5.1, Soil

Question 1

What is soil made from?

Answer 1

Mineral Particles, Organic remains that have come from plants and animals, water within spaces between soil grains and air also within the soil grains

Question 2

What does soil storage?

Answer 2

organic matters, organisms, nutrients, and minerals. air and water

Question 3

Inputs

Answer 3

leaf litter, parent material, precipitation and energy

Question 4

Outputs

Answer 4

Uptake by plants and soil erosion

Question 5

Rock Particles

Answer 5

provides the skeleton of the soil,

Question 6

Humus

Answer 6

gives the soil a dark colour, absorbs and holds on to a large amount of water

Question 7

Air

Answer 7

provides oxygen for the respiration of soil organisms and plant roots

Question 8

Soil Organisms

Answer 8

large particles of dead organic matter are broken down by soil invertebrates like worms

Question 9

O Horizon

Answer 9

an uppermost layer of newly added organic material this comes from organisms that die and end up on top of the soil

Question 10

A Horizon

Answer 10

The upper layer, in many soils there is where the humus builds up. Humus forms from partially decomposed organic matter and is often mixed with fine mineral particles. often decomposition is incomplete and a layer of dark brown or black organic material is formed. the humus later.

Question 11

B Horizon

Answer 11

soluble and organic matter tends to be deposited from the layer above.

Question 12

C Horizon

Answer 12

This layer is mainly weathered rock from which the soil forms.

Question 13

R Horizon

Answer 13

parent material like bedrock or other medium.

Question 14

Clay

Answer 14

<0.002mm

Question 15

Silt

Answer 15

0.002-0.05mm

Question 16

Sand

Answer 16

0.05-2mm

Question 17

Subsistence

Answer 17

provision of food by farmers for their own families or local community

Question 18

Cash cropping

Answer 18

growing crops for the market

Question 19

Commercial

Answer 19

takes place on large, profit-making scale, maximizing yields per hectare

Question 20

Extensive or Intensive

Answer 20

Extensive farming uses more land with a lower density of stocking or planting and lower inputs and corresponding outputs. intensive farming uses land more intensively with high levels of input and output

Question 21

Porosity

Answer 21

Space between particles

Question 22

Permeability

Answer 22

The ease at which gases and liquids can pass through the soil

Question 23

Translocation

Answer 23

Water carries particles UP or DOWN

Question 24

Salinization

Answer 24

As water evaporates, it leaves the minerals behind (UPWARD movement)

Question 25

Leaching

Answer 25

Wet climates water flows down into soil dissolving minerals and transporting them DOWNWARDS

Question 26

Clay soils-porosity and permeability

Answer 26

Sandy soils- porosity and permeability

Question 27

Nutrients are lost when…..

Answer 27

crops are harvested (replace nutrients with fertilizers)

Question 28

A sustainable method of replacing nutrients is by….

Answer 28

crop rotation, planting legumes and using organic fertilizers