question 71

factors than can affect fertility include

Answer 71

climate, humus, minerals, nutrients in soil and topography

Question 72

what are best conditions for fertile soil

Answer 72

moderate rainfall and moderate temperatures

Question 73

high soil fertility has small amounts of humus

Answer 73

FALSE

Question 74

Proper proportions of minerals and nutrients = high soil fertility T or F

Answer 74

TRUE

Question 75

soil in dry areas or steep hillsides have high fertility

Answer 75

FALSE

Question 76

Name three ways farmers can improve soil fertility

Answer 76

1. add chemicals 2. grow certain crops to restore nutrients 3. leave land unplanted for a season

Question 77

define permeability

Answer 77

property of soil which allows water to pass through

Question 78

some of the MAJOR problems of soil is connected to

Answer 78

permeability

Question 79

Too much soil permeability can be

Answer 79

a disaster!

Question 80

Permeability of soil is connected to the success of

Answer 80

the design of highways, airports, earth dams etc...

Question 81

what will happen to plants if there is too much permeability

Answer 81

they will be transported

Question 82

what happens to plants if soil has not enough permeability

Answer 82

plants cannot get the water/nutrients they need

Question 83

If low permeability, it takes longer or shorter for soil to form

Answer 83

LONGER

Question 84

what is porosity

Answer 84

the volume of spaces between soil particles

Question 85

what is the definition of permeability

Answer 85

the ability to transmit or release fluids