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SOILS
Chapter one
117
Agriculture
Undergraduate 4
01/18/2012

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Term
List 6 major functions of soils in the ecosystem. What specific roles do soils have in each of these?
Definition
1) Supports the growth of higher plants by providing a medium for plant roots and supplying nutrient elements that are essential to the entire plant.
2) Soil properties are the principal factor controlling the fate of water in the hydrologic system. Water loss, utilization, contamination, and purification are affected by soil.
3) Soil functions as nature's recycling system. Within the soil, waste products and dead body of plants, animals, and people are assimilated, and their basic elements are made available for reuse by the next generation of life.
4) Solis provide habitats for a myriad of living organisms, from small mammals and reptiles to tiny insects to microscopic cells of unimaginable numbers and diversity.
5) Soils markedly influence the composition and physical condition of the atmosphere by taking up and releasing large quantities of carbon dioxide, oxygen, methane, and other gases and by contributing dust and re-radiated heat an engineering medium.
6) In human built ecosystems, soil plays an important role as an engineering medium. Soil is not only an important building material in the form of earth fill and bricks (baked soil material), but provides the foundation for virtually every road, airport, and house we build.
Term
What is meant by "soils are the foundation of all societies"?
Definition
because the quality of the soil determines the nature of plant ecosystems and the capacity of land to support animals and society.
Term
What is the major function of micro organisms in the soil?
Definition
Decomposition (mineralization) of organic compounds.
Term
This considers soils as a natural entity, a biochemically weathered and synthesized product of nature. Soil genesis and development, profile formation, classification and description are studied.
A) Pedology
B) Edaphology
Definition
A) Pedology
Term
This is the study of soils from the standpoint of higher plants. Emphasis is placed on the role of soil in plant production.
A) Pedology
B) Edaphology
Definition
B) Edaphology
Term
What are secondary minerals?
Definition
Minerals resulting from the decomposition of primary minerals or from the reprecipitation of the products of decomposition of primary minerals.
Term
What is a soil profile?
Definition
A vertical section of the soil through all its horizons and extending into the parent material.
Term
What is soil structure?
Definition
The combination or arrangement of primary soil particles into secondary particles, units or pads. These secondary units may be, but usually are not, arranged in the profile in such a manner as to give a distinctive characteristic pattern. The secondary units are characterized and classified on the basis of size, shape, and degree of distinctness into classes, types, and grades, respectively.
Term
What is regolith?
Definition
The unconsolidated mantle of weathered rock and soil material on the Earth's surface; loose earth materials above solid rock.
Term
Define sand?
Definition
A soil particle between 0.05 and 2.0 mm in diameter; a soil textural class.
Term
What are soil colloids?
Definition
Organic and inorganic matter with very small particle size and a correspondingly large surface area per unit of mass.
Term
What is saprolite?
Definition
Soft, friable, weathered bedrock that retains the fabric and structure of the parent rock but is porous and can be dug with a spade.
