Question 1

Which of the following would most reduce the productivity of a 10-acre forest?

Accepted Answer

A) paving a 2-lane dirt road through the forest 
B) removing the topsoil from the forest 
C) cutting down the largest trees in the forest 
D) adding millions of earthworms to the forest soil 
A) paving a 2-lane dirt road through the forest 
B) removing the topsoil from the forest 
C) cutting down the largest trees in the forest 
D) adding millions of earthworms to the forest soil

Question 2

Which of the following would be classified as "soil constraints"?

Accepted Answer

A) cold climate 
B) moderate to heavy rainfall 
C) poor drainage,salinity and high levels of aluminum 
D) low erosion potential and high levels of phosphorus 
A) cold climate 
B) moderate to heavy rainfall 
C) poor drainage,salinity and high levels of aluminum 
D) low erosion potential and high levels of phosphorus

Question 3

Erosion can result in a vicious cycle of worsening erosion because

Accepted Answer

A) rainwater increasingly soaks into the ground. 
B) the accumulation of humus makes erosion more likely. 
C) plants are less likely to grow in an eroded region. 
D) the pH of the soil increases as erosion continues. 
A) rainwater increasingly soaks into the ground. 
B) the accumulation of humus makes erosion more likely. 
C) plants are less likely to grow in an eroded region. 
D) the pH of the soil increases as erosion continues.

Question 4

Walking along the woods,you spot a lizard that quickly runs under some leaves resting on the forest floor.Looking under the leaves to find the lizard,you notice that the soil is very moist despite several days without rain.This moist soil layer just under the leaves is a result of

Accepted Answer

A) humus with a high water-holding capacity and reduced evaporative loss in the O horizon. 
B) sand with a high water-holding capacity with water supplied from the B and E horizon. 
C) low infiltration and high evaporative loss in the B horizon. 
D) a low water-holding capacity of the lower soil layers and high evaporation through the top soil layers. 
A) humus with a high water-holding capacity and reduced evaporative loss in the O horizon. 
B) sand with a high water-holding capacity with water supplied from the B and E horizon. 
C) low infiltration and high evaporative loss in the B horizon. 
D) a low water-holding capacity of the lower soil layers and high evaporation through the top soil layers.

Question 5

The Dust Bowl experience of the United States in the 1930s was caused primarily by

Accepted Answer

A) planting grains in soils that could only support leaf crops sustainably. 
B) lack of any soil conservation practices,continuous cropping,coupled with natural drought. 
C) lack of enforcement of the soil conservation provisions of the 1862 Homestead Act. 
D) attempts to farm areas with desertlike climate and thin topsoil. 
A) planting grains in soils that could only support leaf crops sustainably. 
B) lack of any soil conservation practices,continuous cropping,coupled with natural drought. 
C) lack of enforcement of the soil conservation provisions of the 1862 Homestead Act. 
D) attempts to farm areas with desertlike climate and thin topsoil.

Question 6

Desertification is

Accepted Answer

A) a natural process of succession that cycles from deserts to prairies to forests to deserts. 
B) the formation of dryland ecosystems in regions where temperatures have increased. 
C) the natural movement of deserts advancing into new regions due to shifts in wind direction. 
D) often the result of topsoil erosion leading to a permanent reduction in productivity. 
A) a natural process of succession that cycles from deserts to prairies to forests to deserts. 
B) the formation of dryland ecosystems in regions where temperatures have increased. 
C) the natural movement of deserts advancing into new regions due to shifts in wind direction. 
D) often the result of topsoil erosion leading to a permanent reduction in productivity.

Question 7

Most plants acquire their minerals from

Accepted Answer

A) the recycling of nutrients from detritus. 
B) the precipitation of minerals from rainfall. 
C) the weathering of rock. 
D) dust storms that transport minerals into a region. 
A) the recycling of nutrients from detritus. 
B) the precipitation of minerals from rainfall. 
C) the weathering of rock. 
D) dust storms that transport minerals into a region.

