CCA Soil and Water Conservation 3

Question 1

Which of the following best describes 'rill erosion'?

Accepted Answer

Small concentrated flow channels that can be removed by tillage

Answer

Rill erosion forms small, concentrated channels that are shallow enough to be obliterated by normal tillage operations, unlike gullies.

Question 2

A constructed pond built across a drainage way to intercept runoff and allow sediment to settle is called a:

Accepted Answer

Sediment basin

Answer

A sediment basin is specifically designed to trap sediment from runoff before water leaves the field or construction site.

Question 3

The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) improved upon USLE primarily by:

Accepted Answer

Accounting for temporal variability in cover and soil conditions

Answer

RUSLE accounts for seasonal changes in cover, soil erodibility, and other factors on a sub-annual basis, making it more accurate than USLE.

Question 4

Which cover crop would be MOST effective at reducing wind erosion over winter in the Great Plains?

Accepted Answer

Winter rye

Answer

Winter rye is cold-hardy and establishes quickly, providing ground cover and surface roughness that significantly reduces wind erosion over winter.

Question 5

Infiltration rate in a compacted soil layer can BEST be improved by:

Accepted Answer

Deep tillage (subsoiling) through the compacted layer

Answer

Subsoiling fractures the compacted layer, restoring macropore channels and allowing water to infiltrate more rapidly.

(CCA) Certified Crop Advisor Practice Test