Soil Science

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. The original source of most organic matter in soil is

a. plant residues c. soil inhabiting microorganism
b. bodies of dead animals and insects d. rocks
ANS: A PTS: 1

2. The most abundant gas in the soil atmosphere is:

a. CO2 b. O2 c. N2 d. A
ANS: C PTS: 1

3. A soil horizon is defined as:

a. the depth of finely divided soil mineral matter over bed rock
b. soil layer that differs in recognizable properties from other layers immediately above or
below
c. thee slope of the soil surface relative to the horizontal
d. any of the above
ANS: B PTS: 1

4. An example of physical weathering process is

a. exfoliation b. solution c. hydration d. oxidation
ANS: A PTS: 1

5. A civil engineer is a :
a. edaphologists c. none of the above
b. pedologists d. anthropologist
ANS: B PTS: 1

6. The study of rock is:

a. minerology b. rockology c. petrology d. hydrology
ANS: C PTS: 1

7. The molten mass from where igneous rocks solidify from is:
a. core b. magma c. mantle d. soil
ANS: B PTS: 1

8. Metamorphism is caused by:

a. high pressure and temperature c. erosion
b. floods d. earthquake
ANS: A PTS: 1

9. The parent material correspond to horizon:

a. AB b. C c. D d. ABCD
ANS: C PTS: 1
10. The true soil correspond to horizon:
a. C b. AB c. ABC d. ABCD
ANS: B PTS: 1

11. A lowland paddy soil possesses

a. ABC horizons c. horizon
b. oxidized and reduced layers d. OABC
ANS: B PTS: 1

12. An organic soil is most likely having % OM of

a. 1 b. 5 c. 25 d. 0
ANS: C PTS: 1

13. The mineral supplying P is:

a. feldspar b. apatite c. talc d. pyrite
ANS: B PTS: 1

14. Toumline supplies the element

a. Mn b. B c. Ca d. N
ANS: B PTS: 1

15. The resistance of a mineral to abrasion is a

a. luster b. specific gravity c. hardness d. cleavage
ANS: C PTS: 1

16. The softest mineral is

a. diamond b. talc c. quartz d. apatite
ANS: B PTS: 1

17. The hardest mineral is

a. diamond b. talc c. quartz d. apatite
ANS: A PTS: 1

18. This mineral is hardly soluble in water as

a. Talc b. quartz c. gypsum d. fluorite
ANS: B PTS: 1

19. This is not an element of climate

a. relief b. precipitation c. temperature d. sunshine
ANS: A PTS: 1

20. An edaphologist studies the soil in relation to

a. its genesis
b. to plant growth
c. its capacity to support buildings and structure
d. all of the above
ANS: B PTS: 1
21. Parent material deposited in lakes in a
a. alluvium b. lacustrine c. marine d. tuff
ANS: B PTS: 1

22. The most abundant elements in the earth’s crust are

a. Fe, Al, Mn, N, P c. N, P, K, Ca, Mg
b. O, Si, Al, Fe, Ca d. C, H, O, N, P
ANS: B PTS: 1

23. The soil profile is found in the

a. core b. mantle c. crust d. none of the above
ANS: C PTS: 1

24. Secondary mineral include

a. Mont b. quartz c. feldspar d. diamond
ANS: A PTS: 1

25. This is not a soil forming factor

a. climate b. organism c. soil color d. time
ANS: C PTS: 1

26. The basic elements lost in weathering are

a. Fe, Al b. Ca, Mg c. Zn, Mn d. C, H
ANS: B PTS: 1

27. The main objective of physical weathering is:

a. increase total surface area for chemical weathering
b. weaken rock by removal of bases
c. produce clay
d. leach bases
ANS: A PTS: 1

28. The soil forming factors that normally show the greatest variation from one geographic region to
another are:
a. topography and parent material c. climate and vegetation
b. topography d. time and relief
ANS: B PTS: 1

