Exam 14: Soil Resources

Imagine that you are a farmer. Write a journal entry that outlines the conditions that led to the Food Security Act (Farm Bill) of 1985. While you agree in principle with the Conservation Reserve Program of this bill, you've discovered a loophole that would be financially profitable for you. Present in your journal the argument you are having with yourself: the pros and cons associated with compliance with this program.

Water tends to drain rapidly through soil that is high in:

The deposition of leached material in the lower layers of the soil is called:

Rank the relative size of soil particles from smallest to largest. I. sand II. clay III. gravel IV. silt

Loam:

Variations in precipitation, local vegetation, parent material, and soil age result in differences in soil types. Using these variables, explain why mollisols are richer soils than oxisols.

Identify the major components of soil and discuss the role of each in the support of living organisms. How do differences in the composition of the soil affect the productivity of a particular region?

The removal of dissolved minerals from the soil as water moves downward is called:

In soil, the smallest particles (less than .002mm) are called:

What is humus? Briefly explain why it is important for the soil.

What steps can be taken to reclaim soils damaged by erosion? Include information about at least two specific geographic regions and two different actions in your response.

A(n) __________ is a type of soil that forms in temperate deciduous forests, has a highly leached A-horizon, and must be fertilized if cleared for farmland.

The desertification of the Sahel is caused by:

Soil is formed from parent material by biological, chemical, and physical:

Mulch:

Which of the following is a type of contour plowing?

The 1930's Dust Bowl in the western United States is an example of:

Soil is composed of:

Soil erosion:

Why is clay particularly important in determining many soil characteristics? I. clay particles have the smallest surface area relative to other soil particles II. each clay particle has negative electrical charge on its outer surface to attract mineral ions III clay is the most porous of the soil particles IV. clay is the largest of the soil particles