Question 1

-The equipment in this photograph is used to minimize erosion.This equipment is used

Accepted Answer

A) to create shelterbelts and chemically fertilize the soil. 
B) to plow the soil,plant seeds and create strip cropping in one operation. 
C) for no-till planting. 
D) for contour strip farming. 
A) to create shelterbelts and chemically fertilize the soil. 
B) to plow the soil,plant seeds and create strip cropping in one operation. 
C) for no-till planting. 
D) for contour strip farming.

Question 2

Most reports of national erosion loss are based on

Accepted Answer

A) thousands of measurements of soil depth around the country. 
B) measurements of the amount of soil suspended in the oceans and major rivers. 
C) changes in the salinity and silt of the ocean where major rivers flush out to sea. 
D) indirect measurements using maps,aerial photography,and precipitation data from land stations. 
A) thousands of measurements of soil depth around the country. 
B) measurements of the amount of soil suspended in the oceans and major rivers. 
C) changes in the salinity and silt of the ocean where major rivers flush out to sea. 
D) indirect measurements using maps,aerial photography,and precipitation data from land stations.

Question 3

The very deep roots of many prairie plants that have decomposed over thousands of years have contributed to the high fertility of the

Accepted Answer

A) C horizon of alfisols. 
B) A horizon of molisols. 
C) B horizon of aridisols. 
D) C horizon of molisols. 
A) C horizon of alfisols. 
B) A horizon of molisols. 
C) B horizon of aridisols. 
D) C horizon of molisols.

Question 4

Farmers often appreciate a long,light rain over main hours after a long drought,instead of a sudden downpour.This is because a long,light rain permits better

Accepted Answer

A) infiltration. 
B) water-holding capacity. 
C) transpiration. 
D) soil fertility. 
A) infiltration. 
B) water-holding capacity. 
C) transpiration. 
D) soil fertility.

Question 5

Compaction of soil in a garden harms plants by

Accepted Answer

A) increasing aeration,decreasing infiltration,and increasing runoff. 
B) decreasing aeration,decreasing infiltration,and increasing runoff. 
C) increasing aeration,increasing infiltration,and decreasing runoff. 
D) decreasing aeration,increasing infiltration,and decreasing runoff. 
A) increasing aeration,decreasing infiltration,and increasing runoff. 
B) decreasing aeration,decreasing infiltration,and increasing runoff. 
C) increasing aeration,increasing infiltration,and decreasing runoff. 
D) decreasing aeration,increasing infiltration,and decreasing runoff.

Question 6

Desertification of North America's drylands is primarily the result of

Accepted Answer

A) plowing for crop production. 
B) livestock grazing. 
C) fires and the use of modern irrigation systems. 
D) global climate change. 
A) plowing for crop production. 
B) livestock grazing. 
C) fires and the use of modern irrigation systems. 
D) global climate change.

Question 7

Some farmers near an ocean must irrigate their soybean crops to have any success.Desperate and without a source of fresh water,one of them decides to irrigate his field with seawater.The other farmer captures rain in special traps and lightly irrigates his crops.What would we expect are the results of these different forms of irrigation?

Accepted Answer

A) The seawater irrigation plants produce many beans while the light irrigation produces few beans. 
B) The seawater irrigation kills the plants while the light irrigation produces few beans. 
C) Both forms of irrigation produce good crops with moderate production of beans. 
D) The seawater crops last longer than the fresh water crops,but only the seawater crops produce beans. 
A) The seawater irrigation plants produce many beans while the light irrigation produces few beans. 
B) The seawater irrigation kills the plants while the light irrigation produces few beans. 
C) Both forms of irrigation produce good crops with moderate production of beans. 
D) The seawater crops last longer than the fresh water crops,but only the seawater crops produce beans.

Question 8

Hardened soils that have minimal infiltration and aeration may form cryptogamic crusts

Accepted Answer

A) consisting of algae,lichens,and mosses that stabilize the soil surface. 
B) consisting of algae,lichens,and mosses that continue to erode the soil surface. 
C) characterized by large stones and gravel called desert pavement. 
D) representing accumulations of salts that prevent plant and fungal growth at the soil surface. 
A) consisting of algae,lichens,and mosses that stabilize the soil surface. 
B) consisting of algae,lichens,and mosses that continue to erode the soil surface. 
C) characterized by large stones and gravel called desert pavement. 
D) representing accumulations of salts that prevent plant and fungal growth at the soil surface.

Question 9

Burkina Faso and the Keita project in Niger demonstrate that

Accepted Answer

A) corrective measures can successfully reverse soil degradation. 
B) sustainable soil conservation efforts are impossible once soils are degraded. 
C) despite human efforts,natural climate cycles may prevent sustainable practices. 
D) desertification is a natural result of climate variation. 
A) corrective measures can successfully reverse soil degradation. 
B) sustainable soil conservation efforts are impossible once soils are degraded. 
C) despite human efforts,natural climate cycles may prevent sustainable practices. 
D) desertification is a natural result of climate variation.

Question 10

The greatest cause of topsoil loss around the world is

Accepted Answer

A) erosion. 
B) the construction of new buildings and roads. 
C) the creation of new mines. 
D) rising ocean levels. 
A) erosion. 
B) the construction of new buildings and roads. 
C) the creation of new mines. 
D) rising ocean levels.

