1. Revision Exercises Soil

2. Name the three different types of parent rock? Give examples of each type of rock How is each rock type formed? What is meant by organic parent material? Name the 2 main types of peat Describe how each peat type is produced? What is weathering? Describe 4 different types of physical weathering Describe 5 types of chemical weathering.

3. What is the ideal composition of soil? Why is air and water content of a soil so variable? What are the different types of soil particles found in soil? Arrange them in decreasing order. Gravel and sand give rise to what type of soils? Why is it important to have silt and clay in soil? What is ion exchange? Name 2 ions that are attracted to silt and clay surfaces What is biomass? What is humus? What is the role of organic matter in soil? Compare atmospheric air and soil air

4. What is meant by cation exchange capacity? What is the normal pH range for agricultural land? When you measure the ph of soil what element are you measuring the concentration of? How can the ph of a soil be raised? What activities of bacteria and fungi are important in soil? What earthworm’s activities are important in soil? What are the environmental factors that affect the activities of earthworms? What is the soil organic matter made up of? What is humification? What is mineralisation? Using a diagram describe the Carbon Cycle

5. List the five factors that affect the formation of soil Explain how each factor influences soil formation and development What is a soil profile? Draw a diagram to illustrate the general structure of a soil profile What is calcification? Draw a diagram of a soil profile to show calcification What is acid leaching? What causes the light colour of the leached horizon in the soil? What is a soil horizon? What is the common name of the layer O in the soil profile? What is podzolisation? List and describe each of the soil classifications?

6. What is an essential element? What is a macro or major element? List 3 macro elements needed by crops for normal growth? What is a micro or minor element? List 3 micro elements needed for normal crop growth What are the fertilizer elements? Why are they given this name? Where is nitrogen found in plants? Why is nitrogen needed by plants? What happens to a crop or plant if there is a nitrogen deficiency? List the signs that show a plant has an abundance of nitrogen? Which nitrogen compounds are used in nitrogen fertilizers? What is nitrogen fixation?

7. What bacteria is needed for nitrogen fixation? What is a symbiotic relationship? With which plants do the bacteria have a symbiotic relationship? What is nitrification? What is dentrifcation? Why is phosphorous needed by plants? What are the signs of phosphorus deficiency in plants? Why is the pH of the soil important for the availability of phosphorus to plants? What is liming? Why is liming carried out? What are the requirements for ground limestone? Describe how soil sampling is carried out. Why is soil sampling carried out?

8. What is the difference between a fertilizer and a manure? What is a simple fertilizer and a straight fertilizer? What is a compound fertilizer? What are the most important straight fertilizers in use in Ireland? Why must CAN be carefully stored? How much nitrogen does it contain? What does CAN stand for? Why is urea becoming a popular fertilizer? How much nitrogen does it contain? What disadvantage is associated with urea? Why is ground rock phosphate confined to forest-tree fertilization? List 3 ways in which fertilizer can be applied to land. Why are fertilizers sold in granulated form? What is meant by hygroscopic in relation to CAN? What does the term volatilization refer to? FYM- What level of each nutrient is present? What level of nutrient is in slurry? What are the disadvantages of animal slurry?