All flashcards
Flashcard 1: What is the term for the vertical sequence of soil layers?
Answer: Soil profile. Distinct layers form as soil develops from surface to bedrock.
Flashcard 2: What is the function of soil aeration?
Answer: Improves air and water flow. Pore spaces allow oxygen to reach roots and water to infiltrate.
Flashcard 3: What is the main cause of soil salinization?
Answer: Irrigation. Adding water with dissolved salts increases soil salt concentration over time.
Flashcard 4: Which soil property affects water retention and permeability?
Answer: Texture. Particle size distribution affects how water and nutrients move through soil.
Flashcard 5: Identify the horizon known as subsoil.
Answer: B horizon. Located below the A horizon where nutrients accumulate from above.
Flashcard 6: Identify the primary agent of chemical weathering.
Answer: Water. Water dissolves minerals and causes chemical reactions that decompose rock.
Flashcard 7: What is the primary component of soil that determines its color?
Answer: Organic matter. Dark organic matter gives soil its characteristic brown or black color.
Flashcard 8: Name a soil amendment used to raise pH.
Answer: Lime. Calcium carbonate neutralizes soil acidity and increases pH levels.
Flashcard 9: What is the main cause of soil salinization?
Answer: Irrigation. Adding water with dissolved salts increases soil salt concentration over time.
Flashcard 10: Name a common method to prevent soil erosion on slopes.
Answer: Terracing. Creating stepped platforms reduces slope angle and water runoff velocity.
Flashcard 11: Identify the soil property that affects its ability to support plant life.
Answer: Fertility. Nutrient content determines how well plants can grow in the soil.
Flashcard 12: Name the process by which rocks are broken down into soil.
Answer: Weathering. Physical and chemical processes break down rock into smaller particles over time.
Flashcard 13: Name the process that converts solid rock into smaller fragments.
Answer: Disintegration. Physical breakdown of bedrock creates the mineral component of soil.
Flashcard 14: Identify the soil layer that contains partially disintegrated rock.
Answer: C horizon. This layer sits above bedrock and shows early stages of soil development.
Flashcard 15: Which soil conservation method involves planting grass or trees to anchor soil?
Answer: Reforestation. Plant roots physically hold soil particles in place against erosion.
Flashcard 16: Name the process that leads to soil compaction.
Answer: Tillage. Repeated plowing and cultivation compress soil particles together.
Flashcard 17: Which process involves the loss of soil nutrients through water movement?
Answer: Leaching. Downward water movement carries dissolved nutrients away from plant roots.
Flashcard 18: Which soil conservation technique uses alternating strips of crops?
Answer: Strip cropping. Alternating strips reduce wind speed and trap eroded soil particles.
Flashcard 19: What is the term for soil's ability to hold water and nutrients?
Answer: Soil fertility. Nutrient content and water-holding capacity determine plant growth potential.
Flashcard 20: Which soil particle is the smallest: sand, silt, or clay?
Answer: Clay. Clay particles are less than 0.002 mm in diameter.
Flashcard 21: What is the role of decomposers in soil formation?
Answer: Break down organic matter. Bacteria and fungi decompose dead plants and animals into soil nutrients.
Flashcard 22: What is the term for the vertical sequence of soil layers?
Answer: Soil profile. Distinct layers form as soil develops from surface to bedrock.
Flashcard 23: What is the ideal pH range for most agricultural soils?
Answer: 6 to 7.5. This range provides optimal nutrient availability for most crop plants.
Flashcard 24: What is the primary factor influencing soil formation?
Answer: Climate. Temperature and precipitation patterns determine weathering rates and soil development.
Flashcard 25: What is the primary component of soil that determines its color?
Answer: Organic matter. Dark organic matter gives soil its characteristic brown or black color.
Flashcard 26: What is the main component of soil that provides structure?
Answer: Clay. Clay particles bind together and create stable soil aggregates.
Flashcard 27: Identify the type of soil that is best for growing crops.
Answer: Loam. Equal parts sand, silt, and clay create ideal drainage and fertility.
Flashcard 28: Name the process of soil formation from parent material.
Answer: Pedogenesis. The scientific term for soil development from weathered rock material.
Flashcard 29: Which soil particle allows for good drainage but poor nutrient retention?
Answer: Sand. Large particles create pore spaces but cannot hold nutrients effectively.
Flashcard 30: Identify the soil layer that contains the most organic material.
Answer: O horizon. The surface organic layer contains fresh and partially decomposed plant matter.