Soil Fertility and Management Study Guide Questions
Course Introduction
This course explores the fundamental principles of soil fertility and the practical approaches to managing soil for optimal plant growth. Students will examine soil physical, chemical, and biological properties, nutrient cycles, and the interactions between soil and plants. The course covers soil testing, fertility evaluation, organic and inorganic fertilizer management, and sustainable practices to maintain and improve soil productivity. Emphasis is placed on integrated nutrient management, environmental impacts of soil amendments, and strategies for addressing soil degradation, ensuring students are equipped to make informed decisions in various agricultural and environmental contexts.
Recommended Textbook
The Nature and Properties of Soils 14th Edition by Nyle C. Brady
Available Study Resources on Quizplus
20 Chapters
838 Verified Questions
838 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/study-set/3989 Page 2
Chapter 1: The Soils Around US
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
42 Verified Questions
42 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/80115
Sample Questions
Q1) Most of the different nutrients essential for growth are supplied to plants directly from the ______.
A)rain water
B)soil solution
C)atmosphere
D)cosmic radiation
E)humus
Answer: A
Q2) Information about conditions at 2 to 4 meters deep in a soil is usually most helpful for understanding___.
A)how best to design a building foundation
B)the diversity of animal life in the soil.
C)the proper classification of the soil.
D)fertility requirements of most crops
Answer: A
Q3) Most of the water in our rivers and lakes has come in contact with and has been affected by soils.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 3
Chapter 2: Formation of Soils From Parent Materials
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
53 Verified Questions
53 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/80116
Sample Questions
Q1) Living organisms affect soil formation primarily by their constraining the level of oxygen in the soil.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q2) The transformation of gneiss into mica, quartz, and feldspar crystals is an example of:
A)physical weathering
B)chemical weathering
C)disintegration
D)hydrolysis
E)both A and C
Answer: E
Q3) "Biotite-->clay-->iron oxide" represents a ________.
A)catena
B)weathering sequence
C)silicate mineral sequence
D)both A and B
E)none of the above
Answer: B
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 4
Chapter 3: Soil Classification
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
47 Verified Questions
47 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/80117
Sample Questions
Q1) The broadest category of classification in Soil Taxonomy specifies 12 soil orders, 11 of which are for mineral soils.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q2) Oxisols are more highly weathered than are the soils of any other order.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q3) Because soil development is just beginning in Entisols, these soils are generally less variable in properties than are those in the Andisol or Ultisol orders.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q4) Russian scientists were the first to develop the concept of soils as natural bodies.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 5
Chapter 4: Soil Architecture and Physical Properties
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
43 Verified Questions
43 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/80118
Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following practices is(are) useful in stabilizing surface soil structure?
A)use of organic mulches
B)use of green manure crops
C)growing grass sod
D)minimizing tillage
E)all of the above
Q2) Texture describes the ____ of particles in a soil.
A)sizes
B)colors
C)arrangement
D)mineralogical makeup
E)roughness
Q3) Practices that add organic matter and reduce tillage can be expected to most significantly increase the _____ in a soil.
A)macropores
B)total porosity
C)bulk density
D)fineness of texture
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 5: Soil Water: Characteristics and Behavior
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
39 Verified Questions
39 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/80119
Sample Questions
Q1) At which of the following soil moisture potentials (expressed as kPa) is the waters' energy level lowest?
A)+5
B)0
C)-31
D)-1500
E)-3100
Q2) The osmotic potential would likely be lowest in soils of which of the following orders
A)Aridisols
B)Histosols
C)Oxisols
D)Ultisols
E)Spodosols
Q3) Osmotic and matric potentials are commonly negative because the soil water has a lower energy level than that of pure water.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 7
Chapter 6: Soil and the Hydrologic Cycle
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
44 Verified Questions
44 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/80120
Sample Questions
Q1) Soil and crop management generally has a greater influence on evaporation from the soil surface (E) than on transpiration (T) from leaf surfaces.
A)True
B)False
Q2) If you dug a deep hole in your back yard and water started to seep into the hole it would fill the hole up to ________.
A)the infiltration rate
B)the percolation rate
C)field capacity
D)the water Table
E)the liquid limit
Q3) Eutrophication is enhanced by the presence of pesticides in the water draining from agricultural soils.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Evaporation from the soil surface (E) is determined to a large degree by soil surface wetness.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 8
Chapter 7: Soil Aeration and Temperature
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
41 Verified Questions
41 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/80121
Sample Questions
Q1) The redox potential of a soil is -250 mV.Which of the following forms of the pertinent elements would you expect to find in the soil?
A)NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup>
B)SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2-</sup>
C)Fe<sup>2+</sup>
D)Mn<sup>4+</sup>
E)CO<sub>2</sub>
Q2) Which of the following is (are) considered necessary features for an area to be delineated as a wetland?
