Deck 12: Soils

Question 1

Seeds germinate mainly in the horizon.

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) R
E) E

Answer 1

A

Question 2

A soil containing only an A horizon atop partially altered parent material is said to be .

A) immature
B) solum
C) acidic
D) phreatic
E) series

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The unconsolidated parent material beyond the reach of most roots is .

A) solum
B) the F horizon
C) loam
D) the C horizon
E) the A horizon

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The unconsolidated parent materials beneath the level of roots is called the horizon of soil.

A) bedrock
B) B
C) C
D) O
E) A

Question 5

Utisols are generally lack .

A) aluminum
B) humus
C) clay
D) phosphorus
E) iron

Question 6

is a measure of the ease with which water moves through the soil.

A) Permeability
B) The field capacity
C) The wilting point
D) The capillarity
E) Porosity

Question 7

Organic matter usually comprises about percent of total soil volume

A) 25
B) 35
C) 95
D) 10
E) 5

Question 8

The main value of the extensive terminology of the Soil Taxonomy is its _.

A) basis in the genesis of soils
B) status as being the first soil classification
C) basis in observable characteristics
D) acceptance in every country in the world
E) lack of subdivisions

Question 9

Which is a main soil- forming factors?

A) topographic
B) geologic
C) climatic
D) chronological
E) all of the above

Question 10

Mollisols and are the two most agriculturally productive soil orders.

A) Oxisole
B) Alfisols
C) Vertisols
D) Inceptisols
E) Entisols

Question 11

The boreal forest in subarctic locations is the typical setting for _ .

A) calcification
B) erosion
C) podsolization
D) laterization
E) gleization

Question 12

The soil- forming factor which is said to make soil more than "just dirt" is the _ factor.

A) topographic
B) biological
C) geologic
D) climatic
E) chronological

Question 13

In terms of a typical soil- water balance, which season is associated with a soil water surplus?

A) summer
B) the one which is warmest
C) spring
D) the one with the greatest evapotranspiration
E) none of the above

Question 14

Roughly one half of the volume of an "average" soil type is composed of .

A) organic material
B) clay
C) pore spaces
D) rocky fragments
E) cations

Question 15

In the soil, which of the separates are associated with significant chemical activity?

A) silt
B) clay
C) sand
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 16

In semiarid climates, grass roots transport much from the B horizon to the A horizon.

A) gravel
B) uranium
C) phosphorus
D) clay
E) calcium

Question 17

A soil with a high cation exchange would likely be

A) very sandy.
B) fertile.
C) thin.
D) dark in color.
E) impermeable.

Question 18

Globally, the influence of this soil- forming factor fades with time.

A) topographic
B) chemical
C) geologic
D) biological
E) climatic

Question 19

The laminar sheets which are clay particles are .

A) chemically inert
B) called cations
C) relatively rare compared to other soil materials
D) negatively charged
E) the largest particles in the soil

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT a property of soil clay?

A) many chemical reactions occur on its surfaces
B) colloidal in size
C) occurs as thin laminar sheets
D) it is able to hold water to itself
E) made primarily of silt

Question 21

If you lived in Texas or California and your house foundation crumbled because the soil swelled when it was wet and cracked when it was dry, chances are that the soil would be a(n)

A) Oxisol
B) Vertisol
C) Alfisol
D) Entisol
E) Mollisol

Question 22

A dense layer, often forming in the B horizon under calcification is .

A) regolith
B) a hardpan
C) solum
D) vadose
E) a latosol

Question 23

are soils of many widely scattered locations whose common characteristic is a lack of maturity.

A) Vertisols
B) Ultisols
C) Aridisols
D) Oxisols
E) Entisols

Question 24

The size groups within the standard classification of soil particle sizes are termed .

A) cations
B) epipedons
C) humus
D) pedons
E) separates

Question 25

Which pH reading is suitable for most plants and soil microorganisms?

A) 10
B) 7
C) 0
D) 3
E) 5

Question 26

In terms of topography, the deepest soils

A) are where erosion is fastest.
B) are on steep hills with sandstone bedrock.
C) are on flat land.
D) are on the sides of hills.
E) can be found in any of the above locations.

