Vegetation, climate, topography, time and parent material are the five most important soil forming factors.

Geography

1 (10 pts) The figure below is called a soil texture triangle. The sides of the triangle are the percentage of sand, silt, and clay in a soil. Read the triangle and answer the following questions.

a (2 pts) Identify the soil texture classes for the two soils.

Soil A with 20% clay, 40% silt, and 40% sand. ____________________

Soil B with 15% clay, 20% silt, and 65% sand. ____________________

b (4 pts) Between soils A and B, in which soil will water move faster? Briefly explain why water can move faster.

c (4 pts) Between soils A and B, which soil will have a higher water storage capacity? Briefly explain why it’s higher.

2 (8 pts)

a (4pts) The soil orders most often found in low latitude regions are (list two): and ________________

The soil order with the majority of its content from volcanic origin is: __________ ___

The soil order in which soil the mineral soil profile is very poorly developed (like a sand dune) is ____________

b (4 pts) Vegetation, climate, topography, time and parent material are the five most important soil forming factors. Among those five, which two are the dominant factors in forming Oxisols? Briefly explain why Oxisols are poor in nutrients, and where they are generally located.