A)hydric soils
B)shallow standing water
C)aquatic vegetation
D)organic soils
E)all of the above
Q3) The most important management factors influencing soil aeration in well-drained soils are those that determine the volume of the soil's macropores.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
9
Chapter 8: Soil Colloids: Seat of Soil Chemical and Physical
Activity
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
40 Verified Questions
40 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/80122
Sample Questions
Q1) Some soil colloids exhibit positive charges under highly acid conditions.To what are these charges likely due?
A)protonation of some hydroxy groups by excess H<sup>+</sup> ions
B)the adsorption of Al<sup>3+</sup> ions on the colloid
C)the release of some OH<sup>-</sup> ions leaving an unsatisfied positive charge on the colloid
D)substitution of lower valent atoms for higher valent atoms in the octahedral sheet
E)increase in the level of H<sup>+</sup> ions on the exchange complex
Q2) The high cation adsorption capacity of vermiculite is due primarily to the substitution of silicon atoms for aluminum in the tetrahedral sheet.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Vermiculite and associated silicate clays have a net electropositive charge in slightly acid soils.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 10
Chapter 9: Soil Acidity
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
42 Verified Questions
42 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/80123
Sample Questions
Q1) The very high pH levels found in some arid region soils are most likely due to high levels of exchangeable _____.
A)Al<sup>3+</sup>
B)Al(OH)<sub>2</sub><sup>+</sup>
C)Ca<sup>2+</sup>
D)Mg<sup>2+</sup>
E)Na<sup>+</sup>
Q2) How does the amount of lime needed to neutralize the residual acidity in a clay loam soil compare to that needed to neutralize the active acidity in that soil?
A)residual requires considerably less
B)residual requires about the same
C)residual requires about double
D)residual requires 10 times greater
E)residual requires 5,000 times greater
Q3) Active soil acidity is a measure of the H<sup>+</sup> ion activity in the soil solution.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 11
Chapter 10: Soils of Dry Regions: Alkalinity, Salinity, and Sodicity
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
41 Verified Questions
41 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/80124
Sample Questions
Q1) The degradation of irrigated soils across the once very productive "Fertile Crescent" of the Middle East was due primarily to _____.
A)high calcium and magnesium levels in the irrigation waters
B)high levels of calcium-containing salt in the irrigation water
C)inadequate equipment and power to properly cultivate the soil
D)poor internal drainage of the soils
E)destructive wars in the region
Q2) Soils with high sodium adsorption ratios commonly have very stable soil structures. A)True B)False
Q3) The cation exchange capacities of alkaline soils are commonly lower than those of comparable soils in humid regions.
A)True B)False
Q4) Saline-sodic soils have electrical conductivities greater than 4 dS/m and a sodium adsorption ratio of less than 13.
A)True
B)False
12
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 11: Organisms and Ecology of the Soil
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
41 Verified Questions
41 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/80125
Sample Questions
Q1) Research has shown that most herbicides and insecticides used in agriculture drastically reduce the numbers of living meso- and microorganisms in soils for several years after the application of these chemicals.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Actinomycetes tend to dominate soils that are either very acid, very cold, or very dry.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Compared to the rest of the soil, the rhizosphere is kept relatively sterile by the action of plant roots.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Mucigel is thought to improve the contact between plant roots and soil particles, thus enhancing the plant uptake of water and nutrients.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 13
Chapter 12: Soil Organic Matter
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
41 Verified Questions
41 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/80126
Sample Questions
Q1) Biomass consists of ______.
A)living organisms and cells
B)dead tissues and wastes
C)identifiable biomolecules
D)polymerized, non-identifiable molecules
E)all of the above
Q2) The main contributions of the active fraction of soil organic matter are increased
CEC and water holding capacity of the soil.
A)True
B)False
Q3) The priming effect refers to the excretion of growth promoting substance by certain bacteria during decomposition of fresh organic residues.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Aridisols generally contain more organic matter than Mollisols.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 14
Chapter 13: Nitrogen and Sulfur Economy of Soils
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
41 Verified Questions
41 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/80127
Sample Questions
Q1) The process of ______ releases soluble nitrogen as the result of the breakdown of nitrogen-rich organic compounds.
A)nitrification
B)denitrification
C)symbiosis
D)volatilization
E)mineralization
Q2) The great majority of nitrogen (95 to 98%) in soils can be found in the form of _____.
A)primary minerals
B)secondary minerals
C)dissolved cations
D)dissolved anions
E)organic compounds
Q3) Unlike Rhizobium bacteria, Bradyrhizobium bacteria are effective at fixing N, regardless of the type of plants present.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
15
Chapter 14: Soil Phosphorus and Potassium
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
39 Verified Questions
39 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/80128
Sample Questions
Q1) Compared to land that is not disturbed by tillage, conventionally plowed cropland usually loses much more ______.
