Soil Management Flashcards
7 cards from real ISA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Soil Management flashcards as text
Which soil texture has the highest water-holding capacity?
Answer: Clay
Clay soils have the highest water-holding capacity due to their large surface area and small pore spaces.
What is the primary function of soil organic matter for tree health?
Answer: Improves nutrient retention and soil structure
Soil organic matter improves cation exchange capacity, water retention, and aggregation, all benefiting tree growth.
Soil compaction most directly damages tree roots by:
Answer: Reducing macropore space and oxygen diffusion
Compaction destroys macropores, limiting the oxygen supply roots need for aerobic respiration.
Vertical mulching is used primarily to:
Answer: Introduce air and organic matter into compacted soil
Vertical mulching involves drilling holes in compacted soil and filling them with compost or gravel to restore aeration.
Which nutrient is most commonly deficient in high-pH (alkaline) soils?
Answer: Iron
Iron becomes insoluble at high pH, causing iron chlorosis characterized by interveinal yellowing on new leaves.
What does a cation exchange capacity (CEC) value primarily indicate?
Answer: The soil's ability to retain positively charged nutrients
CEC measures the number of negatively charged sites in soil that hold cations like calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
Air spading around tree roots is most commonly performed to:
Answer: Diagnose root problems and remediate compacted soil without harming roots
Air spading uses compressed air to excavate soil without cutting roots, allowing root inspection and soil decompaction.