SOIL SCIENCE FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND 100% CORRECT ANSWERS!!
In which soil orders would recent alluvium most likely be a common parent material?
Entisols
Soils in this order are commonly sandy in texture, quite acidic and develop primarily under
coniferous trees in cool to cold climates
Spodosols
If the soils are to be used for crop production, for which soil order would land drainage be
most critical?
Histosols
True or False? Vertisols are characterized by high contents of swelling-type silicate clays.
True!
Would you be more apt to find a Gelisol in Alaska or Iowa and why?
Alaska, because it's major characteristics include permafrost and cryoturbation (frost churning)
Texture describes the _____________ of particles in a soil.
sizes
Soil colors are scientifically described by ___________ color designations such as 10YR3/4
Munsell
Brown and red colors in subsurface horizons are caused by ______________ in soil.
iron oxides
Which type of soil structure is typically found in surface soil (A horizons)?
granular
, Practices that add organic matter and reduce tillage can be expected topmost significantly
increase the ___________ in a soil.
total porosity
The most highly weathered soils are
Oxisols
What is soil bulk density?
the mass of unit volume of dry soil.
What is soil?
4-dimensional complex habitat, a self-organizing natural body
What are the 6 functions of soil?
1. a medium for plant growth
2.soil is recycling nutrients and organic matter
3.modifier of the atmosphere
4. habitat for soil organisms
5. engineering medium
6. water supply and purification
In what ways does soil support plant growth?
-oxygen
-water
-moderated temperature
-protection from toxics (aluminum)
-essential nutrients
-structural support
What is the order of soil horizons?
O
A
AND 100% CORRECT ANSWERS!!
In which soil orders would recent alluvium most likely be a common parent material?
Entisols
Soils in this order are commonly sandy in texture, quite acidic and develop primarily under
coniferous trees in cool to cold climates
Spodosols
If the soils are to be used for crop production, for which soil order would land drainage be
most critical?
Histosols
True or False? Vertisols are characterized by high contents of swelling-type silicate clays.
True!
Would you be more apt to find a Gelisol in Alaska or Iowa and why?
Alaska, because it's major characteristics include permafrost and cryoturbation (frost churning)
Texture describes the _____________ of particles in a soil.
sizes
Soil colors are scientifically described by ___________ color designations such as 10YR3/4
Munsell
Brown and red colors in subsurface horizons are caused by ______________ in soil.
iron oxides
Which type of soil structure is typically found in surface soil (A horizons)?
granular
, Practices that add organic matter and reduce tillage can be expected topmost significantly
increase the ___________ in a soil.
total porosity
The most highly weathered soils are
Oxisols
What is soil bulk density?
the mass of unit volume of dry soil.
What is soil?
4-dimensional complex habitat, a self-organizing natural body
What are the 6 functions of soil?
1. a medium for plant growth
2.soil is recycling nutrients and organic matter
3.modifier of the atmosphere
4. habitat for soil organisms
5. engineering medium
6. water supply and purification
In what ways does soil support plant growth?
-oxygen
-water
-moderated temperature
-protection from toxics (aluminum)
-essential nutrients
-structural support
What is the order of soil horizons?
O
A
