Practice exam #3 - QUESTION 1

a) Additions, Translocation, Transformation, and Losses.

b)additions: fertilize or organic matter (leaves, twigs)

translocation: which done by soil organisms like earthworms move the material in soil

transformation: decomposition (some chemical reaction)

losses: gone with ground water or gases into the atmosphere

c) Regosolic order: (addition) weekly development so there is not much change inside the soil most are on the surface like organic horizons.

Brunisolic order: (losses) slightly development leaching of soluble salts and carbonates

Luvisolic order: (translocation) of clay-sized particles from A to B horizon

Gleysolic order: (transformation) lack of oxygen which means surface water accumulates

Chemozemic order: (transformation) decomposition of leaves and grass roots accumulate at the topsoil

Solonetzic order: (addition) contain high proportion of exchangeable Na relative to Ca ion in B horizon

Podzolic order: (transformation) chemical and biological transformation are intense, resulting in the transformation of the primary mineral and decomposition of organic matter

Organic order: (transformation) developed largely from organic deposits

Crysolic order: (translocation) lower part of the profile frozen for all seasons but upper part ice would change to water "active layer"

Vertisolic order: (translocation) cracking, argilli-pedoturbation and mass movement of materials

NOTE POSTED BY MAJA: This question asks that you specify the most dominant soil forming process for each of the soil orders. The most dominant soil forming processes needs to be very specific. What you have listed above are the general groups of soil forming processes. Pls revise...

Yimin,
Answers for question 1(C) are much better now, but additional clarifications are still needed for these orders:
-Brunisol it's not just soluble salts that are slightly modified, but something else as well)
-Gleysol - it's not about accumulation of water at the soil surface but about water table going up & down within the soil profile, bringing along fluctuations in aerobic & anaerobic conditions (or oxidation & reduction). Question for all students - what is the name of this soil forming process that I just described here?
-Podzol - more specific name of soil forming process that leads to podzolic Bf horizon is needed
-Organic soil - yes, they may be developed on organic deposits, but what is the soil forming process that leads to their development?
-Cryosols - what is the name of soil forming process in this soil that causes mixing of soil mass in it?

Brunisols - soluble salts and carbonates move down through the soil profile (may be redundant with previous answer)

Gleysols - gleying

Podzols - illuviation of Al and FE oxides and/or organic matter in the Bf, Bhf, and Bh horizons due to acidity and subsequent eluviation in the A horizon

Organic soils - accumulation of organic material such as peat and that from other vegetation that grows in saturated or semi-saturated sites

Cryosols - cryoturbation

Question about soil forming processes for Regosols: Does this include the beginning of loss of soluble salts along with poor soil development?

Further question: Will we be examined on great groups, like 'Brown' versus 'Black'

Chernozems or just the orders?

Thanks!