Below is the list of learning objectives for the soils section.  If you want to test your knowledge, you can click on the Matching or Quiz buttons to take interactive quizzes based on past Envirothon tests.  If you want to study, the underlined terms below are links to professional sites with information on the underlined topics.  You may want to bookmark this page so you can return to it easily.   

 

1. Define soil and explain the process of soil development

2. Describe the importance of soil in agriculture, forestry, wildlife habitats, construction, engineering

3. Describe the basic composition of soil, including sand, silt, clay

4. Explain basic soil properties such as texture, structure, color, chemical content, slope, water content, permeability

5. Be able to read a soil survey map and identify soil series, soil map units, and slope classes

6. Describe how soil maps would be used in farming, woodland management, and construction

7. Describe how soil maps would be used by engineers and developers

8. Be able to determine basic soil properties by observing a soil pit or soil profile

9. Define a wetland soil

10. Define soil drainage and percolation

11. Explain hydric soil and the testing of it

12. Describe the vegetative conditions in wetlands soils

13. Identify types of erosion

14. Explain methods to prevent erosion

15. Explain the sedimentation effects of non-point source pollution

16. Describe the impact of non-point source pollution on soil