Question 1

Which of the following outlines a typical crop rotation planting schedule?

Accepted Answer

A)  corn → oats → corn → alfalfa 
B)  corn → soybean → oats → corn 
C)  soybean → corn → oats → corn 
D)  oats → soybean → oats → corn 
E)  corn → alfalfa → oats → soybean 
A)  corn → oats → corn → alfalfa 
B)  corn → soybean → oats → corn 
C)  soybean → corn → oats → corn 
D)  oats → soybean → oats → corn 
E)  corn → alfalfa → oats → soybean E

Question 2

Compare and contrast the use of organic and commercial inorganic fertilizers. Which type is more cost effective? Which type is more environmentally friendly? Which type is the most effective overall? Justify your answers.

Accepted Answer

Overall organic fertilizer is the most effective because it can change the types of organisms that live in the soil, sometimes suppressing microorganisms that cause certain plant diseases. Organic fertilizers include animal manure, crop residues, bone meal, and compost. They are slow acting and long lasting. Commercial inorganic fertilizers are made from chemical compounds and because they are soluble, they are immediately available to plants but leach away quickly. Organic fertilizer is more environmentally friendly because inorganic fertilizers are mobile and often leach into groundwater or surface runoff, polluting the water. The nitrous and nitric oxides of inorganic fertilizers are also air pollutants. Inorganic fertilizers also do not improve the water-holding capacity of the soil as organic fertilizers do. It is also economically advantageous to limit the use of commercial inorganic fertilizer.

Question 3

Which soil horizons are most prone to erosion?

Accepted Answer

A)  A and B 
B)  B and C 
C)  A and O 
D)  A and C 
E)  B and O 
A)  A and B 
B)  B and C 
C)  A and O 
D)  A and C 
E)  B and O C

Question 4

_________ describes the pathway of various nutrient minerals or elements from the environment through organisms and back to the environment.

Accepted Answer

A)  Crop rotation 
B)  Leaching and illuviation 
C)  Mycorrhizae 
D)  Nutrient cycling 
E)  none of these choices is correct 
A)  Crop rotation 
B)  Leaching and illuviation 
C)  Mycorrhizae 
D)  Nutrient cycling 
E)  none of these choices is correct

Question 5

Compost is:

Accepted Answer

A)  a natural fertilizer 
B)  used to minimize soil erosion. 
C)  placed on the soil surface when used. 
D)  used to minimize water loss from the soil. 
E)  used to control weeds. 
A)  a natural fertilizer 
B)  used to minimize soil erosion. 
C)  placed on the soil surface when used. 
D)  used to minimize water loss from the soil. 
E)  used to control weeds.

Question 6

The richest farming soils that form under the grasslands of central North America and under moist deciduous forests are the:

Accepted Answer

A)  spodosols and oxisols. 
B)  aridisols and mollisols. 
C)  mollisols and alfisols. 
D)  sunisols and texsols. 
E)  oxisols and ultisols. 
A)  spodosols and oxisols. 
B)  aridisols and mollisols. 
C)  mollisols and alfisols. 
D)  sunisols and texsols. 
E)  oxisols and ultisols.

Question 7

Clay content is particularly important in soil because high-clay soils:

Accepted Answer

A)  provide excellent drainage 
B)  have large surface areas that can "hold" mineral ions for plant use 
C)  contain abundant oxygen 
D)  are ideal for most agricultural crops 
E)  are easy to till for agriculture 
A)  provide excellent drainage 
B)  have large surface areas that can "hold" mineral ions for plant use 
C)  contain abundant oxygen 
D)  are ideal for most agricultural crops 
E)  are easy to till for agriculture

Question 8

The difference between compost and mulch is:

Accepted Answer

A)  compost is mixed into soil to improve fertility; mulch is placed on soil's surface to control weeds and retain moisture. 
B)  compost is made of inorganic materials; mulch is made of organic materials. 
C)  compost is used in landfills, individual property owners use mulch. 
D)  composting is an expensive commercial process; mulching is a do-it-yourself endeavor. 
E)  There is no difference. Mulch and compost are synonyms. 
A)  compost is mixed into soil to improve fertility; mulch is placed on soil's surface to control weeds and retain moisture. 
B)  compost is made of inorganic materials; mulch is made of organic materials. 
C)  compost is used in landfills, individual property owners use mulch. 
D)  composting is an expensive commercial process; mulching is a do-it-yourself endeavor. 
E)  There is no difference. Mulch and compost are synonyms.

