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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of humus in soil?
Which term describes the movement of water into soil?
Which of the following statements about macronutrients and micronutrients is true?
What does soil aeration refer to?
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Which process results in nutrients being removed from the soil due to water movement?
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What does pH measure in soil?
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Which layer of soil is primarily composed of decomposed organic matter?
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What does soil compaction do to soil properties?
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What is the definition of topsoil?
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Which type of soil is characterized by high clay content that shrinks and swells with moisture changes?
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What is the process of removing soil material from one layer and transporting it to another known as?
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Which of the following describes biochar?
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What does bulk density refer to in soil science?
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Which factor does NOT influence soil formation?
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What is the term for the upward movement of water through soil pores?
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What practice involves minimizing soil disturbance during farming?
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What characteristic defines gleyed soil?
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Which of the following is NOT true about humification?
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What is the main disadvantage of monoculture farming?
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What does the term 'leaching' refer to in soil management?
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Which soil type is characterized by a thick, dark topsoil rich in organic matter?
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What role do macropores play in soil?
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What does 'plant available water' refer to in the context of soil?
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Which term refers to the hard, compacted layer in soil that restricts root growth?
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What is the term for the zone of soil that surrounds plant roots?
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Which type of soil is known for having a high percentage of sand?
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What does soil amendment refer to?
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Which of the following describes the process of salinization?
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What distinguishes the topsoil layer from other soil layers?
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How is soil texture defined?
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What does soil conservation aim to achieve?
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What role does soil organic matter play?
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What is the primary characteristic of Ultisol soil?
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Which process describes the movement of water into soil?
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What is the consequence of waterlogging in soil?
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Which of the following terms refers to a soil system that has developed under a specific climate and vegetation?
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What does bioremediation involve?
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What is meant by 'carbon footprint'?
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What is the purpose of green manure in agriculture?
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Which practice focuses on minimizing soil disturbance?
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Study Notes
Soil Composition and Properties
- Humus: Decomposed organic matter enriching soil.
- Inorganic matter: Soil components not derived from living organisms.
- Organic matter: Soil components derived from living organisms.
- Soil texture: Relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay. Influences water retention and drainage.
- Loam: Balanced mixture of sand, silt, and clay, optimal for plant growth.
- Sand: Soil particles 0.05-2mm in diameter.
- Silt: Soil particles 0.002-0.05mm in diameter.
- Clay: Soil particles less than 0.002mm in diameter. High water and nutrient holding capacity.
- Clay loam: Soil with high clay percentage.
- Sandy soil: Soil with high sand percentage.
- Fine-textured soil: Soil with high clay and silt percentages.
- Soil structure: Arrangement of soil particles into aggregates. Affects aeration, water infiltration, and root penetration.
- Soil aggregates (peds): Individual clumps of soil particles.
- Pore space: Volume of air and water in soil. Influences aeration and water availability.
- Macropores: Large soil pores allowing for rapid water movement.
- Micropores: Small soil pores holding water and nutrients.
- Bulk density: Mass of dry soil per unit volume. Indicates soil compaction.
- Soil compaction: Reduction of soil volume by pressure; negatively affects root growth and water infiltration.
- Friability: Ease with which soil can be crumbled.
- Soil aeration: Presence of air in soil pores, essential for root respiration.
- Water holding capacity: Amount of water a soil can hold.
- Plant available water: Amount of water plants can extract from the soil.
- Field capacity: Water held after excess has drained away.
- Wilting point: Soil moisture level where plants can no longer extract water.
- Permeability: Soil's ability to allow water passage.
- Infiltration: Water movement into the soil.
- Infiltration rate: Speed at which water enters the soil.
- Percolation: Downward water movement through soil.
- Capillary action: Upward water movement through soil pores.
- Leaching: Removal of nutrients from soil by water.
- Salinity: Concentration of salts in soil.
- Saline soil: Soil with a high salt concentration.
- Sodic soil: Soil with a high sodium concentration.
- Calcareous soil: Soil containing significant calcium carbonate.
- Gravel: Soil particles larger than 2 mm.
- Topsoil: Uppermost soil layer, rich in organic matter.
- Subsoil: Layer beneath the topsoil.
- Soil horizons: Distinct soil layers differing in physical, chemical, or biological properties (O, A, E, B, C, R).
- Soil profile: Vertical cross-section revealing soil horizons.
- Solum: Upper part of the soil profile (A, B, and E horizons).
- R horizon: Bedrock layer.
- Regolith: Unconsolidated material covering bedrock.
- Parent material: Underlying rock or sediment from which soil forms.
- Residual soil: Soil formed in place from underlying bedrock.
- Colluvium: Soil material transported and deposited by gravity.
- Mantle: Soil layer covering bedrock.
- Gleyed soil: Grayish soil due to poor drainage.
- Hardpan: Hard, compacted layer restricting root growth.
- Crusting: Formation of a hard, impermeable layer on the soil surface.
- Gill: Small, vertical crack in soil.
- Unconsolidated soil: Soil not cemented together.
- Vertisol: Clay-rich soil shrinking and swelling with moisture changes.