Term
What is a solum?
Definition
The upper and most weathered part of the soil profile; the A, E, and B horizons.
Term
What is furrow slice?
Definition
The uppermost layer of an arable soil to the depth of primary tillage; the layer of soil sliced away from the rest of the profile and inverted by a moldboard plow.
Term
What is silt?
Definition
A soil separate consisting of particles between 0.05 and 0.002 mm in equivalent diameter; a soil textural class.
Term
Define soil productivity?
Definition
The capacity of a soil for producing a specified plant or sequence of plants under a specified system of management. Productivity emphasizes the capacity of soil to produce crops and should be expressed in terms of yields.
Term
What is soil solution?
Definition
The aqueous liquid phase of the soil and its solutes, consisting of ions dissociated from the surfaces of the soil particles and of other soluble materials.
Term
What is humus?
Definition
The more or less stable fraction of the soil organic matter remaining after the major portions of added plant and animal residues have decomposed. Usually it is dark in color.
Term
The capacity of a specific kind of soil to function, within natural or managed ecosystem boundaries, to sustain plant and animal productivity, maintain or enhance water and air quality, and support human health and habitation.
A) Soil texture
B) Soil solution
C) Soil resilience
D) Soil quality
Definition
D) Soil Quality
Term
Define soil texture?
Definition
The relative proportions of the various soil separates in a soil.
Term
What is soil resilience?
Definition
The capacity of a soil to return to its original state after disturbance.
Term
What is clay?
Definition
A soil separate consisting of particles <0.002 mm in equivalent diameter; a soil textural class containing >40% clay, <45% sand, and <40% silt.
Term
What is meant by soil horizon?
Definition
A layer of soil, approximately parallel to the soil surface, differing in properties and characteristics from adjacent layers below or above it.
Term
What is meant by soil fertility?
Definition
The quality of a soil that enables it to provide essential chemical elements in quantities and proportions for the growth of specified plants.
Term
Define the term "soil separates".
Definition
The mineral fractions of a soil, other than gravel and stones that have been divided into groups according to size.
Term
What is the major difference between the International and the USDA systems for classifying soil particles?
Definition
The average sand size in the International system is between 2.0 to 0.02 mm compared to the US average between 2.0 to 0.05 mm.
Term
A particle falls in a viscous medium with an increasing velocity until the downward force is just balanced by the frictional resistance, after which the particle falls with a uniform velocity is the definition of what?
Definition
Stokes Law
Term
Which method is used to separate particles with diameters less than 0.05 mm?
A) Sieving
B) Sedimentation
Definition
B) sedimentation
Term
Which method is used to segregate soil particles larger than 0.05 mm?
A) Sieving
B) Sedimentation
Definition
A) Sieving
Term
The analytical procedure by which the various sized particles are separated is referred to as:
Definition
Particle-Size Analysis or Mechanical Analysis.
Term
What are the 4 major components (by volume) of a representative loam surface soil?
Definition
Mineral (45%)
Air (20-30%)
Water (20-30%)
Organic (5%)
Term
What is the range of particle size for sand in the USDA system?
A) 2.0 to 0.02 mm in diamater
