PLS 366 FINAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Geological erosion takes place - Answers -naturally
An example of an important effect of accelerated soil erosion is - Answers -loss of soil
productivity
The sequence of steps (in order) resulting in soil erosion by water is - Answers -
detachment-transportation-deposition
The type of erosion where columns of soil remain due to small pebbles which intercept
raindrops is called - Answers -sheet
The R factor in the RUSLE represents - Answers -reflectance of the soil
Greater erosion would be predicted to occur via rainfall with - Answers -high intensity
and high rate of rainfall
Important factors underlying the soil erodibility factor K include - Answers -infiltration
capacity and structure
One might expect the greatest soil erosion to occur as reflected in the LS factor with -
Answers -steep slope and long length
The conservation tillage practice with the greatest percentage of covered soil surface is
- Answers -no-tillage
A method of controlling soil erosion on construction sites is - Answers -hydroseeding
Rye is a better cover crop than vetch for mopping up residual soil nitrate because -
Answers -its root system grows deeper and faster
In order to be successful as a soil fertility diagnostician, you should - Answers -look for
any spatial patterns in plant deficiency symptoms
Most errors in the process of soil sampling happen - Answers -while novices sample
their own soils
The first step in the erosion of soil by water is - Answers -detachment
Goals of nutrient management include - Answers -conserving soil nutrients
producing high-quality plants
protecting or improving soil quality
taking care of the environment
, In order for a multi-species riparian buffer strip to do a good job in protecting a stream
from sediment and nutrient loading it should - Answers -be 20 to 30 meters wide
include perennial grasses near the edge of cultivated crops
include fast-growing trees near the stream itselfinclude a spreader berm to slow flow of
water from the fields
Soil formation is NOT affected by - Answers -magnetic fields and meteors
Diammonium phosphate fertilizer is a good source of - Answers -nitrogen and
phosphorus
In order to be successful, a soil fertility diagnostician should - Answers -develop
detailed written records of observations made
relate spatial patterns in plant appearance to spatial patterns in soil features
check out plant shoots and plant roots for normal growth and appearance
take time to discuss the situation with the crop manager
Phosphorus supply to plants by soils is a difficult problem to solve because - Answers -
total soil phosphorus levels are relatively low in most soils
most of the P in soils is not in forms that plants can use
added P fertility is quickly converted to unavailable P forms
Fish kills can result from excess P in freshwater lakes. Which of the following is a factor
in such fish kills? - Answers -a burst of algal growth called an algal bloom
microbes break down plant material
oxygen levels in the water plummet
Under high pH conditions, most soil solution P will be - Answers -converted to calcium-
containing minerals
Effective strategies to manage soil P include - Answers -using wetlands to tie up
soluble P before it enters streams
choosing plants which efficiently use scarce soil P
keep adding organic materials to the soil system
Denitrification is the microbial reduction of _______ to __________ - Answers -nitrate,
dinitrogen
What factor is likely to inhibit nitrogen fixation? - Answers -addition of ammonia fertilizer
Provide the order of occurrence of relevant processes involved in soil acidification.
1. Leaching loss of base cations with anions
2. Addition of protons from acid-forming processes
3. Exchange of protons for base cations - Answers -2-3-1
Geological erosion takes place - Answers -naturally
An example of an important effect of accelerated soil erosion is - Answers -loss of soil
productivity
The sequence of steps (in order) resulting in soil erosion by water is - Answers -
detachment-transportation-deposition
The type of erosion where columns of soil remain due to small pebbles which intercept
raindrops is called - Answers -sheet
The R factor in the RUSLE represents - Answers -reflectance of the soil
Greater erosion would be predicted to occur via rainfall with - Answers -high intensity
and high rate of rainfall
Important factors underlying the soil erodibility factor K include - Answers -infiltration
capacity and structure
One might expect the greatest soil erosion to occur as reflected in the LS factor with -
Answers -steep slope and long length
The conservation tillage practice with the greatest percentage of covered soil surface is
- Answers -no-tillage
A method of controlling soil erosion on construction sites is - Answers -hydroseeding
Rye is a better cover crop than vetch for mopping up residual soil nitrate because -
Answers -its root system grows deeper and faster
In order to be successful as a soil fertility diagnostician, you should - Answers -look for
any spatial patterns in plant deficiency symptoms
Most errors in the process of soil sampling happen - Answers -while novices sample
their own soils
The first step in the erosion of soil by water is - Answers -detachment
Goals of nutrient management include - Answers -conserving soil nutrients
producing high-quality plants
protecting or improving soil quality
taking care of the environment
, In order for a multi-species riparian buffer strip to do a good job in protecting a stream
from sediment and nutrient loading it should - Answers -be 20 to 30 meters wide
include perennial grasses near the edge of cultivated crops
include fast-growing trees near the stream itselfinclude a spreader berm to slow flow of
water from the fields
Soil formation is NOT affected by - Answers -magnetic fields and meteors
Diammonium phosphate fertilizer is a good source of - Answers -nitrogen and
phosphorus
In order to be successful, a soil fertility diagnostician should - Answers -develop
detailed written records of observations made
relate spatial patterns in plant appearance to spatial patterns in soil features
check out plant shoots and plant roots for normal growth and appearance
take time to discuss the situation with the crop manager
Phosphorus supply to plants by soils is a difficult problem to solve because - Answers -
total soil phosphorus levels are relatively low in most soils
most of the P in soils is not in forms that plants can use
added P fertility is quickly converted to unavailable P forms
Fish kills can result from excess P in freshwater lakes. Which of the following is a factor
in such fish kills? - Answers -a burst of algal growth called an algal bloom
microbes break down plant material
oxygen levels in the water plummet
Under high pH conditions, most soil solution P will be - Answers -converted to calcium-
containing minerals
Effective strategies to manage soil P include - Answers -using wetlands to tie up
soluble P before it enters streams
choosing plants which efficiently use scarce soil P
keep adding organic materials to the soil system
Denitrification is the microbial reduction of _______ to __________ - Answers -nitrate,
dinitrogen
What factor is likely to inhibit nitrogen fixation? - Answers -addition of ammonia fertilizer
Provide the order of occurrence of relevant processes involved in soil acidification.
1. Leaching loss of base cations with anions
2. Addition of protons from acid-forming processes
3. Exchange of protons for base cations - Answers -2-3-1