Question 8

Mycorrhizae are

Accepted Answer

A) pathogenic soil bacteria and fungi that destroy plant roots. 
B) common in soils that lack a functional humus. 
C) symbiotic fungi that increase soil nutrient uptake in plant roots. 
D) important soil millipedes that increase aeration of topsoil. 
A) pathogenic soil bacteria and fungi that destroy plant roots. 
B) common in soils that lack a functional humus. 
C) symbiotic fungi that increase soil nutrient uptake in plant roots. 
D) important soil millipedes that increase aeration of topsoil.

Question 9

Detritus feeders and decomposers are most likely found in the

Accepted Answer

A) E and B horizon. 
B) A and O horizon. 
C) B and C horizon. 
D) C and E horizon. 
A) E and B horizon. 
B) A and O horizon. 
C) B and C horizon. 
D) C and E horizon.

Question 10

According to GLASOD,the he main risk of continuing degradation of agricultural land is

Accepted Answer

A) an increasing need to rely upon irrigation. 
B) declining agricultural productivity. 
C) the need to shift from grain crops to soybeans. 
D) the need to rely increasingly on herbicides and pesticides. 
A) an increasing need to rely upon irrigation. 
B) declining agricultural productivity. 
C) the need to shift from grain crops to soybeans. 
D) the need to rely increasingly on herbicides and pesticides.

Question 11

After joining the Peace Corps,your assignment is to help spread good agricultural practices to people living in the humid tropics.After receiving training,you tell the local farmers to

Accepted Answer

A) use oxen or mules to deep plow and turn the soil to bring deep nutrients to the surface. 
B) dig deeper wells to bring up water reserves that will triple the productivity of their fields. 
C) start a water catchment,apply manure and mulch to their fields and avoid tilling the soil if possible. 
D) shift to crops such as rice,which are more resistant to the natural pests and parasites. 
A) use oxen or mules to deep plow and turn the soil to bring deep nutrients to the surface. 
B) dig deeper wells to bring up water reserves that will triple the productivity of their fields. 
C) start a water catchment,apply manure and mulch to their fields and avoid tilling the soil if possible. 
D) shift to crops such as rice,which are more resistant to the natural pests and parasites.

Question 12

Global Assessment of Land Degradation and Improvement (GLADA)recently has started using satellite imagery to estimate above ground plant biomass.From this data we can describe

Accepted Answer

A) the types of soil below ground. 
B) the amount of topsoil and the state of its microorganisms. 
C) how much erosion and salination have occurred. 
D) how land degradation and productivity change over time. 
A) the types of soil below ground. 
B) the amount of topsoil and the state of its microorganisms. 
C) how much erosion and salination have occurred. 
D) how land degradation and productivity change over time.

Question 13

Based upon soil particle size,the largest to smallest are

Accepted Answer

A) sand,silt,and clay. 
B) sand,clay,and silt. 
C) clay,sand,and silt. 
D) silt,sand,and clay. 
A) sand,silt,and clay. 
B) sand,clay,and silt. 
C) clay,sand,and silt. 
D) silt,sand,and clay.

Question 14

Sustainable soil conservation requires

Accepted Answer

A) that developing countries maximize short-term strategies for immediate benefits. 
B) long-term effective farming practices by individual landowners and also sound public policy. 
C) individuals to work for the immediate benefit of their particular interests. 
D) an understanding of the natural ability of soils to recover quickly from degradation. 
A) that developing countries maximize short-term strategies for immediate benefits. 
B) long-term effective farming practices by individual landowners and also sound public policy. 
C) individuals to work for the immediate benefit of their particular interests. 
D) an understanding of the natural ability of soils to recover quickly from degradation.

Question 15

Irrigation can result in the salinization of soils because

Accepted Answer

A) shortages of freshwater require the use of saltwater for irrigation. 
B) salts are deposited on the soil surface as water evaporates. 
C) the irrigation water washes away soil leaving behind concentrated salts. 
D) many of the plants grown in these regions excrete salts into the soil. 
A) shortages of freshwater require the use of saltwater for irrigation. 
B) salts are deposited on the soil surface as water evaporates. 
C) the irrigation water washes away soil leaving behind concentrated salts. 
D) many of the plants grown in these regions excrete salts into the soil.

