SOIL SCIENCE EXAM STUDY QUESTIONS
AND 100% CORRECT ANSWERS!!
Factors affecting soil structure development
- Wetting or drying (breaks up/aggregates soil)
- Freezing or thawing (breaks up/aggregates soil)
- Root activity (small roots bind / large roots crack)
- Earthworms (breaks up/aggregates soil)
- Tillage (breaks up/aggregates soil)
- Activity of livestock/machines (poaching)
- Parent material (limestone aggregates soil)
The Carbon Cycle Definition
The sequence whereby carbon is taken from the atmosphere by plants (photosynthesis), and
returned to the atmosphere again (respiration & combustion).
The Carbon Cycle Steps (5)
(1) Photosynthesis
(2) Consumption
(3) Respiration
(4) Decay/ decomposition
(5) Combustion
Characteristics of a loam soil
Good drainage/ good aeration/ easily tilled/ warms up quicker in spring/ will retain water but is
not prone to waterlogging or drought
Practices for successful establishment (Tillage)
Tillering/ grazing with light stock or topping or rolling/ manure (or fertiliser) application/ weed
control/ use certified seed/ use productive (or named) grass species
What happens to a grey brown podzolic soil in wet weather
, Leaching of clay particles from A to B
A1 horizon of a grey brown podzolic soil
Dark due to high organic matter content
B horizon of a grey brown podzolic soil
Heavy texture due to the accumulation of clay particles. Dark in colour
C horizonof a grey brown podzolic soil
Contains the parent rock. CaCo3 (Limestone)
A2 horizon of a grey brown podzolic soil
Weakly developed
A0 horizon of a grey brown podzolic soil
High O.M
Factors responsible for creating each soil horizon of a grey brown podzolic
O Horizon- high pH/ build up of O.M
A Horizon- organism activity/ high O.M
B Horizon- accumulation of clay particles/
C Horizon- weathering of limestone parent rock
Reason for lower O2 and higher levels of C02 in soil
Plant root respiration
Formula for respiration
C6H12O6 +6O2 = 6CO2 +6H2O + ENERGY
(glucose + oxygen = carbon dioxide + water + atp)
Capillary water definition
This is water found between the soil pores which plants can access
Hygroscopic water definition
AND 100% CORRECT ANSWERS!!
Factors affecting soil structure development
- Wetting or drying (breaks up/aggregates soil)
- Freezing or thawing (breaks up/aggregates soil)
- Root activity (small roots bind / large roots crack)
- Earthworms (breaks up/aggregates soil)
- Tillage (breaks up/aggregates soil)
- Activity of livestock/machines (poaching)
- Parent material (limestone aggregates soil)
The Carbon Cycle Definition
The sequence whereby carbon is taken from the atmosphere by plants (photosynthesis), and
returned to the atmosphere again (respiration & combustion).
The Carbon Cycle Steps (5)
(1) Photosynthesis
(2) Consumption
(3) Respiration
(4) Decay/ decomposition
(5) Combustion
Characteristics of a loam soil
Good drainage/ good aeration/ easily tilled/ warms up quicker in spring/ will retain water but is
not prone to waterlogging or drought
Practices for successful establishment (Tillage)
Tillering/ grazing with light stock or topping or rolling/ manure (or fertiliser) application/ weed
control/ use certified seed/ use productive (or named) grass species
What happens to a grey brown podzolic soil in wet weather
, Leaching of clay particles from A to B
A1 horizon of a grey brown podzolic soil
Dark due to high organic matter content
B horizon of a grey brown podzolic soil
Heavy texture due to the accumulation of clay particles. Dark in colour
C horizonof a grey brown podzolic soil
Contains the parent rock. CaCo3 (Limestone)
A2 horizon of a grey brown podzolic soil
Weakly developed
A0 horizon of a grey brown podzolic soil
High O.M
Factors responsible for creating each soil horizon of a grey brown podzolic
O Horizon- high pH/ build up of O.M
A Horizon- organism activity/ high O.M
B Horizon- accumulation of clay particles/
C Horizon- weathering of limestone parent rock
Reason for lower O2 and higher levels of C02 in soil
Plant root respiration
Formula for respiration
C6H12O6 +6O2 = 6CO2 +6H2O + ENERGY
(glucose + oxygen = carbon dioxide + water + atp)
Capillary water definition
This is water found between the soil pores which plants can access
Hygroscopic water definition
