Plants
What tissue carries water and minerals through a plant
Xylem
What three particles determine soil texture?
Sand, silt, and clay
What type of soil water is generally available to plants?
Capillary Water
What is green manure?
A plant's leaves make sugars, but the sugars are not moving to the roots. Which tissue should you investigate?
Phloem
What is one major function of the stem?
Support the plant and help transport water, minerals, and sugar
A soil has a pH of 5.2. Is it acidic or alkaline?
Acidic
What two processes make up evapotranspiration?
Evaporation and Transpiration
Name one material/practice that is NOT permitted in USDA certified organic production
Synthetic fertilizers
A farmer wants to raise the pH of acidic soil. What could they apply?
Lime
A Plant is growing taller. Is this Primary or Secondary growth?
Primary Growth
What does CEC tell us about soil?
Its ability to hold and supply exchangeable positively charged nutrients
Which irrigation method uses small emitters near the root zone?
Drip irrigation
why can manure application be based on phosphorus needs rather than nitrogen needs?
Applying enough manure to meet nitrogen needs could over-apply phosphorus
Put the soil horizons in order from surface downwards:
B, R, O, C, A, E
O -> A -> E -> B -> C -> R
What process produces new cells for plant growth and development?
Mitosis
What is the difference between physical and chemical weathering?
Physical weathering breaks rocks into smaller pieces without changing mineral composition
Chemical weathering changes the minerals/chemical composition
Why can adding organic matter help a soil during dry conditions?
It can improve the soil's ability to hold water
Name 2 organic weed-management practices
examples: crop rotation, cover crops, green manure, mulching, hoeing, hand/mechanical weeding, grazing
A farmer has soil that dries quickly. Name 2 practices that could help conserve water
examples: add organic matter, use mulch, cover crops, green manure, or improved irrigation management
Explain one reason genetic diversity is valuable in agriculture
Different traits can help crops respond to diseases, drought, salinity, flooding or other challenges
What happens in the B Horizon?
Materials commonly accumulate there through illuviation
A heavy rain falls faster than the soil can absorb it. What may occur?
Runoff
What is the goal of organic pest management?
To manage pest populations rather than eliminate every pest
A farmer grows the same crop repeatedly and sees more pest and disease problems. What management practice could help?
Crop Rotation