B) 2.0 to 0.05 mm in diameter
C) 2.5 to 0.05 mm in diameter
D) 0.05 to 0.002 mm in diameter
Definition
B) 2.0 to 0.05 mm in diamater
Term
What is the range of particle size for silt in the USDA system?
A) 2.0 to 0.02 mm in diamater
B) 2.0 to 0.05 mm in diameter
C) 2.5 to 0.05 mm in diameter
D) 0.05 to 0.002 mm in diameter
Definition
D) 0.05 to 0.002 mm in diameter
Term
What is the range of particle size for clay in the USDA system?
A) less than 0.002 mm in diameter
B) less than 0.05 mm in diameter
C) less than 0.02 mm in diameter
D) less than 0.005 mm in diameter.
Definition
A) less than 0.002 mm in diameter
Term
What amount of land do we have in the world?
Definition
32.5 billion acres
Term
How much land in our world is potentially arable?
Definition
8 billion acres (app 25%)
Term
How much land in our world is actually cultivated?
Definition
3.6 billion acres (app 11%)
Term
What percentage of land area in Europe is used in cultivation?
Definition
79%
Term
What percentage of land area in Asia is used in cultivation?
Definition
73%
Term
What are the 4 functions of soils?
Definition
1) Medium for plant roots
2) Regulates water supplies
3) Habitat for soil organisms
4) Recycler of raw materials
Term
T/F Half of plant weight is below ground.
Definition
T
Term
What type of soil holds the most water?
A) Fine textured clays
B) Loams; medium textured soils
C) Sands; coarse textured soils.
Definition
A) Fine textured clays
Term
What type of soil holds the most plant available water?
A) Fine textured clays
B) Loams; medium textured soils
C) Sands; coarse textured soils.
Definition
B) Loams; medium textured soils
Term
What type of soil holds the least amount of soil water?
A) Fine textured clays
B) Loams; medium textured soils
C) Sands; coarse textured soils.
Definition
C) Sands; coarse textured soils
Term
What improves water/air balance in soils?
A) Minerals
B) Organic matter
C) Sodium
D) Lohse
Definition
B) Organic matter
Term
(Soil Fauna/Soil Flora) are macro and micro animals.
Definition
Soil Fauna
Term
(Soil Fauna/Soil Flora) are plant roots and microorganisms.
Definition
Soil Flora
Term
Microbes convert organic waste into ___________ providing useable plant nutrients.
A) minerals
B) carbon
C) humus
D) Biota
Definition
C) Humus
Term
Is most soil in Missouri mineral or organic?
Definition
mineral
Term
What percentage of of organic matter is contained in mineral soils?
Definition
<20%
Term
Mineral soils contain what percentage of organic matter?
A) <5%
B) < 20%
C) < 35%
D) < 50%
Definition
B) <20%
Term
When soils recycle raw materials what does it return back into the atmosphere?
A) carbon
B) oxygen
C) moisture
Definition
A) Carbon
Term
Organic soils contain what percentage of organic material?
A) >5%
B) >10%
C) >20%
D >40%
Definition
C) >20%
Term
(Organic Soils/Mineral Soils) is usually associated with high soil water conditions.
Definition
Organic Soils
Term
What is the "Ideal" percentage of mineral matter in a mineral soil?
A) 25%
B) 35%
C) 45%
D) 55%
Definition
C) 45%
Term
What is the "Ideal" percentage of organic matter in a mineral soil?
A) 0%
B) 5%
C) 15%
D) 35%
Definition
B) 5%
Term
What is the ideal percentage of pore space in a mineral soil?
A) 25%
B) 50%
C) 75%
D) 100%
Definition
B) 50%
Term
_____% of soil water and ______% of soil air is an "ideal" pore space for mineral soil.
Definition
25%, 25%
Term
Do larger or smaller particles settle out the quickest?
Definition
larger
Term
What is meant by constituents?
Definition
Chemically or physically modified or destroyed soil.
Term
(Transformations/Translocations) is the movement of inorganic and organic material.
