Soil Vocabulary Quiz

Which of the following describes the size of soil particles?

• Grainy

• Silky

• Sticky

• All of the above

What does consistency describe in soil?

• How easily the soil clumps can be broken apart

• The color of the soil

• The volume of open spaces between soil particles

• The resistance of soil to breaking and manipulation

What is the main component of the surface layer of soil?

• Leaf litter

• Humus

• Clay sized particles

• Large rocks

Which soil layer is characterized by clay sized particles and is more compact than the topsoil?

• Surface

• Topsoil

• Subsoil

• Parent Material

What is the layer of soil that lies beneath all other layers and is made of unweathered rock?

• Surface

• Topsoil

• Subsoil

• Bedrock

What is the degree to which something can penetrate or go through a material called?

• Permeability

• Porosity

• Consistence

• Composition

Which soil type is characterized by little rainfall and high temperatures all year long?

• Desert Soil

• Grassland Soil

• Forest Soil

• Tropical Grassland Soil

Which soil type is good for farming, has lots of nutrients, and has a loose consistence and silky texture?

• Desert Soil

• Grassland Soil

• Forest Soil

• Tropical Grassland Soil

Which soil type is good for farming, has a grayish brown to reddish brown color, and is very moist?

• Desert Soil

• Grassland Soil

• Forest Soil

• Tropical Grassland Soil

Which soil type tends to be weathered and greyish brown, and has a sticky texture?

• Desert Soil

• Grassland Soil

• Forest Soil

• Tropical Grassland Soil