29. Parent material that has formed by weathering of bedrock in place is

a. transported b. residual c. colluvial d. alluvial
ANS: B PTS: 1

30. One of the most variable soil components is:

a. mineral matter b. organic matter c. soil water d. sand
ANS: C PTS: 1
31. Structurally, feldspars are:
a. layered minerals c. chain minerals
b. framework minerals d. none of the above
ANS: C PTS: 1

32. Of the following minerals, the one that expands on wetting is:
a. muscovite b. illite c. montmorillonite d. kaolinite
ANS: C PTS: 1

33. Feldspar minerals that are more easily weathered,by chemical means tend to be high in the element:
a. K b. Na c. Ca d. P
ANS: C PTS: 1

34. The dark color of igneous rocks usually caused by:

a. quartz c. calcite
b. feldspar d. ferrogmagnesian minerals
ANS: D PTS: 1

35. The chemical element in dolomite that is not an important constituent of calcite is
a. Mg b. Ca c. P d. O
ANS: A PTS: 1

36. Basalt weathers more easily than granite, this difference being explain most readily by difference in:
a. mineralogy b. texture c. both a & b d. color
ANS: C PTS: 1

37. The dark color of igneous rocks is usually cause by:

a. quarts b. feldspar c. calcite d. feronagnesian
minerals
ANS: D PTS: 1

38. Soil textural classes are define in terms of ranges in variation in:
a. structure c. texture
b. weathering d. drainage
ANS: C PTS: 1

39. The mass per unit volume of whole soil is:

a. particle density c. bulk density
b. true density d. all of the above
ANS: C PTS: 1

40. The physical state of the soil as relates to plant growth is known as soil
a. texture b. consistency c. tilt d. structure
ANS: C PTS: 1

41. the sedimentary rock that contains clay mineral;s as one of its more important constituents is:
a. shale b. limestone c. sandstone d. slate
 ANS: A PTS: 1

42. The percent moisture of a moist soil sample that weights 12.5g originally and 10g after oven drying is:
a. 12.5 b. 10 c. 25 d. 22.5
ANS: A PTS: 1

43. The force that determines the height to which water will rise in a vertical capillary tube:
a. surface tension c. infiltration
b. capillarity d. capillary fringe
ANS: A PTS: 1

44. The entry of surface applied water into soil is known as:
a. infiltration c. seepage
b. percolation d. erosion
ANS: A PTS: 1

45. The zone of saturated soil where water is held under suction immediately above the water table is
known as:
a. water table c. capillary fringe
b. spring d. capillarity
ANS: C PTS: 1

46. If the oxygen content of the soil air is 155 carbon dioxide will be:
a. 6 c. 0.5
b. .03 d. none of the above
ANS: A PTS: 1

47. The principal mechanism of a gas transfer in soil is;

a. diffusion c. adsorption
b. inhibition d. none of the above
ANS: A PTS: 1

48. The mechanism responsible for most of the heat transfer in soils:
a. convection c. adsorption
b. conduction d. none of the above
ANS: B PTS: 1

49. The acidity of rain water is largely due to the gas:

a. CO2 c. SO3
b. NO3 d. H
ANS: A PTS: 1

50. Which does not relate to CEC?

a. amount of clay c. kind of clay
b. amount of OM d. bulk density
ANS: D PTS: 1

51. This ion is adsorbed with the least force to soil particles:
 a. Na c. H
b. Ca d. Al
ANS: A PTS: 1

52. The soil depth from which plants obtain the major part of the water absorbed is turned:
a. effective-rooting depth of plant c. profile
b. solumn d. rizhophere
ANS: A PTS: 1

53. The consumptive use of water is defined as that quantity of water in the production of a crop by thee
process of:
a. transpiration c. evapotranspiration
b. evaporation d. WUE
ANS: C PTS: 1

54. The term clay:

a. identifies as a soil separate c. identifies both a soil separate and a soil
textural class
b. identifies a soil textural class d. all of the above
ANS: C PTS: 1

55. Porosity, which is the total pore-space volume of soils:

a. is highest in fine textured soils c. varies little with differences in texture
b. is highest in coarse-textured soils d. is same for all the soil
ANS: A PTS: 1

56. Single-grained is a term that identifies:

a. non structural state in soils c. soil in puddled condition
b. a granular-structural state in soils d. all of the above
ANS: A PTS: 1

