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Soil Science Final - Quiz

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Quiz on Soil Science Final - Quiz, created by Meagan F on 10/12/2016.
Meagan F
Quiz by Meagan F, updated more than 1 year ago
Meagan F
Created by Meagan F almost 8 years ago
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Resource summary

Question 1

Question
In nature, beneficial mycorrhizae form with the roots of ____.
Answer
  • coniferous trees
  • grasses
  • legumes
  • broad leaf trees
  • all of these

Question 2

Question
The second most important biological process on earth is
Answer
  • photosynthesis
  • nitrogen volatilization
  • sulfur oxidation
  • nitrification
  • none of the above

Question 3

Question
The site of nutrient transfer between a plant and an ectomycorrhizal fungus is called the _____.
Answer
  • arbuscule
  • Hartig net
  • mantle
  • absorptive hyphae

Question 4

Question
Nitrogenase enzyme activity is inhibited by:
Answer
  • high oxygen
  • low available C
  • low pH
  • all of these
  • none of these

Question 5

Question
The site of nutrient transfer between a plant and an endomycorrhizal fungus is called the ____.
Answer
  • arbuscule
  • Hartig net
  • mantle
  • absorptive hypphate

Question 6

Question
Nitrogen fixing bacteria move through a(n) [blank_start]____[blank_end] to the [blank_start]____[blank_end] which are produced by the plant in the cortical cells, where they reproduce and begin to fix nitrogen.
Answer
  • root cortex
  • infection thread
  • stomate
  • nodules
  • stem

Question 7

Question
During symbiotic nitrogen fixation, the plant benefits by:
Answer
  • gaining nitrogen
  • gaining carbon
  • getting protection against pathogens
  • the acidification of the root zone
  • none of the above

Question 8

Question
Ectomycorrhizae:
Answer
  • penetrate the root cortex cells and produce tree-like structures for nutrient exchange with the plant
  • create a net-like structure between root cortex cells and on the outside of the roots
  • create nodules inside root cells where nutrient exchange with the plant takes place
  • kill the roots and reduce plant nutrient uptake

Question 9

Question
[blank_start]___[blank_end] is produced by the [blank_start]___[blank_end] to maintain [blank_start]___[blank_end] levels of [blank_start]___[blank_end] required for nitrogenase activity.
Answer
  • Leghemoglobin
  • Hemoglobin
  • plant
  • bacteria
  • high
  • low
  • carbon dioxide
  • oxygen

Question 10

Question
The main benefit for the plant of having a symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi is:
Answer
  • increased nitrogen availability
  • increased root surface area for nutrient uptake
  • protection against root pathogens
  • increased oxygen in the root for cellular respiration

Question 11

Question
Nitrogen is a component of which essential plant compounds?
Answer
  • chlorophyll
  • enzymes
  • DNA
  • all of the above

Question 12

Question
At low soil pH,
Answer
  • all nutrients are at deficient levels
  • Ca, Mg, and P are at deficient levels, and Al is at toxic levels
  • Most nutrients tend to be at toxic levels
  • Ca, Mg, and P are at toxic levels, and Al is fixed in insoluble compounds
  • All nutrient elements are at levels that support good plant growth

Question 13

Question
Soils in humid climates tend to acidify [blank_start]___[blank_end] than soils in dry climates because there is [blank_start]___[blank_end] leaching of [blank_start]___[blank_end] cations.
Answer
  • faster___
  • slower
  • more
  • less
  • acidic
  • basic

Question 14

Question
Which of the following would not be a liming material?
Answer
  • MgCO₃
  • Ca(OH)₂
  • CaSiO₂
  • CaSO₄
  • All of these are lime

Question 15

Question
The type of microorganism that becomes dominant in the final stage of decomposition and breaks down chitin, cellulose, lignins, and waxes is [blank_start]___[blank_end].
Answer
  • Fungi
  • protists
  • actinomycetes
  • bacteria

Question 16

Question
Predators that help regulate decomposition rate include:
Answer
  • Protists and nematodes
  • Bacteria and fungi
  • Actinomycetes
  • Termites

