Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

APES Unit 4 > 4.2 - Soil Formation and Erosion > Flashcards

4.2 - Soil Formation and Erosion Flashcards

1
Q

What is soil?

A
  • A mixture of geologic (rock) and organic (living) components
  • Sand, silt, and clay make up soil
  • Humus: main organic part of soil (broken down biomass like leaves, dead animals, waste, etc.)
  • Nutrients: ammonium, phosphates, nitrates
  • Water and air
  • living organisms
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is humus?

A

main organic part of soil (broken down biomass like leaves, dead animals, waste, etc.)

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

What are nutrients?

A

ammonium, phosphates, nitrates

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

What 3 rocks make up soil?

A
  1. silt
  2. clay
  3. sand
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How does soil impact roots?

A

anchors plants and provides water, shelter, and nutrients for growth

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

How does soil impact water?

A

filters rainwater and runoff by trapping pollutants in pore spaces and plant roots. Clean water enters groundwater and aquifers

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

How does soil impact nutrient recycling?

A

Home to decomposers that break down dead organic matter and return nutrients to the soil

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

How does soil impact habitat?

A

provides habitat for organisms like earthworms, fungi, bacteria, moles, slugs, etc

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

What are the 4 main things soil impacts/involve

A
  1. Plants
  2. Water
  3. Nutrient/Nutrient Recycling
  4. Habitats
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is weathering?

A

The breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces

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

What are the 3 types of weathering

A
  1. Physical (wind, rain, freezing/thawing of ice)
  2. Biological (roots of tree crack rocks)
  3. Chemical (acid rain, acids from moss/lichens)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What does weathering of rocks lead to

A

Soil formation
- broken into smaller and smaller pieces
- carried away and deposited by erosion

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

What is erosion?

A
  • Transport of weathered rock fragments by wind and rain
  • Carried to a new location and deposited (deposition)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Explain what happens to soil over time

A

Over time soil goes form being immature, to young, to mature soil.

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

What are the two types of soil formation?

A
  1. From Below
  2. From Above
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Explain soil formation from below

A
  • weathering of parent material (bedrock) produces smaller and smaller fragments that make up geological/inorganic part of soil
    - small parts make their way up the soil
    - Sand, silt, clay is created this way
    - minerals
17
Q

Explain soil formation from above

A
  • breakdown of organic matter adds humus to soil
  • erosion deposits soil particles from other areas, adding to soil
18
Q

Explain effects on soil formation

A
  • parental material: soil pH, nutrient content
  • topography: steep slope = too much erosion; level ground = deposition
  • Climate: warmer = faster breakdown of organic matter; more precipitation = more weathering, erosion, and deposition
  • organisms: soil organisms like bacteria, fungi, worms breakdown organic matter
19
Q

List the soil horizons in order with depth

A
  1. O - 0-.1m
  2. A - .1-.3m
  3. B - .3-1m
  4. C - 1-1.3m
20
Q

Describe the soil horizons

A
  1. O-horizon - layer of organic matter (plants root, dead leaves, animal waste, etc.) on top of soil
    - provides nutrients and limits H2O loss to evaporation
  2. A-horizon (topsoil) - layer of humus (decomposed organic matter) and minerals from parent material
    - has most biological activity (earthworms, soil microbes) breaking down organic matter to release nutrients
  3. B-horizon (subsoil) - lighter layer below topsoil mostly made of minerals with little to no organic matter
    - contains some nutrients
    - typically more clay less humus
  4. C-horizon - least weathers soil that is closest to parent material, sometimes called bedrock
    *** in some soils, an E horizon occurs beneath either the O or A horizon
21
Q

What is soil degradation

A

the loss of the ability of soil to support plant growth

22
Q

3 ways for soil degradition

A
  1. Loss of topsoil
  2. Compaction
  3. Nutrient depletion
23
Q

Explain loss of topsoil as a soil degradation

A
  • tilling (turning soil for agriculture) and loss of vegetation disturb topsoil and make it more easily eroded by wind and rain
    - loss of topsoil dries out soil, removes nutrients and soil organisms that recycle nutrients
24
Q

Explain compaction as soil degradation

A
  • compression of soil by machines (tractors, bulldozers, etc.), grazing livestock, and humans reduces the ability to hold moisture
    - dry soil erodes more easily
    - dry soil supports less plant growth, less root structure, leading to more erosion
25
Q

Explain nutrient depletion as soil degradation

A
  • repeatedly growing crops on the same soil removes key nutrients (N, P, Ka, Mg) over time
    - reduces ability to grow future crops
26
Q

What is deposition?

A

the laying down of sediment carried by wind, flowing water, the sea, or ice

APES Unit 4 (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions