APES Soils Review

What is the texture of a soil sample that is 60% clay, 30% silt, and 10% sand?

• Clay

• Sandy Loam

• Silt Loam

• Clay Loam

What is the term for the spaces between soil particles that hold air and water?

• Soil pores

• Soil aggregates

• Soil horizons

• Soil texture

What is the layer of soil below the topsoil that contains minerals and nutrients?

• Topsoil (Horizon A)

• Subsoil (Horizon B)

• Bedrock

• Organic Layer

What are the deep, underlying non-soil materials called?

• Bedrock

• Topsoil

• Clay

• Sand

Which layer(s) of soil contain most of the humus and soil organisms?

• 1 and 2 only (leaf litter, horizon O and topsoil, horizon A)

• Only layer 1 (leaf litter, horizon O)

• Only layer 2 (topsoil, horizon A)

• Layers 3 and 4 (subsoil and bedrock)

What is the measure of the size of soil particles called?

• Soil texture

• Soil composition

• Soil structure

• Soil density

What is the term for the uppermost layer of organic material on the soil surface?

• A horizon (topsoil)

• B horizon (subsoil)

• O horizon (leaf litter)

• C horizon (parent material)

What is soil made of?

• Weathered rocks and minerals

• Dead plants and animals

• Air and water

• All of the above

What is the rate at which water flows through the soil called?

• Permeability

• Absorbance

• Porosity

• Saturation

What is the process by which soil is formed from weathered rock?

• Soil formation or pedogenesis

• Erosion

• Sedimentation

• Compaction