Question 17

Question
Humus is in which pool of organic matter?
Answer
  • active
  • slow
  • rapid
  • passive

Question 18

Question
The humus pool of soil organic matter
Answer
  • has a C:N of about 10:1
  • decomposes within 1 to 2 years
  • is very stable
  • decomposes within 5 to 10 years

Question 19

Question
Which of the following statements is true about soil organic matter?
Answer
  • It cannot be increased in the soil indefinitely
  • Application to the soil always leads to lots of immediately available nitrogen
  • It breaks down more rapidly is the soil is tilled
  • A and B only
  • A and C only

Question 20

Question
The rate of organic matter decomposition is fastest under which of the following set of conditions?
Answer
  • Acid pH, moist soils, warm temperatures, good aeration, residues left on soil surface
  • Alkaline pH, dry soils, cool temperatures, good aeration, residues incorporated into soil
  • Neutral pH, moist soils, warm temperatures, poor aeration, residues left on soil surface
  • Neutral pH, moist soils, warm temperatures, good aeration, residues incorporated

Question 21

Question
Which of the follow C:N ratios will most likely result in a moderate rate of organic matter breakdown with no short term changes in the soil nitrogen?
Answer
  • 5:1
  • 25:1
  • 100:1
  • 1000:1

Question 22

Question
Long-term tillage tends to reduce the amount of organic matter in a soil because
Answer
  • tillage incorporates residues into the soil
  • tillage reduces soil aeration
  • tillage reduces soil erosion
  • tillage reintroduces oxygen into the soil

Question 23

Question
In aerobic respiration by microbes, [blank_start]___[blank_end] is absorbed, and [blank_start]___[blank_end] is released.
Answer
  • N₂
  • CO₂
  • O₂
  • O₂
  • N₂
  • CO₂

Question 24

Question
Soil organisms that reproduce rapidly and degrade the simple compounds found in fresh organic matter added to the soil are the ___.
Answer
  • fungi
  • rotifers
  • bacteria
  • earthworms

Question 25

Question
An important function of humus is to:
Answer
  • help establish and maintain strong granular soil structure
  • hold onto water very tightly so that only soil microorganisms can use it
  • provide large quantities of quickly available plant nutrients
  • provide easily degradable carbon compounds for soil microorganisms

Question 26

Question
Which of the following management practices would most likely be necessary if growing food crops on Spodosols?
Answer
  • frequent use of soil tillage and conservation
  • use of erosion control measures such as terracing
  • addition of liming agents
  • supplying water through irrigation

Question 27

Question
Gelisols:
Answer
  • are old, deeply weathered soils developed from intrusive volcanic rock
  • contain a permafrost layer within the top 2 meters
  • contain slickensides
  • include all soils with a histic epipedon
  • none of the above

Question 28

Question
Slickensides may be found in:
Answer
  • vertisols
  • mollisols
  • andisols
  • oxisols
  • none of the above

Question 29

Question
Andisols:
Answer
  • are old, deeply weathered soils developed from intrusive volcanic rock
  • contain slickensides
  • form on unstable landscape positions undergoing erosion and deposition
  • contain a permafrost layer within the top 2 meters
  • none of the above

Question 30

Question
Ultisols:
Answer
  • form on unstable landscape positions undergoing erosion and deposition
  • form on old, stable land surfaces in warm humid climates
  • are the most weathered soils
  • contain slickensides

Question 31

Question
The role of soil animals in organic matter decomposition is to:
Answer
  • shred and mix fresh organic matter into the soil
  • decompose waxes and lignins
  • feed on bacteria and fungi

Question 32

Question
The organic matter content of a loam soil declined from 5% to 2% as a result of continued cultivation/tillage. This will result in:
Answer
  • deterioration of soil structure
  • deterioration of soil texture
  • stabilization of soil structure
  • increase in crop yield

Question 33

Question
The majority of nutrient release occurs during the decomposition of:
Answer
  • humus
  • the slow pool of organic matter
  • the active pool of organic matter
  • the passive pool of organic matter

