Soil Final Study 1

N-P-K

100

N-P-K is an acronym for these 3 essential plant nutrients.

What is Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium?

200

This is one sign of Nitrogen (N) deficiency in plants.

What is yellowing of older leaves?

300

This is the role of potassium (K) in plants.

What is stress tolerance?

400

This is the role of phosphorus (P) in plants.

What is maturation?(ex. flowering, fruiting, seed development)

500

This plant family is known for its ability to provide biological N to soils.

What are legumes?

Soil Texture

100

Soil texture only refers to these 3 particles.

What is sand, silt, and clay?

200

This soil particle has the most surface area due to its microscopic size.

What is clay?

300

This soil particle is the largest in size, but has the least amount of surface area.

What is sand?

400

This type of soil is a blend of sand, silt, and clay particles. (Though not always in equal proportions)

What is loam?

500

This soil is approximately 40% sand and 20% clay.

What is loam?

Soil Organisms

100

This is the zone of soil most affected by plant roots.

What is the rhizosphere?

200

This fungi forms a symbiotic relationship with plant roots, and helps plants efficiently obtain nutrients.

What is mycorrhizae?

300

Mushroom fungi are essential for the breakdown of this type of plant tissue.

What is woody tissues?

400

This is the ideal temperature range for microbial activity.

What is 68^oF - 100^oF?

500

This soil organism can cause damage by piercing plant roots and leaving wounds exposed to pests.

What are parasitic nematodes?

12 Soil Orders

100

This soil order is most ideal for farming.

What are mollisols?

200

This soil order is found in dry, desert regions.

What are aridisols?

300

This soil order is commonly found in wetlands.

What are histosols?

400

This soil order is known for its shrink-swell characteristics.

What are vertisols?

500

This soil order is the "youngest" or least developed. It is usually found in floodplains.

What are entisols?

OM

100

An ideal soil for farming has this % of OM.

What is 5%?

200

All living (or once living) organisms contain this element.

What is carbon (C)?

300

This is OM in an advanced decomposition state.

What is humus?

400

This practice creates partially stabilized, useful organic decay products outside of the soil.

What is composting?

500

Name 2 acceptable materials for a compost pile.

What are grass clippings, hay, wood chips, manure, plant food scraps, pine needles, etc?