39 Questions
What is a common misconception about soils in the humid tropics?
Soils in the humid tropics are uniformly poor in fertility due to the lack of vegetation.
What were the findings regarding soil fertility when forests were cut in the humid tropics for crop cultivation?
Yields were disappointingly low, leading to the realization that soil fertility is low and easily lost by cultivation.
Which term is used to describe the practice of cutting down forests and planting crops in tropical regions?
Permanent agriculture
What is a characteristic feature of Oxisols?
Highly weathered soil profile
Which statement best describes the distribution of Oxisols globally?
They occur mainly in tropical regions.
What is a challenge associated with maintaining soil fertility in tropical regions?
Easily lost soil fertility due to intensive cultivation practices.
What is a misconception about soil fertility in tropical regions?
Maintaining soil fertility in tropical regions is easy and does not require special attention.
'Slash and burn' agriculture is commonly associated with which type of land use change?
'Slash and burn' agriculture results in deforestation for crop cultivation.
'Maintaining soil fertility in the tropics can be challenging primarily due to:
'Slash and burn' agriculture practices causing quick loss of soil fertility.
What is a characteristic of Oxisols?
Low soil fertility (nitrogen)
How are Oxisols distributed globally?
Extensive areas in Africa and South America
What is the main purpose of slash and burn agriculture?
To use fire to clear land for cultivation
Which practice involves leaving the land fallow to restore soil fertility?
Shifting cultivation
Which agricultural practice requires inputs like manure, inorganic fertilizers, compost, and lime?
Permanent agriculture
What does the term 'steady state' in soil refer to?
A state where inputs match outputs
In the context of agricultural ecosystems, what is one of the sources of inputs for maintaining soil fertility?
(BNF) Symbiotic and non-symbiotic fixation
'Slash and burn' agriculture contributes to soil fertility through:
(BNF) Non-symbiotic fixation gains
'Maintaining soil fertility' typically involves:
(BNF) Atmospheric deposition and mineral weathering
'Permanent agriculture' emphasizes on:
Continuous inputs such as manure and lime
Which soil order is characterized by being permanently frozen?
Gelisols
What is the main distinguishing feature of Histosols?
Consists of organic material
Which soil order is associated with volcanic origins?
Andisols
In which type of climate are Aridisols typically found?
Dry climates
What is a characteristic feature of Spodosols?
Contains wood ashes
What is a common characteristic of Entisols?
Too dry for major soil horizon development
Which soil order is known for its association with strongly leached soils?
Aridisols
Which of the following is a typical feature of Aridisols?
May have salt within 1 meter depth
What is the role of a living, biological crust in desert ecosystems?
Formed by algae, moss, and lichens
In what type of deserts are Aridisols commonly found?
Cool temperate deserts and warm deserts
What is a characteristic feature of Andisols?
Presence of sodium enriched clay horizon
What is one of the causes of desert pavement formation?
Weathering of surface rocks
What is the main process that leads to the buildup of salts in desert soils?
Evaporation of irrigation water
Which type of soil is most vulnerable to salinization due to the process of flood irrigation?
Andisols
What human activity contributes significantly to the process of desertification?
Fuelwood extraction
Which factor is a major cause of desertification according to the text?
Overgrazing by livestock
What is the primary cause of dispersion and loss of structure in desert soils?
Sodium content
Which type of soil would most likely be found in regions experiencing desertification?
Aridisols
What is a common consequence of soil salinization resulting from irrigation practices?
Buildup of toxic trace elements
How do desert soils become too salty to support plant growth?
As a result of sodium dispersion
Explore the differences and similarities between tropical and temperate soils in terms of climate, soil formation, rock types, erosional patterns, volcanic ash deposits, and soil age. Learn about the unique characteristics that distinguish these two soil types.
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