Question 1

What is flocculation?

Accepted Answer

The coming together of small primary soil particles such as clay and humus to form clusters called floccules

Answer

The formation of soil layers

Answer

The movement of soil particles due to water flow

Answer

The process of soil erosion

Answer

The breakdown of soil particles into smaller components

Question 2

What is aggregation in soil science?

Accepted Answer

The joining together of floccules to form larger units called aggregates

Answer

The process of soil formation

Answer

The separation of soil particles

Answer

The migration of soil nutrients

Answer

The breakdown of soil structure

Question 3

What is pH?

Accepted Answer

A measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in a substance (how acidic or basic the substance is)

Answer

A measure of soil particle size

Answer

An indicator of soil fertility

Answer

A type of soil nutrient

Answer

A measure of water content in soil

Question 4

What is cation exchange capacity (C.E.C.)?

Accepted Answer

A measure of a soil’s ability to attract, hold and swap positively charged ions called cations

Answer

A measure of soil pH

Answer

An indicator of soil fertility

Answer

The total amount of cations in soil

Answer

A measure of soil erosion

Question 5

What is lime used for in soils?

Accepted Answer

Ground limestone, containing calcium carbonate or magnesium carbonate, spread on soil in order to improve pH, make nutrients more available and improve soil structure

Answer

To increase soil erosion

Answer

To enhance plant growth

Answer

To decrease soil pH

Answer

To reduce soil fertility

Question 6

What is immobilisation in soil science?

Accepted Answer

When nutrients become unavailable to plants due to unsuitable pH values in soil

Answer

The movement of soil particles

Answer

The release of nutrients to plants

Answer

The breakdown of soil organic matter

Answer

The retention of nutrients in soil

Question 7

What are soil colloids?

Accepted Answer

The smallest soil particles, usually clay or humus, which are the most chemically active

Answer

Water molecules in soil

Answer

Organic matter in soil

Answer

Large soil aggregates

Answer

Inorganic minerals in soil

Question 8

What does a pH meter measure?

Accepted Answer

The pH of a substance accurately

Answer

The soil organic matter content

Answer

The soil particle size distribution

Answer

The nutrient content in soil

Answer

The water content in soil

Question 9

What is cation exchange?

Accepted Answer

The ability of a soil to attract, hold and swap positively charged ions called cations

Answer

The loss of cations from soil

Answer

The conversion of cations to anions

Answer

The creation of cations in soil

Answer

The movement of cations in soil

Question 10

Which mineral element is essential for plant growth and is commonly found in fertilizers?

Accepted Answer

Nitrogen

Answer

Phosphorus

Answer

Magnesium

Answer

Potassium

Question 11

What does universal indicator liquid or paper do?

Accepted Answer

Shows the approximate pH of a substance by means of a colour change

Answer

Measures the weight of a substance

Answer

Detects temperature changes in a substance

Answer

Determines the texture of a substance

Question 12

What is the measure of the amount of sand, silt, and clay in a soil?

Accepted Answer

Soil texture

Answer

Soil structure

Answer

Sedimentation

Answer

Mineral matter

Question 13

What is a space in soil that can be filled with air or water?

Accepted Answer

Soil pore

Answer

Gravitational water

Answer

Flocculation

Answer

Soil structure

Question 14

What is a larger separable unit of soil made up of many smaller units joining together?

Accepted Answer

Soil aggregate

Answer

Porosity

Answer

Sedimentation

Answer

Cementation

Question 15

What is the depositing of broken down rock or soil particles in a different location?

Accepted Answer

Sedimentation

Answer

Soil compaction

Answer

Flocculation

Answer

Loam soil

Question 16

What is the water that is held tightly around soil particles and is unavailable to plants?

Accepted Answer

Adsorbed water

Answer

Capillary water

Answer

Capillarity

Answer

Gravitational water

Question 17

What is the ability of water to move down through soil in large pores?

Accepted Answer

Infiltration (Drainage)

Answer

Aeration

Answer

Capillarity

Answer

Waterlogging

Question 18

What is the breakdown and loss of topsoil due to wind, water, or tillage?