Question 34

Question
The pool of organic matter most impacted by organic matter additions in agriculture is:
Answer
  • humus
  • the slow pool
  • the active pool
  • the passive pool

Question 35

Question
The "active" pool usually makes up less than [blank_start]___[blank_end] percent of the total organic matter in a soil.
Answer
  • 10
  • 1
  • 0.1
  • 0.01

Question 36

Question
Which of the following are characteristics of the majority of microorganisms involved in soil organic matter decomposition?
Answer
  • they get C from CO₂ and energy from oxidation of organic compounds
  • they get C and energy from oxidation of organic compounds
  • they get C from CO₂ and energy from oxidation of inorganic compounds
  • none of the above

Question 37

Question
The basic unit of soil classification is the:
Answer
  • order
  • great group
  • family
  • series

Question 38

Question
Criteria for grouping soils into orders include:
Answer
  • soil forming processes as indicated by the presence or absence of major diagnostic horizons
  • the thickness of major diagnostic horizons
  • soil temperature, mineralogy, and particle size
  • the specific location of the soil

Question 39

Question
The highest level of soil classification is the family.
Answer
  • True
  • False

Question 40

Question
The soil moisture regime that is used in regions where there are cool, moist winters and long, dry summers with drought is called:
Answer
  • udic
  • xeric
  • aridic
  • ustic
  • aquic

Question 41

Question
The warmest soil temperature regime is called:
Answer
  • thermic
  • frigid
  • mesic
  • cryic

Question 42

Question
The Los Osos soil is classified as an Argixeroll. To what soil Order does it belong?
Answer
  • Mollisol
  • Vertisol
  • Gelisol
  • Spodosol
  • Alfisol

Question 43

Question
This soil order commonly forms out of serpentenite parent material and is characterized as having an abundance of smectite clay. It is not good for building on as it swells during wet periods and shrinks during dry periods.
Answer
  • Mollisol
  • Aridisol
  • Alfisol
  • Ultisol
  • Vertisol

Question 44

Question
The State Soil of California, San Joaquin, is classified as a Durixeralf. To what soil Order does it belong?
Answer
  • Mollisol
  • Vertisol
  • Gelisol
  • Spodosol
  • Alfisol

Question 45

Question
Supposing you want to grow corn, soils of which soil order would be best, based on natural fertility?
Answer
  • Mollisol
  • Alfisol
  • Aridisol
  • Entisol
  • Ultisol

Question 46

Question
Which soil order is commonly found on steep backslope landscape positions or in soils where little or no weathering has taken place?
Answer
  • Ultisol
  • Entisol
  • Andisol
  • Alfisol
  • Aridisol

Question 47

Question
Soils in this order are commonly sandy in texture, quite acidic and develop primarily under coniferous trees in cool to cold climates:
Answer
  • Mollisols
  • Andisols
  • Spodosols
  • Alifisols
  • Ultisols

Question 48

Question
A soil on the dry slopes of the Northern Cascades of California is classified as an Xerept. To what soil Order does it belong?
Answer
  • Inceptisol
  • Alfisol
  • Mollisol
  • Ultisol
  • Oxisol

Question 49

Question
Permafrost is:
Answer
  • material that remains below 0 degrees Celsius for more than two consecutive years
  • is permanently frozen
  • a surface horizon developed by frost heaving
  • is found in soils in the Order Histosols
  • none of the above

Question 50

Question
Aridisols often contain which of the following horizons?
Answer
  • mollic
  • histic
  • albic
  • calcic
  • none of the above

Question 51

Question
Vertisols develop from parent materials rich in [blank_start]___[blank_end]
Answer
  • K
  • Ca and Mg
  • Na
  • Na and K

Question 52

Question
Which soil order, containing highly weathered soils composed mainly or iron and aluminum oxide clay, is found in the humid tropics?
Answer
  • Histosol
  • Vertisol
  • Ultisol
  • Oxisol
  • none of the above

Question 53

Question
Soils that are commonly sandy in texture, quite acidic and develop primarily under coniferous trees in cool to cold climates often contain which of the following horizons?
Answer
  • permafrost
  • argillic
  • albic
  • mollic
  • oxic

