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Soil Science > Unit 1 > Flashcards

Unit 1 Flashcards

(59 cards)

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1
Q

Munsell Color Chart

A

A chart consisting of color chips. Color chips are arranged based on HUE, VALUE, and CHROMA.

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2
Q

Ped

A

aggregate of soil particles that display characteristics of that soil sample

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3
Q

hydration

A

a process in while intact water molecules may bind to a mineral

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4
Q

pedon

A

smallest sampling unit that displays the full range of properties characteristic of a particular soil

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5
Q

Tilth

A

the ease with which the soil is tilled

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6
Q

Texture/Soil Texture

A

describes the size of the soil particles

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7
Q

Soil structure

A

describes the manner in which the soil particles are aggregated

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8
Q

Micropore

A

Usually filled with water. Even when not filled with water, they are usually too small to permit much air movement

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9
Q

metamorphic

A

formed from other rocks by a process of change called metamorphism. happens when the earth’s plates shift and collide

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10
Q

Sedimentary

A

form when weathering products released from other, older rocks collect under water as sediment and eventually form a new rock

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11
Q

An ideal handful of soil has:

A

25% air
25% water
45% mineral matter
5% organic matter

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12
Q

regolith/solum

A

the rock exposed at the earth’s surface with has crumbled and decayed to produce a layer of unconsolidated debris overlaying the hard, unweathered rock.

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13
Q

Soil horizons

A

contrasting layers in the soil

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14
Q

soil pit

A

a large hole, several meters deep and about a meter wide, to study soil horizons

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15
Q

soil profile

A

The vertical section exposing a set of horizons in the wall of the soil pit

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16
Q

topsoil

A

the organically enriched A horizon at the soil surface

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17
Q

subsoil

A

soil layers that underlie the top soil

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18
Q

humus

A

usually black or brown. a collection of organic compounds that accumulate in the soil when partially broken down plant and animal residues are protected from complete decay by various factors in the soil environment

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19
Q

Acidic Soil

A

Soil measurement below pH 7

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20
Q

Alkaline soil

A

soil measurement above pH 7

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21
Q

Neutral Soil

A

soil measurement of 7

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22
Q

Hydrolysis

A

A reaction with water that splits the water molecule into H+ and OH- ions

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23
Q

dissolution

A

process by which molecules of a gas, solid, or another liquid dissolve in a liquid, thereby becoming completely and uniformly dispersed throughout the liquid’s volume

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24
Q

oxidation reaction

Study These Flashcards
A

occurs when an atom, molecule or ion loses one or more electrons. Example: iron rusting

25
Vadose Zone
the aerated region of soil above the permanent water table
26
aggregate
many soil particles held in a single mass or cluster, such as a clod, crumb, block or prism
27
Particle density
the mass per unit volume of soil particles
28
macropore
larger soil pores, from which water drains readily by gravity
29
microorganism
bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa and actinomycetes that live in the soil. Most bacteria, fungi and algae are helpful.
30
macroorganism
consist of arthropods, mollusks, and nematodes in the soil
31
peat
unconcolidated soil material consisting largely of undecomposed, or only slightly decomposed, organic material accumulated under conditions of excessive moisture.
32
exfoliation
peeling away of layers of a rock from the surface inward, usually as the result of expansion and contraction that accompany changes in temperature
33
loess
material transported and deposited by wind and consisting of predominately silt sized particles
34
slope
the degree of deviation of surface from horizontal, measured in a numerical ratio, percent or degrees
35
soil taxonomy
fill out later
36
epipedon
a diagnostic surface that includes the upper part of the soil that is darkened by organic matter, or the upper eluvial horizons, or both
37
colloid
organic and inorganic material with very small particle size and a correspondingly large surface area per unit of mass
38
illuviation
the process of deposition of soil material removed from one horizon to another in the soil; usually from an upper to a lower horizon in the soil profile
39
master horizon
A,B and C are master horizons. they are the largest chunks found in a soil profile, and all other horizons are subcategories or mixtures of them
40
eluviation
The removal of soil material in suspension or in a solution from a layer or layers of a soil. Usually, the loss of material in solution is described by the term 'leaching'.
41
topography
the arrangement of the natural and artificial physical features of an area
42
What is an ideal soil?
Loam
43
What are the 3 major particles of soil mineral matter?
sand, silt, clay
44
What are the 6 key roles of soil?
1. medium for plant growth 2. recycles nutrients 3. habitat for organisms 4. purifies water 5. gas exchange 6. engineering medium (build on it)
45
What are the 16 elements essential for plant growth?
C. HOPKNS CaFe Mg B Mn CuZn MoCl(xcl) NiCo
46
What are the 4 major components of soil?
air, water, organic matter, mineral matter
47
What is in the ideal handful of soil?
25% air, 25% water 45% mineral matter 5% organic matter
48
How does climate affect development of organic matter?
warmer temperatures accelerate decomposition and soil processes. Too hot or too cold, organic matter is not efficiently developed.
49
soil water
water found in naturally occurring soil
50
relationship of soil air to soil water?
a balance between soil air and soil water must be maintained since soil air is displaced by soil water. air can fill soil pores as water drains, air moves out of pores as water enters.
51
How do the arrows run on a soil texture triangle? think about it, and then flip card. do you know how to use a soil texture triangle?
clay: horizontal from left to right Silt: diagonal toward center from top to bottom sand: diagonal going toward clay side, from bottom to top.
52
How do texture and structure influence water holding capacity
Smaller particles (silt and clay) have a larger surface area. They are able to hold more water with their surface area. Larger particles (sand) do not hold water very well
53
What does "x" in a soil profile mean?
fragipan
54
What does "p" in a soil profile mean?
plowed
55
What does "Ap" in a soil profile mean?
an A horizon that has been plowed
56
What does "t" mean in a soil profile?
silicate clay
57
How does temperature affect chemical reactions?
HEAT speeds up reactions!!! too hot or too cold = little to no chemical reaction
58
How does slope affect a soil profile?
There could be little to no topsoil in an area with a large slope. When a large slope is present, larger aggregates and rocks tend to rise to the top.
59
What are the factors that control soil formation?
Destructive processes - due to mild acids - temperature fluctuation - pressure - wetting and drying Creative - freezing and thawing mixes soils together - formation of new minerals and new clays

Soil Science (5 decks)

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