Soil Property Quiz
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43 Terms
Q: What is soil texture?
A: The proportion and size of soil particles in a soil.
Q: Why is soil texture important?
A: It affects water availability, permeability, drainage, fertility, land use, and soil management.
Q: What are the three main types of soil particles?
A: Sand, silt, and clay.
Q: Which soil particle is the largest?
A: Sand.
Q: Which soil particle is the smallest?
A: Clay.
Q: What does sand feel like?
A: Gritty, loose, and coarse; individual grains can usually be seen or felt.
Q: How does sandy soil affect water?
A: It drains and percolates quickly but holds very little water.
Q: Why does sandy soil usually have low fertility?
A: It holds little water and has low nutrient availability.
Q: What happens when dry sandy soil is squeezed?
A: It falls apart when pressure is released.
Q: What happens when moist sandy soil is squeezed
A: It forms a cast but crumbles when touched.
Q: What does silt feel like?
A: Soft, smooth, and flour
Q: How visible are silt particles?
A: They can barely be seen with the naked eye.
Q: What are the main characteristics of silt?
granular soil material with a medium particle size that falls between sand and clay
Q: What are the characteristics of clay?
very small, sticky, plastic, and capable of holding large amounts of water.
Q: How does clay affect water movement?
A: Water moves through clay very slowly because its pore spaces are tiny.
Q: Why can clay hold a lot of water?
A: It has many tiny pore spaces that retain water.
Q: What happens when moist clay soil is pinched between the fingers?
A: It forms a long, flexible ribbon.
Q: What does clay leave on your fingers when rubbed?
A: A slick surface.
Q: Why is clay generally highly fertile?
A: It holds water and many nutrients needed for plant growth.
Q: What is a loam?
A: A relatively even mixture of sand, silt, and clay, with less than 20% clay.
Q: What happens when moist loam is squeezed?
A: It forms a cast that can be handled without breaking.
Q: What happens to clay soil when it dries?
A: It usually forms very hard lumps or clods.
Q: What happens to clay when it is wet?
A: It becomes very sticky and plastic.
Q: Which soil has the fastest water movement?
A: Sandy soil.
Q: Which soil has the slowest water movement?
A: Clay soil.
Q: Which soil holds the most water?
A: Clay soil.
Q: Which soil generally holds the least water?
A: Sandy soil.
Q: What determines a soil's texture?
A: The combination and proportions of sand, silt, and clay particles.
What are free carbonates in soil, and how do they affect soil?
Free carbonates are carbonate minerals, mainly calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), that are present in soil and can react with acid.
What determines soil texture?
Textural analysis + Soil Texture Triangle.
What is percolation?
Movement of water through soil.
Which soil has fast percolation?
Sandy soil.
What does fast percolation mean?
Greater permeability.
What can slow percolation cause?
Poor drainage and septic problems.
Why is organic matter important?
Improves soil structure, water holding, and nutrients.
Name 3 sources of organic matter.
Compost, manure, peat moss.
Name 3 benefits of organic matter.
Increases porosity, holds water, supplies nutrients.
What does NPK stand for?
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium.
What does 15-30-15 fertilizer mean?
15% N, 30% P, 15% K.
How do farmers decide which fertilizer to use?
by testing the soil
If a nutrient is low in the soil, what fertilizer should be used?
One with a higher percentage of that nutrient.
If a nutrient is high in the soil, what fertilizer should be used?
One with a lower percentage of that nutrient.
Why avoid unnecessary nitrogen fertilizer?
It is expensive and runoff can lower oxygen levels in nearby water.