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Which soil orders lack noticeable horizons?

Entisols lack noticeable horizons as parent material has not undergone significant weathering processes. On the other hand, oxisols may be so strongly weathered that visually distinguishing horizons can be difficult.

Which soil order has the highest organic content?

Histosols are noted for high organic content. Peat can be mined from histosols.

Describe the various soil forming processes.

Soil forming processes are what determine the type of soil that forms. Podzolization - Cool, humid environments; needle leaf forest cover common. Leads to the development of soils that are acidic, have an ash-grey E-horizon. Spodosols. Laterization - warm, humid environments; broadleaf evergreen forest cover. Creates highly oxidized soils that are red/yellow in color. Oxisols; Ultisols. Calcification - warm, dry environments; grass cover. Creates soils rich in calcium carbonate; high base status. Salinization - warm, dry environments. Creates soils containing soluble salts.

Which vegetation biome is associated with mollisols?

Grassland

In which soil orderd might you find a subsurface layer of calcium carbonate?

Mollisol

Which soil order forms an "inverted soil profile"?

Vertisol

Which soil orders are associated with midlatitude temperate forests?

Alfisol

What impact do broadleaf deciduous trees have on the nutrient status of soils?

Broadleaf deciduous forest increase the nutrient base status of soil. A constant cycling of nutrients between the soil and tree occurs through decomposition of leaf litter and root uptake.

How does soil particle size influence field capacity, infiltration and permeability?

Fine textured soils (small particle size) have more total pore space per unit volume than does coarse textured soils (large particle size). Fine textured soils have high field capacity than coarse textured soils. Coarse textured soil has larger, better connected pore space yielding greater infiltration and permeability compared to fine textured soil.

What is soil texture and why is it important?

Soil texture is the relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay size particles. Soil texture effects such processes as infiltration, permeability, and field capacity.

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