Question 54

Question
The most dominant soil forming factor for an Aridisol soil would be [blank_start]___[blank_end]
Answer
  • climate
  • parent material
  • time
  • topography
  • vegetation

Question 55

Question
Characteristics of kaolinite clays include:
Answer
  • made up of Fe or Al and O, very little net negative charge, positive charge at low pH, low plasticity, stickiness, and water holding
  • significant substitution in the octahedral, layers weakly held together by cations (highly expansible), CEC of 80-120 cmolc/kg
  • significant substitution in the tetrahedra, layers tightly bound (moderately expansible), CEC of 100-180 cmolc/kg
  • significant substitution in the tetrahedra, potassium ions hold clay layers together tightly (non-expansible), CEC of 20-40 cmolc/kg
  • limited isomorphous substitution, layers are H-bonded (non-expansible), CEC of 2-5 cmolc/kg

Question 56

Question
The main cations found on the cation exchange complex at a soil pH between 6 and 7 are:
Answer
  • Ca, Al, H
  • Ca, Mg, K
  • K, Al(OH), Mg
  • Al, H, K

Question 57

Question
Which of the following will be readily leached from soils because of the properties it has that influence how tightly they are held on the exchange complex of clay?
Answer
  • Al
  • H
  • Ca
  • Na

Question 58

Question
Two major types of soil colloids are:
Answer
  • crystalline silicate clays and humus
  • basic cations and humus
  • crystalline silicate clays and quartz sands
  • primary minerals and secondary minerals
  • quartz sands and humus

Question 59

Question
Cation exchange capacity is
Answer
  • the amount of exchangeable negatively charged ions per unit weight of dry soil
  • the amount of exchangeable negatively charged and neutral ions per unit weight of soil
  • the amount of exchangeable positively charged ions held per unit weight of dry soil
  • the amount of exchangeable H ions per unit weight of dry soil

Question 60

Question
Which cation would you expect to find tightly held in a soil at pH 4.5?
Answer
  • K
  • Ca
  • Na
  • Mg
  • Al

Question 61

Question
The swelling/shrinking tendency of some silicate clay minerals is due primarily to:
Answer
  • the presence of cations attracted by the negative charges on the internal surfaces
  • the movement of water molecules in and out of the interlayers of the crystal
  • varying thickness of the film of water covering the external surface of the particles
  • expansion in the width of the interlayers due to movement of larger ions such as K+
  • the high Mg^2+ contents in the octahedral layers

Question 62

Question
The accumulation or loss of what compounds result in the formation of hydric soil indicators?
Answer
  • iron, manganese, sulfur, or carbon
  • nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium
  • iron, carbon, sulfur, or nitrogen
  • iron, manganese, sulfur, or arsenic

Question 63

Question
Which of the follow is not a characteristic of soil colloids?
Answer
  • very small size
  • high external surfaces
  • electronegativity charges
  • ability to exchange ions with the soil solution
  • low water holding capacity

Question 64

Question
The criteria required to define wetlands are wetland hydrology, hydric soils, and [blank_start]___[blank_end]
Answer
  • water standing on the surface
  • clay subsoils
  • hydrophytic vegetation

Question 65

Question
Conditions required to form hydric soil indicators are elements that reduce, seasonal or permanent water saturation, microorganisms, and [blank_start]___[blank_end]
Answer
  • water standing on the surface
  • an organic carbon source
  • hydrophytic vegetation
  • clay subsoils

Question 66

Question
The diffusion rate of oxygen in water is 10,000 times [blank_start]___[blank_end] than in air.
Answer
  • faster
  • slower

Question 67

Question
Possible ecological consequences of poor soil aeration include:
Answer
  • slow organic matter decomposition
  • release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere
  • reduced plant photosynthesis

Question 68

Question
A major determinant of the aeration status of soils is:
Answer
  • dominant type of clay present
  • pore size and continuity
  • types of wetland plants present
  • presence or absence of carbonates

Question 69

Question
Which type of water includes that which is available to plants?
Answer
  • hygroscopic water
  • capillary water
  • gravitational water
  • free water

