- - AGRICULTURE CORE CURRICULUM - -

(CLF6000) Advanced Core Cluster: ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE

 (CLF6100) Unit Title: HORTICULTURAL SOILS

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 (CLF6449) Topic: HORTICULTURAL SOILS         Time         Year(s) 
                    UNIT EXAM                   1 hour         3 / 4 
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TOPIC PRESENTATION: HORTICULTURAL SOILS UNIT EXAM


NAME _____________________________________

DATE ________________

PER. ________________


                    Horticultural Soils: Unit Exam


COMPLETION: Complete the phrases below with the appropriate word or words.

 1. Flooding or water logging will reduce the _____________________ content
    in the soil.

 2. The three mineral particles in soil that determine its texture are:

    ______________________, _____________________ and ____________________.

 3. ____________________________ soils are considered texturally ideal for
    gardening. They combine the best of qualities such as water retention
    and good drainage.

 4. Dark soil usually indicates a soil high in ___________________________.

 5. Certain clay particles and organic humus provide soil with the ability
    to hold positively charged ions (plant nutrients such as potassium [K+]
    and ammonium [NH4+]) and then exchange them for other cations.

    This ability is known as______________________________________________.

 6. When added to a field soil, organic amendments should be used in large
    quantities, to constitute at least ______________ of the soil volume.
    Small additions of organic matter are ineffectual.

 7. Peat moss has a _________________ pH.

 8. _______________________________(calcium carbonate) can be incorporated
    to raise pH in acid soils, and will also add calcium as a nutrient.

 9. In general,__________________________ should NOT be used as an 
    amendment in the the landscape or field. It compacts clays and silts 
    to ruin soil structure.

10. ____________________________, the colloidal breakdown product of
    organic material, is highly desirable in soils as it considerably
    improves moisture retention and cation exchange capacity.

11. Organic amendments should be incorporated with enough__________________
    available to meet the needs of both microorganisms and plants.

12. ___________________________________ is probably the single most
    important operation performed on soil used in the nursery or 
    greenhouse. By freeing plants of competition from pathogenic organisms 
    and weeds, they are able to grow to their genetic potential.

13. If the seed is planted too ____________________ it may dry too rapidly.

    If it is planted too ______________________, emergence of the seedling 
    will be delayed, or, in extreme cases, the seedling may not be able to
    emerge.

14. A rule of thumb is to plant seeds to a depth of ______________ times
    the average diameter of the seed.

15. In a nursery situation, compost MUST be _________________________ 
    before being added to the growing media.


SHORT ANSWER/ESSAY: Answer the following questions as concisely as possible in the 
space provided.

16. Describe the four main functions of soil.











17. Specify the composition by volume of a average silt loam surface soil
    when in good condition for plant growth.








18. Explain how soil texture affects:

    a. Water absorption rate




    b. Soil aeration





19. What kind of pH do most plants prefer?




20. List below three macronutrients and three micronutrients that plants
    obtain from the soil.












21. Describe a problem that can arise if soils are too high in salts.






22. Cite four characteristics that can distinguish soils used in
    ornamental horticulture from soils for general agriculture.










23. Identify three INORGANIC materials that can be used for amending
    horticultural soils or growing mixes.




24. Identify five ORGANIC materials that can be used for amending
    horticultural soils or growing mixes.










25. Explain why container soils have to have very coarse textures.








26. List three things that should be tested for when a soil mix is
    prepared for use in the nursery.







27. Describe two methods for eliminating harmful organisms in the soil.







28. List four advantages to managing soils correctly, resulting in their
    improvement and conservation.








29. Explain the importance of proper seedbed preparation.





30. List three characteristics of a good seedbed.








31. List three implements that can be used in preparing a seedbed in the
    field.








32. Outline the steps necessary to prepare a seedbed in the garden.
    Include in your description the tools used for each step.










33. Describe how to manually sow seed in the greenhouse, using flats.









34. Define compost. Include in your definition three of the basic
    requirements needed for the construction of a successful compost pile.






35. Discuss the potential uses of compost in gardening.




1/6/91 MH/clh
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