57. On the average, the bulk density of soils:

a. varies directly with porosity c. bears no relationship with porosity
b. varies inversely with porosity d. all of the above
ANS: B PTS: 1

58. In a soil plastic state:

a. adhesive forces are more strongly c. adhesive and cohesive forces are about
expressed than are cohesive forces equally expressed
b. cohesive forces are more strongly d. all of the above
expressed than are adhesive forces
ANS: B PTS: 1

59. The hydraulic pressure of water held in the soil by capillary forces of attraction is
a. zero c. negative
b. positive d. 10,000
ANS: C PTS: 1
60. Soil suction in a saturated zone beneath a water table is
a. greater than zero c. less than zero
b. zero d. 10,000
ANS: B PTS: 1

61. In magnitude in algebraic sign, the matric potential of soil water is equal to:
a. negative hydrulic pressure c. soil water tension
b. soilsuction d. positive hydraulic pressure
ANS: A PTS: 1

62. If plant roots where to remove water from the soil water films without absorbing any of the ions of this
water, the osmotic potential of the soil water would:
a. become more negative c. not change
b. become more positive d. soil is at fluid capacity
ANS: A PTS: 1

63. Plant wilting commences when:

a. water flow into roots stops c. water starts flowing from roots back into
the soil
b. water flow into roots drops below d. soil is at field capacity
transperational loss
ANS: B PTS: 1

64. More open than not, poor aeration in soils is associated with:
a. excessive biological consumption of c. partial pressure gradient for oxygen
oxygen from soil air
b. low conductivity of soil pores for gases d. all of the above
ANS: B PTS: 1

65. On the average, in the interchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen between the soil and outer
atmosphere
a. the volume rate of flow for oxygen is c. the volume rate of flow both gases is
greater than for carbon dioxide essentially the same
b. the volume rate of flow for carbon dioxide d. none of the above
is greater than for oxygen
ANS: C PTS: 1

66. Where a complete cloud cover is present, the component of solar radiation that is of maximum
intensity at ground level is:
a. light b. infrared c. ultraviolet d. far red
ANS: C PTS: 1

67. The exchange of energy is radiant from between the soil and the atmosphere goes on:
a. only during day light hours c. continuously
b. only during night d. only during cloudy day
ANS: C PTS: 1

68. Maximum daily variation in temperature at the surface of the ground normally occurs where;
 a. both the soil and sir above are dry c. the soil is dry but that air above is most
b. both the soil and air above are moist d. soil is wet
ANS: A PTS: 1

69. In addition to hydrogen, the caution that normally tends to increase in exchangeable form with
increasing form with increasing soil acidity is
a. aluminum b. calcium c. ammonium d. Mg
ANS: A PTS: 1

70. The caution exchange capacity of a soil is a measure of;

a. the force of bonding between the soil and exchangeable cautions
b. negative charge of the soil neutralized by easily replaceable cautions
c. the speed with which ions added to the soil solution become absorbed on soil particles
surfaces
d. acidity
ANS: B PTS: 1

71. Of the following, the material with the highest caution-exchange capacity is:
a. vermiculite c. organic matter
b. montmorillonite d. kaolinite
ANS: C PTS: 1

72. A soil has a caution exchange capacity of 10me per 100g, and the following complement of
exchangeable cautions, the amounts being expressed in mill equivalents per 100g of soil: H, 3.0 Ca,
2.0 Al, 3.0 Mg, 1.0 Na, 0.25 and K, 0.75. The percent base saturation of this soil is
a. 10 b. 40 c. 70 d. 50
ANS: B PTS: 1

73. In slightly acids soil, such as in those with pH between 6.0 and 7.0 the two most abundant cautions
will probably be:
a. calcium and magnesium c. potassium and sodium
b. hydrogen and aluminum d. iron and manganese
ANS: A PTS: 1

74. An illuvial horizon in a soil is designated by the symbol:

a. Al b. A2 c. B2 d. O2
ANS: C PTS: 1

75. A parent material that often has the same origin as losses but is separated from the losses by the action
of wind is:
a. colluvium b. volcanic ash c. dune sand d. lahar
ANS: C PTS: 1