Question 70

Question
Water moves through soil to plant roots by:
Answer
  • capillary flow from high to low water potential
  • hygroscopic flow
  • transpiration
  • capillary flow from low to high water potential
  • gravitational flow

Question 71

Question
Water moves further in finer textured soils because:
Answer
  • the granular structure in fine textured soils allows for stronger attraction between water and particles
  • more space between particles causes the bonds of cohesion between water molecules to be stronger
  • there is less space between the particles and the water film is unbroken for longer distances
  • more water is lost by plant transpiration in fine textured soils

Question 72

Question
The bulk of gaseous interchange in soils takes place by:
Answer
  • mass flow
  • differences in the pressure of N gas
  • diffusion of individual gases along their concentration gradients
  • moving as dissolved ions in soil water
  • aerobic respiration

Question 73

Question
Clay soils hold more water but have less PAW than loamy soils because:
Answer
  • there is less gravitational water in clay
  • plant roots cannot grow as well in clay soils
  • more hygroscopic water is held on clay particles
  • loamy soils have smaller pores

Question 74

Question
Sandy soils have less PAW than loamy soils because:
Answer
  • there is less gravitational water in sandy soil
  • plant roots grow better in sandy soils so they use the water faster
  • more hygroscopic water is held on sand particles
  • sandy soils have less surface area

Question 75

Question
Which type of water is not "held" in soils?
Answer
  • hygroscopic
  • gravitational
  • capillary
  • water of cohesion

Question 76

Question
Capillarity in soils:
Answer
  • involves both adhesion and cohesion
  • is enhanced by the symmetrical nature of the water molecule
  • is independent of the matric potential in soils
  • does not account for unsaturated water movement in soils

Question 77

Question
Which type of bond controls retention and movement of water in soils?
Answer
  • capillary
  • covalent
  • pH-dependent
  • hydrogen

Question 78

Question
PAW is highest in soils with the following texture:
Answer
  • sand
  • sandy loam
  • silty clay loam
  • clay

Question 79

Question
The electronegative charge on 2:1 type silicate clays is due primarily to:
Answer
  • ionization of surface OH groups
  • substitution of one metallic atom for another in the crystal structure
  • extremely small size of the individual colloid particles
  • the effect of pH on the presence of H+ ions in the exchange complex
  • the preponderance of tetrahedron sheets compared to octahedron sheets

Question 80

Question
Formation of granular aggregates is aided by:
Answer
  • fungal hyphae
  • fine roots
  • microbial and plant exudates

Question 81

Question
Soils developed from accumulated organic material have which of the following characteristics?
Answer
  • flat, high in clay, and fertile
  • coarse, stony, with fast drainage
  • light, porous, and productive
  • clayey and poorly drained

Question 82

Question
Secondary minerals are not found in:
Answer
  • metamorphic and sedimentary rocks
  • soils and lacustrine sediments
  • soils and sedimentary rocks
  • igneous rocks and the atmosphere
  • soils and metamorphic rocks

Question 83

Question
Compared to silt, clay-sized particles are characterized by:
Answer
  • greater attraction for water
  • greater proportion of primarily minerals
  • less attraction for water
  • less capacity to hold nutrients in plant-available forms

Question 84

Question
Fine sand and smaller particles move parallel to the ground and upward by:
Answer
  • Creep
  • Flow
  • Suspension
  • Turbulence
  • Saltation

Question 85

Question
Which of the following would NOT reduce water erosion by controlling soil detachment?
Answer
  • barriers
  • stubble mulching
  • conservation tillage
  • cover crops
  • no-till farming practices

Question 86

Question
Causes of soil erosion include:
Answer
  • over-harvesting timberland
  • overgrazing rangeland
  • fire
  • poor farming practices

Question 87

Question
Terracing is a means of reducing [blank_start]___[blank_end]
Answer
  • soil transport by wind
  • soil detachment
  • soil transport by water
  • soil saltation in wind

Question 88

Question
When water concentrates in small channels as it runs from the soil surface, it is called [blank_start]___[blank_end] erosion.
Answer
  • gully
  • wind
  • rill
  • sheet

