Exam 10: Global Soils

Describe and explain the role of colloids and soil pH in the retention of soil nutrients.

If clay minerals can hold abundant base ions,the soil is of low base status and is generally less fertile.

Describe the major factors in soil and soil development,and explain their differing role in a selection of soil orders.

A subsurface horizon in an ultisol has yet to be exposed at the surface and hardened is referred to as plinthite.

Which of the following rock types as a parent material would be associated with the process of calcification?

Describe and explain the problems associated with agricultural irrigation of aridisols.What safeguards are necessary to prevent damage to the soil.

Which of the following soil has a very high content of organic matter in a thick,dark upper layer?

Using an annotated graph,describe the general soil water budget of your location.Identify the times of the year when water shortages and water surpluses occur.

The higher the temperature the slower the decay process of organic soil components.

Using an annotated diagram,describe the soil common to your location in its natural state.How has agriculture changed these soils?

_____________ are soils in which more than half of the parent mineral matter is volcanic ash.This soil has a high carbon content so appears very dark in color.

______________ typically form under grass and savanna vegetation in subtropical and tropical climates with a pronounced dry season.

Compare and contrast the different orders of poorly developed soils,and examine the reasons for their differences.

The accumulation of clays in the B horizon is the direct result of which of the following processes?

Although undeveloped entisols and inceptisols may in some cases be quite fertile.

Which of the following soils is most similar to an oxisol

Red soils generally are created by the presence of _________.

Vertisols tend to have a neutral pH,and are high in base status with organic matter distributed evenly through the soil.

In which of the following soils is the original parent material comprised largely of volcanic ash?

Which of the following soils would you find associated with a peat bog