Definition
Translocations
Term
(T/F) Translocations occur vertically and laterally at different times.
Definition
False. They occur at the same time.
Term
What is biota?
Definition
Living organisms in soil
Term
What are wind blown sediments called?
A) Biota
B) Eolian
C) Drifting
Definition
B) Eolian
Term
What are 4 ways soils can be added to?
Definition
1) Inputs from outside sources
2) Fallen plant leaves
3) Degrading roots
4) Wind blown
Term
What are 4 ways soil are lost?
Definition
1) Leaching
2) Erosion of surface
3) Evaporation
4) Mibrobrial breakdown of organic compounds
Term
Volcanic; molten magna. Have lots of silicone in it.
A) Igneous Rock
B) Sedimentary Rock
C) Metamorphic Rock
Definition
A) Igneous
Term
Materials that weathered form other rocks that glue back together. Most of our rocks in Southwest Missouri are these (limestone, sandstone, and shale).
A) Igneous Rock
B) Sedimentary Rock
C) Metamorphic Rock
Definition
B) Sedimentary
Term
These rocks have been changed; usually by pressure and temperature below Earth's surface. Very difficult to weather.
A) Igneous Rock
B) Sedimentary Rock
C) Metamorphic Rock
Definition
C) Metamorphic
Term
On a 1-10 scale of mineral hardness which is a diamond?
Definition
10
Term
On a 1-10 scale of mineral hardness which is a Gypsum?
Definition
1
Term
(Physical/Chemical) weathering is a breakdown of rocks into smaller sizes without a change in composition.
Definition
Physical
Term
Name 4 types of physical breakdown that occurs.
Definition
1)Temperature
2) Shrink/Swell
3) Erosion
4) Plant roots, Earthworms and Microbes
Term
(T/F) The most intense chemical weathering occurs in the desert Southwest because of the intense heat and dry air.
Definition
False The most intense chemical weathering occurs in the Southeast and tropics where there is high humidity and temperatures.
Term
What day is Groundhog Day?
Definition
Feb 2nd.
Term
What can you use to identify Hydrolysis?
Definition
OH
Term
How can you identify hydration?
Definition
the half division sign is in the equation.
Term
Rate these minerals in order from easiest weathered to hardest to weather on the MOH's Hardness Scale:
-Iron/magnesium minerals
-quartz
-iron and aluminum oxides
-sulfates, chlorides, nitrates
-carbonates
-silicate clays
-sodium, calcium, potassium silicates
Definition
1) sulfates, chlorides, nitrates
2) carbonates
3) iron/magnesium minerals
4) sodium, calcium, potassium silicates
5) quartz
6) silicate clays
7) iron and aluminum oxides
Term
Name the 5 main factors of Soil Formation.
Definition
1) Parent materials
2) Climate
3) Biota
4) Topography
5) Time
Term
This is the unconsolidated and more or less chemically weathered mineral or organic matter from which the solum of soils is developed.
Definition
Parent Material
Term
This is the part of the soil profile that is more weathered; where the roots are above the solid rock.
A) Biota
B) Solum
C) Eolian
D) Sedentary
Definition
B) Solum
Term
Color, texture and structure are:
A) Inherited Soil Properties
B) Acquired Soil Properties
Definition
A) Inherited Soil Properties
Term
Clay accumulation, organic matter, and drainage characteristics are:
A) Inherited Soil PropertIes
B) Acquired Soil PropertIes
Definition
B) Acquired Soil ProperTies
Term
________ are found mostly in cool wet areas.
Definition
Peats
Term
What is meant by residual parent material?
Definition
It is the rock that hasn't moved.
Term
Define sedentary.
Definition
weathered in place
Term
What is meant by transported parent material?
Definition
parent material that has been moved
Term

