Deck 1: The Soils Around Us

Question 1

The lithosphere is made up of _________.

A) air
B) rock
C) water
D) plants and animals
E) all of the above

Answer 1

B

Question 2

"Topsoil" is generally equivalent to which soil horizon?

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

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which of the following pH values represents a neutral condition?

A) 1.0
B) 5.0
C) 6.0
D) 7.0
E) 10

Answer 3

D

Question 4

In a typical mineral soil in optimal condition for plant growth, approximately what percentage of the pore space would be filled with water and what percentage filled with air?

A) 10% water and 90% air
B) 90% water and 10% air
C) 25% water and 25% air
D) 50% water and 50% air
E) 25% water and 75% air

Question 5

Hydroxyl ion concentrations are greatest in a soil solution with a pH value of ______.

A) 0.1
B) 4.0
C) 5.0
D) 6.5

Question 6

The layers of contrasting material found when one digs a hole in the ground are called _______.

A) pseudoliths
B) regoliths
C) pedons
D) horizons
E) soil structure

Question 7

In a load of 10 cubic meters of topsoil, approximately how cubic meters of the volume would be solid material?

A) 1
B) 2.5
C) 4
D) 5
E) 7.5

Question 8

Which of the following is (are) essential plant nutrients?

A) Cu
B) Al
C) Sr
D) Pb
E) all of the above

Question 9

Soil occupies the ______part of the regolith.

A) upper
B) lower
C) younger
D) both B and C

Question 10

In a given soil, the horizon with the highest organic matter content is generally the _____ horizon.

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

Question 11

A soil profile consists of _________.

A) the sum of chemical and physical data known about a soil
B) the way a soil "feels"
C) the spatial boundaries of a particular soil
D) the set of layers seen in a vertical cross Section of a soil
E) the general outline of a soil or group of soils when viewed from the side

Question 12

Which of the following is considered to be a plant macronutrient?

A) N
B) P
C) S
D) Ca
E) all of the above

Question 13

Most of the different nutrients essential for growth are supplied to plants directly from the ______.

A) rain water
B) soil solution
C) atmosphere
D) cosmic radiation
E) humus

Question 14

"Subsoil" is generally equivalent to which soil horizon?

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

Question 15

Compared to silt, clay-sized soil particles are characterized by ______.

A) greater attraction for water
B) greater proportion of primary minerals
C) less tendency to form hard clods when dry
D) less capacity to hold nutrients in plant-available forms

Question 16

Increasing the organic matter content of a soil is likely to _____.

A) have no effect on water holding capacity
B) increase the soil's water holding capacity
C) decrease the soil's water holding capacity

Question 17

The water in the soil typically differs from pure water because the soil water ________. 5

A) contains organic compounds
B) contains mineral nutrients
C) is restrained in its flow by attraction to particle surfaces
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 18

Most (usually 80% or more) of soil potassium and calcium can be found in the form of _________________.

A) dissolved substances
B) structural components of minerals
C) exchangeable ions
D) organic compounds

Question 19

The amount of different sizes of mineral particles in a soil defines the soil ________.

A) structure
B) texture
C) pore space
D) solution
E) profile

Question 20

Which of the following pH values represents the most acid condition?

A) 1.0
B) 10.0
C) 7.0
D) 100
E) 5.55

Question 21

Natural soils (as opposed to modern farm soils) can recycle organic compounds, but not inorganic elements.

Question 22

Subsoil is typically equivalent to the O horizon.

Question 23

Plants can be grown without any soil.

Question 24

Although subsoil is more difficult to obtain, it is generally equally as good as topsoil for landscaping purposes.

Question 25

Hydroponics will likely be a key element in enabling the world to feed and clothe its increasing human population in the next few decades.

Question 26

Most of the water in our rivers and lakes has come in contact with and has been affected by soils.

Question 27

For any soil in which it is present, the C horizon is the parent material for the B horizon.

Question 28

Most of the water flowing in rivers passed through a soil profile or over soil surfaces before reaching the river.

Question 29

If supplied with a suitable nutrient solution, plants can grow normally without any soil at all.

Question 30

Except for some kinds of foods, modern industry has made human dependence on soils a thing of the past.

Question 31

Soil, like concrete and steel, is a standard construction material. Its properties are well characterized and predictable so that standard building foundation designs can be used uniformly at all building sites of a given topography.

Question 32

Information about conditions at 2 to 4 meters deep in a soil is usually most helpful for understanding___.

A) how best to design a building foundation
B) the diversity of animal life in the soil.
C) the proper classification of the soil.
D) fertility requirements of most crops

Question 33

Practices that tend to increase the amount of organic matter in soils would be expected to reduce the global greenhouse effect.

Question 34

Soil air usually has a higher carbon dioxide content than the air in the atmosphere.

Question 35

A, B, C, and E horizons can be found in any true soil.

Question 36

While many organisms depend on the soil for nutrients and water, only a few very specialized organisms live in the soil itself.

Question 37

The dark brown and black humus found in many soils does not mix well with clay minerals so there is very little contact between these two soil components.

Question 38

Where organic matter constitutes only 1 or 2 percent of the soil by weight, it has only negligible influence on soil properties.

Question 39

Soil horizons, like alluvial sediments, generally have a horizontal orientation, regardless of the slope of the land.

Question 40

The mineral particles in soil consist of sand, silt, and clay.

Question 41

Most, if not all, of the nutrient supply stored in a fertile soil is in forms readily available to plants.

Question 42

In humid regions most rainwater that soaks into the soil and is not used by plants eventually flows into rivers and streams.