Soil Management Techniques
Soil Health & Composition
Soil as a medium for plant growth
Soil Erosion
Soil Organisms
100
What are 4 soil conservation techniques used in Maryland? (You have 4 minutes to research the answer.)
4 of the following: contour farming, riparian (forest) buffers, no-till or conservation tillage, crop rotation, integrated pest management, nutrient management plans, cover crops, mulching
https://mda.maryland.gov/resource_conservation/counties/ConsChoices_FINAL2020.pdf
100
Soils are composed of air, water, mineral particles, and organic matter. In a typical soil, what is the percent composition of mineral particles in the soil?
(You have 4 minutes to research)
100
Decomposed organic matter forming a dark top layer of soil is called?
(You have 4 minutes to research)
100
What is one example of practice that causes soil erosion?
(You have 4 minutes to research)
Examples of answers: Deforestation, Overgrazing, Use of Agrochemicals.
https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/soil-erosion-and-degradation
100
What can Soil Organisms be classified as?
a) Microorganisms b) Fauna c) Flora d) All of the above
(You have 4 minutes to research)
d) All of the above https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/soil-organism
200
What is the overall goal of managing soil in agricultural systems? (You have 4 minutes to research.)
Answer includes these ideas: To improve soil health so it supports plant growth and to ensure long-term productivity & sustainability of the land. High yield and quality of crops.
https://extension.psu.edu/managing-soil-health-concepts-and-practices
200
Soil texture indicates the proportion of sand, silt and clay in a soil. Using a soil triangle, what is the texture of a soil that is composed of 30% clay, 10% silt, and 60% sand?
(You have 4 minutes to research the answer)
200
What is the PH of a neutral condition?
(You have 4 minutes to research)
200
What are some types of erosion?
a. Water | b. Dirt | c. Wind | d. Both a and c | e. Both a and b
(You have 4 minutes to research)
D - both a and c
200
What is the most common type of soil organism? (You have 4 minutes to Research)
300
_______ is the soil management technique that is used to suppress weeds, reduce erosion, conserve water by reducing evaporation, and moderates soil temperature. (You have 3 minutes to research.)
Mulch or mulching
300
Out of silt, sand, and clay, what soil particle could have the size of 1 mm in diameter? What is the associated infiltration rate of this soil particle (where infiltration rate is the rate at which water moves through soils)?
(You have 3 minutes to research.)
Sand with a fast infiltration rate
https://www.usbg.gov/sites/default/files/images/soiltext_science_page.pdf
300
When testing soil type, if you roll a small amount of soil between your fingers, how would you know if it contains clay?
(You have 3 minutes to research.)
The soil will maintain its shape and have a sticky/plastic texture.
300
Q. Which of the following are impacts of soil erosion?
a. Flooding | b. Economic loss | c. Water pollution | d. All of the above
(You have 3 minutes to research)
D - all of the above
https://www.wri.org/insights/causes-and-effects-soil-erosion-and-how-prevent-it
300
What do protozoans do within soil? (you have 3 minutes to research)
regulate bacterial populations
https://www.britannica.com/science/protozoan/Ecological-and-industrial-importance-of-protozoans
400
In western regions of the US susceptible to wind erosion, what is the best soil management technique to reduce soil erosion? Why? (You have 3 minutes to research.)
A. Agroforestry B. Conservation Tillage C. Integrated Pest Management D. both A and B
D. both A and B
Windbreaks are a technique used in agroforestry where trees are planted to shelter agricultural land from wind and reduce soil erosion. https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/practices/windbreaks.php
Conservation tillage is also a beneficial technique to reduce soil erosion, so in combination with agroforestry, these would make the best soil management technique. https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/ct/ct-1.html
400
“Healthy soils” are soils with the ability to function as a living ecosystem and provide services to the surrounding environment. Name 3 functions a healthy soil can provide.
(You have 3 minutes to research)
Examples of answers include: filter pollutants, cycle nutrients, support plant growth, provide a habitat for organisms to live in, reduce runoff
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/natural-resource-concerns/soils/soil-health
400
What is a crucial factor affecting soil fertility besides essential minerals?
(You have 3 minutes to research.)
Soil structure- including aeration and water retention capacity.
400
What are two effects soil erosion has specifically on agriculture?
(You have 3 minutes to research)
Examples of answers: Loss of topsoil, soil acidification, losses in planting material, water pollution, denser soil
400
What are fungi composed of in soil? (You have 3 minutes to research)
essential decomposers/ microscopic plant-like cells that grow in long threadlike structures or hyphae that make a mass called mycelium
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/soil-fungi
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/41645/Soil_fungi.pdf
500
What is the relationship between organic matter and the amount of water a soil can hold? What is a practice to increase the organic matter content of a soil? (You have 3 minutes to research).
The more organic matter in a soil there is, the more water the soil can hold/store. https://www.fao.org/4/a0100e/a0100e08.htm
Some answers may include: adding compost to the soil, including cover crops in the crop rotation, planting high residue crops, reduce tillage. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/290462906_Soil_Organic_Matter_Management_Strategies#full-text
500
Both clay and hummus generally have a net negative charge due to their atomic composition. What function does this negative charge provide for the soils and give one example?
(You have 3 minutes to research)
The negative charge allows humus and clay to attract positively charged ions (cations), which can be essential nutrients used by plants. Examples include: calcium, magnesium, potassium, ammonium, hydrogen, sodium, etc.
https://www.soilquality.org.au/factsheets/cation-exchange-capacity
500
Which nutrient is primarily responsible for promoting healthy plant leaf growth and is a crucial component of soil fertility?
(You have 3 minutes to research.)
500
How can you reduce soil erosion, and give an example of a practice used?
(You have 3 minutes to research)
By keeping the soil covered. Practices include crop cover of high-residue crops, mulching, no-till/minimal tilling, and planting grasses.
500
What are Nematodes and what is one example of how they benefit agriculture? (You have 3 minutes to research)
Nematodes are microscopic worms. Examples of their benefits include: acting as parasites on harmful pests, breaking down organic matter, and releasing nutrients into the soil.
https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/expert-advice/garden-management/pests-and-diseases/nematodes