Accepted Answer

Soil erosion

Answer

Soil temperature

Answer

Soil capping

Answer

Separation

Question 19

What is the ability of air to move through soil in pores?

Accepted Answer

Aeration

Answer

Saturation

Answer

Porosity

Answer

Field Capacity

Question 20

What is the formation of a hard crust on the surface of soil that restricts water drainage?

Accepted Answer

Soil capping

Answer

Soil compaction

Answer

Permanent Wilting Point

Answer

Separation

Question 21

What is soil?

Accepted Answer

The naturally occurring layer of mineral and organic material found on the surface of the Earth which is capable of supporting plant growth.

Answer

Residual Rock

Answer

Transported Material

Answer

Parent Material

Question 22

What is Parent Material?

Accepted Answer

Rock or organic materials which break down to form soil.

Answer

Hydrolysis

Answer

Metamorphic Rock

Answer

Sedimentary Rock

Question 23

What is Sediment?

Accepted Answer

Weathered remains of other rocks which settle to the bottom of a liquid such as the sea.

Answer

Hydration

Answer

Sedimentary Rock

Answer

Metamorphic Rock

Question 24

What is Chemical Weathering?

Accepted Answer

The breakdown of rock through chemical reactions in the soil, forming new compounds.

Answer

Physical Weathering

Answer

Hydration

Answer

Erosion

Question 25

What is Bedrock?

Accepted Answer

Solid rock which lies in the Earth’s crust under loose material such as soil.

Answer

Sedimentary Rock

Answer

Igneous Rock

Answer

Residual Rock

Question 26

What is Weathering?

Accepted Answer

The breakdown of rock into smaller or different particles.

Answer

Hydration

Answer

Erosion

Answer

Metamorphism

Question 27

What is Igneous Rock?

Accepted Answer

Rock forming from the cooling and solidification of molten rock (magma or lava).

Answer

Metamorphic Rock

Answer

Sedimentary Rock

Answer

Hydration

Question 28

What is Metamorphic?

Accepted Answer

Rocks coming from the action of extreme heat or pressure on other rocks.

Answer

Hydration

Answer

Weathering

Answer

Erosion

Question 29

What is Erosion?

Accepted Answer

The breakdown of rock by wind, water or ice.

Answer

Physical Weathering

Answer

Chemical Weathering

Answer

Hydrolysis

Question 30

What is the reaction of rock minerals with weak carbonic acid (acid rain)?

Accepted Answer

Carbonation

Answer

Humus

Answer

Podzol

Answer

Lichen

Question 31

What is the breakdown of rock through the action of living things such as lichens or bacteria?

Accepted Answer

Biological Weathering

Answer

Horizons

Answer

Leaching

Answer

Peat

Question 32

What is the decaying remains of plants and animals?

Accepted Answer

Organic Parent Material

Answer

Altitude

Answer

Topography

Answer

Aspect

Question 33

What is the shape of the surface of the land?

Accepted Answer

Topography

Answer

Peat

Answer

Podzolisation

Answer

Gley

Question 34

What is the height of the surface of the land?

Accepted Answer

Altitude

Answer

Brown Earth

Answer

Leaching

Answer

Gleisation

Question 35

What is the long-term average weather conditions?

Accepted Answer

Climate

Answer

Gley

Answer

Soil Profile

Answer

Humus

Question 36

What are layers of soil found in a soil profile called?

Accepted Answer

Horizons

Answer

Podzol

Answer

Aspect

Answer

Leaching

Question 37

What is the removal of minerals such as iron and aluminium by water in acidic conditions?

Accepted Answer

Acid Leaching

Answer

Brown Earth

Answer

Carbonation

Answer

Podzolisation

Question 38

What is a poorly drained soil formed in waterlogged, anaerobic conditions?

Accepted Answer

Gley

Answer

Gleisation

Answer

Peat

Answer

Humus

Question 39

What are soils formed over limestone with high pH and good drainage called?

Accepted Answer

Brown Earth

Answer

Topography

Answer

Lichen

Answer

Podzol

Related quizzes

Related quizzes