01/20/15 Flashcards
Soil that is blown or washed away from its parent rock
transported soil
the layer of rock beneath the soil
bedrock
a loose mixture of small mineral fragments, organic material, water, and air that can support the growth of vegetation
soil
the rock formation that is the source of mineral fragments in the soil
parent rock
soil that remains above its parent rock
residual soil.
soil quality that is based on the proportions of soil particles
soil texture
soil’s ability to hold nutrients and to supply nutrients to a plant
soil fertility
ability of water to move through the soil
infiltration
arrangement of soil particles
soil structure
the organic material formed in soil from the decayed remains of plants and animals is called
humas
because of the way soil forms, soil often ends up in a series of horizontal layers called
horizons
the top layer of soil, often called ___________, usually contains more humus than the layers below it.
topsoil
the removal of substances that can be dissolved from rock and soil due to water passing through is called ___________.
leaching
what is the PH scale used to measure?
how basic soil is and how acidic it is.
climate with low temperatures and slow soil formation, resulting in thin soil that cannot support many plants
arctic areas
climate with heavy rain that leaches precious nutrients from the topsoil
tropical rain forest
climate with enough rain to cause a high level of chemical weathering, but not so much that the nutrients are leached out of the soil
temperature forest and grassland
climate with less than 25 cm of rain per year and a low ability to support plant and animal life
desert
lush plant growth takes large amounts of nutrients from the soil in which climate?
tropical rain-forests
when dead plants decay quickly in warm soil, they produce rich ________
humus
tropical soils are generally poor and thin due to _________
heavy rain
toxic levels of salt are sometimes found in the soil in which climate?
desert
what happens to soil because of frequent changes in temperature in temperate climates?
frost action
the most productive soil in the world can be found in which climate?
temprate
what three factors determine the rate at which rock weathers?
climate,
elevation,
make up of the rock
the process by which softer, less weather- resistant rocks wear away and leave harder, more weather-resistant rocks behind is called
differential weathering
scientists believe Devil’s Tower once was apart of a
volcano
the land form called Devil’s Tower is made up of hard, weather resistant rocks that remained after the softer rocks.
wore away
weathering takes place?
On the outer surface of rocks
because of a large rock’s large volume, it will __________________.
weather relatively slowly
small rocks weather more quickly than large rocks because they have more surface area as compared to their ____________
volume
the average weather condition in an area over a long period of time is called ________
climate
chemical weathering such as oxidation occurs more quickly in a climate that is _________ and __________
warm & humid
weathering occurs faster at high elevation because of ___________
an increase in wind, ice, and rain
how does gravity contribute to the weathering of steep mountain slopes?
the rain water carried the sediment down the slopes.
maintaining the fertility of soil by preventing erosion and nutrient loss ins called
soil conservation
soil provides nutrients and moisture to ________ plants, which grow directly in it.
plants
even animals that ear plants benefit when _________ is rich in nutrients.
soil
the region where a plant or animals lives is called its _____________
habitat
soil’s ability to ______________allows plants to get moisture they need.
absorb water
soil can be damaged and lose its ____________ by overuse and overgrazing
nutrients
with plants to help hold and cycle water, an infertile are can become like a desert , a process called __________________
desterficatum
the process by which wind, water, or gravity transport soil and sediment from one location to another is called ______________
erosion
name three methods by which farmers can help prevent erosion
contour plowing
terracing
no fill farming
crops that are planted between harvests to replace certain nutrients and prevent erosion are called ___________ _________.
cover crops
the practice of planting different crops each year to clow down nutrient depletion is called ____________
crop rotation
