Name ________________________________
Period _______
Soil Review Pack
Define each vocabulary term in your own words. Then, write yourself a quick note on
how you will remember each.
Term
Definition
How I Remember
Soil
Parent material
Weathering
Soil horizon
Soil profile
Soil
Three types of weathering
1.
2.
3
Is Classified By
1.
2.
3.
4.
Term
Definition
How I Remember
Clay
Silt
Sand
Loam
Soil Formation
1. Mineral matter and organic matter together make up about 50 percent of soil. What
two
substances make up the other 50 percent?
For Questions 2−4, write True if the statement is true. If the statement is false, replace
the
underlined word or words to make the statement true. Write your changes on the line.
2. Parent material is the base geological material from which
soil is
formed.
3. Weathering is often the last process in soil formation.
4. Deposition of formerly living things allows nutrients to be
incorporated into soil.
Soil Horizons
5. Why is topsoil crucial for agriculture?
Label the diagram with the name and a description of each soil
horizon. The first one has been done for you.
O Horizon: Litter layer
Consists mostly of organic matter
A Horizon:
E Horizon:
B Horizon:
C Horizon:
R Horizon:
6. Explain the roles of physical, chemical, and biological weathering in soil formation.
7. What does the color of soil indicate about its fertility?
Soil Characteristics
For Questions 7 and 8, circle the letter of the correct answer
8. Soil texture is based on
A. fertility.
B. particle size.
C. acidity or alkalinity.
D. the arrangement of soil particles.
9. The type of soil with the smallest average particle size is
A. silt.
B. clay.
C. sand.
D. loam.
10. What is the most important factor that determines which component of soil will
have a high water holding capacity?
11. Which soil component has the highest water holding capacity?
A.
B.
C.
D.
silt.
clay.
sand.
loam.
12. Which soil component has the lowest water holding capacity?
A.
B.
C.
D.
silt.
clay.
sand.
loam.
13. Which soil component has the highest infiltration rate?
A.
B.
C.
D.
silt.
clay.
sand.
loam.
14. Which soil component has the lowest infiltration rate?
A.
B.
C.
D.
silt.
clay.
sand.
loam.
15. What occurs when a soil has a high infiltration rate and a high capillary rate?
16. What occurs when a soil has a low infiltration rate and a high capillary rate?
17. What is the optimal pH for soils? __________
What are the four types of erosion?
Term
Description
Rank 1-3 (1 being removes
the most soil)
1
2
3
Formed by rill erosion
Define each vocabulary term in your own words. Then, write yourself a quick note on
how you will remember each. One term has been done for you.
Term
Definition
Soil
degradation
Intercropping
Crop rotation
Cover crop
Shelterbelt
Tilling
Terracing
18. Name two ways farmers can reduce salinization.
How I Remember
Term
Definition
Contour
farming
Overgrazing
Desertification
Irrigation
Salinization
Pesticide
19. List seven factors that contribute to desertification.
20. Name three causes to the American Dust Bowl.
How I Remember
21. Use the soil Analysis Chart to determine the type of soil for each example below:
40% sand, 30% silt, 30% clay
______________
10% sand, 60% silt, 30% clay
______________
80% sand, 10% silt, 10% clay
______________
60% sand, 10% silt, 30% clay
______________
22. How does fertilizer application negatively affect
Fresh water such as ponds:
Ground water:
Atmosphere:
23. Describe how plants use the following minerals:
Nitrogen:
Potassium:
Phosphorous: