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Soil and Water Management Questions
and Correct Answers/ Latest Update /
Already Graded
What is soil texture?
Ans: -Texture is determined by the % of sand, silt and clay
- Surface area of the particles determine their physical and
chemical properties (water holding capacity, CEC, etc.)
- Texture is an inherent physical property which does not
change
Bulk density
Ans: - The mass of dry soil per unit of bulk volume
- Soils with a high proportion of pore space to solids have lower
bulk densities that soils that are more compact
- Intensive tillage increases Bd
- Crop residue lowers Bd
- More organic matter, lower Bd
- Lower Bd = improved structure
- Compaction increases Bd
Soil structure
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Ans: - The grouping or arrangement of soil particles
Soil aggregate
Ans: Many soil particles held together in a single mass or
cluster such as a block, prism, plate, or crumb.
Benefits of well developed soil aggregation
Ans: - Granular or crumb
- Improves soil drainage
- Improves aeration
- Improves root development
- Reduces the degree of compaction and crusting from tillage
Soil Aggregation
Ans: - Well developed soil aggregation will have more
macropores.
- Macropores promote drainage, aeration, faster water
infiltration, and lower Bd.
- Soil aggregation is most improved by perennial crops
- Silt loams hold the highest amount of available water
- Clay soils hold the highest amount of total water
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
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Factors that affect soil aggregation
Ans: -Tillage: breaks down the soil structure
- Cropping systems: the less tillage, the better the structure
- Soil organisms: more microbes, better aggregation
- High residue crops improve soil aggregation
Sources of OM
Ans: - Plant residues
- Manure
- Sewage sludge/biosolids
Benefits of OM
Ans: - Binds soil particles together into aggregates
- A source of nutrients thru decomposition
- Retains cations (increases CEC)
As OM increases...
Ans: - Water holding capacity increases
- Surface crusting reduced
- Water infiltration rates increase
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
Soil and Water Management Questions
and Correct Answers/ Latest Update /
Already Graded
What is soil texture?
Ans: -Texture is determined by the % of sand, silt and clay
- Surface area of the particles determine their physical and
chemical properties (water holding capacity, CEC, etc.)
- Texture is an inherent physical property which does not
change
Bulk density
Ans: - The mass of dry soil per unit of bulk volume
- Soils with a high proportion of pore space to solids have lower
bulk densities that soils that are more compact
- Intensive tillage increases Bd
- Crop residue lowers Bd
- More organic matter, lower Bd
- Lower Bd = improved structure
- Compaction increases Bd
Soil structure
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |2
Ans: - The grouping or arrangement of soil particles
Soil aggregate
Ans: Many soil particles held together in a single mass or
cluster such as a block, prism, plate, or crumb.
Benefits of well developed soil aggregation
Ans: - Granular or crumb
- Improves soil drainage
- Improves aeration
- Improves root development
- Reduces the degree of compaction and crusting from tillage
Soil Aggregation
Ans: - Well developed soil aggregation will have more
macropores.
- Macropores promote drainage, aeration, faster water
infiltration, and lower Bd.
- Soil aggregation is most improved by perennial crops
- Silt loams hold the highest amount of available water
- Clay soils hold the highest amount of total water
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |3
Factors that affect soil aggregation
Ans: -Tillage: breaks down the soil structure
- Cropping systems: the less tillage, the better the structure
- Soil organisms: more microbes, better aggregation
- High residue crops improve soil aggregation
Sources of OM
Ans: - Plant residues
- Manure
- Sewage sludge/biosolids
Benefits of OM
Ans: - Binds soil particles together into aggregates
- A source of nutrients thru decomposition
- Retains cations (increases CEC)
As OM increases...
Ans: - Water holding capacity increases
- Surface crusting reduced
- Water infiltration rates increase
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
