CONFIDENTIAL, ASIJUN 2016/EVT533 UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA FINAL EXAMINATION COURSE : SOIL SCIENCE AND ANALYSIS COURSE CODE EVT533 EXAMINATION : JUNE 2016 TIME : 2HOURS INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES 1 This question paper consists of four (4) questions. 2 ‘Answer ALL questions in the Answer Booklet. Start each answer on a new page. 3 Do not bring any material into the examination room unless permission is given by the invigilator. 4 Please check to make sure that this examination pack consists of i) the Question Paper ii) an Answer Booklet - provided by the Faculty 5 ‘Answer ALL questions in English. DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO This examination paper consists of 3 printed pages (© Hak Cipta Universiti Teknologi MARA CONFIDENTIALCONFIDENTIAL 2 ASIJUN 2016/EVT533 QUESTION 1 a) Rocks consist of 3 major types; igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. Based on an example, describe the mechanisms for the formation of metamorphic rocks. (5 marks) b) By using the data in the table below, calculate: Total sample air- | Total sample oven- | Total soil volume Particle density dried weight (q) dried weight (g) _ (em?) (g om) 325 300 [190 2.63 i) Bulk density ii) Porosity, ili) Gravimetric water content. (11 marks) ¢) Outline four significance of CEC for good soil quality. (4 marks) QUESTION 2 a) Most Malaysian soils are known to be acidic in nature. Relate four acidification processes that lead to the formation of the acidic soil. (8 marks) b) Maintain high soil organic matter is a practice to improve soil organism activities, Demonstrate two other practices that may improve activities of soil organisms. (2 marks) c) Millions of microbes live in each gram of soils considered fertile. Point out three functions of the microbes for the soil fertility (6 marks) d) Humus is a stable soil organic material (SOM) that is important for soil fertility. Describe four functions of humus in sustaining soil fertility. (4 marks) QUESTION 3 a) Sheet erosion may lead to serious soil erosions that are rill and gully. The sheet type of erosion is the most widespread and considered the most hazardous. Justify this ‘statement. (5 marks) (© Hak Cipta Universiti Teknologi MARA CONFIDENTIALCONFIDENTIAL 3 ASIJUN 2016/EVT533 °) d) Soil particle detachment from soil structure is the preliminary steps in soil erosion. Base on this fact, explain the functions of cover crops in rubber plantations to minimize the soil erosion, (4 marks) State two soil structural measures to control soil erosion by water. (2 marks) Soil organic chemical contaminants such as hydrocarbons moves in one or more of the seven directions in soil, for example they may vaporize into the atmosphere without chemical change. Discuss four other processes that affect the dissipation of the organic contaminants in the soil environment. (8 marks) QUESTION 4 a) °) a) Soil in Cameron Highland generally falls into soi-order of histosol that contain relatively high concentration of organic materials, Relate the low temperature and the high rainfall in the area to the formation of soil with high organic matter concentrations. (6 marks) ‘Thermal treatment is one of the approaches to deal with hazardous solid waste at the Bukit Nenas hazardous waste treatment centre. Summarize three other treatments other than thermal for the hazardous waste treatment processes. (6 marks) Biomass generation from palm oil agro based industries in Malaysia is about 27 million tons per year in 2003. Identify three methods that can be applied to recycle and utilize the agro-waste. (6 marks) Bioremediations are techniques of organic chemical decontamination of contaminated soil that can be performed either by bio-venting, bio-sparging or bio-augmentation. Differentiate between bioventing and bio-augmentation techniques for the bioremediation of the contaminated soil (4 marks) END OF QUESTION PAPER © Hak Cipta Universiti Teknologi MARA CONFIDENTIAL