B.S.F. or B.Sc.F. Bachelor of Science in Forestry Bachelor of Science in Forestry: Soil Science and Forest Health 4

Question 1

Which soil amendment is most commonly used to raise soil pH in acidic forest nursery seedbeds?

Accepted Answer

Agricultural limestone (calcium carbonate)

Answer

Agricultural limestone (CaCO3) neutralizes soil acidity by reacting with hydrogen ions, raising pH, and is the standard amendment for correcting excessively acidic nursery soils.

Question 2

Forest harvesting operations can cause soil compaction, which most directly reduces tree growth by:

Accepted Answer

Decreasing macropore space, limiting root penetration and gas exchange

Answer

Compaction destroys large pores needed for root growth, water infiltration, and oxygen diffusion, creating anaerobic conditions and mechanical resistance that inhibit root development.

Question 3

The concept of 'soil organic matter fractions' distinguishes between active, slow, and passive pools primarily based on:

Accepted Answer

Their rate of decomposition and mean residence time in soil

Answer

Soil organic matter is partitioned into pools by turnover rate: the active pool turns over in months, the slow pool in decades, and the passive (recalcitrant) pool persists for centuries.

Question 4

In the context of forest health, 'site index' is a measure of:

Accepted Answer

Potential forest productivity measured by dominant tree height at a reference age

Answer

Site index is the average height of dominant and codominant trees at a base age (commonly 25 or 50 years), serving as an integrative measure of soil and site productivity.

Question 5

Which of the following nematode feeding groups is considered most beneficial to forest soil health?

Accepted Answer

Bacterivorous nematodes that enhance nutrient cycling

Answer

Bacterivorous nematodes consume bacteria and release excess nitrogen as ammonium, mineralizing nutrients and accelerating decomposition and nutrient cycling in forest soils.

B.S.F. or B.Sc.F. Bachelor of Science in Forestry Practice Test

B.S.F. or B.Sc.F. Bachelor of Science in Forestry Practice Test

B.S.F. or B.Sc.F. Bachelor of Science in Forestry Bachelor of Science in Forestry: Soil Science and Forest Health 4