Question 16

Which one of the following would cause the greatest soil erosion to a forested hillside?

Accepted Answer

A) removing the dead trees 
B) cutting down and removing all of the trees 
C) converting the hillside from forest to grass 
D) planting new trees in the forest 
A) removing the dead trees 
B) cutting down and removing all of the trees 
C) converting the hillside from forest to grass 
D) planting new trees in the forest

Question 17

Agricultural sustainability depends upon an understanding and proper management of the cornerstone of food production,

Accepted Answer

A) irrigation systems. 
B) agricultural soils. 
C) the generation of new plant hybrids using genetic engineering. 
D) the agricultural technology necessary to plow,plant,and harvest. 
A) irrigation systems. 
B) agricultural soils. 
C) the generation of new plant hybrids using genetic engineering. 
D) the agricultural technology necessary to plow,plant,and harvest.

Question 18

A soil is found to have 50% sand,30% silt,and 20% clay.This soil would be referred to as

Accepted Answer

A) silty. 
B) sandy. 
C) clayey. 
D) loamy. 
A) silty. 
B) sandy. 
C) clayey. 
D) loamy.

Question 19

One at a time,you test how quickly each of the following substances will settle out of water.To measure this property,you separately test each of the following by placing 100 grams of the substance and 500 milliliters of water into a 1 liter jar and screw on the lid tightly.Then you shake the jar violently for 1 minute and set the jar down.Which one of the following would settle the fastest,creating the clearest water in the fastest amount of time?

Accepted Answer

A) gravel 
B) clay 
C) silt 
D) sand 
A) gravel 
B) clay 
C) silt 
D) sand

Question 20

Over the last one hundred years in the United States,

Accepted Answer

A) soil erosion has steadily increased while wind erosion has steadily decreased. 
B) estimates and actual measurements indicate that soil erosion has decreased. 
C) the increased reliance on plowing and technology has increased soil and wind erosion. 
D) measurements of the amount of soil in major rivers indicate great increases in soil erosion. 
A) soil erosion has steadily increased while wind erosion has steadily decreased. 
B) estimates and actual measurements indicate that soil erosion has decreased. 
C) the increased reliance on plowing and technology has increased soil and wind erosion. 
D) measurements of the amount of soil in major rivers indicate great increases in soil erosion.

Exam 11: Soil: Foundation for Land Ecosystems

Which of the following would most reduce the productivity of a 10-acre forest?

Which of the following would be classified as "soil constraints"?

Erosion can result in a vicious cycle of worsening erosion because

Walking along the woods,you spot a lizard that quickly runs under some leaves resting on the forest floor.Looking under the leaves to find the lizard,you notice that the soil is very moist despite several days without rain.This moist soil layer just under the leaves is a result of

The Dust Bowl experience of the United States in the 1930s was caused primarily by

Desertification is

Most plants acquire their minerals from

Mycorrhizae are

Detritus feeders and decomposers are most likely found in the

According to GLASOD,the he main risk of continuing degradation of agricultural land is

After joining the Peace Corps,your assignment is to help spread good agricultural practices to people living in the humid tropics.After receiving training,you tell the local farmers to

Global Assessment of Land Degradation and Improvement (GLADA)recently has started using satellite imagery to estimate above ground plant biomass.From this data we can describe

Based upon soil particle size,the largest to smallest are

Sustainable soil conservation requires

Irrigation can result in the salinization of soils because

Which one of the following would cause the greatest soil erosion to a forested hillside?

Agricultural sustainability depends upon an understanding and proper management of the cornerstone of food production,

A soil is found to have 50% sand,30% silt,and 20% clay.This soil would be referred to as

Over the last one hundred years in the United States,

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