Area 3 Envirothon Soils Questions Key

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1 Area 3 Envirothon Soils Questions Key 1. Soil aeration is the exchange of air in soil with air from the atmosphere. When a soil is well aerated, the air within the soil is very similar to the atmosphere around it. Which of the following best describes the air within a soil that is suffering from poor aeration? A) The soil has higher CO2 and lower oxygen levels than the atmosphere B) The soil has higher CO2 and higher oxygen levels than the atmosphere C) The soil has a lower CO2 and higher oxygen level than the atmosphere D) The soil has a lower CO2 and lower oxygen level than the atmosphere 2. No-till farming and cover crops promote soil health. In contrast, moldboard plowing can have a negative effect on soil health. Choose the correct statement. A) Moldboard plowing encourages bacteria activity in the soil. B) Moldboard plowing encourages nematode activity in the soil. C) Moldboard plowing encourages earthworm populations in the soil. D) Moldboard plowing encourages fungi activity in the soil. 3. Red Spotted Newts prefer perennial wetland conditions. Which soil and environmental conditions would be best to sustain Red Spotted Newt populations? A) Upland vernal pool B) Tire track ruts on a terrace C) Well drained creek bottom that is subject to flash flooding D) Long-term inundated hydric soils in a river bottom 4. Not all soils are suitable for pond construction. To reduce the risk of seepage (also called piping), it is important to use a soil material that compacts well. Choose the most suitable soil for pond construction. A) Silty lake floor sediments B) Well drained outwash deposits C) Clayey soil material weathered from bedrock D) Soil material that was deposited in a floodplain 1

2 5. Matching soil characteristics and plant species is necessary for successful wildlife food plot plantings. Choose a legume that is best suited for a site with a shallow soil with a ph of 5.5. A) Alfalfa B) White clover C) Fescue D) Sorghum-Sudan grass 6. In healthy forest soils, nutrient transfer can take place between individual trees. Choose the organism (non-root) that is responsible for this activity. A) Earth worms B) Nematodes C) Mycorrhiza fungi D) Soil bacteria 7. Some soils in eastern Ohio have root restrictive sub-horizons such as fragipans. In an urban forest environment, urban planners are concerned with selecting trees that are adapted to these soil conditions. Choose the management decision that would be appropriate for dealing with fragipan soils. A) Select tree species that are adapted to deep soils B) Select tree species that are adapted to very low soil fertility C) Select tree species that are adapted to shallow soils D) Select tree species that are adapted to alkaline soils 8. The field test method of determining soil texture is called A. Ribbon test B. Texturing test C. Kneading test D. Soil testing 9. The percent slope can be measured directly with a hand level or A. Rangemeter B. Compass C. Topographicmeter D. Clinometer 2

3 10. Water-holding capacity of a soil is affected by soil texture. As the size of the soil particles increases, the water holding capacity A. Remains the same B. Is not affected C. Increases D. Decreases 11. A Complete Fertilizer contains A. All 16 essential elements for tree growth B. Organic and inorganic nitrogen C. Equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium D. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium 12. The most ideal site preparation for street tree planting is A. hand digging to 2-3 times the width of the rootball. B. using soil auger on a bobcat. C. a backhoe digging 2-3 times the width of the rootball. D. digging a hole just larger than the root ball. Site Specific Questions 13.What would be the best use for this site A. housing development B. tree farm C. wildlife area D. farmed for corn 14. Imagine the site is planned to be a housing development around the lake. What would make it hard for the landowners to grow ornamental trees in their Landscaping? A. Too many rock fragments. B. Ornamental trees require more fertile soils. C. All the trees that would grow here are ugly. D. This soil has a high water table limiting root growth. 3

4 15. Observe the area across the road from the test pit that is marked with orange flagging. This area is also noted on the soil atlas sheet map. Choose what has happened in this area from the list. A) Burrowing activity by larger animals B) Land slippage(rotational movement) C) Plan death from toxic soil in the root zone D) The soil has become hydric Soil Pit Questions 16. What cobble size rocks are found in the profile? A. Granite B. Siltstone C. Marble D Flint 17. Many soil properties can be observed in soil excavations such as this pit. Choose the most important soil property that is absent in the soil profile of this pit. A) Consistence B) Organic matter C) Rock fragment mineralogy D) Structure 18. What is the soil structure at a depth of 16 inches? A) Blocky B) Granular C) Massive (no structure) D) Platy 19. Choose the soil texture in the A horizon of this soil pit. A) Loam B) Silty Clay C) Silty Clay Loam D) Silt Loam 4

5 20. What is the texture of the soil material that is between the rock fragments at a depth of inches in this pit? A) Loam B) Silt Loam C) Sandy Clay Loam D) Silty Clay Loam 21. How deep is the surface layer represented in the soil pit? A. 4-8 inches B. 2 inches or less C. 3-4 inches D. 1/2 inch Web Soil Survey Questions 22. Soil characteristics and aspect affect natural tree species selection and plant vigor. In the soil survey, what designation is used to help predict the potential productivity of a given tree species within a specific soil map unit? A) Ordination symbol B) Taxonomy class C) Site variable index D) Silvicultural capability equation 23. Using the Web Soil Survey choose the name of the map unit the soil pit is located in. A) Morristown stony clay loam, 0 to 8 percent slopes B) Morristown stony clay loam, 8 to 25 percent slopes C) Morristown channery silty clay loam, 0 to 8 percent slopes D) Morristown channery silty clay loam, 8 to 25 percent slopes 24. Using the Map Unit Legend, determine how many acres are in the map unit that the soil pit is located in. A) 6.0 acres B) 38.1 acres C) 57.4 acres D) 50.7 acres 5

6 25. What is the Hydrologic Soil Group for the soil map unit that the soil pit is located in? A) A B) B C) C D) D Soil Survey Book Questions 26. One main difference between MnD and MoD is? A. MnD has been reclaimed by grading and blanketing B. MoD has fewer rocks near the top of the profile C. MoD has formed under natural weathering processes D. MnD is nearly flat slope while MoD is 8% to 25% slopes 27. MoD is best suited for which agronomic crop? A. Corn B. Grass Hay C. Pasture D. Wheat and small grains 28. Which tree species would likely be found on MoD mapped areas? A. walnut B. Black Pine C. Black Locust D. Bald Cyprus 29. A typical pedon of Morristown stony clay loam is described as missing which soil layer that commonly found in naturally formed soils. A. A p B. B 21 C. C 1 D. C The Morristown series belongs to which taxonomic description. A. Typic Fragiudalfs B. Ultic hapludalfs C. Aeric Fluvaquents D. Typic Udorthents 6

Section 1. Judging the soil pit (questions 1-4)

CONNECTICUT ENVIROTHON 2009 SOILS QUESTIONS Please select the best response to the following questions. There are 25 questions; each question is worth 4 points. Section 1. Judging the soil pit (questions