Biosphere

Question 1

What is Parent Material as a factor that influences soil formation?

Answer 1

• This is the material from which the soil has developed and can vary from solid rock to deposits like aluminium and bolder clay

Question 2

What ways can the Parent Material Influence the soil?

Answer 2

• Colour, Texture, Structure, Mineral Composition, Permeable/Drainage

Question 3

What is Time as a factor that influences soul formation

Answer 3

• Young sails retain many of the characteristics of the parent material.
• Overtime they acquire other features resulting from the addition of organic matter and activity of organisms

Question 4

What is Organisms as a factor that influences soil formation (1)

Answer 4

• Microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi assist in the decomposition of plant litter.
• This litter is mixed into the soil by soil organisms such as worms or beetles.

Question 5

What is Organisms as a factor that influences soil formation (2)

Answer 5

• Vegetation supplies the soil with organic matter and the type of vegetation will have an effect on the soil type.
• Soil horizons are less distinct when there is lots of organism activity.

Question 6

What is Relief as a factor that influences soil formation?

Answer 6

• The gradient affects the run off, percolation and mass movement.

Question 7

What is Soil Climate as a factor that influences soil formation? (1)

Answer 7

• Soil climate has two major components; moisture (precipitation) and temperature; which influences precipitation.

Question 8

What is Soil Climate as a factor that influences soil formation? (2)

Answer 8

• When the precipitation exceeds evaporation leaching of the soil will occur.
• When the evaporation exceeds precipitation, capillary action will occur.

Question 9

How is Climate a factor which influences Podzol Soils?

Answer 9

• Due to high rainfall and snow melt,’podzols have high rates of leaching which creates an ash grey layer.
• Due to leaching, an iron pan may form which can impede drainage.

Question 10

What is Organisms a factor which influence Podzol Soils?

Answer 10

• Due to cold temperatures, organisms cannot survive.
• Due to no organisms, podzols have clearly defined layers, and there is no mixing.

Question 11

What is Parent Material a factor which influences Podzol Soils?

Answer 11

• The Parent Material is acidic such as granites and schists which also impedes drainage as these are impermeable rocks.

Question 12

What is Vegetation a factor which influences Podzol Soils?

Answer 12

• Coniferous trees due to alpine conditions.
• Needles fall and slowly decompose due to cold temperatures creating a thick black layer called MOR. This is acidic and contributes to the soil being infertile.
• Podzols have shallow root systems that limit the recycling of nutrients.

Question 13

How is Climate a factor which influences Brown Earth Soils?

Answer 13

• Here, precipitation exceeds evaporation in winter, meaning leaching takes place.
• In summer, evaporation exceeds precipitation, meaning capillary action occurs.

Question 14

How is Parent Material a factor which influences Brown Earth Soils?

Answer 14

• Parent Material is sandstone and limestone which provides good drainage.

Question 15

How are Organisms a factor which influences Brown Earth Soils?

Answer 15

• Due to the warm temperatures, organisms can survive.
• Organisms, therefore, mix the soil, meaning there are no clearly defined layers.

Question 16

How is Vegetation a factor which influences Brown Earth Soils?

Answer 16

• Deciduous trees are found here as the temperatures are higher.
• Due to the high temperatures, the leaf litter decomposes quickly to create a very fertile layer known as mull.
• The deep root system means nutrients are recycled well, making the soil very fertile.

Question 17

How is Vegetation a factor which influences Gley Soils?

Answer 17

• Due to the cold temperatures, the main vegetation is lichens and moss which are adaptive species.
• Due to cold temperatures we only get partial decomposition that leads to a layer of hummus.

Question 18

How is Parent Material a factor which influences Gley Soils?

Answer 18

• Parent Material is coastal sand and glacial till.

Question 19

How is Climate a factor which influences Gley Soils?

Answer 19

• Precipitation exceeds evaporation and due to a permafrost layer gley soil becomes waterlogged and is blue in colour.

Question 20

What is Organisms a factor which influences Gley Soils?

Answer 20

• No organisms are present due to the cold temperatures and anarchic conditions.
• This means Gley Soils have clearly defined layers.