01/20/15 Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

Soil that is blown or washed away from its parent rock

A

transported soil

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

the layer of rock beneath the soil

A

bedrock

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

a loose mixture of small mineral fragments, organic material, water, and air that can support the growth of vegetation

A

soil

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

the rock formation that is the source of mineral fragments in the soil

A

parent rock

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

soil that remains above its parent rock

A

residual soil.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

soil quality that is based on the proportions of soil particles

A

soil texture

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

soil’s ability to hold nutrients and to supply nutrients to a plant

A

soil fertility

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

ability of water to move through the soil

A

infiltration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

arrangement of soil particles

A

soil structure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

the organic material formed in soil from the decayed remains of plants and animals is called

A

humas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

because of the way soil forms, soil often ends up in a series of horizontal layers called

A

horizons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

the top layer of soil, often called ___________, usually contains more humus than the layers below it.

A

topsoil

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

the removal of substances that can be dissolved from rock and soil due to water passing through is called ___________.

A

leaching

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what is the PH scale used to measure?

A

how basic soil is and how acidic it is.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

climate with low temperatures and slow soil formation, resulting in thin soil that cannot support many plants

A

arctic areas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

climate with heavy rain that leaches precious nutrients from the topsoil

A

tropical rain forest

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

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

A

temperature forest and grassland

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

climate with less than 25 cm of rain per year and a low ability to support plant and animal life

A

desert

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

lush plant growth takes large amounts of nutrients from the soil in which climate?

A

tropical rain-forests

20
Q

when dead plants decay quickly in warm soil, they produce rich ________

A

humus

21
Q

tropical soils are generally poor and thin due to _________

A

heavy rain

22
Q

toxic levels of salt are sometimes found in the soil in which climate?

A

desert

23
Q

what happens to soil because of frequent changes in temperature in temperate climates?

A

frost action

24
Q

the most productive soil in the world can be found in which climate?

A

temprate

25
Q

what three factors determine the rate at which rock weathers?

A

climate,
elevation,
make up of the rock

26
Q

the process by which softer, less weather- resistant rocks wear away and leave harder, more weather-resistant rocks behind is called

A

differential weathering

27
Q

scientists believe Devil’s Tower once was apart of a

A

volcano

28
Q

the land form called Devil’s Tower is made up of hard, weather resistant rocks that remained after the softer rocks.

A

wore away

29
Q

weathering takes place?

A

On the outer surface of rocks

30
Q

because of a large rock’s large volume, it will __________________.

A

weather relatively slowly

31
Q

small rocks weather more quickly than large rocks because they have more surface area as compared to their ____________

A

volume

32
Q

the average weather condition in an area over a long period of time is called ________

A

climate

33
Q

chemical weathering such as oxidation occurs more quickly in a climate that is _________ and __________

A

warm & humid

34
Q

weathering occurs faster at high elevation because of ___________

A

an increase in wind, ice, and rain

35
Q

how does gravity contribute to the weathering of steep mountain slopes?

A

the rain water carried the sediment down the slopes.

36
Q

maintaining the fertility of soil by preventing erosion and nutrient loss ins called

A

soil conservation

37
Q

soil provides nutrients and moisture to ________ plants, which grow directly in it.

A

plants

38
Q

even animals that ear plants benefit when _________ is rich in nutrients.

A

soil

39
Q

the region where a plant or animals lives is called its _____________

A

habitat

40
Q

soil’s ability to ______________allows plants to get moisture they need.

A

absorb water

41
Q

soil can be damaged and lose its ____________ by overuse and overgrazing

A

nutrients

42
Q

with plants to help hold and cycle water, an infertile are can become like a desert , a process called __________________

A

desterficatum

43
Q

the process by which wind, water, or gravity transport soil and sediment from one location to another is called ______________

A

erosion

44
Q

name three methods by which farmers can help prevent erosion

A

contour plowing
terracing
no fill farming

45
Q

crops that are planted between harvests to replace certain nutrients and prevent erosion are called ___________ _________.

A

cover crops

46
Q

the practice of planting different crops each year to clow down nutrient depletion is called ____________

A

crop rotation