SSC 200 EXAM 2 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Match the particle size analysis to the soil textural class:
18% Sand
42% Silt
??% Clay
Select one:
a. Clay Loam
b. Silty Clay
c. Silty Clay Loam
d. Silt Loam
e. Cannot be determined with the limited data provided - Answer -c. Silty Clay Loam
Match the particle size analysis to the soil textural class:
46% Sand
15% Silt
??% Clay
Select one:
a. Clay
b. Clay Loam
c. Sandy Clay
d. Sandy Clay Loam
e. Cannot be determined with the limited data provided - Answer -c. Sandy Clay
Capillary movement is made possible by the processes of cohesion, and has little to do
with adhesion.
Select one:
True
False - Answer -False
Although the total soil water content of a clay soil is about the same as a nearby well-
structured silt loam, the clay will likely provide more available water to plants because of
its higher volume of small pores.
Select one:
True
False - Answer -False
The likelihood of polluting groundwater with pesticides and plant nutrients is enhanced
by _____.
Select one:
a. the presence of macropores in the soil
b. the use of tillage to control weeds
c. light tillage of the upper centimeter or so of soil
d. the production of oats rather than wheat - Answer -a. the presence of macropores in
the soil
, Which of the following best characterizes the field capacity of a soil?
Select one:
a. Maximum capacity of a soil to hold water
b. A wetted soil after the removal of gravitational water
c. A wetted soil prior to the removal of gravitational water
d. None of the above
e. All of the above - Answer -b. A wetted soil after the removal of gravitational water
Select the appropriate structure: Vertical orientation. Often found in arid climates.
Typically has a salt "cap" at the top of the unit of structure. Not ideal for plant growth.
Select one:
a. Columnar
b. Single grained
c. Massive
d. Prismatic - Answer -a. Columnar
Select the one that doesn't go with the other three:
Select one:
a. Blocky
b. Plasticity
c. Columnar
d. Prismatic - Answer -b. Plasticity
The matric potential of soil water is _____.
Select one:
a. is little affected by soil solids
b. is generally higher than that of pure water outside the soil
c. not influenced appreciably by the force of gravity
d. influenced greatly by the content of salts in the soil
e. is lower in a sandy soil with 20 percent soil water than in a clay soil with same
percentage of moisture - Answer -c. not influenced appreciably by the force of gravity
Match the particle size analysis to the soil textural class:
10% Sand
81% Silt
??% Clay
Select one:
a. Loamy Sand
b. Silt
c. Silty Clay Loam
d. Silt Loam
e. Cannot be determined with the limited data provided - Answer -b. Silt
Match the particle size analysis to the soil textural class:
50% Sand
Match the particle size analysis to the soil textural class:
18% Sand
42% Silt
??% Clay
Select one:
a. Clay Loam
b. Silty Clay
c. Silty Clay Loam
d. Silt Loam
e. Cannot be determined with the limited data provided - Answer -c. Silty Clay Loam
Match the particle size analysis to the soil textural class:
46% Sand
15% Silt
??% Clay
Select one:
a. Clay
b. Clay Loam
c. Sandy Clay
d. Sandy Clay Loam
e. Cannot be determined with the limited data provided - Answer -c. Sandy Clay
Capillary movement is made possible by the processes of cohesion, and has little to do
with adhesion.
Select one:
True
False - Answer -False
Although the total soil water content of a clay soil is about the same as a nearby well-
structured silt loam, the clay will likely provide more available water to plants because of
its higher volume of small pores.
Select one:
True
False - Answer -False
The likelihood of polluting groundwater with pesticides and plant nutrients is enhanced
by _____.
Select one:
a. the presence of macropores in the soil
b. the use of tillage to control weeds
c. light tillage of the upper centimeter or so of soil
d. the production of oats rather than wheat - Answer -a. the presence of macropores in
the soil
, Which of the following best characterizes the field capacity of a soil?
Select one:
a. Maximum capacity of a soil to hold water
b. A wetted soil after the removal of gravitational water
c. A wetted soil prior to the removal of gravitational water
d. None of the above
e. All of the above - Answer -b. A wetted soil after the removal of gravitational water
Select the appropriate structure: Vertical orientation. Often found in arid climates.
Typically has a salt "cap" at the top of the unit of structure. Not ideal for plant growth.
Select one:
a. Columnar
b. Single grained
c. Massive
d. Prismatic - Answer -a. Columnar
Select the one that doesn't go with the other three:
Select one:
a. Blocky
b. Plasticity
c. Columnar
d. Prismatic - Answer -b. Plasticity
The matric potential of soil water is _____.
Select one:
a. is little affected by soil solids
b. is generally higher than that of pure water outside the soil
c. not influenced appreciably by the force of gravity
d. influenced greatly by the content of salts in the soil
e. is lower in a sandy soil with 20 percent soil water than in a clay soil with same
percentage of moisture - Answer -c. not influenced appreciably by the force of gravity
Match the particle size analysis to the soil textural class:
10% Sand
81% Silt
??% Clay
Select one:
a. Loamy Sand
b. Silt
c. Silty Clay Loam
d. Silt Loam
e. Cannot be determined with the limited data provided - Answer -b. Silt
Match the particle size analysis to the soil textural class:
50% Sand
