SOIL 1113 EXAM 2 ABIT QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 100% PASS 2026/2027
What is soil pH? - ANS Soil pH is a measure of the H+ concentration in the soil, or the acidity
or alkalinity of a soil solution.
What useful information can we infer from knowing soil pH? - ANS pH determines what
nutrients are available to the roots, influences microbial activity and has a direct influence on
the growth of crops.
Circumneutral pH - ANS near-neutral pH conditions. When pH of the soil solution is between
6.5 - 7.5
Acidic pH - ANS pH level less than seven
Basic pH - ANS pH level greater than seven
What variable is pH? - ANS Master
What does low pH mean? - ANS High hydrogen ion concentration
How to rehabilitate acid soils? - ANS Apply lime
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
1
, How to lower soil pH? - ANS Use iron sulfide, organic matter, or ammonium-containing
fertilizers.
How to choose a lime? - ANS Chemical composition, purity of lime, fineness.
What charge do soils normally have? - ANS Negative charge
How is soil able to store plant nutrients and treat chemical contaminants? - ANS Solid
particles almost always have charged surfaces that attract cations (positively-charged) and/or
anions (negatively-charged) from the soil solution. The charged surfaces are important in
retaining soil nutrients and in treating pollutants.
What is the ion exchange process? - ANS The ions that are stored on the surface of soil
particles could be released back into the solution if there is another ion of similar charge from
the soil solution that can take its place.
Sand and Silt - ANS Coarse, not charged, low surface area, chemically unreactive
Clay and Humus - ANS Fine, charged, high surface area, highly chemical reactive
Global inventory of water resources - ANS Total water on Earth: 362 million, Saline
groundwater: .93%, Oceans: 96.5%, Groundwater: 30.1%, Glaciers and Ice caps: 68.6%, Lakes:
20.1%, Ice and Snow: 73.1%
What is the current state of our water resources? - ANS There are two sources of water for
human consumption: 1.) surface water bodies and 2.) groundwater
What are the various components of a watershed-scale water budget? - ANS Onsite
wastewater treatment system, irrigation, precipitation, infiltration, evapotranspiration, runoff
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
2
AND ANSWERS 100% PASS 2026/2027
What is soil pH? - ANS Soil pH is a measure of the H+ concentration in the soil, or the acidity
or alkalinity of a soil solution.
What useful information can we infer from knowing soil pH? - ANS pH determines what
nutrients are available to the roots, influences microbial activity and has a direct influence on
the growth of crops.
Circumneutral pH - ANS near-neutral pH conditions. When pH of the soil solution is between
6.5 - 7.5
Acidic pH - ANS pH level less than seven
Basic pH - ANS pH level greater than seven
What variable is pH? - ANS Master
What does low pH mean? - ANS High hydrogen ion concentration
How to rehabilitate acid soils? - ANS Apply lime
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
1
, How to lower soil pH? - ANS Use iron sulfide, organic matter, or ammonium-containing
fertilizers.
How to choose a lime? - ANS Chemical composition, purity of lime, fineness.
What charge do soils normally have? - ANS Negative charge
How is soil able to store plant nutrients and treat chemical contaminants? - ANS Solid
particles almost always have charged surfaces that attract cations (positively-charged) and/or
anions (negatively-charged) from the soil solution. The charged surfaces are important in
retaining soil nutrients and in treating pollutants.
What is the ion exchange process? - ANS The ions that are stored on the surface of soil
particles could be released back into the solution if there is another ion of similar charge from
the soil solution that can take its place.
Sand and Silt - ANS Coarse, not charged, low surface area, chemically unreactive
Clay and Humus - ANS Fine, charged, high surface area, highly chemical reactive
Global inventory of water resources - ANS Total water on Earth: 362 million, Saline
groundwater: .93%, Oceans: 96.5%, Groundwater: 30.1%, Glaciers and Ice caps: 68.6%, Lakes:
20.1%, Ice and Snow: 73.1%
What is the current state of our water resources? - ANS There are two sources of water for
human consumption: 1.) surface water bodies and 2.) groundwater
What are the various components of a watershed-scale water budget? - ANS Onsite
wastewater treatment system, irrigation, precipitation, infiltration, evapotranspiration, runoff
2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
2