Question 9

Increased soil erosion may be caused by all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

A)  construction of buildings. 
B)  construction of roads. 
C)  construction of shelterbelts. 
D)  clearcutting large forested areas. 
E)  agriculture. 
A)  construction of buildings. 
B)  construction of roads. 
C)  construction of shelterbelts. 
D)  clearcutting large forested areas. 
E)  agriculture.

Question 10

Crop rotation and strip cropping alternate crops such as corn and wheat. The difference is:

Accepted Answer

A)  In strip cropping, the crops are alternated by size. In crop rotation, the crops are alternated by color. 
B)  In strip cropping, one crop is exposed and the other covered. In crop rotation, dual crops form concentric circles. 
C)  In strip cropping, one crop transforms into the other by genetic seed manipulation. In crop rotation, each crop is alternated according to the type of pollinator required. 
D)  In strip cropping, the crops are alternated by row. In crop rotation, the crops are alternated by years. 
E)  There is no difference. Crop rotation is another word for strip cropping. 
A)  In strip cropping, the crops are alternated by size. In crop rotation, the crops are alternated by color. 
B)  In strip cropping, one crop is exposed and the other covered. In crop rotation, dual crops form concentric circles. 
C)  In strip cropping, one crop transforms into the other by genetic seed manipulation. In crop rotation, each crop is alternated according to the type of pollinator required. 
D)  In strip cropping, the crops are alternated by row. In crop rotation, the crops are alternated by years. 
E)  There is no difference. Crop rotation is another word for strip cropping.

Question 11

The American Dust Bowl was caused by all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

A)  the fact that the Great Plains of North America have low annual precipitation. 
B)  the extensive removal of native prairie grasses to plant crops. 
C)  overgrazing. 
D)  unusually severe wind and storm conditions. 
E)  the poor (nutrient) quality of the soil of the Great Plains. 
A)  the fact that the Great Plains of North America have low annual precipitation. 
B)  the extensive removal of native prairie grasses to plant crops. 
C)  overgrazing. 
D)  unusually severe wind and storm conditions. 
E)  the poor (nutrient) quality of the soil of the Great Plains.

Question 12

Scientists know relatively little about the roles of most soil organisms because

Accepted Answer

A)  very few soil organisms have been identified 
B)  it is hard to study them in a natural environment 
C)  they are too small to see, even with high-powered microscopes 
D)  they do not affect soil much and are not worth studying 
E)  none of these; scientists have a good understanding of most soil organisms 
A)  very few soil organisms have been identified 
B)  it is hard to study them in a natural environment 
C)  they are too small to see, even with high-powered microscopes 
D)  they do not affect soil much and are not worth studying 
E)  none of these; scientists have a good understanding of most soil organisms

Question 13

Which of the following is not true of conservation tiling?

Accepted Answer

A)  a method of cultivation in which residues from previous crops are left in the soil 
B)  residues are partially covering soil and helping it to hold seeds 
C)  there are several types including no tilling 
D)  over 70% of US farmland was planted using conservation tilling in the early 2000s 
E)  all these are false 
A)  a method of cultivation in which residues from previous crops are left in the soil 
B)  residues are partially covering soil and helping it to hold seeds 
C)  there are several types including no tilling 
D)  over 70% of US farmland was planted using conservation tilling in the early 2000s 
E)  all these are false

Question 14

Soil with a pH of 6.0:

Accepted Answer

A)  is slightly acidic 
B)  is most likely caused by human-produced air pollution 
C)  is problematic because the optimum soil pH for plant growth is 8.0 to 10.0 
D)  is often associated with toxic concentrations of soluble aluminum and manganese. 
E)  All of these choices are correct 
A)  is slightly acidic 
B)  is most likely caused by human-produced air pollution 
C)  is problematic because the optimum soil pH for plant growth is 8.0 to 10.0 
D)  is often associated with toxic concentrations of soluble aluminum and manganese. 
E)  All of these choices are correct

