Soil Degradation and Management Quiz

Q1. Soil degradation is a lowering of soil ______ or productivity.

Q2. Construction replaces productive land with ______.

• Buildings and pavement

• Crops

• Wetlands

• Parks

Q3. Construction compacts soil with ______.

• Heavy equipment

• Fertilizer

• Compost

• Irrigation

Q4. Construction can bring up ______, lowering fertility.

• Subsoil

• Topsoil

• Organic matter

• Sand

Q5. Contamination occurs when chemicals, oil, or waste soak into soil and can enter ______.

• Groundwater

• Fertilizer

• Atmosphere

• Rocks

Q6. Erosion is the primary factor in soil degradation caused by:

• Both natural and human activities

• Only rainfall

• Only tillage

• Only deforestation

Q7. Improper irrigation can lead to ______, ______, and waterlogging.

• Salinization, alkalinization

• Erosion, desertification

• Pollution, compaction

• Fertility, porosity

Q8. Growing crops without replacing nutrients “mines” the soil, leading to loss of:

• Fertility

• Water

• Porosity

• Texture

Q9. Overuse of fertilizers decreases soil ______ matter and ______ activity.

• Organic; microbial

• Mineral; chemical

• Water; plant

• Clay; sand

Q10. Industrial, human, and livestock waste add:

• Salts and heavy metals

• Nitrogen only

• Organic matter only

• Carbon dioxide