Soil Exam 1 Version 1 2017 Spring Test (Cox) MSU

4. A 40g soil sample is used to determine soil texture. The first hydrometer reading is 20g/L and the second is 15g/L. What is the silt percentage? A) 12.5% B) 5% C) 50%

A) 12.5%

13. "Topsoil" is generally equivalent to which soil horizon? A) A B) B C) C

A) A

19) Of the three horizons given, which generally has the highest organic matter content ? A) A B) B C) E

A) A

4. The most highly weathered horizon in the soil is the A) A B) B C) C

A) A

24) Organic matter accumulation is most pronounced in the ________. A) A horizon B) B horizon C) E horizon

A) A horizon

5. The four orders not found in Mississippi are A) Andesol, Oxisol, Aridisol, Gelisol B) Jellosol, Mollisol, Alfisol, Vertisol C) Entisol, Spodosol, Ultisol, Inceptisol

A) Andesol, Oxisol, Aridisol, Gelisol

3. The master soil horizons that may be found in a profile (in order from surface to subsurface) are A) O, A, E, B, C B) T, C, B, A, O C) C, B, E, A, O

A) O, A, E, B, C

1. The four soil forming processes are A) Transformation, translocation, additions, losses B) Hydrolysis, hydration, disintegration, acidification C) Transformation, hydrolysis, carbonation, redox

A) Transformation, translocation, additions, losses

1. Soils are a vital component of your existence A) True B) False

A) True

36) A Bt horizon indicates a zone of illujvation dominated by A) clay B) tillage C) iron and aluminum oxides

A) clay

3. The reaction: CaSO4 2H2O + 2 H2O Ca2+ +SO42- +4 H2O is an example of ________. A) dissolution B) acidification C) hydrolysis

A) dissolution

4. A subordinate distinction of "x" indicates a A) fragipan B) slickensides C) Plowing

A) fragipan

26) The subordinate distinction "g" means the soil in that horizon is A) gleyed B) strong C) gooey

A) gleyed

20) Compared to silt, clay-sized soil particles are characterized by ________. A) greater attraction for water B) less capacity to hold nutrients in plant-available forms C) greater proportion of primary minerals

A) greater attraction for water

35) The identifiable layers of material found when one digs a hole in the ground are called ________. A) horizons B) pseudoliths C) regoliths

A) horizons

15) Granite is an example of a(n) ________. A) igneous rock B) sedimentary rock C) eolian parent material

A) igneous rock

2. A soil that makes a long ribbon and has a floury feel would most likely be a A) silty clay B) sandy clay loam C) silty clay loam

A) silty clay

3. Which of the following suborders might have formed under prairie vegetation? A) udoll B) ustalf C) thermert

A) udoll

30) Soil occupies the ________ part of the regolith. A) upper B) younger C) Lower

A) upper

29) Which of the following is not considered one of the five major factors influencing soil formation? A) valence state B) topography C) climate

A) valence state

5. As future land managers, you are responsible for wise soil-use decisions A) yes

A) yes

5. In a load of 8 cubic meters of topsoil, approximately how cubic meters of the volume would be solid material? A) 7.5 B) 4 C) 5

B) 4

14) In which of the following horizons has the process of illuviation most likely occurred? A) A horizon B) B horizon C) E horizon

B) B horizon

6. Which landscape position would likely have the most horizonations (highest number of horizons). A) Slopes B) Bottomlands C) Uplands

B) Bottomlands

5. The five soil forming factors are A) Transformation, translocation, additions, losses and weathering B) Climate, organisms, topography, time, and parent material C) Sand, silt, clay, organic matter, and pore space

B) Climate, organisms, topography, time, and parent material

37) Silicate clay loss is most notable in the ________. A) A horizon B) E horizon C) B horizon

B) E horizon

1. The grey color in a poorly drained soil is due to : A) Fe3+ (oxidized iron) B) Fe2+ (reduced iron) C) doesn't have any iron

B) Fe2+ (reduced iron)

3. The individual layers in a soil are called A) Profiles B) Horizons C) Solum

B) Horizons

3. The reaction K-feldspar (s) + H2O (l) →6 Acid fledspar (s) + K + OH- is an example of A) Hydration B) Hydrolysis C) Acidification

B) Hydrolysis

Which of the following statements is correct? A) Limestone parent materials enhance the process of acidification. B) Soils on hillsides tend to be shallower (less horizonation) than those on level lands. C) Calcium carbonate accumulation is more prominent in humid than in arid regions.

B) Soils on hillsides tend to be shallower (less horizonation) than those on level lands.

