Soil

What is the source of the organic matter needed for most fertile soil?

• moving water

• eroded sand

• decaying plants

• weathered rock

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Soil that drains slowly most likely has a high amount of

• ash

• sand

• clay

• silt

Which environment would most likely have rich, fertile soil?

• a desert plain

• a coastal beach

• a mountain peak

• a flood plain

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

How can the type of bedrock under soil affect the characteristics of soil?

• by preventing soil erosion

• by absorbing excessive rainwater

• by contributing small rock particles to soil

• by providing surface area for nutrient accumulation

A gardener wants to increase the ability of garden soil to retain water. Which of these should the gardener add to the soil?

• coarse sand

• loose gravel

• nitrogen pellets

• organic material

A student identifies a soil sample as "very gritty". What characteristic of the soil did the student describe?

• texture

• hardness

• organic content

• water retention

Topsoil is considered to be most fertile when it has a

• low pH level

• low sand content

• high organic matter level

• high parent rock material level

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

The iron in red soils may not be in a form that can be taken up by the tree roots. As a result, leaves and needles may look yellow. Some trees release acids that convert the iron to a useable form. This change in soil chemistry is a type of what?

• deposition

• weathering

• precipitation

• photosynthesis

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What should be added to soil to increase its water retention.

• pebbles

• sand

• rocks

• clay

The texture of soil depends primarily on the

• mass of the soil

• water in the soil

• composition of the soil

• vegetation growing in the soil