B.8 Soil

Question 1

What is soil?

Answer 1

Different types of particles with spaces between them.

Question 2

What are organic particles or humus?

Answer 2

Partially decomposed plants and animals. Provides nutrients for plants.

Question 3

What are mineral particles?

Answer 3

Broken down rocks. Create spaces in the soil for water to run through.

Question 4

What features in soil are important to help plants thrive?

Answer 4

-Holds water
-Drains well
-Contains nutrients
-Holds roots in place

Question 5

What are the characteristics of sandy soil?

Answer 5

Mostly larger mineral particles and very little humus.

Question 6

What are the characteristics of clay soil?

Answer 6

mostly smaller mineral particles, and very little humus.

Question 7

What are the characteristics of loam soil?

Answer 7

Balance of mineral particles and organic particles.

Question 8

What are the good and bad features of sandy soil?

Answer 8

Good:
-Good drainage
-Acoids root rot
Bad:
-Less nutrients
-Doesn’t hold water

Question 9

What are the good and bad features of clay soil?

Answer 9

Good:
-Supports the rotts
-Holds water well
Bad:
-Less drainage
-less nutrients

Question 10

What are the good and bad features of loam soil?

Answer 10

Good:
-Nutrients from the humus
-Sand allows drainage to prevent root rot
-Clay holds water
Bad:
-Some plants have adapted to sandy or clay soil