Intro to Soil Systems

Multiple Choice

Soil is best described as

• A consolidated layer of organic and inorganic matter at the earth's surface

• An unconsolidated layer of organic and inorganic matter at the earth's surface

• The earth's upper horizon of well mixed organic and inorganic matter

• The earth's first and second horizon of organic and inorganic matter

Multiple Select

The TWO soil components that often occur in equal amounts are?

• Air

• Water

• Organic matter

• Inorganic matter

Multiple Choice

The largest soil component is usually

• Humus

• Minerals

• Macro organisms

• Micro organisms

Multiple Choice

The MAIN soil forming process is

• Gleying

• Leaching

• Weathering

Multiple Choice

The image shown represents a

• Soil column

• Soil profile

• Soil horizon

Multiple Choice

Distinct sections often noticeable in a given depth of soil is known as a

• Layer

• Profile

• Horizon

Multiple Choice

Soil texture is influenced mostly by

• Soil organic content

• Soil mineral content

Multiple Choice

Soil texture is a measure of

• the arrangement of soil particles

• the composition of soil particle sizes

Multiple Choice

Soil texture is the proportion of

• air, water and humus

• sand, silt and clay

• sand, silt and humus

Multiple Choice

The main influence on soil infiltration rate is

• soil texture

• soil organisms

• soil plant root system

Multiple Choice

The mechanical disintegration of rocks is termed

• Physical weathering

• Chemical weathering

• Biological weathering

Multiple Choice

The decomposition and recombination of rock minerals resulting in break-up is termed

• Physical weathering

• Chemical weathering

• Biological weathering

Multiple Choice

What is the role of decomposing bacteria in the nitrogen cycle?

• change Nitrogen gas into Nitrate

• Return the nitrogen compounds to the soil

• Turn nitrogen into water

• Turn nitrate into nitrogen gas

Multiple Choice

This is determined by the relative proportions of particle sizes that make up the soil. Names for this include, loam, sandy clay, or other descriptive terms.

• Soil Permeability
• Soil pH
• Soil Profile
• Soil Texture

Multiple Choice

Which soil particle is the smallest, feels smooth, and gets heavy when wet (like a sponge)?

• Sand

• Silt

• Clay

Multiple Choice

What is a mixture of sand, silt and clay called?

• Loam

• Humus

• Sandy Clay

• Silty Sand

Multiple Choice

What is the name of Horizon 1?

• Subsoil 
• Topsoil
• Bedrock 
• Parent Rock

Multiple Choice

What is the name of Horizon 2?

• Subsoil 
• Topsoil
• Bedrock 
• Parent Rock

Multiple Choice

Soil formation begins with the weathering of 

• litter.
• bedrock.
• the A horizon.
• humus.

Multiple Choice

Which type of water erosion is shown in the image?

• landslide

• Streambank erosion

• Sheet erosion

• Gully erosion

Multiple Choice

The A soil horizon (topsoil) is made up of

• leaf litter

• bedrock

• clay and minerals

• decomposed organic matter and minerals

Multiple Choice

Leaching is a process where

• organic matter is broken down into smaller parts, usually by living organisms

• rock is broken down into soil and small grains

• soluble nutrients and minerals are drained from soil through water action

• soil/rock is moved from one surface to another by wind/water/glaciers

Multiple Choice

Zonal soils are influenced mainly by

• Time

• Climate & Vegetation

• Geology & Topography