2/9

SOIL 3600 Soils and Landscapes in Our Environment

Midterm Exam

Wednesday, October 16, 2020

Name:__________________________

Answer all questions in detail and submit by email to Dr. Tenuta before Oct 20 11:00am. Complete answers here using Word. This exam has a total of 100 marks.

1. Define what the following are and describe their importance to the properties of a soil (15 marks)

(i) illuviation

(ii) “Heavy soil”

(iii) elluviation

(iv) Structure

(v) Particle density

2. Give the soil order and diagnostic horizon for each of the soil profiles below (5 marks)

3. Label in the boxes each of the structure types. Describe each structure type to someone who has never taken a soils class before. Describe what may cause the formation of each structure type. (10 marks)

4. In the table below, describe the characteristics for the following three soils (10 marks)

Characteristic

Chernozem

Luvisol

Regosol

Specific Surface Area

Nutrient Adsorption

Water Holding Capacity

Pores

Drainage

5. Calculate the porosity of a mineral soil that has a bulk density of 1.2 Mg/m3? What is the maximum amount of water in Mg/m3 the soil can hold? Show your work (5 marks)

6. Explain the types of chemical weathering reactions that involve water and how they are important in the development of soils. (5 marks)

7. What is an Ae horizon, its properties and cause? (10 marks)

8. Describe the difference between the Chernozem subgroups, Brown Chernozem, Dark Brown Chernozem, Black Chernozem, and Dark Grey Chernozem. (10 marks)

9. Describe what the soil scientist, Hans Jenny, most famous contribution to the science is? (5 marks)

10. Give a short biography of Vasily Dokuchaev. Where was he born? When was he active in soil science? What is he known for? (5 marks)

11. Describe the soil zones of the Canadian Prairies. What subgroups are they? What factors have resulted in the development of the zones and why? (10 marks)

12. Soil colour is used to describe horizons. Explain how colour can provide information about the property of a horizon and soil forming processes? (10 marks)