Soil and Environmental Importance Quiz

Forests and plant roots help reduce _________ of soil, which is important to maintain ___________. Which terms best complete the sentence?

• erosion; nutrients
• nutrients, erosion

Which describes why soil is an important resource?

• Soil quality affects the nutrients in the crops people eat.

• Most of the waste people dispose of goes into the soil.

• There are no plants that can grow without soil.

• People need nutrient-rich soil to build houses on.

How can technologies that promote efficient and proper waste treatment in factories help protect soil resources?

• Soil will be used to help filter out the waste from factories.

• Soil will no longer be affected by the waste that is disposed of in the ground and water.

• Factories will no longer have any waste to dispose of.

• Factories will have less dangerous waste that can contaminate soil when it is disposed of.

Look at the data regarding the cause for a decline in soil quality by sources around the world. Which source of degradation could be reduced by finding more efficient ways to heat homes?

• Agricultural activities

• Deforestation

• Industrialization

• Overuse of fuelwood

Look at the image of the mangrove forest. These trees are extremely efficient at removing carbon from emissions in the air and storing it in their extensive root systems and the soil. They are often found along coastlines and help protect the land from tides and waves and also serve as a habitat for many native marine species. How can conserving mangrove forests impact natural resources, such as soil?

• Can decrease air pollution by reducing carbon in the atmosphere

• Less air pollution less acid rain

• both of the answers

• none of the answers

Corn is a commonly grown crop in the United States. Farmers traditionally plant corn in rows with spacing between them. However, heavy rains can erode the soil in the field, reducing the amount of nutrients available to grow the plants. A new method for growing corn involves growing another crop between the rows. Explain how the new method reduces soil erosion and benefits plants.

• The new method requires more water than traditional methods.
• Planting crops between the rows leaves less soil exposed to heavy rain, reducing erosion

• The new method benefits plants by using chemical fertilizers exclusively.
• The new method increases soil erosion by removing ground cover.