Review questions for Final Exam, Remember to also study Exams 1, 2, and 3.
Exam is on Friday, May 2, from 10:30-12:30
1. Draw a simplified soil profile, name the layers (horizons) with appropriate letters, give the name of
each zone, and know what processes dominate in that layer.
2. What are the four components of soil?
3. The terms sand, silt, and clay refer to what property of individual soil particles?
4. Water in soil that is available to plants is held by which of these? electrical charges? capillary
action? gravity?
5. Explain the difference in porosity and permeability.
6. Why is a neutral pH important?
7. What are 4 ways that organic material improves soil.
8. Why shouldn't you rake up the leaves in your yard and send them to the landfill?
9. The percentages of sand, silt, and clay determines what overall soil property?
10. What is loam?
11. What is pedology?
12. Name the 5 factors in soil formation.
13. Explain how each would affect soil formation.
14. What are some characteristics of vertisols?
15. Why would it be a bad idea to build your house on a Histosol?
16. Explain the 3 soil forming regimes, the climate type, vegetation type and resulting soil associated
with each regime.
17. What soil type is associated with the "breadbaskets" of the world?
18. Explain the unique problems associated with irrigating Aridisols for agriculture.
19. What soil order predominates in the southeastern U.S.? Explain its characteristics?
20. Relate organic matter in U.S. soil to climate (production/decay rates) and vegetation type, i.e.
explain this map.
Map of organic matter in soil, metric tons per hectare