NRS 450 EXAM 2 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
100% CORRECT
Why do we use soil surveys? - ANSWER Study of the soil of an area
• Mapping
• Classification
• Distribution
• Identify soils withsimilar properties
• Land use interpretations
Taxonomic Soil Survey - ANSWER Descriptive
• Soils' natural properties
• Ex: RI Soil Survey
Interpretive Soil Survey - ANSWER Based on taxonomic map
•One purpose/interpretation
• Ex: Suitability/limitations for use
Ancient Soil Survey - ANSWER 5000-6000 years old
Old Soil Survey - ANSWER Prior to 1930s
Cartographers and soil scientists walk/map
Pre Modern Soil Survey - ANSWER Early 1950s
Modern Digital Soil Survey - ANSWER Available Online
,Web Soil Survey
SoilWeb
Inclusions on Soil Surveys - ANSWER Similar soils:
Same classifications
Same interpretations
Dissimilar soils:
Different classifications
Different interpretations
Consociations - ANSWER At least 50% of soils are one name and <25% of soils are
dissimilar inclusions
Complexes - ANSWER 2 or more soil names that occur in a regularly repeating patter
and <25% of soils are dissimilar inclusions
Major components cannot be mapped out/distinguished due to scale
Associations - ANSWER Broad Units
General units used to provide broad look at landscape soils
Undifferentiated groups - ANSWER 2 or more soils names; do not always occur together
in the same map delineation
Similar soils; could map them out, but we DONT
Miscellaneous areas - ANSWER NOT SOIL (gravel pits, mining areas)
Map Unit Phases - ANSWER Additional component added on to a map unit
Describes what the landscape is like
, (stoniness, slope, surface, texture, etc.)
"0 to 8 percent slopes, extremely stony"
What are some Soil Survey limitations? - ANSWER Scale (time, accuracy)
Conceptual nature (narrow, broad)
Individual biases
Compilation
Map unit accuracy
How do we work around limitations? - ANSWER Evaluate and reading between the lines?
Why do we classify soils? - ANSWER Organize information
Provides ways to communicate information
Interpretive systems - ANSWER Not based directly on soil properties
Used for 1 specific purpose (Onsite wastewater suitability classes)
Taxonomic systems - ANSWER AKA natal or pedagogic systems
Based on natural properties of soils (Base saturation, Color, Soil Temperature)
Old soil classification systems - ANSWER 1938 yearbook of agriculture system "Soils
and Men"
Used until 1965
Orders:
Zonal: Mature
Intrazonal: Controlled by topography
Azonal: Young soils
100% CORRECT
Why do we use soil surveys? - ANSWER Study of the soil of an area
• Mapping
• Classification
• Distribution
• Identify soils withsimilar properties
• Land use interpretations
Taxonomic Soil Survey - ANSWER Descriptive
• Soils' natural properties
• Ex: RI Soil Survey
Interpretive Soil Survey - ANSWER Based on taxonomic map
•One purpose/interpretation
• Ex: Suitability/limitations for use
Ancient Soil Survey - ANSWER 5000-6000 years old
Old Soil Survey - ANSWER Prior to 1930s
Cartographers and soil scientists walk/map
Pre Modern Soil Survey - ANSWER Early 1950s
Modern Digital Soil Survey - ANSWER Available Online
,Web Soil Survey
SoilWeb
Inclusions on Soil Surveys - ANSWER Similar soils:
Same classifications
Same interpretations
Dissimilar soils:
Different classifications
Different interpretations
Consociations - ANSWER At least 50% of soils are one name and <25% of soils are
dissimilar inclusions
Complexes - ANSWER 2 or more soil names that occur in a regularly repeating patter
and <25% of soils are dissimilar inclusions
Major components cannot be mapped out/distinguished due to scale
Associations - ANSWER Broad Units
General units used to provide broad look at landscape soils
Undifferentiated groups - ANSWER 2 or more soils names; do not always occur together
in the same map delineation
Similar soils; could map them out, but we DONT
Miscellaneous areas - ANSWER NOT SOIL (gravel pits, mining areas)
Map Unit Phases - ANSWER Additional component added on to a map unit
Describes what the landscape is like
, (stoniness, slope, surface, texture, etc.)
"0 to 8 percent slopes, extremely stony"
What are some Soil Survey limitations? - ANSWER Scale (time, accuracy)
Conceptual nature (narrow, broad)
Individual biases
Compilation
Map unit accuracy
How do we work around limitations? - ANSWER Evaluate and reading between the lines?
Why do we classify soils? - ANSWER Organize information
Provides ways to communicate information
Interpretive systems - ANSWER Not based directly on soil properties
Used for 1 specific purpose (Onsite wastewater suitability classes)
Taxonomic systems - ANSWER AKA natal or pedagogic systems
Based on natural properties of soils (Base saturation, Color, Soil Temperature)
Old soil classification systems - ANSWER 1938 yearbook of agriculture system "Soils
and Men"
Used until 1965
Orders:
Zonal: Mature
Intrazonal: Controlled by topography
Azonal: Young soils