Question 15

The soils of tropical rain forests tend to be nutrient-poor due to:

Accepted Answer

A)  extensive wind erosion. 
B)  the fact that nutrient minerals are stored primarily in the vegetation. 
C)  removal of native plants, largely grasses, depleting the nutrient minerals. 
D)  sediment washing into streams from intact forests. 
E)  poor crop rotation practices in slash-and-burn agriculture. 
A)  extensive wind erosion. 
B)  the fact that nutrient minerals are stored primarily in the vegetation. 
C)  removal of native plants, largely grasses, depleting the nutrient minerals. 
D)  sediment washing into streams from intact forests. 
E)  poor crop rotation practices in slash-and-burn agriculture.

Question 16

Which of the following two regions have the largest land areas with extensive soil damage?

Accepted Answer

A)  Europe and Asia 
B)  North and South America 
C)  Africa and Asia 
D)  Europe and South America 
E)  Africa and North America 
A)  Europe and Asia 
B)  North and South America 
C)  Africa and Asia 
D)  Europe and South America 
E)  Africa and North America

Question 17

Which of the following may affect the mineral composition of soil?

Accepted Answer

A)  soil age 
B)  soil pH 
C)  soil organisms 
D)  parent material 
E)  All of these 
A)  soil age 
B)  soil pH 
C)  soil organisms 
D)  parent material 
E)  All of these

Question 18

Legume plants like soybeans add which of the following to the soil?

Accepted Answer

A)  sulfur 
B)  nitrogen 
C)  trace minerals 
D)  phosphorus 
E)  potassium 
A)  sulfur 
B)  nitrogen 
C)  trace minerals 
D)  phosphorus 
E)  potassium

Question 19

The uppermost layer of soil that is rich in plant litter and other organic material is the:

Accepted Answer

A)  A horizon. 
B)  B horizon. 
C)  C horizon. 
D)  O horizon. 
E)  E horizon. 
A)  A horizon. 
B)  B horizon. 
C)  C horizon. 
D)  O horizon. 
E)  E horizon.

Question 20

Planting the same crop year after year:

Accepted Answer

A)  increases damage by insects and disease. 
B)  decreases soil erosion. 
C)  does not deplete essential nutrients from the soil. 
D)  will slowly increase crop yields. 
E)  is a new and innovative agricultural practice. 
A)  increases damage by insects and disease. 
B)  decreases soil erosion. 
C)  does not deplete essential nutrients from the soil. 
D)  will slowly increase crop yields. 
E)  is a new and innovative agricultural practice.

Exam 14: Soil Resources

Which of the following outlines a typical crop rotation planting schedule?

Compare and contrast the use of organic and commercial inorganic fertilizers. Which type is more cost effective? Which type is more environmentally friendly? Which type is the most effective overall? Justify your answers.

Which soil horizons are most prone to erosion?

_________ describes the pathway of various nutrient minerals or elements from the environment through organisms and back to the environment.

Compost is:

The richest farming soils that form under the grasslands of central North America and under moist deciduous forests are the:

Clay content is particularly important in soil because high-clay soils:

The difference between compost and mulch is:

Increased soil erosion may be caused by all of the following except:

Crop rotation and strip cropping alternate crops such as corn and wheat. The difference is:

The American Dust Bowl was caused by all of the following except:

Scientists know relatively little about the roles of most soil organisms because

Which of the following is not true of conservation tiling?

Soil with a pH of 6.0:

The soils of tropical rain forests tend to be nutrient-poor due to:

Which of the following two regions have the largest land areas with extensive soil damage?

Which of the following may affect the mineral composition of soil?

Legume plants like soybeans add which of the following to the soil?

The uppermost layer of soil that is rich in plant litter and other organic material is the:

Planting the same crop year after year:

Introducing Environmental Science and Sustainability

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Ecosystems and Energy

Ecosystems and the Physical Environment

Ecosystems and Living Organisms

Major Ecosystems of the World

Human Health and Environmental Toxicology

The Human Population

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Energy Consumption

Fossil Fuels

Renewable Energy and Nuclear Power

Water: a Limited Resource

Mineral Resources

Biological Resources

Land Resources

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Air Pollution

Global Climate Change

Water Pollution

Pest Management

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Tomorrows Word

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