Question 89

Question
The majority of soil particle movement during wind erosion occurs as:
Answer
  • Creep
  • Flow
  • Suspension
  • Turbulence
  • Saltation

Question 90

Question
The total global soil lost through erosion is generally greater from [blank_start]___[blank_end] erosion.
Answer
  • gully
  • rill
  • sheet
  • wind

Question 91

Question
Land degradation includes which of the following effects on soil?
Answer
  • decline in soil structure
  • reduced microbial biomass
  • salinization

Question 92

Question
Sulfuric acid can be used instead of gypsum to reclaim sodic soils that contain:
Answer
  • a high buffering capacity
  • free NaCO₃
  • free CaCO₃
  • a high CEC

Question 93

Question
The exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP):
Answer
  • predicts soil pH by indicating the amount of sodium there is in the soil in relation to the H ions on the exchange complex
  • predicts soil CEC by calculating the amount of sodium there is on the exchange complex
  • expresses the ratio of sodium to aluminum in the octahedral sheet of 2:1 clays
  • indicates the hazard of sodium-induced soil dispersion

Question 94

Question
Under what precipitation-to-ET conditions would the most severe soil salinization develop?
Answer
  • Ratio of 0.25
  • Ratio of 0.75
  • Ratio of 1.25
  • Ratio of 2.25

Question 95

Question
Your soil begins to disperse and crop yields decline several years after you start irrigating your garden plot. Which of the following would most likely account for this situation?
Answer
  • high content of Ca and Mg in the irrigation water
  • high content of Na in the irrigation water
  • excessive drainage of the soil
  • high gypsum content in the soil

Question 96

Question
Sodic soils generally have a poor physical condition. This is most likely due to:
Answer
  • low OM content
  • dispersal of the Na saturated soil colloids
  • impact of raindrops on the soil surface
  • precipitation of the Ca and Mg ions as carbonates
  • high content of smectite in the soils

Question 97

Question
Techniques for managing saline soils include:
Answer
  • keeping the plant root zone wet during sensitive crop stages
  • adding CaCO₃ to replace the Na on the exchange complex
  • applying excess water to increase leaching

Question 98

Question
Overliming:
Answer
  • may occur on coarse-textured soils with low OM
  • may result in NH₃ volatilization if NH₄ is present
  • may result in Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, P, and B deficiencies

Question 99

Question
The major role of potassium in plants is:
Answer
  • as part of the chlorophyll molecule
  • regulating cellular respiration
  • energy storage
  • regulating the opening and closing of stomates

Question 100

Question
Organic forms of P make up about [blank_start]___[blank_end] of total P in the soil.
Answer
  • 98%
  • 50%
  • 25%
  • 1%

Question 101

Question
Available forms of potassium in the soil usually make up about [blank_start]___[blank_end] of total potassium.
Answer
  • 95-98%
  • 25-50%
  • 10%
  • 0.1-2%

Question 102

Question
The process of [blank_start]___[blank_end] releases soluble nitrogen as the result of the breakdown of nitrogen-rich organic compounds.
Answer
  • nitrification
  • denitrification
  • symbiosis
  • volatilization
  • mineralization

Question 103

Question
[blank_start]___[blank_end] is the process of reduction of NO₃₋ to nitrogen gas by microorganisms under [blank_start]___[blank_end] soil conditions.
Answer
  • Nitrification
  • Denitrification
  • Volatilization
  • Mineralization
  • aerobic
  • anaerobic
  • acidic
  • alkaline

Question 104

Question
A pH in the range of [blank_start]___[blank_end] is when phosphorus is most available to plants.
Answer
  • 3.5-4.5
  • 4.5-5.5
  • 5.5-7.0
  • 7.0-8.0
  • >8.0

Question 105

Question
The highly mobile form of N, which is the main source of N for plants, is:
Answer
  • NH₃
  • NH₄
  • NO₃
  • N₂

Question 106

Question
The nutrient most limiting for growing food crops in the world is [blank_start]___[blank_end].
Answer
  • phosphorus
  • carbon
  • nitrogen
  • potassium
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