Chemical
This metric will allow you to tell if your soil is acidic or alkaline.
pH
What is the first step in making the physical components of soil?
Erosion/Weathering
The term for large organisms in soil.
Macroorganisms.
Soil is devoid of nitrogen. How do you increase this in your garden?
Add compost, leguminous plants, or fertilizer.
Which element is usually prevalent in areas of geothermal activity and is helpful for plant growth? Hot springs, geysers, etc.
Suplhur
This soil metric test will measure the amount of organic matter in your soil.
Carbon
This process allows heavier sediments to sink to the bottom and lighter elements to settle on top over time.
Sedimentation/Alluviation
The term for bacteria, fungal spores and filaments, and tiny multicellular organisms in soil.
Micro organisms
Add organic matter or compost. Wood chips, dead plants, micro/macro organisms, etc.
Name the bug that helps decompose organic matter in compost piles and is a crustacean.
Pill bug, roly poly, wood louse.
Your garden is lacking fruits and flowers. Which metric is likely low in your soil?
Phosophorus
Sand and Clay
The process that uses biological organisms to mimic the nitrogen cycle.
Composting
You dig in your soil and notice the sides of the hole are compacted and look like a pot. What should you do to improve this for plants?
Till, add organic matter, or add sand if in a raised bed.
An event that occurred during the Great Depression that shocked America into thinking about soil health. One program that came out of this period was the Natural Resource Conservation Service
The Dust Bowl
Which metric is linked to photosynthesis, water regulation, and disease resistance?
Potassium.
Where does phosphorus come from in nature originally?
Which type of biological component of soil is most successful in forested areas, compared to non-forested areas? Bacteria, macro organisms, or fungi?
Fungi
You find that your water bill is exceptionally high and your plants seem to be struggling since they are wilting during the heat of the day. You are also seeing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium deficiency in your soil tests despite a fairly rigorous fertilizing schedule.
You have sandy soil. Amend with topsoil in the loamy category, organic matter, and mulch heavily.
How long is the Williamette earthworm?
4 feet
Two of the four chemicals we've tested in our soils have an atmospheric component. Which are they?
Nitrogen and Carbon
Your soil holds too much water. It doesn't drain and when you fertilize, soil tests reveal that the nutrients stay for much longer than one would expect. Which soil type do you have?
Clay
Which type of bacteria pulls nitrogen from the air and into the soil?
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria
You read a fertilizer bag and notice that the ratio is
6-3-4
In order, what do these numbers tell you?
Nitrogen (6) - Phosphorus (3) - Potassium (4)
The term for a method of growing plants that doesn't use soil at all.
Hydroponics