CSS 210 Fun of soil science: Quizzes

You are researching a Typic Calciustalf. what features does this soil most likely contain

an argillic and a pedogenic accumulation of calcium carbonate

which of the following is desert soil

(Ultisol, Oxisol, Aridisol, Mollisol)

Aridisol

what is the subgroup of lamelic Glossudalf

Lamellic glossudalf

what soil order is probably most intensely weathered (Ultisol, Entisols, Inceptisol, Alfisols)

Ultisols

best describe the mollic epipedon

thin, dark, high in organic matter, high base saturation

what is the great group of Vertic Argidurid

Argidurids

what is the moisture regime of Calcic Paleeustoll found in

Ustic

What is the soil order of Cumulic Hapludox

Oxisols

How would you describe a nitric horizon

Btn

What soil order will likely have a Bhs horizon in it

Spodosols

What color rule is the best for identifying prolonged wetness in a soil horizon (what color indicates it)  

Chroma <2

A mineral grain is 1 micrometer in diameter. How would the USDA describe the category of soil separates that this particle represents

Clay

sample with volume of 23 Cubic centimeters and oven dry mass of 32 g. what is bulk density?

32 g / 23 cc= 1.4

container mass 8.2 g. moist soil mass 156 g and dry mass 132.3 g. Original sample had a volume of 98 cc. What is the bulk density

132.3g - 8.2 g / 98 = 1.27

what particle density do we usually assume in soil (in g/cc)

2.65

particle density is 7.87 g/cc. sample has bulk density of 2.42 g/cc what is porosity

1- ( 2.42 / 7.87 ) = .692 = 69.2%

what soil structure do we typically see in A horizon

granular

What has the finest texture:

silty loam, silty clay loam, loam, silty clay 

silty clay 

you are able to mold a soil sample like putty or artists clay. what is the water content of this sample

it is between plastic and the liquid limit

The purpose of an experiment is to prove that a hypothesis is true.

False

What ecosystem service does soil provide to keep this horrifying (corpses don’t decay without soil) scenario from happening?

decomposition and nutrient recycling 

How can we place monetary values on ecosystem services, so that resource managers and policy makers can better understand ecosystem degradation or enhancement?

-We can measure how much money people are willing to pay to go somewhere just to enjoy something, like the tourism dollars that people spend to visit national parks.

-We can measure the direct production value of a system, like the profit made off of a harvested crop

-We can calculate the replacement cost of lost ecosystem services, like wages for people to hand-pollinate plants if bees are driven to extinction

-All of these, plus other methods, are available to assign values to ecosystems and the services that they provide