Biosphere - Soils Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

What is soil made of? + percentages

A

Minerals - 45%
Air and water - 50%
Organic matter - 5%

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

Leaching

A

Removal of soluble minerals, salts and humus,which are washed downwards through the soil and may accumulate in the subsoil.

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

Humification

A

Breakdown or decomposition of plant remains leading to the formation of different types of humus.

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

Illuviation

A

Introduction of material to a soil layer.

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

Eluviation

A

Removal of materials from a soil layer.

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

Soil horizon

A

A layer of soil parallel to the soil crust whose characteristics differ from the horizons above and below.

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

Soil profile

A

A vertical cross section of a soil, divided into a number of distinct layers, referred to as horizons.

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

Regolith

A

Fragments of rock

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

Capillary action

A

Process whereby water and minerals in a solution can be drawn upwards when the rate of evapotranspiration is greater than precipitation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Parent material

A

Underlying geological material (bedrock) in which soil horizons for,.

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

anerobic conditions occur in…

A

gley soil

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Intrazonal soils

A

Soils that do not reflect climactic or vegetation standard influence.

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

Azonal soil

A

Immature soils that lack the development of a B horizon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the 6 factors affecting soil formation

A
  1. Parent material
  2. Biotic factors
  3. Climate
  4. Man
  5. Relief
  6. Time
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is in the O horizon

A

Leaf litter and humus layer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is in the A horizon

A

Mix of organic and parent material

17
Q

What is in the B horizon

A

Mix of mostly parent material with washed in organic matter

18
Q

Podzolisation

A

Leaching of material of iron, aluminium and humus from the surface layers to the lower layers. Causes A horizon to become grey colour and courser in texture. B horizon becomes darker and has a finer texture with an iron pan.

19
Q

Podzol

A

Surface - Coniferous vegetation
O horizon - Thin black humus
A horizon - Ash grey colour as minerals are eluviated into B horizon
B horizon - Dark brown - lighter brown
C horizon - Parent material
Distinct layers - not as much biotic activity bc cold + wet climate + acidic

20
Q

Gley

A

Surface - Grasses and shrubs
O horizon - Partial decomposition
A horizon - Black with acid humus
B horizon - Blue/ grey clayey mud. Waterlogged, slow decomposition. Angular rock fragments. Unstratified.
C horizon - Permafrost. Solid bedrock, generally shallow soil

21
Q

Brown earth

A

Surface - Deciduous vegetation (roots go straight down)
O horizon - Dark brown
A horizon - Light brown
Iron pan between
B horizon - Gradual leaching, iron and aluminium oxides deposited
C horizon - Parent material