5. This physical transformation factor has the largest influence on soil formation A) Abrasion B) Temperature C) Animals and Plants3

B) Temperature

2. A plagioclase feldspar is what type of rock A) metamorphic B) igneous C) Sedimentary

B) igneous

31) An ultisol can look like a mollisol or alfisol but is different in that it has a A) high base saturation B) low base saturation C) lots of iron or aluminum oxides

B) low base saturation

21) Metamorphic rocks can best be characterized as ________. A) rocks containing both feldspars and micas B) rocks formed from the recrystallization of sedimentary material C) rocks formed when molten magma solidifies

B) rocks formed from the recrystallization of sedimentary material

8. The amount of different sizes of mineral particles in a soil defines the soil ________. A) profile B) texture C) pore space

B) texture

12. The lower layers in a soil profile (i.e. B or C) are the A) at the same weathering stage as the upper layers B) the least weathered C) the most highly weathered

B) the least weathered

39) The four soil forming processes are A) transformatiion, hydrolysis, carbonation, redox B) transformation, translocation, additions, losses C) hydrolysis, hydration, disintegration, acidification

B) transformation, translocation, additions, losses

1. Which of the following categories of Soil Taxonomy provides the greatest specificity of soil properties? A: Family B: Series

B: Series

2. A soil pedon is_________ A: Category of Soil Taxonomy B: a three-dimensional unit that embodies the primary characteristics of an individual soil

B: a three-dimensional unit that embodies the primary characteristics of an individual soil

33) In a typical mineral soil in optimal condition for plant growth, approximately what percentage of the pore space would be filled with water and what percentage filled with air? A) 25% water and 75% air B) 25% water and 25% air C) 50% water and 50% air

C) 50% water and 50% air

2. Pedology is the study of soils A) As a useless material B) As a habitat C) As a natural body

C) As a natural body

2. The upper and lower loess bluffs in Mississippi come from which type of parent material? A) Colluvium B) Marine sediments C) Eolian deposits

C) Eolian deposits

40) A soil formed under a forest might likely have which of the following horizons that would separate it from one formed under a praire soil A) A B) B C) O

C) O

4. Leaching is an example of which soil formation process A) Transformation B) Additions C) Translocation

C) Translocation

1. Alluvial parent material is deposited by A) Gravity B) Rain C) Water

C) Water

38) If you wanted to find a soil where physical weathering dominated over chemical breakdown you would be most apt to find it in ________. A) a coastal plain area of Delaware B) a lacustrine deposit in Minnesota C) a desert region of Arizona

C) a desert region of Arizona

10. Secondary minerals are most prominent in the ________ fraction of soils. A) silt B) sand C) clay

C) clay

27) Colluvial parent materials are best described as A) water transported B) marine based C) gravity transported

C) gravity transported

7. The reaction: mica + H2O = K+ + OH- + acid clay is an example of ________. A) physical weathering B) carbonation C) hydrolysis

C) hydrolysis

The element most often involved in oxidation reactions as minerals weather is ________. A) aluminum B) magnesium C) iron

C) iron

32) Transported parent materials are best described as ________. A) materials formed by weathering of rocks and minerals in place. B) materials more dominant in Iowa than in the Southern United States. C) materials transported from one location to another by water, ice or wind.

C) materials transported from one location to another by water, ice or wind.

16) A soil formed under a praire might likely have which of the following epipedons A) ochric B) salinic C) mollic

C) mollic

25) In which of the following epipedons is the base saturation generally highest? A) alfic B) ochre C) mollic

C) mollic

28) In which of the following epipedons is the organic matter level generally lowest? A) histic B) mollic C) ochric

C) ochric

17) An A horizon with a sharp, distinct boundary at about 6 inches due to cultivation would most likely have which subordinate distinction A) s B) q C) p

C) p

4. Sedimentary rocks can best be characterized as ________. A) rocks found primarily near volcanoes. B) rocks formed when molten magma solidifies C) rocks formed from the recrystallization of sedimentary material

C) rocks formed from the recrystallization of sedimentary material

34) Mechanical weathering processes result in ________. A) the hydrolysis of minerals through frost action B) the decomposition of primary minerals C) the disintegration of rocks due to differential expansion of minerals

C) the disintegration of rocks due to differential expansion of minerals

11. A soil profile consists of ________. A) the sum of chemical and physical data known about a soil B) the way a soil "feels" C) the set of layers seen in a vertical cross section of a soil

C) the set of layers seen in a vertical cross section of a soil

18) Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic are three ________. A) forms of minerals B) processes of weathering C) types of rocks

C) types of rocks

9. The water in the soil typically differs from pure water because the soil water ________. A) contains organic compounds B) contains mineral nutrients C) is restrained in its flow by attraction to particle surfaces D) all of the above

D) all of the above

41) Subsoil is typically equivalent to the O horizon.

False

42) Sandstones are good examples of metamorphic rocks.

False

44) Epipedons are diagnostic horizons that are one of the primary means of classifying soils in the United States.

False

48) Except for some kinds of foods, modern industry has made human dependence on soils a thing of the past.

False

50) While many organisms depend on the soil for nutrients and water, only a few very specialized organisms live in the soil itself.

False

43) Chemical weathering is accelerated by water, oxygen, and organic and inorganic acids moving down through the regolith.

True

45) Soil air usually has a higher carbon dioxide content than the air in the atmosphere.

True

46) The broadest category of classification in Soil Taxonomy specifies 12 soil orders.

True

47) The mineral particles in soil consist of sand, silt, and clay.

True

49) Marine sediments are typical parent materials in coastal plain areas.

True