Soil around the world (pretest) – Flashcards

Which of the following is a cause of soil compaction? a. an increase in the amount of organic matter b. the use of equipment on dry soil c. the use of heavy equipment d. all of the above

Why might soils rich in organic matter not be fertile? a. Soil fertility comes from a balance of organic matter and other mineral nutrients. b. Large amounts of organic material make soil retain too little water. c. Soil fertility is a result of the inorganic minerals present. d. Soils rich in organic material are always highly fertile.

What characteristic is shared by both inceptisols and entisols, the soils of flood plains? a. They both have well-developed soil horizons and profiles. b. Both are young and only beginning to develop horizons and a soil profile. c. They are both at the final stage of soil development. d. None of the above

How is over-irrigation damaging to soil? a. It reduces the amount of organic material in soil. b. It results in the accumulation of salt near the soil surface. c. It increases the acidity of soil. d. It removes water from the water table.

Large amounts of accumulated organic matter makes soil highly fertile.

Where are the effects of soil salinization most likely to be seen? a. inland farmland b. mountain communities c. coastal farmland d. coastal cities

Why is volcanic soil (andisol) very fertile? a. It is rich in minerals from volcanic deposits. b. It is a young soil with low water retention. c. It has been leached of mineral nutrients. d. Volcanic activity warms the soil.

Soil compaction results from _______. a. the reduction or elimination of pore space in soil b. the weight of heavy machinery on soil c. livestock walking over soil d. all of the above

The organisms native to an area will impact the types of soil found in that area.

Aridisols are soils characteristically found in _______. a. forests b. plains c. deserts d. swamps