Soil Quiz

A mixture of rock and minerals particles, decayed organic material, air, and water is called ______. 

• clay
• soil
• sand
• humus

 _____________ is the expansion of desert conditions in areas where the natural plant cover has been destroyed. 

• Contour Plowing
• Terracing
• Desertification
• Windbreak

The breakdown of rock into smaller pieces of the same material without any change in its composition is  

• Chemical weathering
• Physical weathering 
• Soil
• None of the above

Decayed organic material in soil is called 

• Loam
• Soil
• Humus
• Sand

A gardener wants to increase the ability of garden soil to have more nutrients.  Which of these should the gardener add to the soil?

• Sand
• Organic Matter
• Silt
• Nitrogen pellets

Most soil _____ comes from iron compounds and humus.

• Color
• Texture
• Chemistry
• Pore Space

Properties of soil can be observed and measured.  Which is a property of soil?

• Texture
• Streak
• Luster
• Size

Which ones does not represent soil texture:

• Silt
• Clay
• Humus
• Sand

Which processes are primarily responsible for the formation of soil?

• volcanic activity
• physical and chemical weathering 
• worms and decaying organisms 
• none of the above