A)dissolved P
B)particulate P
C)total P
D)both B and C are correct
E)none of the above is correct
Q2) The fixation of large amounts of potassium from applied fertilizer would reduce the cation exchange capacity of a soil.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Unlike the use of nitrogen fertilizer on forests, the use of potassium fertilizer can be expected to increase the trees' resistance to diseases and/or pests.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Most soils with a high phosphorus fixing capacity are inherently fertile. A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 16
Chapter 15: Micronutrients and Other Trace Elements
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
42 Verified Questions
42 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/80129
Sample Questions
Q1) Histosols (organic soils) are typically well supplied with nitrogen and phosphorus but deficient in most micronutrients.
A)True
B)False
Q2) In an alkaline soil, much of the iron in most iron chelates is rapidly replaced in the chelate complex by which other metallic nutrient?
A)Ca
B)Zn
C)Mn
D)Cu
E)K
Q3) When organic amendments such as animal or green manures are added to soils, micronutrient availability generally is enhanced by the production of natural chelating agents.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 17
Chapter 16: Practical Nutrient Management
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
40 Verified Questions
40 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/80130
Sample Questions
Q1) Broadcast application usually requires less fertilizer to achieve a given level of plant response than does banding.
A)True
B)False
Q2) The nutrient element magnesium is often supplied by which type of application?
A)injection of a gas into the soil
B)broadcast of a chloride salt
C)broadcast of the nearly pure element as a solid
D)incorporation of powdered limestone rock
E)application of a chelate to the soil
Q3) Fertilization to supply the nutrient element potassium is often accomplished by which type of application?
A)injection of a gas into the soil
B)broadcast of a chloride salt
C)broadcast of the nearly pure element as a solid
D)incorporation of powdered limestone rock
E)application of a chelate to the soil
Q4) Most chemical fertilizers are inorganic salts.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 18
Chapter 17: Soil Erosion and Its Control
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
41 Verified Questions
41 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/80131
Sample Questions
Q1) The effects of conservation tillage on soil erosion would be more pronounced in fields cropped continuously to corn than in fields cropped to soybean.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Ridge-till systems show promise in the management of somewhat poorly drained soils of the Midwest.
A)True B)False
Q3) Vegetative barriers planted on the contour have been found to create low-cost "natural" terraces.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Conservation tillage has generally positive effects on soil physical properties. A)True
B)False
Q5) Some 3/4 of the total soil loss from erosion in the United States is carried away by water.
A)True B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 19
Chapter 18: Soils and Chemical Pollution
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
41 Verified Questions
41 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/80132
Sample Questions
Q1) The United States Environmental Protection Agency regulates the amount of sewage sludge that can be applied on agricultural land by setting limits on ____.
A)the concentrations of metals in the sludge to be applied
B)the rate of metal application to any parcel of land in any one year
C)the total accumulative amount of metals that can be applied to a parcel of land, regardless of when the metals are applied
D)all of the above
E)none of the above
Q2) Radon is a chemically inert gas that emanates from certain soils and builds up in confined spaces such as the basements of buildings.
A)True
B)False
Q3) The adsorption of many pesticides is greater in strongly acid soils than in neutral to alkaline soils.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 20
Chapter 19: Geographic Soils Information
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
39 Verified Questions
39 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/80133
Sample Questions
Q1) In a profile description, soil horizons are normally labeled as #1, #2, #3, starting at the bottom of the profile.
A)True
B)False
Q2) The various soils in a catena of soils differ from one another primarily as a result of their geologic parent material.
A)True B)False
Q3) In the United States, the government lead agency for most soil survey work is the _____.
A)National Bureau of Soil Survey
B)Department of Land Reclamation
C)Agency for Soil Resource Inventory
D)Department of the Interior
E)Natural Resources Conservation Service
Q4) Soil profile descriptions as found in soil survey reports normally contain information about the color and texture of each horizon in the profile.
A)True B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 21
Chapter 20: Prospects for Global Soil Quality
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
41 Verified Questions
41 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/80134
Sample Questions
Q1) Conservation tillage systems can decrease soil erosion and runoff and increase water infiltration in soils of the tropics.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Which of the following was NOT an element of the Green Revolution of the 1970's and 1980's?
A)Integrated pest management to reduce the need for chemical pesticides
B)High yielding cereal varieties that responded well to fertilizers and irrigation
C)Greatly expanded use of irrigation water and chemical fertilizers
D)Monocultural systems that maximized the effects of the new varieties and technologies
E)Integration of the scientific efforts of plant breeders, soil scientists, agronomists and pest management specialists
Q3) During the 1990s, the rate of increase of food production has declined.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 22