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Soil Science
Chapter 3 Review
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Soil Classification History | 1938 Yearbook of Agriculutre: Soils and Men. 1880’s V.V. Dokuchaev developed a Classification system through identification of soil forming factors. |
| Soil Survey | USDA developed soil classification system for use in soil surveys. |
| Soil Map Units | First group of digits or letters identify the soil series. Map units may be broken down to soil series or higher level of soil taxonomy dependent on map scale. National = soil order State = suborder County = soil series |
| Soil Survey Report Contents | Soil maps. |
| Soil Survey Report Contents | Taxonomy of soil. |
| Class I Soils | Few limitations for cultivated agriculture. Well drained and nearly level (< 2% slope). Considered prime farmland along with some Class II soils. |
| Class II Soils | Suitable for all uses with mild limitations. |
| Class III Soils | Suitable for crop production with sever/serious limitations. Lowest soil class that can be used safely for all crops. |
| What is Structureless soil | Sand. |
| Development of Soil pH | Causes of Acidity in soil and Continued Water. |
| What Effects pH on Plants | Conditions related to pH, Build up of toxic metals (aluminum and iron at low pH levels). |
| What Effects pH on Plants Nutrient Availability | phosphorous combines with aluminum and iron at low pH and calcium at high pH. |
| Conditions related to pH - Toxicity | Aluminum toxicity results in poor root growth. Low pH can cause mobilization of heavy metals. |
| Leading producers of vegetables | California is #1 |
| Turf | The most common element in most landscapes. |
| Turf continued | After de-compacting and incorporating compost and fertilizer, smooth the surface prior to seeding or laying sod. Irrigate frequently to establish. |
| Turf and loss of nutrients | Turf should utilize nitrogen if applied at proper rates and at the proper times. Sweep up granular fertilizers that fall on sidewalks, driveways, street gutters. |
| When Storm drain systems collect runoff | They create this Visible pollutant plume. |
| Aquiclude | A hydrogeologic formation that can hold and transmit water but at a rate too slow for a well or spring. |
| Local Effects – Perched Water Tables | Percolation can be restricted causing localized water tables that are “perched” above the regional water table |
| Characteristics of Wet Soils | -Poor Drainage. -Mottling in the profile. -Low chroma colors. |
| Characteristics of Hydric Soils | -Saturated near the surface. -Mottling in the profile. -Low chroma colors. |
| Hydric Soils and Artificial Drainage – Types of Artificial Drainage: Surface | Collecting and removing excess water from soil surface with ditches. |
| Hydric Soils and Artificial Drainage – Types of Artificial Drainage: Subsurface | Collecting and removing excess water that has seeped into underground piping (tile). |
| How much rain water really flows off my yard? 1/4 acre urban lot | (~11,000 sq ft) receives ~217,188 gallons per year. |
| Average rainfall in Iowa | 28-36 inches per year. |
| Secondary Consumers | Consume primary consumers. |
| Bioturbation | The stirring and mixing of soil by organisms. |
| Zoogeomorphology | The creation of landscape features by organisms. |
| Macrofauna – Annelids (Earthworms) | Dominant soil macrofauna. Indicator of good soil health. |
| Microflora | -Bacteria. -Fungi. -Actinomycetes. -Algae. |
| Mesofauna | -Nematodes. -Small arthropods (e.g., mites). |
| Managing Organisms | -Reducing soil disturbance. -Conservation tillage/no-till/ minimize grading. |
| Soil Aggregation | -Humus coats and binds mineral particles together into aggregates. -Organic substances produced by organisms bind aggregates together (glomalin). |
| Essential Elements | -A lack of the element stops a plant from completing growth or reproduction. -The element must be necessary for a wide range of plants – not just a few. |
| Nutrient Ions | -Plant roots (absorb) ions. -Soil particles (adsorb) ions. |
| Clay Types | Silicate Clays -Mica. -Illite. -Vermiculite. -Smectite. -Montmorillinite. -Chlorite. -Kaolinite. Oxide Clays -AKA sesquioxides. -Chemically different from silicate clays. -Found in old soils in humid, tropical climates. (not here) |
| Base Saturation | Soil colloids can attract any cation, not just plant nutrients. |