Question 11

-The detritus food web illustrated in the lower right of this diagram primarily occurs in the

Accepted Answer

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

Question 12

Global soil erosion

Accepted Answer

A) increases the populations of aquatic organisms in streams and rivers. 
B) adds soils to streams and rivers,which removes many pollutants. 
C) pollutes rivers and oceans and reduces the refill rates of aquifers. 
D) creates new ponds and lakes,which help to retain water in aquifers. 
A) increases the populations of aquatic organisms in streams and rivers. 
B) adds soils to streams and rivers,which removes many pollutants. 
C) pollutes rivers and oceans and reduces the refill rates of aquifers. 
D) creates new ponds and lakes,which help to retain water in aquifers.

Question 13

Which one of the following soil types will hold the most water? The most water would be held by a soil consisting of equal masses of

Accepted Answer

A) sand and silt. 
B) clay and sand. 
C) silt and clay. 
D) small stones and sand. 
A) sand and silt. 
B) clay and sand. 
C) silt and clay. 
D) small stones and sand.

Question 14

Which of the following would be best suited for planting crops such as corn or wheat?

Accepted Answer

A) an irrigated aridisol 
B) a fertilized alfisol 
C) a plowed oxisol 
D) an irrigated gelisol 
A) an irrigated aridisol 
B) a fertilized alfisol 
C) a plowed oxisol 
D) an irrigated gelisol

Question 15

To meet the goals of sustainable agriculture,modern farming is turning to increased use of

Accepted Answer

A) pesticides. 
B) herbicides. 
C) chemical fertilizers. 
D) contouring and crop rotation. 
A) pesticides. 
B) herbicides. 
C) chemical fertilizers. 
D) contouring and crop rotation.

Question 16

-This figure reveals

Accepted Answer

A) just two soil horizons. 
B) a soil profile. 
C) soil leaching. 
D) five soil orders. 
A) just two soil horizons. 
B) a soil profile. 
C) soil leaching. 
D) five soil orders.

Question 17

Within soil,a natural cycle of

Accepted Answer

A) decomposers break down detritus to release nutrients used by producers. 
B) detritus breaks down decomposers to release nutrients used by producers. 
C) decomposers break down nutrients to release detritus used by producers. 
D) decomposers break down detritus to release nutrients used by consumers. 
A) decomposers break down detritus to release nutrients used by producers. 
B) detritus breaks down decomposers to release nutrients used by producers. 
C) decomposers break down nutrients to release detritus used by producers. 
D) decomposers break down detritus to release nutrients used by consumers.

Question 18

Soils with the greatest water-holding capacity tend to have

Accepted Answer

A) poor aeration and lowest workability. 
B) poor nutrient-holding capacity and good workability. 
C) good water infiltration and workability. 
D) good aeration and poor workability. 
A) poor aeration and lowest workability. 
B) poor nutrient-holding capacity and good workability. 
C) good water infiltration and workability. 
D) good aeration and poor workability.

Question 19

Silts and loams are the best soil textures for plant growth because they have

Accepted Answer

A) only moderate soil constraints. 
B) moderate infiltration but low aeration. 
C) moderate aeration but low infiltration. 
D) poor infiltration and aeration. 
A) only moderate soil constraints. 
B) moderate infiltration but low aeration. 
C) moderate aeration but low infiltration. 
D) poor infiltration and aeration.

Question 20

The soil structure resulting from the castings of earthworms

Accepted Answer

A) improves the infiltration and aeration of soil. 
B) decreases the infiltration and aeration of soil. 
C) decreases the nutrient-holding capacity of soil. 
D) improves the nutrient-holding capacity but decreases the aeration of soil. 
A) improves the infiltration and aeration of soil. 
B) decreases the infiltration and aeration of soil. 
C) decreases the nutrient-holding capacity of soil. 
D) improves the nutrient-holding capacity but decreases the aeration of soil.

Exam 11: Soil: Foundation for Land Ecosystems

-The equipment in this photograph is used to minimize erosion.This equipment is used

Most reports of national erosion loss are based on

The very deep roots of many prairie plants that have decomposed over thousands of years have contributed to the high fertility of the

Farmers often appreciate a long,light rain over main hours after a long drought,instead of a sudden downpour.This is because a long,light rain permits better

Compaction of soil in a garden harms plants by

Desertification of North America's drylands is primarily the result of

Hardened soils that have minimal infiltration and aeration may form cryptogamic crusts

Burkina Faso and the Keita project in Niger demonstrate that

The greatest cause of topsoil loss around the world is

-The detritus food web illustrated in the lower right of this diagram primarily occurs in the

Global soil erosion

Which one of the following soil types will hold the most water? The most water would be held by a soil consisting of equal masses of

Which of the following would be best suited for planting crops such as corn or wheat?

To meet the goals of sustainable agriculture,modern farming is turning to increased use of

-This figure reveals

Within soil,a natural cycle of

Soils with the greatest water-holding capacity tend to have

Silts and loams are the best soil textures for plant growth because they have

The soil structure resulting from the castings of earthworms

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