Unit 2 Vocab

Question 1

Arthropod

Answer 1

A phylum or division of the animal kingdom characterized as having an external skeleton

Question 2

Bacteria

Answer 2

Single-celled microorganisms; some are harmful and some are beneficial

Question 3

Bedrock

Answer 3

Unweathered hard rock that lies directly beneath the soil layers

Question 4

Clay

Answer 4

A size term for particles with diameter less than two microns.

Question 5

Climate

Answer 5

The long-term average weather conditions.

Question 6

Fungi

Answer 6

Plantlike organisms that get their nourishment from living or decaying organisms

Question 7

Gravel

Answer 7

water-worn pebbles larger than two millimeters in diameter.

Question 8

Ground cover

Answer 8

Any vegetation that growing on the ground that protects the soil

Question 9

Horizon

Answer 9

A layer of soil, having distinct characteristics produced by soil-forming processes.

Question 10

Internal drainage

Answer 10

The relative degree of downward movement of water in a soil.

Question 11

Loam

Answer 11

Soil that consists of less than 52 percent sand, 28 to 50 percent silt, and 7 to 27 percent clay (ideal)

Question 12

Microorganism

Answer 12

An organism so small that you need a microscope to see it

Question 13

Mottle

Answer 13

Color difference on a mass of moderately poorly drained soil.

Question 14

Nematodes

Answer 14

Microscopic, organisms that can attack plant roots or stems to cause unhealthy growth.

Question 15

Organic matter

Answer 15

Matter found in, or produced by, living animals and plants

Question 16

Organism

Answer 16

Any living individual whether plant or animal.

Question 17

Parent material

Answer 17

The horizon of weathered rock or partially weathered soil material from which the soil is
formed.

Question 18

Ped

Answer 18

A unit of soil structure such as an aggregate, crumb, prism, block, or granule

Question 19

Permeability

Answer 19

The capacity of soil or rock for transmitting a fluid.

Question 20

Porosity

Answer 20

Refers to the extent of voids or openings in the soil that exist between soil particles

Question 21

Profile (Soil)

Answer 21

A vertical section of a soil.

Question 22

Rock

Answer 22

Mineral matter assembled in masses or

considerable quantities in nature.

Question 23

Sand

Answer 23

ranging in size from 2.00 to 0.5 millimeters in diameter. It is the textural class of any soil that
contains 85 percent or more of sand and not more than 10 percent of clay.

Question 24

Silt

Answer 24

A textural class of soils that contains 80 percent or more of silt and less than 12 percent clay.

Question 25

Soil

Answer 25

The mineral and organic surface of the earth capable of supporting upland plants.

Question 26

Soil profile

Answer 26

A vertical section of a soil.

Question 27

Soil structure

Answer 27

The arrangement of primary soil particles

Question 28

Soil texture

Answer 28

individual soil grains.

Question 29

Acid

Answer 29

A substance containing hydrogen that dissociates to form hydrogen ions when dissolved in water.

Question 30

Alkaline

Answer 30

A chemical term referring to basic reaction where the pH reading is above 7

Question 31

Base

Answer 31

A substance which gives off hydroxyl ions when dissolved in water

Question 32

Conductivity

Answer 32

The property or power of conducting heat, electricity, or sound.

Question 33

Fertilize

Answer 33

To supply the necessary mineral and organic nutrients

Question 34

Gypsum

Answer 34

A mineral calcium sulfate, combined with water of hydration. It treats sodic soils.

Question 35

Hydrogen

Answer 35

the lightest of the elements that combines chemically | with oxygen to form water.

Question 36

Hydroxyl

Answer 36

The ion OH-

Question 37

Ion

Answer 37

An atom or a group of atoms carrying an electrical charge

Question 38

Irrigation

Answer 38

application of water to soil

Question 39

Leaching

Answer 39

The removal of soluble constituents from soils by percolating water.

Question 40

Lime

Answer 40

Strictly, calcium oxide, CaO, but, as commonly used in agricultural terminology, calcium carbonate, CaCO3, and calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2, are included. (any of them)

Question 41

Nutrient

Answer 41

An element or compound in a soil that is essential for the growth of a plant.

Question 42

Organic

Answer 42

Produced by plants and animals; of plant or animal origin.

Question 43

pH

Answer 43

A numerical measure of acidity of a substance such as food or soil

Question 44

Saline soil

Answer 44

A soil containing soluble salts

Question 45

Salinity

Answer 45

The quantity of saltiness in seawater or freshwater

Question 46

Sodic soil

Answer 46

exchangeable sodium percentage of 15 percent or greater/pH between 9.5 and 10.0.