Soil : Question & Answer

Question Answer Layers in mature soils? Soil horizons Downward movement of water through soil? Infiltration Dissolving of minerals and organic matter in upper layers carrying Leaching them to lower layers (Infiltration of substances other than water)? Top layer, composed of leaf litter? O horizon The lateral or downward movement of dissolved or suspended E horizon (eluviation zone) material within soil when rainfall exceeds evaporation, a.k.a. infiltration, to create a layer within the soil? Dark, moist layer found on the top of a soil profile made mostly of Humus dead/decaying matter (also known as O horizon)? Rock or original source of soil particles, the result of weathering of Parent material (C horizon) bedrock? A measure of the amount of pore space between grains; the ratio of Porosity the volume of openings (voids) to the total volume of material. Used to determine storage capacity of soil? A measure of the ability for fluid to pass through the pores? Permeability Types of soil size particles that make up a soil’s texture? Sand, silt, clay As particle size decreases, surface area ______, so Increases, clay sand/silt/clay (circle one) has the highest surface area? Elements and compounds found in soil and needed in large quantities Macronutrients for a plant to grow? Macronutrients that usually are lacking from the soil first because Primary macronutrients plants use large amounts for their growth and survival? A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the soil, affects availability of Soil pH nutrients in the soil? A tool used to create classes which break the distribution of particle Soil Texture Triangle sizes (soil textures) into 12 categories? How much of the earth’s surface is soil? How much of that can be 25%, 10% used to grow food? Removal of material from one place and its transport elsewhere (by Erosion wind/water)? Arrival of eroded material at a new location? Deposition Major causes of erosion? Overgrazing, Deforestation, Overcultivation (Cropland Agriculture) The expansion of dry lands due to poor agricultural practices, Desertification improper soil moisture management, salinization and erosion, forest removal, and climate change? Gradual increase in salt (ionic compounds) in soil? Salinization Prevention methods for soil exhaustion/degradation on farms? Conservation tillage, crop rotation, contour plowing, strip cropping, terracing Soil: Question & Answer