Quiz 2 Soils Part II and Vermicomposting
Soils Part 2.
1. Maine soils are naturally (acidic / alkaline), and liming soil with calcium carbonate (raises /
lowers) soil pH.
2. Gardeners often overlook the soil pH. It is important to know what your soil’s pH is for the
crops you are growing because:
3. The 3 numbers listed on fertilizer bags stand for _______ _______ and _______. These
numbers represent the __ of that nutrient in the bag.
4. A bag 50-pound bag of Happy Gardener fertilizer is listed as 4-3-3. How many pounds of
Phosphorus (P2O5) are in the bag?
5. Name a good organic soils source of Nitrogen fertilizer and list the percentage of N:
Hint: the MOFGA Natural Sources of Plant Nutrient fact sheet will help)
6. How would you collect a soil sample that is a good representative sample from the
field/garden you are sampling?
7.
What would you add to a compost pile as a source of nitrogen?
a.
b.
c.
d.
8.
Dried leaves, raked up in the fall
Egg shells
Lawn clippings
Small twigs and chipped branches
Why would you add soil when building a compost pile?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Soil provides nitrogen for microorganisms to feed on
Soil raises the pH of the compost, and speeds it up
Soil aerates the mixture, keeping it "light"
Soil contains microorganisms, which do the composting
9.
How hot should a compost pile get to kill disease organisms?
a. 90 degrees Fahrenheit
b. 120 degrees Fahrenheit
c. 140 degrees Fahrenheit
d. 220 degrees Fahrenheit
10.
What should you do to a compost pile if it smells like ammonia?
a.
b.
c.
d.
11.
water it, making sure the entire pile is wetted down
add small textured plant materials, like grass clippings
add more minerals, by mixing in garden soil
turn and mix it, to incorporate more air, and possibly add a bulking agent like straw
What are the 6 Key Factors to for managing a compost pile for maximum efficiency?
Answer Sheet
1. Maine soils are naturally (acidic / alkaline), and liming soil with calcium carbonate (raises /
lowers) soil pH.
2. Gardeners often overlook the soil pH. It is important to know what your soil’s pH is for the
crops you are growing because:
The pH of the soil effects nutrient availability for crop growth, and if the pH is far
outside the desirable range for a crop some nutrients such as Iron or Aluminum may
reach toxic levels.
3. The 3 numbers listed on fertilizer bags stand for Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium.
These numbers represent the % of that nutrient in the bag.
4. A bag 50-pound bag of Happy Gardener fertilizer is listed as 4-3-3. How many pounds of
Phosphorus (P2O5) are in the bag?
1.5 pounds of P2O5
5. Name a good organic soils source of Nitrogen fertilizer and list the percentage of N:
Hint: the MOFGA Natural Sources of Plant Nutrient fact sheet will help)
Soil Bean Meal
Cotton Seed Meal
Blood Meal:
7.24 % N
7.6 % N
12 % N
6. How would you collect a soil sample that is a good representative sample from the
field/garden you are sampling?
Take approximately 12-15 sub samples with a garden trowel randomly from
throughout the field or garden; put them in a clean bucket or box. Mix well and then
fill your box with this “representative soil sample”.
7.
What would you add to a compost pile as a source of nitrogen?
e.
f.
g.
h.
8.
Why would you add soil when building a compost pile?
e.
f.
g.
h.
9.
Dried leaves, raked up in the fall
Egg shells
Lawn clippings
Small twigs and chipped branches
Soil provides nitrogen for microorganisms to feed on
Soil raises the pH of the compost, and speeds it up
Soil aerates the mixture, keeping it "light"
Soil contains microorganisms, which do the composting
How hot should a compost pile get to kill disease organisms?
e. 90 degrees Fahrenheit
f. 120 degrees Fahrenheit
g. 140 degrees Fahrenheit
h. 220 degrees Fahrenheit
10.
What should you do to a compost pile if it smells like ammonia?
e.
f.
g.
h.
11.
water it, making sure the entire pile is wetted down
add small textured plant materials, like grass clippings
add more minerals, by mixing in garden soil
turn and mix it, to incorporate more air, and possibly add a bulking agent like
straw
What are the 6 Key Factors to for managing a compost pile for maximum efficiency?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
C/N ratio of materials (30:1 optimum).
Moisture
Surface area exposed
Aeration
Temperature
Pile Size