Soil Processes and Formation
- Weathering: Physical and chemical breakdown of rocks and minerals.
- Pedogenesis (Soil Genesis): Soil formation process.
- Humification: Decomposition of organic matter into humus.
- Mineralization: Conversion of organic matter into inorganic nutrients.
- Nitrogen fixation: Conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into plant-usable forms.
- Nutrient cycling: Movement of nutrients through soil and ecosystem.
- Translocation: Nutrient movement within the soil profile.
- Eluviation: Removal of soil material from one layer and transport to another.
- Deposition: Adding soil material to a location.
- Podzolization: Soil-forming process accumulating organic matter and iron in upper layers.
- Hydration: Water molecules attaching to soil particles.
- Redox potential: Measure of oxygen availability in soil.
- Soil moisture: Amount of water in soil.
- Plant available water
Soil Biology and Fertility
- Decomposers: Organisms breaking down organic matter.
- Microbial activity: Processes carried out by soil microorganisms.
- Rhizosphere: Soil zone immediately surrounding plant roots.
- Root zone: Area where plant roots grow.
- Macronutrients: Nutrients plants need in large amounts (e.g., Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium).
- Micronutrients: Nutrients plants need in small amounts (e.g., Iron, Zinc, Manganese).
- Nutrient availability: Amount of nutrients readily available for plant uptake.
- Nutrient deficiency: Condition where plants lack essential nutrients.
- Nutrient leaching: Loss of nutrients from soil by water.
- Phosphorus fixation: Phosphorus becoming unavailable to plants.
- Exchangeable cations: Cations loosely held on soil particles.
- Soil fertility: Soil's ability to support plant growth.
- Soil health: Overall soil condition (physical, chemical, and biological properties).
- Soil biodiversity: Variety of living organisms in soil.
- Soil carbon: Amount of carbon stored in soil.
- Carbon sequestration: Removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in soil.
- Biochar: Charcoal-like material from biomass pyrolysis.
- Vermicomposting: Using earthworms to decompose organic matter.
Soil Management and Conservation
- Soil conservation: Practices protecting and improving soil quality.
- Soil management: Practices maintaining and improving soil quality.
- Nutrient management: Practices maintaining soil fertility and preventing nutrient loss.
- Conservation tillage: Farming practices minimizing soil disturbance.
- No-till farming: Farming practice avoiding tillage.
- Conservation agriculture: Farming practices minimizing soil disturbance and maintaining soil health.
- Crop rotation: Growing different crops sequentially in the same field.
- Intercropping: Growing multiple crops together.
- Green manure: Crop grown to be plowed under, improving soil fertility.
- Mulch: Organic material layer applied to the soil surface.
- Fertilizer: Substance providing nutrients to plants.
- Soil amendment: Substance added to improve physical, chemical, or biological properties.
- Irrigation: Artificial application of water to soil.
- Drainage (surface and subsurface): Removal of excess water.
- Erosion control: Practices preventing soil erosion.
- Land degradation: Deterioration of soil quality and productivity.
- Desertification: Land degradation leading to desert-like conditions.
- Land use: How humans use land.
- Land use change: Converting land from one use to another.
- Footprint: Area of land used for a specific activity.
- Bioremediation: Using living organisms to clean up contaminated soil.
- Phytoremediation: Using plants to remove pollutants from soil.
Soil Types and Classifications
- Mollisol: Soil with thick, dark topsoil rich in organic matter.
- Oxisol: Highly weathered soil rich in iron and aluminum oxides.
- Ultisol: Highly weathered and acidic soil.
- Spodosol: Highly weathered and acidic soil.
- Laterite: Soil rich in iron and aluminum oxides.
- Hydric soil: Soil saturated with water for extended periods.
- Wetland soil: Soil saturated with water for extended periods.
- Forest soil: Soil found under forest vegetation.
- Zonal soil: Soil developed under a specific climate and vegetation.
Other Relevant Terms
- Hydrology: Study of water in soil.
- Mineralogy: Study of minerals in soil.
- pH: Measure of soil acidity or alkalinity.
- Ecosystem services: Benefits humans derive from natural ecosystems.
- Food security: Availability of safe, nutritious food for all.
- Sustainable agriculture: Environmentally sound farming practices.
- Precision agriculture: Using technology to manage crops and soil more precisely.
- Organic farming: Farming avoiding synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
- Climate change: Long-term shift in global weather patterns.
- Carbon footprint: Carbon dioxide emissions associated with an activity.
- Compost: Decomposed organic matter used as a soil amendment.
- Groundwater: Water stored beneath the Earth's surface.
- Water table: Level below which soil is saturated.
- Waterlogging: Soil saturation to the point of becoming anaerobic.
- Transpiration: Water loss from plants.
- Wind erosion: Soil removal by wind.
- Flooding: Soil submergence by water.
- Soil map: Map showing soil type distribution.
- Soil survey: Systematic investigation of soil characteristics.
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Description
Test your knowledge on soil composition and its properties with this quiz. Explore key concepts such as humus, inorganic and organic matter, soil texture, and the various types of soil. Understand how these components influence plant growth and soil health.
