Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

ASP 201 > Soils > Flashcards

Soils Flashcards

(50 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

What is the definition of soil?

A

a dynamic natural body composed of mineral and organic solids, gases, liquids and living organisms which can serve as a medium for plant growth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the 4 soil forming processes?

A

additions - to the surface
losses - from the surface or to deeper in the profile
translocations - movement within the profile, but not away from the location
transformations - weathering (chemical change)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the soil forming factors?

A 
parent materials
climate
biota
topography
time
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are parent materials?

A

organic, mineral or a combo formed in place or transported by water, wind, ice or gravity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How does climate effect soil formation?

A

soil development tends to increase when soil moisture and soil temperature increase

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How does topography effect soil formation?

A

landscape position influences susceptibility to erosion, particle decomposition, and microclimate (slope vulnerability)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What role to biota play in soil formation?

A

deposition of organic matter, mining of nutrients, decomposition of organic materials by heterotrophs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the general soil horizons?

A 
O - organic matter
A - mix of organic and mineral soil
E - zone leached of clays
B - accumulation of clays 
C - undifferentiated parent material (weathered)
R - bedrock
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the soil profile?

A

all the horizons in an area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the 12 soil orders?

A

alfisols, andisols, aridisols, entisols, gelisols, histosols, inceptisols, mollisols, oxisols, spodisols, ultisols, vertisols

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are alfisols?

A

moderately leached, lower elevations, good for agriculture

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are andisols?

A

volcanic ash, can be fertile, but constrained by mineral content

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are aridisols?

A

long dry periods, hard to see horizons, minimal O layer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are entisols?

A

no horizon development, can be very young and turbulent, may or may not be good for ag
ex) sand dunes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are gelisols?

A

cold, permafrost within 2 meters

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are histosols?

A

muck, almost entirely organic, usually wetlands

can be drained for ag, but often have micronutrient deficiencies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are inceptisols?

A

weak horizon development, young or cool soils, often higher elevations, not the best for ag, but are frequently used

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are mollisols?

A

grassland soils, organic rich surface, very rich ag soils

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are oxisols?

A

intensely weathered, tend to be nutrient poor, tropics

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are spodosols?

A

sandy acid forest soils, distinct E layer, not great for ag

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are ultisols?

Study These Flashcards
A

highly leached, nutrients lost quickly, SE US

22
Q

What are vertisols?

Study These Flashcards
A

shrink swell clays, cracks allow for redistribution, some used for ag

23
Q

What are major soil properties?

Study These Flashcards
A

texture, water holding capacity, pH, slope, drainage, cation exchange capacity

24
Q

How is texture determined?

Study These Flashcards
A

a combo of sandy, silt and clay

25
What is water holding capacity?
ability to absorb and hold water against gravity, often the most limiting factor available vs unavailable water
26
Why is proper drainage important?
air is needed for proper root growth
27
What is cation exchange capacity?
ability of soil to adsorb and supply ions, concentration in solution so they are available for plant uptake (nutrients are obtained in the form of dissolved ions)
28
What is the regolith?
layer between the soil surface and soil bedrock
29
How can soil be transported?
gravity - colluvium water - alluvium glaciers - glacial wind - Eolian
30
What is humus?
organic matter left in soil as a result of decomposition and mineralization
31
What are the components of prime farmland?
``` adequate and dependable water supply favorable temp and growing season acceptable acidity and alkalinity acceptable salt and sodium content few or no rocks permeable to water and air not excessively erodible not saturated w/water for long periods of time doesn't flood frequently OR protected from flooding ```
32
Why is tillage done?
``` prepare soil for planting incorporate crop residue (manage disease) destruction of weed and weed seed warm soil dry out soil stimulates decomposition ```
33
What is the spectrum of tillage?
*leaves different amounts of residue on the surface conventional - multiple passes; plow, disk, harrow no till reduced - minimal passes, ridge, strip
34
What are the challenges of no-till organic?
weed management organic is generally dependent on tillage special roller-crimper machine to smash and break cover crop
35
What are the impacts of conservation tillage?
very effective at reducing erosion, runoff decreases nutrient and agrichemical flows less clear impact on soil C sequestration
36
What is the soil condition index?
SCI = OM + FO + ER | organic matter, field operations, erosion
37
What are the types of water erosion?
runoff - water moving laterally sheet - uniform removal of soil rill - irregular dispersion, small channels gully - large channels, disrupts tillage
38
What are the first components to move with water?
soluble nutrients, clay, organic matter
39
What is RUSLE?
``` Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation A = RKLSCP R = rainfall intensity and distribution K = soil (texture, SOM, stability, infiltration) L = length of slope S = steepness of slope C = crop (sequence, cover, etc.) P = practice (reduce velocity) ```
40
What happens when you plant to close to water bodies?
the waterway is unprotected and moves pollutants quickly
41
What are some options to mitigate erosion?
contouring, terraces, field borders, catchment, sod, grassed waterways, filter strips, shelter belts (windbreaks)
42
What are the functions of soil microbes?
``` decomposition of organic matter mineralization and recycling of nutrients fixation of nitrogen detoxification of pollutants maintenance of soil structure biological suppression of plant pests parasitism and damage to plants ```
43
What are the characteristics of healthy soil?
good soil tilth, sufficient depth, sufficient but not excessive supply of nutrients, small population of plant pathogens and insect pests, good soil drainage, large population of beneficial organisms, low weed pressure, free of chemicals and toxins, resistant to degradation, resilient in unfavorable conditions
44
What is soil health?
capacity of soil to function, to sustain productivity, maintain/enhance water and air quality, promote plant/animal health
45
What are common soil constraints?
compaction, poor aggregation and crusting, weed pressure, high population of pathogens and root diseases, low water and nutrient retention
46
What soil properties change slowly?
texture, slope, mineralogy
47
What soil properties change quickly?
temperature, water content, available N
48
What soil properties change intermediately?
organic matter, pH, drainage
49
What are the properties of the Cornell soil health test?
physical - aggregation, available water capacity, surface hardness, sub-surface hardness biological - organic matter, active carbon, potentially mineralizable N, root health chemical - pH, extractable P, extractable K, minor elements
50
How can soil health be improved?
reduce tillage intensity crop rotation - disrupts disease cycle cover crops - protection, added SOM, added N, weed suppression organic amendments - manure and compost (turn waste into a resource) chemical amendments

ASP 201 (5 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions