Midterm #2

Our section midterm (March 11) will focus on material covered after midterm #1. Specifically Feb 6 lecture on Soil Chemistry 1, through to Mar 1 lecture - Soil Biology 3. The format of the exam will be similar with explanation questions, multiple choice, multiple answer and fill in the blank questions + a data interpretation question. There will be a similar question on covered during our practice exam session March 6th.

Note: material that may be on this midterm includes lab 4 - Soil Parent Material and problem set #2

Hello Sandra,

I was wondering how much of the Soil Biology unit will be tested on Midterm 2? Will we be asked about the specific characteristics of each type of organism or just understand their overall roles in the soil?

Also, in regards to Problem Set #2, what kind of material might we be tested on? You mentioned in class that there would not be a calculator question. So will we be tested on the different potential calculations? Or should our focus be more towards Pore Size Distributions, Soil Acidity, and Soil Salinity?

Thank you.

Hi Anika

re: soil biology you should know major groups of organisms and their role in soil & some key organisms within each group. For example, macro-organisms - what are some example organisms that are important in soils, and what do they do (in soils).

re: problem set #2 - focus on the parts which relate to soil chemistry. As indicated in an earlier post, midterm #2 will concentrate on material related to soil chemistry and soil biology - thus you will not be asked a specific soil physics question such as using soil water potential to determine the direction of flow; BUT you do need to understand how texture, soil water retention etc. related to overall soil quality assessment (similar to question 6 on the in-class review where you compared characteristics of 3 soils).

Thank you!

Hi Sandra,

How come soil pH (slide 15) won't be on the exam?

Maryam, I am not sure what specific slide you are referring to, but all of soil chemistry, including soil pH will be on midterm #2.

Hi Sandra, Just want to clarify, will soil aeration and transport (soil physics topics that were not covered in MT1) be tested on this midterm?

Thank you in advance

Ahhhh, got yah - Not directly. BUT consider the question comparing soils e.g. question #6 from the practice session held in-class on March 6. Aeration is important for plants and is related to texture, aggregation, soil water retention / drainage characteristics etc.