This means "moved by gravity".

A) Hydrostatic +

B) Flaculating Agents

C) Colluvial

D) Bulk Density

E) Buffering

 

 

Definition
C) Colluvial
Term
This is where sediments settle out when stream changes in elevation.
A) Estuaries
B) Deltas
C) Alluvial Fans
D)Flood Plains
Definition
C) Alluvial Fans
Term
This is where water becomes stagnant and has very high clay content.
A) Estuaries
B) Deltas
C) Flood Plains
D) Alluvial Fans
Definition
A) Estuaries
Term
This is deposits formed from melting glaciers.
A) Glacial Till
B) Lacustrine
C) Lateral
D) Recessional
Definition
B) Lacustrine
Term
How many years ago did the Pleistocene Ice Age happen?
A) 50,000,000-500,000,000 years ago
B) 25,000-100,000 years ago
C) 100,000-10,000,000 years ago
D) 1.2 billion - 1.7 billion years ago.
Definition
C) 100,000-10,000,000 years ago
Term
This percent of the world's land mass has been covered by ice.
A) 10%
B) 20%
C) 40%
D) 75%
Definition
B) 20%
Term
How many glacier advances in ice have been recognized in the U.S.?
A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5
Definition
C) 4
Term
What are the 3 major types of Moraines?
Definition
Terminal, recessional, and lateral
Term
This occurs when ice stops melting?
A) Terminal
B) Recessional
C) Lateral
Definition
C) Lateral
Term
This means bulldozed in front?
A) Terminal
B) Recessional
C) Lateral
Definition
A) Terminal
Term
This is when deposits by melted glaciers is moved much further south.
A) Glacial Drift
B) Eskers
C) Glacial Deposits
D) Glacier Till
Definition
A) Glacial Drift
Term
This is silt size materials. This is very beneficial and much of Missouri has this in their soils (especially in East side of Missouri).
A) Aerosolic dust
B) Kames
C) Loess
D) Eskers
Definition
C) Loess
Term
This is dust that our cars get covered with after a rain.
A) Volcanic Dust
B) Aerosolic Dust
C) Loess
D) Kames
Definition
B) Aerosolic Dust
Term
This is the "Organic layer" in various stages of decomposition. It is above the horizon.
A) O
B) A
C) E
D) B
E) C
F) R
Definition
A) O
Term
This is the top most mineral horizon. Dark colored and mixed with organic material.
A) O
B) A
C) E
D) B
E) C
F) R
Definition
B) A
Term
This is the zone of maximum eluviation (washed out). Lateral or downward movement of dissolved or suspended material in soil water.
A) O
B) A
C) E
D) B
E) C
F) R
Definition
C) E
Term
This is the zone of maximum illuviation (washed in). Deposition of colloids, soluble material, and particles to an underlying soil layer.
A) O
B) A
C) E
D) B
E) C
F) R
Definition
D) B
Term
This is unconsolidated non-weathered materials (always parent material).
A) O
B) A
C) E
D) B
E) C
F) R
Definition
E) C
Term
This is consolidated rock (bedrock).
A) O
B) A
C) E
D) B
E) C
F) R
Definition
F) R
Term
How are subdivisions of Master Horizons represented?
Definition
By a number following the master horizon symbol. Example: A1
Term
What are transition horizons?
Definition
Horizons containing mixed properties of two other layers within the profile. It is represented by 2 capital letter (AE, AB, etc).
Term
What are subordinate horizons?
Definition
Indicate modifications within master horizons. They are represented by lower case letters following major horizon designations.
Term
What was used to stain the materials that contained potassium in our lab experiment?
A) Hydrofluoric acid
B) Sodium Cobalti Nitrate
Definition
Term
Dissolution, hydrolysis, and hydration are terms describing:
A) chemical weathering reactions involving water
b) physical weathering reactions
C) Reactions illustrating the "disintegration or mechanical" weathering on parent materials.
D) Structural weathering changes in rocks and minerals
E) Answer b and d are both correct.
Definition
A) chemical weathering reactions involving water
Term
The following is NOT associated with glacial deposits.
A) Till
B) Kames and Eskers
C) Moraines
D) Outwash Plains
E) None (all of the above are found)
Definition
E) all of the above are found
Term
The following statement is true concerning the soil profile:

A) an "ideal" soil profile should contain equal amounts of organic and mineral matter
B) Clay content is higher in surface horizons
C) Sand, silt and clay contents are always equal.
D) Soil, water and air are inversely related (i.e. high water: low air; low water: high air contents) in soils.
Definition
D) Soil, water and air are inversely related (i.e. high water: low air; low water: high air contents) in soils.
Term
A 0.015 mm(diameter) silt particle setting in water to a depth of 6 cm would require:
A) 0.014 seconds
B) 2.4 seconds
C) 27.2 seconds
D) 264 seconds
E) 2963 seconds
Definition
D) 264 seconds
Term
The following statement describes weathering in soils.

A) Higher rainfall increases the rate of chemical weathering reactions.
B) Harder minerals (based on Moh's scale) weather faster than softer materials.
C) Physical weathering reactions dominate in low rainfall-high temperature areas.
D )Soil properties inherited from parent materials are usually found during the early stages of soil development.
E) All answers, but "B" are correct.
Definition
E) All answers, but "B" are correct.
Term
How many separate invasions of ice happened in the U.S. during the Pleistocene Ice Age?
A) 2
B) 0
C) 6
D) 4
E) 5
Definition
D) 4
Term

Solutions containing the aluminum ions (Al3+) are what?

A) Colluvial

B) Hydrostatic +

C)Bulk Density

D) Buffering

E) Flaculating Agent

Definition
E) Flaculating Agents
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