Test 1 Review | PSS 3303 - Soils, Quizzes of Plant Taxonomy and Evolution

Download Test 1 Review | PSS 3303 - Soils and more Quizzes Plant Taxonomy and Evolution in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 Define Soil DEFINITION 1 A recycling system for nutrients and organic waste,Habitat for organismsengeneering mediumwater supply and purification TERM 2 What are the two ways of studying soil? DEFINITION 2 Edaphology - study of soils as a habitat(farming production)Pedology - study of soils as a natural body(physical properties and history) TERM 3 What is soil horizination? DEFINITION 3 The separating of soil into horizontal horizons that differ in properties and characteristics. TERM 4 What is a peon, poly pedon, and soil series? DEFINITION 4 The peon is the fundamental unit of soil study, or the smallest sampling that displays the full range of properties of a soil.a poly pedon is a series of very similar peons that can be recognized as a landscape component.a soil series is the common group that many polypedons fall into; a class of soils. TERM 5 Functions of soil DEFINITION 5 Growth mediumrecycling systemmodifier of the atmospherehabitat for soil organismssystem for water supply and purificationengeneering medium TERM 6 4 Major components of soil DEFINITION 6 Air (atmosphere)- c02, N2, and O2Soil particles (lithosphere) - minerals in clays, rocks and sedimentssoil water (Hydrosphere) - water and dissolved substancesorganic matter (biosphere) - plants, animals, microbes, and their products and remainsplants need about 25% of both air and water space (optimally). TERM 7 DEFINITION 7 The soil triangle - be able to label it. TERM 8 Know the particle sizes and their characteristics DEFINITION 8 sand - 0.5 to 2.0 mm; gritty feelingsilt - 0.002 to 0.5 mm; floury feelingclay - >0.002mm ; sticky feeling, very important TERM 9 Importance of clay DEFINITION 9 Because of the very small particle size, clay has a tremendous amount of surface area, and therefore is the seat of most of the chemical and physical activity.high activity clays swell and shring, making them unsuitable for buildinglow activity clay are a very solid building material. TERM 10 organic fraction of soil DEFINITION 10 consists of biomass; the carbon-containing remnants and wastes of living organisms.only 1-6% of the soil (very small)provides nutrients for plants, plays a large role in the formation of soils. TERM 21 Explain the difference between macro and micro pores DEFINITION 21 macro pores = intraped spaces between aggregats or grains, fast drainage and rapid gas exchange can occur, biopores are created by roots, worms, ext.micropores = small spaces within aggregates, usually filled with water TERM 22 Calculate % pore space, particle density, and bulk density DEFINITION 22 % pore space + % solids = 100100 -((Db/Dp)(100))=% pore spacein other words, divide bulk density (Weight of solids/ total volume) by particle density (weight of solids / volume of solids), and that will give you a decimal that is your percent solids, from there we can figure pore space TERM 23 Know approximate values for particle density and bulk density DEFINITION 23 Particle density ~ 2.7 Mg/m3 because of quartzBulk density ~ from 0 - 2.7 Mg/m3, this usually amounts to around a ton per cubic yard. TERM 24 Explain the relationship between bulk density and pore space DEFINITION 24 as pore space increases, the bulk density, or total density decreases.as depth increases, so does Db. because of less organic matter, therefore less aggregation. less mixing. TERM 25 Understand why soil crusting occurs and how to avoid it. DEFINITION 25 occurs due to aggregate dispersion ( not many solid aggregates) because of high salt content or rainfall actionthis results in poor seedling emergence and high runoff rates-this can be prevented by adding SOIL CONDITIONERS, such as gypsum, or organic polymers & minimizing tillage, TERM 26 Discuss aerobic and anaerobic soil and how the status is determined DEFINITION 26 aerobic - high O2 content, oxidation reaction (rapid breakdown) occurs. leads to oxidized conditionsanaeroboc - low O2 content, slower breakdown of organic residues. leads to reduced conditions.