Name _____________________________________ Period _____ Date _____________________________
Soil – It’s More Than Dirt
Vocabulary Quiz A
Directions: Write the word next to the term.
WORD BANK
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Soil
Dirt
Sand
Silt
Clay
6. Loam
7. Soil Horizons
8. Bedrock
9. Parent Material
10. Subsoil
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Topsoil
Humus
Organic
Erosion
Conservation
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
No-till
Windbreak
Cover Crop
Earthworms
Compost
1. These organisms live in the soil and digest organic matter, making the soil richer
and aerating the soil.
2. The arrangement of the soil horizons.
3. This is the B Horizon and contains the clay and mineral deposits.
4. A crop that is planted between periods of regular crop production to prevent soil
erosion and provide nitrogen to the soil.
5. A naturally occurring mixture of minerals, organic matter, and air that forms the
surface of the earth.
6. This is the O soil horizon. It is the top, organic layer of soil mostly made up of
decomposed or decomposing organic matter.
7. Planting seeds in the soil without tilling it first. In Georgia, some farmers use this
method to plant soybeans after harvesting wheat.
8. This soil has smaller particles than sand. It holds water longer, but it doesn’t hold
onto nutrients very well.
9. Derived from living organisms; in compost, it is living material that is decomposed
or decomposing and turning into soil.
10. A mixture of decaying organic matter used to improve soil structure and provide
nutrients.
21. Nutrient
22. Soil Profile
Name _____________________________________ Period _____ Date _____________________________
Soil – It’s More Than Dirt
Vocabulary Quiz B
Directions: Write the number and the word next to the term.
WORD BANK
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Soil
Dirt
Sand
Silt
Clay
6. Loam
7. Soil Horizons
8. Bedrock
9. Parent Material
10. Subsoil
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Topsoil
Humus
Organic
Erosion
Conservation
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
No-till
Windbreak
Cover Crop
Earthworms
Compost
1. Individual layers of soil as seen in a vertical cross-section of soil.
2. Misplaced soil (which you wash out of your clothes or from your hands)
3. This soil type has the smallest particles. It holds water well and holds on to
nutrients better than silt.
4. This soil type has the largest particles. It can’t hold onto water because there is so
much space between the particles.
5. This is the C Horizon and contains slightly broken-up bedrock.
6. This is the R horizon and is the unweathered rock layer beneath all the others. It is
not soil.
7. Rows of trees or bushes are planted where they will block the wind.
8. Soil is a major source of this for healthy plants. The top 3 of these needed for
plants to grow are Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K).
9. This is the A soil horizon which is the second layer that plants grow in.
10. Wise use and protection of our natural resources.
21. Nutrient
22. Soil Profile
SOILS VOCABULARY QUIZ ANSWER KEY
QUIZ A
1. earthworms
2. soil profile
3. subsoil
4. cover crop
5. soil
6. humus
7. no-till
8. silt
9. organic
10. compost
QUIZ B
1. Soil horizons
2. dirt
3. clay
4. sand
5. Parent material
6. bedrock
7. windbreak
8. nutrients
9. topsoil
10. conservation