Soils Test
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The soil that surrounds us has a lot of living things and components that makes it up. It is very vital as it supports plant life that sustains us. This quiz tests how much you know about soils, expanding your knowledge.
- 1.Which of the following is a benefit of applying organic mulch to the soil surface?
- A.
Reduces surface compaction, crusting, and soil erosion
- B.
Improves soil structure
- C.
Buffers soil temperature fluctuations
- D.
All of the above
- 2.Urban soils may be impacted by
- A.
Lack of an organic layer
- B.
Altered drainage
- C.
Chemical contamination
- D.
All of the above
- 3.The term teacup effect describes a condition when
- A.
Soil is at field capacity and all gravitational water has drained
- B.
Available water is held in the root ball of a newly planted tree and absorberd by the roots as needed
- C.
Trees are approaching the permanent wilting point andin need of irrigation to prevent drought damage
- D.
A tree is planted in clay soil, but is then backfilled with a more course soil that may act as a bowl and retain water
- 4.The zone of intense biological activity surrounding actively elongating roots is termed the
- A.
Organic layer
- B.
Macropores
- C.
Rhizosphere
- D.
Parent material
- 5.If a layer of sandy soil is on top of a layer of clay soil, water will
- A.
Accumulate in the upper layer as it slowly infiltrates into the lower layer
- B.
Drain uniformly through both layers
- C.
Pool in the upper layer of sandy soil and drain no farther
- D.
None of the above
- 6.By volume, ideal soils for plant growth are composed of roughly
- A.
45% mineral matter, 50% pore space, 5% OM
- B.
5% mineral matter, 50% pore space, 45%OM
- C.
45% mineral matter, 5% pore space, 50% OM
- D.
5% mineral matter, 45% pore space, 50% OM
- 7.The soil food web may be defined as
- A.
The zone of intense biological activity surrounding actively elongating roots
- B.
Microscopic roundworms that feed on pathogenic, disease causing organisms
- C.
The diversity of organisms living, moving and interacting in the soil
- D.
An altered environment within the soil where many organisms flourish
- 8.Which of the following serve as an important storage bank for plant nutrients in the soil
- A.
Mycorrizhae
- B.
Sand particles
- C.
Soil microorganisms
- D.
Soil water
- 9.Soils vary in their susceptibility to becoming compacted. Which of the following is true?
- A.
Dry soils are more prone to compaction
- B.
Clay soils are easily compacted
- C.
Wet soils are less prone to compaction
- D.
Sandy soils are easily compacted
- 10.Compaction is one of the biggest problems in urban soils because it may
- A.
Result in poor soil aeration, negatively impacting root growth and the existence of important soil organisms
- B.
Prevent the formation of girdling roots
- C.
Be responsible for chemical contamination of soil
- D.
All of the above
- 11.Soil layers that develop over time due to rainfall, heating and cooling, chemical reactions, and biological activities are termed soils
- A.
Horizons
- B.
Organic matter
- C.
Aggregates
- D.
Profiles
- 12.The dark colored horizon is rich in OM, is very biologically active, and contains most absorbing roots of trees
- A.
A horizon
- B.
B horizon
- C.
C horizon
- D.
None of the above
- 13.Which of the following is the term used to describe the amount of mineral ions dissolved in the soil water?
- A.
Solution
- B.
Salinity
- C.
Solute
- D.
Sodicity
- 14.Soil structure develops over time as a result of
- A.
Root growth
- B.
Freezing and thawing
- C.
Burrowing insects and other animals
- D.
All of the above
- 15.The pH range generally favorable for most trees is
- A.
4.0-5.5
- B.
6.0-6.5
- C.
7.0-7.5
- D.
7.5-8.0
- 16.If the soil is acidic, the pH can be adjusted by adding
- A.
Sulfur
- B.
OM
- C.
Lime
- D.
Nitrogen
- 17.The leading cause of tree decline is urban areas is
- A.
Soil compaction
- B.
Soil amendment
- C.
Nutrient leaching
- D.
Excessive drainage
- 18.Soil pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of soil with a scale ranging from
- A.
1 to 10
- B.
0 to 100
- C.
-14 to 14
- D.
0 to 14
- 19.When soil is compacted
- A.
Agregrates are formed, giving the soil a better structure
- B.
A high water content will reduce the damaging effects
- C.
Total pore space and the percentage of macropores are reduced
- D.
Micropores combine to form macropores
- 20.When gravitational water has drained from the soil, it is said to be at
- A.
Water holding capacity
- B.
Permanent wilting point
- C.
Field capacity
- D.
Maximum infiltration
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