Question 27

An Alfisol is most closely related to

A) an Andisol.
B) transitional environments.
C) the tropical desert.
D) the tundra.
E) heavy weathering.

Question 28

The "A" horizon or combined "O/A" horizons of the soil are known as the _.

A) subsurface horizon(s)
B) illuviation layer(s)
C) regolith
D) epipedon
E) colloidal layer(s)

Question 29

The highest rated soils for overall agricultural productivity are the .

A) Alfisols
B) Mollisols
C) Oxisols
D) Histosols
E) Spodosols

Question 30

The existence of a B horizon is an indication of a(n) soil.

A) immature
B) zonal
C) episodic
D) colloidal
E) mature

Question 31

Which soil- forming factor is much more important than the others in "causing" the specific soil of a location?

A) biological
B) chronological
C) geologic
D) climatic
E) none of the above

Question 32

This type of water is held to soil particles by adhesion and is normally unavailable to plants:

A) Gravitational water
B) Hygroscopic water
C) Capillary water
D) Combined water
E) all of the above

Question 33

Like , humus is a catalyst for chemical reactions and a reservoir for plant nutrients and soil water.

A) mud
B) cations
C) iron
D) clay
E) silt

Question 34

Which are the least well developed of all soil orders?

A) Alfisols
B) Vertisol
C) Entisols
D) Oxisols
E) Mollisols

Question 35

The main pedogenic regimes do NOT include .

A) gleization
B) calcification
C) salinization
D) colloidization
E) podzolization

Question 36

The cation exchange capacity is most closely associated with .

A) regolith
B) color
C) silt
D) sand
E) colloids

Question 37

The true soil layer is known as _.

A) an oxisol
B) the interstices
C) loam
D) the solum
E) all of the above

Question 38

The processes that deepen and age soils include all but the following:

A) transformation
B) translocation
C) addition
D) taxonomy
E) loss

Question 39

Which of the following is NOT true of soil air?

A) rich in carbon dioxide
B) nearly saturated
C) poor in oxygen
D) insignificant air movement
E) full of nutrients

Question 40

Of the following, which covers the least area on Earth's surface?

A) Mollisols
B) Histosols
C) Alfisols
D) Oxisols
E) Andisols

Question 41

The measure of a soil's capacity to hold water and air is called .

A) peds
B) foaminess
C) permeability
D) its profile
E) porosity

Question 42

Earthworms

A) are widely distributed over the Earth.
B) are known by the Latin name Bubulcus ibis.
C) usually deplete soil fertility.
D) excrete casts.
E) are correctly described by all of the above

Question 43

Permafrost and minimal profile development are most closely associated with which soil order?

A) Mollisols
B) Oxisols
C) Andisols
D) Gelisols
E) Histosols

Question 44

The main "type" of water plants use is .

A) vadose
B) capillary
C) hydroscopic
D) acquiclude
E) artesian

Question 45

The soils characterized by plentiful partly decayed plant material are .

A) Vertisols
B) Mollisols
C) Spodosols
D) Oxisols
E) Histosols

Question 46

The pedogenic regime associated with high annual precipitation and temperature is _ .

A) calcification
B) gleization
C) laterization
D) salinization
E) none of the above

Question 47

The smallest- sized pieces of a soil are _.

A) cobbles
B) sands
C) gravels
D) clays
E) silts

Question 48

After gravitational water has drained away, _ is the water that remains in the soil and is available for use by plants.

A) hygroscopic water
B) capillary water
C) water of cohesion
D) groundwater
E) free water

Question 49

The pedogenic regime typified by silica removal and iron- aluminum concentration near the surface is .

A) gleization
B) laterization
C) podzolization
D) calcification
E) salinization

Question 50

Several soil horizons together make up a .

A) ped
B) soil profile
C) hardpan
D) soil order
E) soil series

Question 51

For all soil orders the surface layer is the .

A) epipedon
B) hard pan
C) bedrock
D) solum
E) cation

Question 52

is the soil order covering the greatest surface area on Earth.

A) Spodosols
B) Vertisols
C) Aridosols
D) Entisols
E) Mollisols

Question 53

Eluvial materials are deposited in the soil's horizon.

A) A
B) O
C) B
D) E
E) R

Question 54

The lowest level of the Soil Taxonomy soil classification system is the .

