PEI Site Assessor Pre-course Quiz

Which of the following soil textures are NOT applicable to the Canadian System of Soil Classification or USDA Classification system?

For a flat lot, which of the following soil profiles would generally be most favourable for a septic system?

How do you know when you can stop running a constant head well (CHW) permeability test?

You conduct a CHW permeability test and let the test run for 35 minutes. The last three "rate of fall", (R) values were 0.60 cm/min, 0.40 cm/min and 0.20 cm/min. What "R" value should you use to determine the "field saturated hydraulic conductivity" - Kfs?

Which of the following would NOT cause significant errors in the results of a CHW permeability test?

You are conducting a "texture-by-feel" test on a soil sample. The moist soil remains in a ball when squeezed, is slightly sticky, and forms a short, thick "ribbon" less than 25mm (1 inch) long. The soil feels slightly smooth and gritty, grinding is barely audible. What is the probable texture of this soil?

Which of the following terms is used to describe the "grade" of soil structure?

Which of the following soil textures has the highest sand content?

To minimize smearing of the side walls when preparing a well hole for a constant head well (CHW) permeability test, how many turns should you make with your auger between emptying it?

Which of the following is NOT one of the 12 main soil textural classes according to the Canadian System of Soil Classification and USDA system?

You are conducting a "single ponded height" CHW permeability test in a soil layer which you have identified as having a texture of "sandy loam", and a "weak, blocky structure". Which soil-structure-texture (capillary category) parameter, ⍺*, should you select?

What is the proportion of sand, silt and clay, for the soil sample shown in the textural triangle below?

What is the proper way to conduct a "ribbon test” on a moist soil sample?

You dig a test pit in July near the top of a hill and encounter a leached, whitish sandy horizon just below the topsoil as shown in the photo. The soil below this layer has a texture of sandy loam and was dry to moist. The soil mapping shows this area was mapped as belonging to the Alberry (Al) soil map unit. What does the presence of the whitish layer likely indicate?

You are logging a test pit and note the subsurface profile information as shown in the photo. You conduct two CHW permeability tests with results as indicated on the photo. No groundwater seepage was observed. Which soil/lot "category" would apply under the PEI Planning Act?

You are logging a test pit and note the subsurface profile information shown in the photo. You conduct three CHW permeability tests with results as indicated on the photo. No groundwater seepage or bedrock was observed. Which soil/lot "category" would apply under the PEI Planning Act?

You excavate the test pit shown in the photo and dig the hole to a depth of 125cm to start. Water starts accumulating in the bottom. You notice that seepage is starting to emerge from the soil at a depth of around 110cm, causing the side wall of the test pit to crack and cave in. However, after about 45 minutes, water accumulating in the bottom of the hole is at the level of 123cm below ground surface. There is 40cm of permeable soil. Which soil/lot "category" would apply under the PEI Planning Act?

You encounter continuous layers of sandstone rock in a test pit starting at a depth of 80cm below ground surface. The soil above that level is compact, sandy loam that tests as being "permeable". The excavator is able to dig through the layered sandstone quite easily and when it is dumped from the bucket onto the ground, it looks like shown in the photo. At a depth of 140cm, the sandstone becomes very hard and the machine cannot dig any further. Which soil/lot "category" would apply under the PEI Planning Act?

You consult online soil mapping, and the soil map type for the property you are about to assess is shown as Ma (Malpeque) across the entire lot. The "PEI Soil Survey" says Malpeque soils are "imperfectly drained". You conduct an assessment in April. It rained the week before. The upper 65cm of sandy loam soil is permeable, however you encounter wet soil and groundwater seepage at a depth of 90cm below ground surface. At the property owner's request, you go back in August and dig two new test pits 10m (33 feet) away from the first test pit. The soil in the new test pits is moist with no groundwater seepage until you reach a depth of 130cm. The upper 70cm of sandy loam soil is permeable. What depth to groundwater and which soil/lot "category" would apply to this site?

What is the most common soil/lot category type that you are likely to encounter when doing site assessments across PEI?