Properties of Soil

Which of the following is NOT a property of soil?

• Color

• Texture

• Where it's located

• Ability to retain water

Texture depends on-

• color

• particle size

• plant growth

• the amount of sunlight soil gets

Moana is using the chart below to categorize soil. What property of soil is she finding?

• ability to support plant growth

• water retention

• texture

• color

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Which type of soil can hold the greatest amount of water?

• sand
• silt
• clay
• loam

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Ellen grabs a topsoil sample in her hand. She rolls it into a ball. The soil feels gritty and the ball falls apart. What property of soil is Ellen testing?

• color

• texture

• ability to support plant growth

• water retention

Tags

NGSS.5-PS1-3

This type of soil is sticky when wet and hard when dry. 

• clay
• silt
• sand
• gravel

If Carol poured 500 mL of water into the soil and 400 mL can now be found in the jar, then the other 100 mL must have been-

• retained

• drained

• lost in space

• in the bathroom sink

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Which soil would retain the most water?

• loam

• sand

• silt

• clay

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Which soil would retain the least amount of water?

• gravel

• silt

• sand

• clay

Many plants cannot grow in sandy soil. Why is this true?

• Sandy soil does not hold enough water.
• Air cannot pass through sandy soil.
• Roots cannot easily push through sandy soil.
• Sandy soil has too many nutrients.

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.9

CCSS.RI.4.8

CCSS.RI.5.8

CCSS.RI.6.1

CCSS.RL.4.5