SSC 321: Pedolody Past Questions

UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA

FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE

DEPARTMENT OF SOIL SCIENCE

FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATION, 2012/2013 SECTION

SSC 321 (Pedolody)

Answer a total of five Questions in all

Time Allowed: 2 hrs

Section A: Answer any two questions

1. (a) Explain how the process of the formation of three rock types influences their characteristics

(b) List and explain the major factors that influence the rate of rock weathering in a name environment

(C) list five-rock characteristic that varies easily transferred to the soil formed from parent materials originating from them

1. (a) What is Isomorphous substitution?

(b) Explain briefly why 2 ratios 1 clay has more cation exchange capacity than I ratio 1 clay

(c) What are Self-mulching soils?

1. . Distinguish the following (i) active and passive factors and soil formation (ii) In-situ and transported parent materials (iii) zonal and azonal soil (iV) alluvium and colluvium

(b) list the soil properties that are by topography

SECTION B Answer all three question

1. List the 11 odor of the USDA soil taxonomy and used only a phrase to express the major differentiating characteristic

(b) Correlates each of the 11 soil orders to at least one soil unit of the FAO/ UNESCO soil map of the world

1. The importance of Pedology to agriculture cannot be over-emphasized discuss using five examples.
2. With a proper illustration explain the categories of internal processes often influenced by external factors of soil formation

UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA

FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE

DEPARTMENT OF SOIL SCIENCE

FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATION, 2010/2011 SESSION

Course: SSC 321 (Pedolody)

Time 2hrs                                

Instruction: Answer any 5 questions in all, at least 2 from the section

SECTION A (at least 2 questions)

1. Compare and castrate the three types of rock under the following a. mode of formation b. characteristic c. the parent materials and subsequently the soil they gave rise to
2. What  are clay minerals give examples

(b) State the role of clay minerals in both the physical and chemical fertility of the soil.

(c) Explain the concept of self-mulching soil

3. List the advantages of soil classification

(b) Why is USDA soil taxonomy a systematic classification system, and why the FOA UNESCO map legend is not?

( C) Give a brief description of all the soil orders of soil taxonomy that are likely to be found in Nigeria and list those not likely to be found in Nigeria

SECTION B (at least 2 questions)

1. Man is an agent of soil formation order soil degradation. Fully explain citing examples.
2. What is the implication of illuviation/ alluviation phenomena in plant growth

(b) Write short note on (i) lessivage (ii) lithological discontinuity (iii) lacustrine (iv) soil color

3. Soil is a three-dimensional entity and an open system. Discuss