The exchange of gases between the soil and atmosphere

The living together of unlike organisms

The space occupied by air and water

The ease at which soil can be worked

Which soil component accounts for about 5% of the soil?

Which soil component accounts for about 45% of the soil?

Which soil component accounts for about 25% of the soil? (2 correct answers)

Which of the following is considered a nonagricultural use of soil?

What 4 basic plant needs are provided by soil?

What effect do organisms have on soil?

The outer portion of the earth’s crust that supports plant growth

large poor space; improves aeration; well-drained soil; lacks ability to hold nutrients; largest size particle

Good water-holding and nutrient-holding abilities; mid-size particle

poor aeration and water drainage; small pore space; water-holding and nutrient-holding abilities; sticky when wet, smallest size particle

large poor space; improves aeration; well-drained soil; lacks ability to hold nutrients; largest size particle

Equal parts sand, silt, and clay present in soil

Change for the better

Organic matter that has reached a point of stability, where it will break down no further

Inorganic, or non-living, substances that come from weathered rock to form soil

Select the 3 types of mineral matter found in soil.

Select all the forms of abundant life that can be found in soil.

There are 4 basic functions of soil related to plant growth. Which is not one of the 4?

What 5 things makes up a mineral soil?

What 2 things occupy pore space between soil particles?

Area where most plant roots grow

Horizon that is usually composed of the parent material of the soil and that has had little soil-forming activity

a vertical cross section of the soil

The process of materials moving within the soil horizon

The accumulation of chemicals, clay, iron, and other materials in the B horizon.

Area often referred to as the B horizon

Materials such as fallen leaves, windblown dust, or chemicals from air pollution that accumulates in the soil

Materials that leach or erode from the soil

The loss of clay, iron, and other materials over time due to leaching

The surface layer where organic matter accumulates

Organic matter and minerals being altered in the soil are called _________________.

Which horizon is BEST suited for growth of plant roots?

Which horizon contains leaching materials and some roots?

Which horizon consists of weathered bedrock and some leached materials?

Which horizon contains the surface litter, such as partially decayed plant and animal debris?

Which horizon is underlying bedrock, such as limestone, sandstone, or granite?

Another name for the Topsoil is?

Another name for the Subsoil is?

Another name for the Substratum Horizon is?

Another name for the Bedrock Horizon is?

What is the primary composition of the O horizon?

Select the 3 Master soil profiles.

Differences in the soil profile are developed from the interaction of:

As soils ages, what 2 things will happen to the soil profile?

Overtime, which layer of the soil profile will lose clay, iron, and other materials due to leaching?

Refers to the coarseness or fineness of soil particles

Pertains to the way in which soil particles are held together

Refers to a soil’s blackness or redness and to its darkness or lightness.

The darker the soil the ___________ organic matter is found in it.

Plants that live naturally in a particular habitat and provide essential habitat for native insects and animals.

The amount of organic matter in a soil is the factor used to determine the _________ of the surface soil.

What produces an abundant supply of roots, which fill the top 1 to 2 feet of the soil? Over a long period of time, the roots will give the soil high organic matter from the partially decayed roots.

What will accumulate a shallow layer of partially decayed leaves, twigs, and fallen logs on the surface?

Because twigs, leaves, and logs are on the surface of the soil, they decayed more rapidly than what?

Bright-colored subsoil

Dull-colored subsoil

Mottle-colored subsoil

As soil gets ___________ the darker color is lost due to the weathering process.

Weathering causes _______________ in the soils to break down

The ________ of a soil is associated with the kind of material from which it was formed.

Soils developed from sand or light-colored rock will be ____________.

Soil developed from peat or muck will be __________.

Soil color is influenced by what 5 things?

_____________ colors are associated with natural drainage of the soils while the soils were forming.

The level of ___________ in a soil affected iron compounds that gave color to the subsoil.

Subsoil colors are classified in 3 ways:

Soil on the tops of hills is usually __________ in color than soil in depressions or on level ground.

Depressions tend to have darker soil for 2 reasons:

Very dark surface soils will have about _____ % organic matter.

Very light surface soils will have about _____ % organic matter.

It has good water-holding ability and good fertility characteristics. It will feel like flour when dry and smooth like velvet when moist.

Water flows through the large pore spaces quickly and are generally well-drained. These soils lack the ability to hold nutrients and are not fertile. They also feel gritty to the touch.

It has the ability to hold both nutrients and water that can be used by plants. It creates very small pore spaces, resulting in poor aeration and poor water drainage. It will form hard clumps when dry and is sticky when wet.

The fineness or coarseness of soil particles

What determines the colors found in the surface layer of soils?

Subsoil colors are determined by the degree of ___________ present when the soil was forming.

Why are prairie soils dark in color?

What was present in subsoil while it was forming to cause a bright coloration?

Which of the following statements is true?

The ease with which air and water may pass through the soil

Clumps of soil caused by tillage

Clusters of soil that occur naturally in soil

The ease with which soil may be tilled and the timing of the work

The ability of soil to retain moisture

Textural Triangle is . . .

What is the textural class that contains some of each of the sizes of soil particles?

When the ribbon method is used, what soil texture produces a long, smooth ribbon.

When the ribbon method is used, what soil texture does NOT produce a long ribbon and leaves a dark, gritty film on your hand.

When the ribbon method is used, what soil texture does NOT produce a long ribbon and feels very gritty when rubbed in your hand. It will not leave your hands covered in a film.

Why is soil structure important?

What are the 2 types of soil structure that appear structureless?

Which is NOT one of the 8 soil structure types?

Which soil structure type is the smallest and holds together strongly?

Which soil structure type is flat and overlaps usually causing slow permeability?

Which soil structure type has 6 or more sides and has similar dimensions?