Quiz 3

If the soils are to be used for crop production, for which soil order would land drainage be most critical?

Histosols

Soil scientists from which country first conceived the idea that soils were natural bodies?

Russia

The nomenclature of Soil Taxonomy is characterized by all but which one of the following statements? Select one: a. Soil names (except for series level) identifies major soil characteristics. b. The names are based on measurable properties and not on presumed modes of genesis. c. The subgroup name also tells you the great group, suborder, and order names. d. The names of the orders all end with the letters sols. e. The names give a clear indication of the modes of genesis of the soil

The names give a clear indication of the modes of genesis of the soil.

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

false

Soils in the Oxisols order are deeply weathered and have deep subsurface horizons of calcium oxide.

false

The categories of Soil Taxonomy can be listed from the broadest (first) and most specific (last) as: order, suborder, great group, subgroup, series, family.

false

Andisols are found mostly near recently active volcanoes.

true

Histosols generally have higher organic matter contents than Mollisols.

true

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

true

Vertisols are characterized by high contents of swelling-type silicate clays.

true