Soils Lecture 1

Question 1

What are the properties of the “A” horizon?

Answer 1

• A is the TOPSOIL
• Dark do to to OM-
• Leaching of iron, Clay, and other minerals (eluviation)
• Primary ROOT ZONE
• High in micro organisms
• An AP horizon is one that has been plowed (often contains some of the B horizon)

Question 2

What are the properties of the “E” horizon?

Answer 2

• E for ELUVIATION
• Lighter colored zone beneath the A horizon
• OM, clay, iron, etc. has leached out
• Zone of GREATEST ELUVATION
• Most often found in high sand soils
• Not found in all soils

Question 3

What are the properties of the “O” horizon?

Answer 3

• O for Organic Material

- Some of the leaves and recognizable litter as well as the duff (the unrecognizable OM)

Question 4

Solum

Answer 4

• A, E, & B horizons
• where most soil forming occurs
• also where nearly allroot growth occurs

Question 5

What are the properties of the “B” Horizon?

Answer 5

• subsoil
• zone of illuviation (or accumulation)
• low OM
• higher clay and iron
• when clays have substantially illuviated here it is named Bt
• hardpans can form here

Question 6

What are the properties of the “C” horizon?

Answer 6

C is for zone of parent material – usually with some fragments of partially weathered bedrock (or little changed glacial till) – taprooted plants and prairie species may root here

Question 7

What are the properties of the “R” horizon?

Answer 7

R is for rock – bedrock or parent material unaffected by weathering and with very little
root affect

Question 8

What are the properties of an “Ap” horizon?

Answer 8

Land that has been plowed

Question 9

Capillary Action

Answer 9

-water will climb a very narrow tube on its own
because of the pull of water tension
-this allows trees to get water to great
heights and blood to flow through our smallest blood vessels
-water tension also helps to hold clay together so tightly

Question 10

Loam

Answer 10

-a mix of nearly equal amounts of the three soil texture characteristics (sand, silt, clay)

Question 11

Soil Tilth

Answer 11

Tilth is technically defined as the physical condition of soil as related to its ease of tillage, fitness of seedbed, and impedance to seedling emergence and root
penetration.

Question 12

Friable

Answer 12

a description of how crumbly a soil is

Question 13

Tilth

Answer 13

health of a soil based on its structure, looseness, and potential of root penetration

Question 14

Loam

Answer 14

a suitable mix of sand, silt, and clay

Question 15

Leaching

Answer 15

loss of minerals in a horizon by water action

Question 16

Eluviation

Answer 16

particles or minerals EXITING a soil horizon

Question 17

Illuviation

Answer 17

particles or minerals moving INTO a soil horizon

Question 18

Humus

Answer 18

unrecognizable organic matter

Question 19

Solum

Answer 19

the A and B Horizons

Question 20

Porosity

Answer 20

open space in soils for water or air

Question 21

Salinization

Answer 21

build up of salts in soil

Question 22

Decomposition

Answer 22

break down of complex mater into simpler (usable compounds)

Question 23

Mineralization

Answer 23

breaking Organic matter into usable mineral nutrients

Question 24

Soil Tilth

Answer 24

Tilth is technically defined as the physical condition of soil as related to its
-ease of tillage
-fitness of seedbed
-impedance to seedling emergence and root
penetration.

Question 25

The health of a soil based on its structure, looseness, and potential of root penetration is called ______.

Answer 25

Tilth

Question 26

The process of breaking organic matter into usable mineral nutrients is called _______.

Answer 26

Mineralization

Question 27

The process of breaking down complex mater into simpler (usable compounds) is know as _______.

Answer 27

Decomposition

Question 28

Test Q: Roots require what one thing that most people don't realize?

Answer 28

Oxygen

Question 29

Test Q: Distinct layers in soil are known as?

Answer 29

Horizons

Question 30

Test Q: What element is the principle component of organic matter and is the basis of all organic life?

Answer 30

Carbon

Question 31

Test Q: Name two purposes or uses for soil besides growing crops.

Answer 31

Filtering water, Building on...

Question 32

Test Q: Why does clay get so sticky and hold together so well?

Answer 32

* It's made up of tiny flat particles that have a lot of surface area * It has electrical charges that hold particles together * It holds water better than silt or sand

Question 33

Soil Mottling

Answer 33

Irregular marked spots in the soil profile that vary in color, size and number. EX: Reddish iron spots

Question 34

Test Q: Mottling in a soil is an indication of what?

Answer 34

The soil is not well drained

Question 35

Test Q: Which of the following layers may not be in very many soils?

Answer 35

An E that is light colored

Question 36

Test Q: When doing the ribbon test to soil, a ribbon consisting of 4 inches tells you the soil has a lot of?

Answer 36

Clay

Question 37

Test Q: Which habitat should you find the deepest and richest A horizon in?

Answer 37

A Prairie

Question 38

``` Test Q: Which of these will settle out of a soil and water solution first? • Silt •Clay •Organic Matter •Sand ```

Answer 38

Sand

Question 39

Test Q: Mycorrizae are ....?

Answer 39

Fungi hairs that have a symbiotic relationship with plants

Question 40

Test Q: The perfect combination of sand, silt, and clay in soil is known as ...?

Answer 40

Loam

Question 41

Test Q: In the day plants produce oxygen by photosynthesis, what do they do at night?

Answer 41

Respire, take in oxygen and and give out Carbon Dioxide

Question 42

Test Q: On a fertilizer bag the N-P-K content tells you what?

Answer 42

It has Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium