Ask a New Question
Menu

1. Watch Video #1 or Alternate Video #1 Link to answer questions #1-5. What kind of soil is an ideal mix of the other 3 kinds of soil?(1 point)

Responses

clay
clay

sand
sand

silt
silt

loam
loam
Question 2
2. What kind of soil is made of large grains and will not hold its shape when wet?(1 point)
Responses

sand
sand

loam
loam

silt
silt

clay
clay
Question 3
3. What kind of soil is made of medium-sized grains; feels like flour to the touch; and can’t hold its shape well when wet?(1 point)
Responses

clay
clay

loam
loam

sand
sand

silt
silt
Question 4
4. What kind of soil is made of very fine grains; forms a hard crust after a rain; and holds its shape when wet?(1 point)
Responses

silt
silt

clay
clay

loam
loam

sand
sand
Question 5
5. Match each kind of soil with its ability to absorb (soak up) water. You will click, drag, and drop each response choice next to the type of soil it matches. (1 point)
Put responses in the correct input to answer the question. Select a response, navigate to the desired input and insert the response. Responses can be selected and inserted using the space bar, enter key, left mouse button or touchpad. Responses can also be moved by dragging with a mouse.
sand
silt
clay
Question 6
6. Watch Video #2 to answer questions #6-9. Match each kind of soil with its ability to grow the most plants well. You will click, drag, and drop each response choice next to the type of soil it matches. (2 points)
Put responses in the correct input to answer the question. Select a response, navigate to the desired input and insert the response. Responses can be selected and inserted using the space bar, enter key, left mouse button or touchpad. Responses can also be moved by dragging with a mouse.
loam
sand
silt
clay
Question 7
7. For corn, which combination of soil type, soil pH, and amount of fertilizer (soil nutrients) is BEST for crop quality and the amount of corn harvested?



(2 points)
Responses

silt with a pH of 7 with moderate fertilizer (soil nutrients)
silt with a pH of 7 with moderate fertilizer (soil nutrients)

silt with a pH of 7 with high fertilizer (soil nutrients)
silt with a pH of 7 with high fertilizer (soil nutrients)

silt with a pH of 6 and moderate fertilizer (soil nutrients)
silt with a pH of 6 and moderate fertilizer (soil nutrients)

sand with a pH of 7 with high fertilizer (soil nutrients)
sand with a pH of 7 with high fertilizer (soil nutrients)

sand with a pH of 6 and moderate fertilizer (soil nutrients)
sand with a pH of 6 and moderate fertilizer (soil nutrients)

sand with a pH of 6 and high fertilizer (soil nutrients)
sand with a pH of 6 and high fertilizer (soil nutrients)

sand with a pH of 7 with moderate fertilizer (soil nutrients)
sand with a pH of 7 with moderate fertilizer (soil nutrients)

silt with a pH of 6 and high fertilizer (soil nutrients)
silt with a pH of 6 and high fertilizer (soil nutrients)
Question 8
8. For soybeans, which combination of soil type, soil pH, and amount of fertilizer (soil nutrients) is the WORST for crop quality and the amount of corn harvested?



(1 point)
Responses

sand with a pH of 7 with high fertilizer (soil nutrients)
sand with a pH of 7 with high fertilizer (soil nutrients)

silt with a pH of 7 with high fertilizer (soil nutrients)
silt with a pH of 7 with high fertilizer (soil nutrients)

silt with a pH of 6 and high fertilizer (soil nutrients)
silt with a pH of 6 and high fertilizer (soil nutrients)

sand with a pH of 6 and moderate fertilizer (soil nutrients)
sand with a pH of 6 and moderate fertilizer (soil nutrients)

sand with a pH of 7 with moderate fertilizer (soil nutrients)
sand with a pH of 7 with moderate fertilizer (soil nutrients)

sand with a pH of 6 and high fertilizer (soil nutrients)
sand with a pH of 6 and high fertilizer (soil nutrients)

silt with a pH of 6 and moderate fertilizer (soil nutrients)
silt with a pH of 6 and moderate fertilizer (soil nutrients)

silt with a pH of 7 with moderate fertilizer (soil nutrients)
silt with a pH of 7 with moderate fertilizer (soil nutrients)
Question 9
9. For sunflowers, what is so surprising about using a moderate amount of fertilizer instead of a high amount?



(1 point)
Responses

The soil pollution was very high.
The soil pollution was very high.

It resulted in a bummer harvest.
It resulted in a bummer harvest.

It resulted in a bumper (excellent) harvest.
It resulted in a bumper (excellent) harvest.

The crop quality was good.
The crop quality was good.
Question 10
10. Watch Video #3 for questions #10-15. In general, what type of soil pH led to the best crop quality? (1 point)
Responses

mildly acidic
mildly acidic

highly acidic
highly acidic

neutral
neutral

highly basic
highly basic
Question 11
11. In general, what is the relationship between the crop yield from the harvest and the amount of soil and water pollution from the fertilizer?(1 point)
Responses

The lower the crop yield, the higher the pollution.
The lower the crop yield, the higher the pollution.

The higher the crop yield, the higher the pollution.
The higher the crop yield, the higher the pollution.

There is no cause-and-effect relationship between crop yield and pollution.
There is no cause-and-effect relationship between crop yield and pollution.

The higher the crop yield, the lower the pollution.
The higher the crop yield, the lower the pollution.
Question 12
12. Based on the evidence from the soil pH simulation, which crop -- corn, soybeans, or sunflowers -- would you grow if you were a farmer and why?(2 points)
Responses

Soybeans -- because you have to use a high amount of fertilizer to have good crop quality.
Soybeans -- because you have to use a high amount of fertilizer to have good crop quality.

Corn -- because the sandy loam holds a lot of water, so you can conserve water.
Corn -- because the sandy loam holds a lot of water, so you can conserve water.

Soybeans -- because the harvest is average or low in most cases.
Soybeans -- because the harvest is average or low in most cases.

Corn -- because the crop quality is low in most cases.
Corn -- because the crop quality is low in most cases.

Sunflowers -- because the harvest can be very good while producing moderate pollution.
Sunflowers -- because the harvest can be very good while producing moderate pollution.

Sunflowers -- because the water and soil pollution from fertilizer is always moderate.
Sunflowers -- because the water and soil pollution from fertilizer is always moderate.
Question 13
13. Which one of these sustainable practices would you recommend to a farmer who is wanting to maximize the use of his farmland while minimizing any negative impacts on the environment? (1 point)
Responses

A. Alley cropping (growing trees between rows of crops)
A. Alley cropping (growing trees between rows of crops)

B. Intercropping (growing 2 crops on the same piece of land)
B. Intercropping (growing 2 crops on the same piece of land)

C. Sharecropping (giving a share of your crop to your landowner in exchange for allowing you to farm on his land)
C. Sharecropping (giving a share of your crop to your landowner in exchange for allowing you to farm on his land)

D. Both A and B
D. Both A and B
Question 14
14. In Texas, the year 2020 was drier than normal due to lower rainfall. Look at the graph of Texas cotton yield and production below.

Based on the drought and high temperatures during the summer of 2023, predict the number of million bales of cotton that will be harvested during the fall of 2023.



(2 points)
Responses

8-10 million
8-10 million

6-8 million
6-8 million

4-6 million
4-6 million

2-4 million
2-4 million
Question 15
15. Look at the graph of Texas farms that lost money (also known as revenue) and gained (made) money in 2012 and 2017 below.

In 2012, 68% of Texas farms LOST money. Study the math below to see how that percentage was calculated.

Now it's your turn! Grab a calculator. Use the same steps below as an example for you to follow. Please calculate the percentage of farms that GAINED (MADE) money in 2017.



(2 points)
Responses

18%
18%

73%
73%

26%
26%

37%

1 answer

Here are the answers to your questions based on typical soil science concepts:

Question 1: What kind of soil is an ideal mix of the other 3 kinds of soil?
Response: loam

Question 2: What kind of soil is made of large grains and will not hold its shape when wet?
Response: sand

Question 3: What kind of soil is made of medium-sized grains; feels like flour to the touch; and can’t hold its shape well when wet?
Response: silt

Question 4: What kind of soil is made of very fine grains; forms a hard crust after a rain; and holds its shape when wet?
Response: clay

Question 5: Match each kind of soil with its ability to absorb (soak up) water.
Responses:

  • sand: Low absorption
  • silt: Moderate absorption
  • clay: High absorption

Question 6: In this question, you will match each kind of soil with its ability to grow the most plants well.
Responses:

  • loam: Best for growing plants
  • silt: Good for growing plants
  • sand: Poor for growing plants
  • clay: Can be challenging for certain plants

Question 7: For corn, which combination of soil type, soil pH, and amount of fertilizer (soil nutrients) is BEST for crop quality and the amount of corn harvested?
Response: silt with a pH of 7 with high fertilizer (soil nutrients) (commonly well-balanced for corn).

Question 8: For soybeans, which combination of soil type, soil pH, and amount of fertilizer (soil nutrients) is the WORST for crop quality and the amount of corn harvested?
Response: sand with a pH of 6 and moderate fertilizer (soil nutrients) (sandy soil is generally not ideal for soybeans).

Question 9: For sunflowers, what is so surprising about using a moderate amount of fertilizer instead of a high amount?
Response: It resulted in a bumper (excellent) harvest.

Question 10: In general, what type of soil pH led to the best crop quality?
Response: mildly acidic

Question 11: In general, what is the relationship between the crop yield from the harvest and the amount of soil and water pollution from the fertilizer?
Response: The higher the crop yield, the higher the pollution.

Question 12: Based on the evidence from the soil pH simulation, which crop -- corn, soybeans, or sunflowers -- would you grow if you were a farmer and why?
Response: Sunflowers -- because the harvest can be very good while producing moderate pollution.

Question 13: Which one of these sustainable practices would you recommend to a farmer who is wanting to maximize the use of his farmland while minimizing any negative impacts on the environment?
Response: D. Both A and B

Question 14: Predict the number of million bales of cotton that will be harvested during the fall of 2023.
Response: 4-6 million (based on drier conditions impacting yields).

Question 15: Calculate the percentage of farms that GAINED money in 2017.
Response: 26%

Please verify these answers as they are based on general knowledge about soil types and agricultural practices.