Comprehensive Soil Management
Examination
Section I: Multiple Choice (40 Questions)
Choose the best answer for each question. (1 point each)
1. The graphic representation used to determine the 12 USDA soil texture classes is called the:
a. Soil horizon
b. Soil pyramid
c. Soil triangle
d. Soil profile
2. The proportions of sand, silt, and clay in a soil is known as its:
a. Soil structure
b. Soil texture
c. Soil color
d. Cation exchange capacity
3. A soil with 20% clay, 35% sand, and 45% silt is classified as:
a. Clay loam
b. Sandy loam
c. Silt loam
d. Loam
4. Which farming practice contributes to soil management by increasing fertility and limiting
synthetic inputs?
a. Intensive farming
b. Monocropping
c. Organic farming
d. Slash-and-burn
5. A substance containing living microorganisms that colonize plant roots and improve nutrient
supply is a:
a. Pesticide
b. Bio-fertilizer
, c. Herbicide
d. Synthetic fertilizer
6. At a minimum, how often should you test your soil for nutrient levels?
a. Every year
b. Every 3-5 years
c. Every 8-10 years
d. Only when plants show problems
7. Soil pH greatly impacts the solubility of:
a. Water
b. Soil microbes
c. Nutrients
d. Soil texture
8. Of the three primary soil particles, which is the smallest?
a. Sand
b. Silt
c. Clay
d. Gravel
9. Macropores in soil, such as earthworm tunnels and root channels, are important for:
a. Increasing soil density
b. Water infiltration and aeration
c. Blocking root growth
d. Decreasing microbial activity
10. The primary purpose of soil conservation is:
a. Converting sterile soil to fertile soil
b. Aeration of compacted soil
c. Protection of soil against loss
d. Increasing the rate of erosion
11. The best soil type for general agriculture, due to its balance of properties, is:
a. Clay
b. Sand
c. Silt
d. Loam
12. Which practice involves building steps or ridges across steep slopes to reduce erosion?
a. Contour farming
b. Strip farming
c. Terracing
d. Windbreaks
Examination
Section I: Multiple Choice (40 Questions)
Choose the best answer for each question. (1 point each)
1. The graphic representation used to determine the 12 USDA soil texture classes is called the:
a. Soil horizon
b. Soil pyramid
c. Soil triangle
d. Soil profile
2. The proportions of sand, silt, and clay in a soil is known as its:
a. Soil structure
b. Soil texture
c. Soil color
d. Cation exchange capacity
3. A soil with 20% clay, 35% sand, and 45% silt is classified as:
a. Clay loam
b. Sandy loam
c. Silt loam
d. Loam
4. Which farming practice contributes to soil management by increasing fertility and limiting
synthetic inputs?
a. Intensive farming
b. Monocropping
c. Organic farming
d. Slash-and-burn
5. A substance containing living microorganisms that colonize plant roots and improve nutrient
supply is a:
a. Pesticide
b. Bio-fertilizer
, c. Herbicide
d. Synthetic fertilizer
6. At a minimum, how often should you test your soil for nutrient levels?
a. Every year
b. Every 3-5 years
c. Every 8-10 years
d. Only when plants show problems
7. Soil pH greatly impacts the solubility of:
a. Water
b. Soil microbes
c. Nutrients
d. Soil texture
8. Of the three primary soil particles, which is the smallest?
a. Sand
b. Silt
c. Clay
d. Gravel
9. Macropores in soil, such as earthworm tunnels and root channels, are important for:
a. Increasing soil density
b. Water infiltration and aeration
c. Blocking root growth
d. Decreasing microbial activity
10. The primary purpose of soil conservation is:
a. Converting sterile soil to fertile soil
b. Aeration of compacted soil
c. Protection of soil against loss
d. Increasing the rate of erosion
11. The best soil type for general agriculture, due to its balance of properties, is:
a. Clay
b. Sand
c. Silt
d. Loam
12. Which practice involves building steps or ridges across steep slopes to reduce erosion?
a. Contour farming
b. Strip farming
c. Terracing
d. Windbreaks