>redox potential400 mV and up - soil is aerobic320 mV and below - soil is anaerobic TERM 27 Discuss the importance of well aerated soils and poorly aerated soils DEFINITION 27 well aerated leads to oxidized conditionspoorly aerated leads to reduced conditions TERM 28 Explain the definition of a wetland and list the three criteria used to define them DEFINITION 28 wetland soils are water-saturated and high in temperature near the top long enough to prevent rapid breakdown, or result in anaerobic conditions.look for:weltland hydrology or water regimeHydric soils (accumulated organic matter and loss of Fe, Mn, and S)hydrophytic plants (plants that like a lot of water) TERM 29 Understand the effects of soil effects of temperature on physical, biological, & chemical soil processes DEFINITION 29 affects seed germination, root functions, microbial processes, and freezing and thawing. TERM 30 Explain how to control soil temperature DEFINITION 30 one can control soil temperature by controlling the soil moisture content and adding mulches. TERM 31 Explain clay, iron and aluminum movement in soil DEFINITION 31 clay, Iron and aluminum oxides drain out( or are leeching out of) of the ELUVIAL horizons, the E and A horizons, and accumulates in ILLUVIAL horizons (b horizon). TERM 32 What are the effects of the time factor in soil formation? DEFINITION 32 as a soil gets older, the rock it formed fro gets more highly weathered.-in the beginning, small plants start to establish themselves, adding to the organic matter, and creating a and c horizons-next, more vegetation establishes itself and contributes to an o horizon, and the a horizon thickens.-the clays, iron oxides, and other water soluble products begin to leech out and accumulate and form a b horizon.-as more clays leech out, the b horizon thickens and takes on a blocky structure. TERM 33 how does climate affect soil formation? DEFINITION 33 the hotter the area is, the faster chemical, physical, and biological processes occur. moisture also effects these processes.climate also affects which organisms will inhabit the area, affecting in turn the type and quantity of organic matter that is left behind.also, the more water that is able to penetrate the soil, the greater the depth of weathering and soil development, more clays will leech out and accumulate in b horizons and more organic matter will be drained of oxides and clays. TERM 34 how do plants and animals affect soil formation? DEFINITION 34 vegetaion affects the amount of organic matter that is deposited.living things like worms also affect how the soil is mixed and aerated.- a prarie, or a molasol, deposites large quantities of organic matter and leaded to large a horizons, without e, or exit, horizons.- forestlands have less deposited organic matter and have small a horizons, and leached e horizons. TERM 35 how does topography effect soil development? DEFINITION 35 topography affects water movement and erosion, as well as sun exposure, which in turn affects moisture levels.- the profile on hills will be thinner than top of bottom land soils because of erosion from water.- top lands soils are often much better drained, as bottomlands are more poorly drained.topography also affects parent materials TERM 46 Entisols DEFINITION 46 These are weakly developed mineral soils without a natural b horizon.*** denoted by the letters ENT TERM 47 Inceptisols DEFINITION 47 *** denoted by the lettere EPTthey are in the beginning stages, or the inception, of a b horizon. TERM 48 Andisols DEFINITION 48 *** denoted by the letters ANDformed by volcanic ash, fairly young. makes for good farm land TERM 49 Gelisols DEFINITION 49 *** denoted by the letters ELsoils in cold and frozen conditions. they have a layer of PERMAFROST TERM 50 Histosols DEFINITION 50 *** denoted by the letters ISThave a very thick layer of organic matter, they are the only solis whose parent material is organic matter. they have undergone little profile development because of the anaerobic environment. mostly found in wetlands. TERM 51 Aridisols DEFINITION 51 *** denoted by the letters IDDRY soils in arid climates. occupy the second largest area after entisols. not very much vegetation, therefore little organic matter TERM 52 Vertisols DEFINITION 52 *** denoted by the letters ERTformed by the shrinking and swelling of clays. very problematic for highway building. deep cracks are diagnostic of vertisols. TERM 53 Mollisols DEFINITION 53 *** denoted by the letters OLLdark soft solis of grasslands. they have a large accumulation of organic matter from the root systems of the grasslands. TERM 54 Alfisols DEFINITION 54 *** denoted by the letters ALFsillicate clay has accumulated by illuviation, and are moderately leached. TERM 55 Ultisols DEFINITION 55 *** denoted by the letters ULTcharacterized by an acidic b horizon. they are highly leached and have high translocation of clays TERM 56 Spodosols DEFINITION 56 *** denoted by the letters ODacidic, sandy forest soils that are highly leached. commonly occur in cld or temperate lands. TERM 57 Oxisols DEFINITION 57 *** denoted by the letters OXmost highly weathered of all the soils. form in hot climates with year-round moist conditions.