2008 AREA  IV  ENVIROTHON  SOILS  TEST  STUDY  GUIDE 

The study references listed are not an exhaustive list of sources from which test questions are drawn. Students are expected to research other sources for more information according to the learning objectives for this topic.

Important change to this year's soil study guide:The Area IV Envirothon Committee will not be supplying each school with a soil survey.  Soil and Water Districts no longer pass out soil survey books. Districts are now using more up to date digital formats and the web soil survey to get information on soils.  Because this has become the normal form of research the Area IV has decided to adopt this forma.  The Envirothon Committee will be making copies of this soil survey book to have on hand at the testing sites.  You can get to Warren County Soil Survey by going to http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Portals/12/soils/pdf/survey_pdfs/warren.pdf .

The following list of topics is a summary of key terms, soil interpretive tables, narrative sections and soil map unit and series descriptions from the Soil Survey of Warren County which participants in the 2008 Envirothon Competition should concentrate their study time to prepare for the soils questions on the test. The 1973 version of the Soil Survey of Warren County is used as a reference for this competition.
Soils data covered in the tables listed should be reviewed by each participant prior to the event. For example, Estimated Yields in Table 1 (pages 12 to 13) should be familiar to the participant. This review should include the kind of information available in the various columns of the tables. Know where to find it! The first step, look up the appropriate table needed. Eight “Tables" of soils data are included in the manuscript between pages 12 and 68. Participants are advised to look at the tables listed below and be familiar with the type of data in them. The tables listed below will be most useful for this event: Tables numbered: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7. Learn what these interpretations may be used for, and how to refer to them efficiently.

Narrative Sections
Narrative sections of the "Soil Survey": The Table of "Contents" lists all the narrative sections in the report. For example, the section entitled, "Formation of Soils" begins on page 108. The narrative sections and the page numbers in the report on which they begin which will be most useful on this event are listed below:

• General soil map units…… p. 2 - 4
• Use and management of soils…p. 4
• Crops and pasture p. 4-5
• Woodland p. 14
• Wildlife habitat p. 15-22
• Engineering uses of the soils p. 23
• Engineering properties pp. 22-25
• Descriptions of soils p. 66
• Factors of soil formation p. 108

Terminology 

The following terminology will be useful on this event: found in the "Glossary":

A few of these terms will appear in the "narrative sections" listed above. If so, pay extra attention to this information.

Map unit descriptions: are located under the Series Descriptions
Map unit descriptions: When studying these descriptions you will notice the following general contents:

• Paragraph # 1 -- land form, typical size of map units, etc
• Paragraph #2 -- included soils
• Paragraph #3 -- a discussion of key soil properties important to land use
• Paragraph #3 -- potential for various land uses

Good luck on your preparations for the 2008 Area IV Envirothon!
Steve Hamilton, Conservation Soil Scientist, ODNR/DSWC, Wilmington, Ohio