76. Of the three groups below, thee one in which all symbols are for horizons that can have the presence of
organic matter as an identifying feature is:
a. O2, Al, B2 b. Al, A2, B2 c. Al, A3, C d. none of the above
ANS: A PTS: 1
77. If an improvement in environmental conditions increases the productivity of a crop, the water-use
efficiency of the crop probably will
a. increase c. remain relatively unchanged
b. decrease d. none of the above
ANS: A PTS: 1

78. An improvement in soil drainage is usually achieved by

a. reducing the distance of saturated flow through the soil
b. improving the structural conditions of the subsoil
c. growing crops that develop deep root systems
d. all of the above
ANS: A PTS: 1

79. The removal of the excess water from the waterlogged soil depends on
a. a difference in soil suction c. atmospheric pressure
b. the force of gravity d. temperature
ANS: B PTS: 1

80. CEC is 20 m.e./100g. If it has 8 m.e. H and thee remaining cautions are bases, what is the % BS?
a. 80 b. 40 c. 60 d. 50
ANS: C PTS: 1

81. During the dry season plant roots are naturally supplied with water through
a. infiltration b. capillarity c. percolation d. leaching
ANS: B PTS: 1

82. Which soil property is not influenced by OM?

a. bulk density b. texture c. structure d. color
ANS: B PTS: 1

83. Which is the seat of chemical activities in the soil?

a. sand b. silt c. colloid d. clay
ANS: C PTS: 1

84. Which has the highest pH dependent negative charges?

a. OM b. illite c. montmorillonite d. kaolinite
ANS: A PTS: 1

85. Ten m.e. of Ca (40) can replace how many m.e. of H in the change complex?
a. 0.2 b. 1 c. 20 d. 10
ANS: D PTS: 1

86. The soil contains 10 m.e. Ca/100 g. This is equivalent to how many tons Ca per HFS?
a. 4 b. 10 c. 10 d. 200
ANS: A PTS: 1

87. One m.e. ca/100g soil is equivalent to how many ppm Ca? At.Wt. Ca = 40
 a. 400 b. 40 c. 200 d. 80
ANS: C PTS: 1

88. The predominant charge of the soil is

a. negative b. positive c. neutral d. none of the above
ANS: A PTS: 1

89. A loam soil has

a. macropores>micropores c. micropores=macropores
b. macropores<micropores d. zero pore spaces
ANS: C PTS: 1

90. The dominant basic caution in agricultural soil is

a. Na b. K c. Mg d. Ca
ANS: D PTS: 1

91. A submerged soil has

a. all pores filled with water c. macropores filled with air
b. macropores filled with water d. micropores filled with air
ANS: A PTS: 1

92. Under conditions of high rainfall and humidity the least leached caution is
a. Al b. Ca c. Mg d. Na
ANS: A PTS: 1

93. Which is not related to CEC?

a. kind of clay c. amount of OM
b. amount of clay d. none of the above
ANS: D PTS: 1

94. At the same level of OM which will have the highest water holding capacity?
a. loamy sand b. clay loam c. clay d. sandy loam
ANS: C PTS: 1

95. The capability of the soil being molded by hands

a. stickness b. plasticity c. tilth d. cracking
ANS: B PTS: 1

96. If a ring without crack is formed in the roll method of determining texture thee texture is most likely:
a. loamy sand b. clay loam c. clay d. sandy loam
ANS: C PTS: 1

97. The hydrometer and pipette method of mechanical analysis obey the
a. Dick’s Law b. Freundlick’s Law c. Ohm’s Law d. Stokes Law
ANS: D PTS: 1

98. This is used in determining the soil color:

 a. color wheel c. Munsell color chart
b. LCC d. none of the above
ANS: C PTS: 1

99. The hardest mineral is

a. quartz b. diamond c. talc d. topaz
ANS: B PTS: 1

100. Which among these minerals does not contributes any soil nutrient:
a. quartz b. talc c. apatite d. clacite
ANS: A PTS: 1