NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

UNIVERSITY VILLAGE, PLOT 91, CASDASTRAL ZONE, NNAMDI AZIKIWE EXPRESS WAY, JABI, ABUJA.
FACULTY OF SCIENCES
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 EXAMINATION

COURSE CODE: BIO 408 (2 CREDIT UNITS) TIME ALLOWED: 2HOURS

COURSE TITLE: SOIL ECOLOGY

INSTRUCTION: QUESTION ONE IS COMPULSORY AND ANY OTHER THREE QUESTIONS.      

1a        What is Bio-Integration? (6 marks)

1b        Outline and explain the factors determining soil formation (15 marks)

1c        Outline the four soil formation processes (4 marks)

2a        List any three primary pools or reservoirs of nutrients in a soil (3 marks)

2b        What is a soil moisture regime? (3marks)

2c        Outline and define the five main classes of soil based on soil moisture regime (9 marks)

3a        Enumerate the six basic types of reactions governing Chemical weathering (6 marks)

3b        List and explain any three major causes of physical weathering (9 marks)

4a        What is Biogeochemical Weathering (3marks)

4b        Briefly, describe the four principal shapes of soil (12 marks)

5a        Identify and describe any four factors affecting the growth of soil organisms (12 marks)

5b        Outline any three merits of Soil Organisms (3 marks)