Soil

Soil Composition

10

What do you call the process of breaking down rocks into smaller pieces?

Weathering or erosion

20

These materials make up 45% of the soil's composition.

Mineral Particles

30

TRUE or FALSE. 30% of the soil is water.

FALSE

40

Soil is composed of 5% organic matter, also called what?

humus

50

What percent of the soil is composed of air?

25%

Soil Texture

10

Which soil particle has the largest size?

Sand

20

This soil particle is the smallest, with size of less than 0.002 mm. The soil can ribbon up to 2+inches

Clay soil

30

This soil, ribbons to about 1 inch, is light and can retain moisture well.

Silty soil

40

This type of soil is made up of 25% clay, 30% sand, and 45% silt, believed to be the best when it comes to supporting plant life.

Loam

50

This type of soil can not ribbon past a 1/2 inch, characterized by being light, warm, and dry and can drain water very quickly.

Sandy soil

Soil formation

10

Climate forms soil in what three ways?

water, wind, temperature

20

Soils formation factor that includes features like topography, elevation and slope.

relief

30

soil formation based on living things

Botanic or biosphere

40

granite, quartz, basalt are all examples of?

Parent material

50

Glacial rocks left on a mountainside 

talus

Soil Horizons

10

These two soil horizons make up the top soil.

O and A

20

fancy name for soil that has been tilled or turned over? Suitable for growing crops

Tilth

30

This soil horizon is also known as the bedrock, composed of unweathered parent materials.

R

40

This soil horizon is also known as the zone of eluviation and leaching.

E

50

This soil horizon is also known as the subsoil and the zone of accumulation.

B

Agricultural Science and the Big 3 Nutrients

10

This is a measure of how acidic or basic a substance is.

pH level

20

TRUE or FALSE. The deeper the soil horizon, the lighter its color.

TRUE.

30

This nutrient is also known as the leaf maker. It aids the production of new cells and green pigments.

Nitrogen

40

This nutrient is also known as the flower inducer or fruit maker. It encourages the uptake of water and essential in the development of flowers and fruits.

Potassium

50

This nutrient is also known as the root maker or flower inducer. This encourages root growth and helps with the transformation of solar energy into chemical energy.

Phosphorus