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WorksheetsSoil Science Independent Quiz
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 20mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Which of the following best describes how soils are formed?
a)
As plants and animals break down, the carbon in their bodies turns into minerals that plants eat to survive.
b)
Over thousands of years, rocks are weathered down to small particles that mix with small amounts of decaying organic matter and living organisms.
c)
As animals consume plants, they convert the plant matter into minerals. The feces from the animals then forms the soil.
d)
Over thousands of years, carbon dioxide in the air converts into minerals that fall to the ground and form soil.
2.
This is the largest soil particle
a)
Clay
b)
Silt
c)
Sand
d)
Loam
3.
This has the smallest amount of pore space for air and water
a)
Clay
b)
Silt
c)
Sand
d)
Loam
4.
This is the least likely to undergo compaction, but most at risk for erosion
a)
Clay
b)
Silt
c)
Sand
d)
Loam
5.
This is the most ideal soil for plant growth and productivity
a)
Clay
b)
Silt
c)
Sand
d)
Loam
6.
This consists of an even mixture of different sizes of soil particles
a)
Clay
b)
Silt
c)
Sand
d)
Loam
7.
This generally has the lowest cation exchange capacity? (CEC)
a)
Clay
b)
Silt
c)
Sand
d)
Loam
8.
The higher the cation exchance capacity (CEC) of a soil sample, the....
a)
Weaker the soil's capacity to hold onto water and nutrients
b)
Stronger the soil's capacity to hold onto water and nutrients
c)
Greater the risk of nutrient leaching
d)
Greater the porespace
9.
How do factors such as pore space and compaction affect plant growth?
a)
Compacted soils reduce the availability of water and oxygen to plant roots
b)
Soils with large amounts of porespace enable roots to absorb more water and soil
c)
Soils with small amounts of porespace are less likely to undergo nutrient leaching
d)
Compacted soils have less porespace, which reduces the availability of water, nutrients and oxygen
e)
All of the above are accurate
10.
Which of the following is an accurate statement in regards to soil pH?
a)
pH is a measure of the particle size
b)
a pH of 7 indicates very acidic soil
c)
a pH of 7 indicates high organic matter
d)
pH indicates how basic or acidic the soil is, a pH of 6 is ideal
11.
An ideal soil structure would be
a)
Clumpy - forms aggregates that hold their shape
b)
Loose - the soil does not form aggregates or shape
c)
Granular - forms small crumbly aggregates
d)
Solid - the soil is impermeable like cement
12.
This is the nutrient that plants depend upon most for water uptake
a)
Nitrogen
b)
Phosphorous
c)
Potassium
d)
All of the above
e)
None of the above
13.
This is the nutrient that plants need to form the amino acids needed to assemble proteins
a)
Nitrogen
b)
Phosphorous
c)
Potassium
d)
All of the above
e)
None of the above
14.
This is the nutrient that is a key component of DNA - necessary for maturation and root development
a)
Nitrogen
b)
Phosphorous
c)
Potassium
d)
All of the above
e)
None of the above
15.
This is what plants consume as their primary source of food and energy
a)
Nitrogen
b)
Phosphorous
c)
Potassium
d)
All of the above
e)
None of the above
16.
Which of the following is NOT something provided by organic matter?
a)
Increased porespace
b)
Greater access to nutrients
c)
Reduces risk of erosion & compaction
d)
Serves as an energy soure of plant's food
e)
Sequesters carbon in the soil, reducing GHG
17.
Which of the following is the most important determinant of the biodiversity and abundance of microbial communities?
a)
Particle size
b)
Availability of NPK
c)
Porespace
d)
Abundance of soil organic matter
18.
In general, the ______________ the biodiversity of soil microbes, the better.
a)
Greater
b)
Lower
19.
In general, the _________________ the color of the soil, the better
a)
Darker
b)
Lighter
20.
Plants eat soil, that's why it's required for their growth.
a)
True
b)
False
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