A) family
B) caton
C) subgroup
D) series
E) group

Question 55

Mature tropical soils are generally noteworthy for their color.

A) tan
B) white
C) gray
D) red
E) black

Question 56

The main soil order adapted to wet- dry cycles and having clayey surfaces is .

A) Mollisols
B) Aridisols
C) Inceptisols
D) Vertisols
E) Entisols

Question 57

Soils are considered part of the

A) atmosphere.
B) biosphere.
C) lithosphere.
D) hydrosphere.
E) geosphere.

Question 58

Gelisols are .

A) associated with cryoturbation
B) old soils with mature profile development
C) found in warm and wet conditions
D) an order of soils no longer recognized
E) the most widespread of all soil orders on Earth

Question 59

Parent material is closely associated with which soil- forming factor?

A) topographic
B) geologic
C) biological
D) climatic
E) chronological

Question 60

The weathered layer of loose inorganic material overlaying unfragmented rock below is .

A) horizons
B) separates
C) peds
D) clay
E) regolith

Question 61

The most weathered and leached of all soils are the _.

A) Inceptisols
B) Aridisols
C) Alfisols
D) Oxisols
E) Spodosols

Question 62

The shallowest soils can be found in which regions?

A) warm and wet
B) cold and dry
C) warm and dry
D) cold and wet
E) rainforests

Question 63

The dynamic relationship between precipitation and evaporation in any given location is the .

A) capillary action
B) illuviation
C) soil- water balance
D) leaching
E) all of the above

Question 64

is least available to plants because it is held in chemical combination with the minerals in the soil.

A) Combined water
B) Free water
C) Capillary water
D) Hygroscopic water
E) Gravitational water

Question 65

An important soil order, the are mainly restricted to the tropics.

A) Oxisols
B) Aridisols
C) Ultisols
D) Mollisols
E) Histosols

Question 66

Soils made up of mainly _ do not develop a true soil structure.

A) humus
B) sand
C) peds
D) loam
E) none of the above

Question 67

Among layers of the soil horizon, the one with the most organic material is .

A) C
B) R
C) B
D) A
E) O

Question 68

Much soil material is actually wasted bits of rocks and composed of .

A) air
B) silica
C) hydrogen
D) humus
E) loam

Question 69

Earthworms

A) are described by all of the above
B) are at their most numerous in temperature climates.
C) vertically rearrange soil material.
D) usually guarantee the soil will be highly productive.
E) are unable to live in soil with pH values of less than 6.

Question 70

Humus has a consistency not unlike that of .

A) putty
B) sponges
C) rock
D) gelatin
E) roast beef

Question 71

The B horizon is usually called _.

A) litter
B) topsoil
C) regolith
D) colloids
E) subsoil

Question 72

This soil order is developed from volcanic ash:

A) Aridisols
B) Andisols
C) Entisols
D) Inceptisols
E) Vertisols

Question 73

The difference between field capacity and the wilting point is called .

A) available soil moisture
B) soil moisture
C) runoff
D) capillary water
E) groundwater

Question 74

Three- quarters of the soil's metabolic activity is generated by .

A) trees
B) microorganisms
C) humans
D) mammals
E) earthworms

Question 75

Which pedogenic regime is most closely associated with the drier prairies of North America?

A) laterization
B) calcification
C) salinization
D) gleization
E) podzolization

Question 76

Which of the following is considered part of the soil?

A) water
B) air
C) dead and rotting plant parts
D) fine, fragmented mineral particles
E) all of the above

Question 77

Based on the pH scale soils are neutral at .

A) 7.5
B) 6.5
C) 6.0
D) 8.0
E) 7.0

Question 78

A Histosol would most likely be found in

A) a region in which humans have disturbed the soils.
B) a tropical rain forest environment.
C) places which were glaciated during the Pleistocene.
D) a tropical desert environment.
E) a region in which erosion exceeds soil formation.

Question 79

Humus is associated with .

A) a high cation exchange capacity
B) a dark color
C) rotted and rotting plant and animal remains
D) a gelatinous consistency
E) all of the above

Question 80

The term "clay" is a reference to

A) structure.
B) texture.
C) loam.
D) chemistry.
E) biota.