Soils 210 Chapter 16 review

Conservation tillage reduces water and wind erosion by at least ___%

50-60%

T/F Conventional tillage consists of two steps - primary tillage and finish tillage

F

T/F Organic and sustainable agriculture are the same

F

T/F When corn is harvested for silage, crop residue left on the field is the most dense

F

Summer _______ is the practice of leaving the soil crop- and weed-free to store moisture.

Fallow

Additional tillage steps are needed to prepare ______ fields. After standard primary and secondary tillage, the grower carefully levels the field with a clade to ensure proper grade for flow of surface-applied water. Then the field is listed with a special tool to create ridges and furrows

Furrow-irrigated

Y/N Does secondary tillage require up to three steps?

N

Y/N For seedbed preparation, can seed respiration occur in most temperatures and with varying degrees of aeration?

N

Y/N Soils tend to be cooler and wetter in conservation tillage. Is the no-till method a good choice for cold, poorly-drained, fine-textured soils?

N

_______ farming is a type of sustainable agriculture that prohibits the use of synthetic substances, including inorganic fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, and biosolids, and stresses managing soil organic matter and soil organisms as a primary goal

Organic

______ is uncultivated areas used for livestock grazing, particularly in the western US. It is particularly important because it occupies such a larger proportion of land surface and provides food and important wildlife habitat

Rangeland

T/F Before plating, tillage prepares a weed-free seedbed that greatly simplifies weed control during the growing season

T

T/F Current research shows equivalent yields from conservation tillage if know technology is applied to each tillage system and the systems are matched to crops and soil types

T

T/F Deep tillage and subsoiling may temporarily break up subsoil compaction

T

T/F Farmers in the eastern United States can plow in either fall or spring

T

T/F From a soil conservation perspective, spring tillage is better than fall tillage

T

T/F Saline seeps appear where glacial till overlays an impermeable layer. During fallow, increased percolation picks up salts and carriers them deeper into the soil, When salty water reaches the tight layer, it spreads out sideways, flowing downslope underground. The salty water seeps to the surface on a lower field and the water evaporates leaving salt on the soil surface

T

T/F Small grains, such as oats or wheat are planted in closely spaced rows, quickly cover the soil surface, help reduce soil erosion, suppress weeds, and improve soil structure and tilth

T

T/F Summer fallow is the practice of leaving the soil both crop- and weed-free to store moisture

T

T/F The importance of tillage for weed control has declined with increases in both herbicide use and tillage systems designed around herbicide use

T

Y/N Before planting, does tillage prepare a weed-free seedbed that greatly simplifies weed control during the growing season?

Y

Y/N Does secondary tillage involve mixing implements like harrows?

Y

Y/N In the western US, where moisture preservation is critical, does plowing immediately after harvest give more time for the soil to store moisture if weeds are controlled

Y

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of tillage during seedbed preparation.. a. it reduces runoff b. it improves aeration c. it creates a suitable medium for growth d. it stirs and loosen soil

a. it reduces runoff

Which tillage system places the greatest reliance on herbicides for weed control? a. no-till b. conventional c. chisel plow d. strip till

a. no-till

In _________ , a plant emits chemicals from the roots that suppress growth of other plants

allelopathy

All of the following are benefits on conservation tillage EXCEPT____ a. improved organic matter b. less weed control needed c. increased nutrient uptake d. increased carbon sequestration

b. less weed control needed

Which of the following is the traditional primary plowing tool? a. lister plow b. moldboard plow c. chisel plow d. finishing harrow

b. moldboard plow

Tillage can affect all but which of these soil properties. a. soil structure b. soil texture c. soil temperature d. soil moisture

b. soil texture

Which operation leaves the soil more susceptible to erosion? a. chisel plowing b. no-till planting c. fall moldboard plowing d. spring moldboar plowing

b. soil texture

Soil movement by short bounces, causing 50 to 75% of all wind erosion is called ____ a. wind erosion b. suspension c. soil particle dispersion d. saltation

b. suspension

Conservation tillage by definition leaves at least ____ of soil surface covered by crop residues. a. 5% b. 15% c. 30% d. 50%

c. 30 %

All the following are goals of tillage except.. a. weed control b. crop residue management c. destroying crop pests d. altering the soils physical conditions

c. destroying crop pests

Larger, stout teeth pulled deep through the soil to shatter tillage or natural soil pans

chisel plow

_______ tillage is one of the most important test management practices for soil and water conservation

conservation

a program of crop residue management aimed at reducing erosion; some or all residue is left on the soil surface

conservation tillage

the same crop is grown each year

continous cropping

the main form of tillage since invention of the moldboard plow, involves two stages

conventional tillage

grown as conservation tool; usually not harvested

cover cropping

different crops are planted on the same piece of ground in a repeating system

crop rotation

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of crop rotation? a. better disease and insect control b. beter weed control c. better tilth d. better crop yields e. reduced erosion

d. better crop yields

Benefits of cover cropping include a. reduced competition with crops b. greatly increased crop productivity c. greatly improved crop quality d. reduced erosion rates

d. reduced erosion rates

has four gangs of discs set like the four arms of an X; the front two gangs turn the soil outward, and the back two turn it back in

disc harrow

harvesting two corps from the same piece of ground each year

double cropping

The benefits of _____ plowing are especially important with fie-textured soils with somewhat poor drainage

fall

_______ are harvested for their green matter and fed to animals

forages

Ways in which tillage may contribute to the decline of a soils physical structure include loss of organic matter, compaction and crust _______

formation

two moldboards mounted back to back, resulting in a pattern of 10inch high ridges and furrows across the field

lister plow

shears off a section of soil, tips it upside down, fractures it along several planes buries any organic material on the soil surface; leaves soil surface very rough with a series of ridges and furrows; works best in moist soil

moldboard plow

buries crop residues, resulting in a clean field that is easy to plant and cultivate

moldboard plowing

can work into an organic growing system , which does not permit herbicide to substitute for cultivation; may take some change in tools and technique to maintain sufficient residue cover

mulch-till

soil is barely disturbed; specialized planters cut a slit though residues, insert the seed and fertilizer, and close the slot

no-till

prohibits the use of synthetic substances, including inorganic fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, and biosolids

organic farming

Breaks up the soil and usually berries crop residue

primary tillage

especially effective in cool, moist conditions; seed is planted on 6-inch ridges with crop residues swept into the shallow furrows

ridge-till

till under the surface to kill weeds but leave residues on the surface to protect against wind erosion

rodweeders and sweeps

plants in wide strips; under conventional tillage are cultivated for weed control, with the help of herbicides; usually leave soil bare, making it erosion-prone, so best suited to fairly level ground

row crop

produces a fine seedbed by a series of operations that break up the soil into smaller chunks

secondary tillage

resemble lighter chisel plows

spring-tooth harrow

with no primary tillage, a specialized implement tills band of soil and plants seeds into the band; a different implement sweeps residues off a strip into the middle the rows as the seed is planted

strip-till

a set of long curved teeth that are dragged through the soil; fractures and loosens the soil without inverting it or buying most of crop residue

subsoilers and rippers

enhances environmental quality and the resources base on which agriculture depends; provides for basic human food and fiber needs; is economically visible; enhances the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole

sustainable farming

Works the soil to provide a favorable environment for seed placement and germination and crop growth

tillage