| Term/Question | Definition/Answer |
| What are most residual soils made of? | Parent material |
| What soil texture holds the most water?
Which soil texture has drainage problems?
Which soil texture has the best aeration? | Silt loam;
Clay;
Sand |
| What is decomposed organic matter called?
What element is organic matter mostly made of? | Humus;
Carbon |
| What are two benefits earthworms provide to soils? | Improve aeration;
Improve soil aggregation;
Improve nutrient dynamics |
| Peat is mostly made up of organic matter, why is it the first choice for potted plants? | Value of organic matter;
Holds water and has better aeration at the same time |
| Why is hot soil in summer a concern? | Root growth;
Seed germination;
Plants have a specific growing temperature, and if the soil is to high for that temperature, root growth and seed germination will be a problem. |
| What species of microbe lives in legume nodules and provide Nitrogen? | Rhizobium bacteria |
| what beneficial fungi helps absorb nutrients like phosphorus? | Mychorrizae |
| What are the ways that parent materials were transported? | Till (glacial/ice);
Alluvial/Alluvium (Water);
Colluvial/Colluvium (Gravity);
Eolian (wind deposit) |
| Why is the soil color in South-Western Kansas Red? | Iron |
| What type of soil that most like cottage cheese? | granular |
| What are the benefits of a soil with a high CEC (cation exchange capacity)? | higher number of more nutrients able to be held and stored |
| How do plant obtain elements such as Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), and Oxygen(O)? | Photosynthesis |
| Soil Horizons? | O, A, E, B, C, R |
| O Horizon | 100% organic matter |
| A Horizon | organic matter/sand, silt, clay;
high biological activity |
| E Horizon | leaching removed materials;
may or may not be there depending on leaching conditions; |
| B Horizon | subsoils |
| C Horizon | partly altered parent material |
| R Horizon | consolidated bedrock |
| What are the 5 soil forming factors? | Parent Material;
Climate;
Topography;
Biosphere/organisms;
Time |
| What are 2 benefits that manure and cover crops provide? | Organic Matter;
Nutrients;
increased soil microbial activity |
| What are some strategies to block wind erosion?
What are some strategies to block water erosion? | Tree line, shelter belt/windbreak;
Terraces |
| What are some concerns about soil crusts? | Restricted Emergence;
Reduces Oxygen;
Water Infiltration |
| Compaction causes what to happen to % of porosity?
Compaction causes what to happen to the bulk density? | % Porosity - Decreases;
Bulk Density - Increases |
| What can you do to prevent soil compaction? | Stay off wet soils;
No-till;
Drive in same wheel tracks;
muliple axles vs duels |
| What is the primary purpose of the plow? | lower water table below root zone |
| What are two reason soil pH of 6.5-7 are the most desired pH levels? | Where most nutrients most available;
Toxicity;
Nutrient Availability |
| What are 2 soil propertied damaged by tillage? | Organic Matter;
Structure/Aggregates;
Water Content/Infiltration;
Surface Residue |
| What chemical problem can be solved by adding lime to the soil? | raise the soil pH |
| What chemical problem can cause crusting?
What can be added to solve the problem? | Sodic soils;
gypsum solves the problem |
