SOIL SCIENCE EXAM #2 STUDY GUIDE
*** NOTE: This is intended to guide your
studies. The text book also contains important information that relates
to these issues.***
This page was last revised on 29 April 2006.
Dr. Sproat's Study Questions
Ch. 6: Soil and the Hydrologic Cycle
I. Be able to discuss and apply information regarding the hydrologic
cycle, including:
A. the global water distribution
B. the relative percentage of potable water (don’t
have to know the specific numbers)
C. the basic water cycle
D. the role of soil in the water cycle
II. Be able to apply information regarding these factors involved with
soil water:
A. evaporation
B. interception
C. infiltration: including the physics of water
a droplet impacting the soil
D. percolation: including the concept of a
fragipan
E. surface run-off and erosion
F. photosynthesis and soil water
G. capillary rise
H. conservation tillage
I. earthworm channels
H. wetlands as filters for surface water
Ch. 7: Soil Aeration
I. Be able to discuss and explain the importance of soil aeration,
including:
A. Aeration’s effects on plant growth and health
B. Respiration of plants and microbes
C. Chemical reactions in the soil and availability of
soil nutrients
II. Be able to give examples and apply the various factors involved in
soil aeration, including:
A. Soil Heterogeneity
B. Biotic activity
C. Water accumulation
Ch. 9: Effects of Soil pH
I. Be able to describe the basic use of the pH scale
II. Be able to describe and apply the concepts of soil pH in various
situations. Such as:
A. The various aspects of soil acidification,
including:
1. atmospheric deposition and
cellular respiration
2. organic matter accumulation
3. root hair effects
4. agricultural nitrification
5. acid run-off from mined
materials
B. The factors involved in soil alkalination,
including:
1. “basic” terminology
2. sources of alkalination
C. The processes and applications of chemical
buffering in the soil.
D. The effects of pH on soil nutrients
E. The effects of soil pH on organisms in the soil,
including:
1. acidity effects on the
accumulation and solubility of toxic cations
2. effects on nutrient
availability
3. effects on bacterial and fungal
activity
4. effects on plant growth
Ch. 10: SOIL ORGANISMS
I. Be able to integrate ecosystem concepts with the issues of soils
science, including:
A. Trophic levels in an ecosystem; autotrophs; heterotrophs
B. Diversity
C. Ecosystem dynamics
D. Biomass: the amount of living tissue in a given
area
II. Fully explain the roles that different types of organisms serve in
soil, including:
A. Plants
B. Animals
1. macrofauna
2. earthworms 3.
ants 4. termites 5. nematodes:
“round worms”
C. Protista
D. Soil Fungi
E. Bacteria:
1. bacterial populations tend to be
very large (400-5,000 kg/ha)
2. bacteria’s role in soil:
very diverse
a) cyanobacteria:
nitrogen-fixing bacteria
b) pathogens:
population controls of protists, plants, animals
c) some forms break
down petroleum and hydrocarbons
d) “participate in
virtually all organic transactions in healthy soil”
III. Be familiar with the various conditions that affect the growth of
soil organisms, including:
A. Organic matter
B. Oxygen
C. Nitrogen fixation
D. Moisture and temperature
E. pH levels
IV. Be able to apply ecology issues of soil organisms, including:
A. Plant diseases
B. Induced systemic resistance
C. Applications of fungicides and nematicides
D. Microbiotic crusts: (Fig 10.23)
1. symbiotic associations of
2. vital role in arid and semi-arid
ecosystems
3. Impact of human disturbance?
ROCKY MOUNTAIN ARSENAL EXERCISE
I. Be able to fully explain the (i) mandate, (ii) constituents, (iii) and
potential conflicts among these at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal:
A. US Army
B. Shell Oil Company
C. US EPA
D. US Fish and Wildlife Service
E. Colorado Board of Health
II. Be able to basically explain the
remediation options considered in the potential clean-up of the Arsenal and how
they relate to soil science.