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