Acronyms and Horizons
What does FBI stand for (not the agents :D)?
Fungi, bacteria, insects- earthworms
Which soil type occupies the largest amount of land?
Forest soils
Which state has the most wind erosion? (The answers will be different on the test)
North Carolina
What is chemical weathering?
The process that breaks down rock through chemical changes
What is the advantage of sand?
Provides good drainage
What are the 3 necessary nutrients for soil fertilizers (Hint: NPK)?
N- nitrogen
P- phosphorus
K- potassium
Which soil type occupies the least amount of land?
Tropical soils
(The answers will be different on the test)
Which state has the least water erosion?
Which state has the most total erosion?
Nebraska, Oregon
What is permeable?
Characteristic of a material that contains connected air spaces, or pores, that water can seep through easily
What is the disadvantage of sand?
Plants may die for lack of water
What is the range of pH and what do the numbers mean?
1-14, 1= extreme acid range, 7= neutral, 14= extreme base range
List 3 beneficial practices for working with soil.
Conservation plowing (no till or low till), contour plowing, crop rotation
What are the 3 basic ingredients of loam?
Clay, silt, sand
What is soil horizon?
A layer of soil that differs in color and texture from the layers above or below it
What is the advantage of clay?
Provides good nutrients; good water retention
What is Horizon A?
Topsoil- dark crumbly soil with clay and humus
Which soil type occupies the east coast of the U.S.?
Forest soils
What is at least 1 soil conditioner used for breaking up clay?
1 of these:
Sand, humus, organic matter, gypsum
What is conservation plowing?
Soil conservation method in which weeds and dead stalks from the previous year's crop are plowed into the ground
What is the disadvantage of clay?
Plants may drown without good drainage
What are Horizons B and C?
B= subsoil- light brown soil with clay but little humus
C= weathered bedrock
Which soil type occupies the west coast of the U.S.?
Which soil type occupies the Midwest coast of the U.S.?
Mountain soils, prairie soils
What are the 5 causes for mechanical weathering? Be able to draw them.
Animal actions, freezing and thawing, plant growth, release of pressure, abrasion
What is soil conservation?
The management of soil to limit its destruction
Name at least 1 soil conditioner used for improved water retention.
1 of these:
Clay, humus, organic matter