Name________________________________________________ Date ________________ Period___________

Soils Unit Review / Study Guide

1) Complete the table below to summarize your knowledge of soil textures:
2. A soil with 15% sand, 55% silt and 30% clay would be classified as what type of soil?


3. What is the highest percentage of clay that can be found in a sandy clay soil?______
4. Discuss the pros and cons for a plant growing in silt loam.












5. If a gardener were concerned
about amending (fixing) a soil
that was compacted and water
logged, what would you suggest they add and why?
Sand Silt Clay *Organic
Water holding
capacity

Aeration


Good/High
Drainage


Very slow
Nutrient holding
capacity
Medium Good/High
Compaction
capacity
Medium Low
Name________________________________________________ Date ________________ Period___________
Practical Exam Review:

1) You will be provided with a sample of soil and asked to make the following
observations:
A) Examine the physical texture of your soil and determine if it forms a ball
or ribbon when wet:
a. What does this test tell you about the presence of any of the 3
major inorganic particles of soil?
B) Wet a smaller sample of soil in your hand and rub it your palm. Does it
feel gritty?
a. What does this test tell you about the presence of any of the 3
major inorganic particles of soil?

2) Describe how I could determine the percentage of sand, silt, and clay in my
soil using fractionation (be prepared to do this with a real sample, but
describe the process here in words and images).

3) Know how to use a dichotomous key to identify different types of soil
organisms.




Theory Review

1) List the 5 factors that contribute to natural soil formation.



2) List the 3 classes of soil particles from smallest to largest.


3) What is the difference between soil and dirt?


4) List the 5 functions of soil



5) Describe how the Missoula Floods may have shaped the soil profiles of the Willamette
Valley.



Name________________________________________________ Date ________________ Period___________
6) If I have a flower bed planted in relatively sandy soil, based on what you know of soil
particles, what kind of watering regime would you recommend (how often and how
much) and why?


7) Name another fraction of soil (different from clay) that can hold water well.


8) What are the roles of the different living organisms on the soil food web?
(worms, nematodes, arthropods, fungi, bacteria, etc.) How do they impact soil
abiotic components such as nutrient availability, pore space and size, etc.?




Exceeds Portion Sample Questions
9) Why might soil be considered a non-renewable resource?





10) Create an ecological question about an abiotic factor in soil and a biotic factor in
a soil ecosystem.




12) List the soil test or tests you would run to research and answer your question.
(Make sure you pick tests that will apply to your question).







13) What additional tests or experiments might you need to measure the effect of
soils on the biotic factor of your question?