Study Questions for Soil Management AGRY/HORT 3510 No. 2

1. Define a Saline Soil

2. What is a salt?

   1. Which ions are most common?

3. How do saline soils develop on non-irrigated land, on irrigated land, in container plants, along roadways, on coastal soils?

4. Name 2 ways to determine Salinity levels.

5. Name 2 ways to determine Sodium levels.

   1. Why is the SAR method better?

6. What are the 3 major plant problems with saline soils?

7. Discuss how plant age determines salt effects.

8. Name the 3 salt effects on soils

9.       a.   What is the general result from them

10. Discuss the management of irrigation to reduce salt effects?

11. Indicate the 3 aspects of soil reclamation.

12. Discuss the placement of plants to avoid salts

13. Why might perennials fare better on saline soils





14. What is soil compaction?

15. What is the result of compaction on the soil?

16. List and describe the 5 types of compaction

    1. What causes each?

17. Why is some small amount of compaction desirable?

18. What problems occur from compaction?

19. List 3 common visible symptoms on plants of compaction

20. List 3 common visible symptoms on soils of compaction

21. Discuss the effect of moisture on the detection of compaction.

22. When should soils be examined for compaction and why?

23. Discuss the effect of soil moisture on sub-soiling.

24. Discuss ‘proper’ subsoiling and its expected effect on the soil.

25. How is surface compaction alleviated?

26. List many ways to minimize soil compaction

27. How does the use of dual-wheels or decreased tire pressure effect deep compaction? What should be done?
    
    

     

28. Define “Wetland”.

29. Define “Drainage”.

30. Discuss the change in wetland acreage before and after the 1985 Farm Bill

31. What criteria does the US Army Corps of Engineers use to define a wetland?

32. What are the ramifications of a site being designated as an official wetland?

33. What is a “Hydric Soil”?

34. What are “Hydrophytic plants”

35. Name and describe 3 types of wetlands

36. What are a couple of functions of wetlands in the world ecosystem?

37. How can wetlands remediate contaminants?





38. List reasons why drainage is done from both an engineering and agronomic perspective.

39. List a few pros and cons of drainage

40. What are 2 options available for surface drainage? Name and describe.

    1. For what cropping system would you select one or the other?

    2. For what soil or field conditions are surface systems best?

41. What are 3 options are available for sub-surface drainage?

    1. What is the goal of sub-surface drainage?

    2. Why use sub-surface drainage instead of surface drainage?

    3. Discuss the placement of sub-surface drainage.





42. What are some environmental concerns stemming from contaminated soils?

43. What is the difference between acute and chronic toxicity?

44. Discuss the continued use of certain chemicals and their persistence in the soil

45. Discuss the issue of contaminants when sandy soils are involved

46. What are the 6 major classes (types) of soil pollutants?

47. Define “eutrophication”

48. What are the major causes of nitrate pollution in groundwater? How does fertilizer rank?

    1.  What’s wrong with nitrates in water?

49. Name the 6 possible fates of organic chemicals

    1. Discuss adsorption

50. Which pesticide tends to leach more readily?

51. What are the 4 most common sources of organic pollutants found in soils?

52. What are the 3 major problems with pesticide accumulation in soils?

53. Discuss the effects of fumigants on soils

54. Why are soil sediments a problem?

55. Define: “Best management practices for pollution reduction”?

56. What are some Best Management Practices for nutrient pollutants

57. What are some Best Management Practices for organic pollutants

58. What are some Best Management Practices for pesticide pollutants

59. How can plants and cropping systems reduce greenhouse gasses

60. List 5 ways to remediate contaminated soils.

    1. By what means does phytoremediation work?