Chapter 16- Soil And Soil Formation Flashcards
What is soil?
The top layer of the earth’s surface.
What is soil made up of?
Mineral particles, air, water, living organisms and plant remains.
How is soil formed?
Through weathering and erosion when mineral particles break down and vegetation decays to form humus.
What are the impacts of people on soil?
They improve it by draining and fertilising the soil, but they also make it infertile by overcultivation and and overgrazing.
What is a soil profile?
A cross section of the soil consisting of plant litter, A horizon, B horizon and C horizon.
What are the four main soil types in Ireland?
Brown soil, peaty soil, glee soils, podzols.
What is leaching?
Occurs when rain washes minerals from A to B horizon, it becomes less fertile.
What is a hardpan?
An impermeable crust formed by minerals that causes water logging.
Name 4 things about brown soils.
Dark brown in colour. Origin is deciduous trees. Content is humus. Fertile quality. Used in farming, arable and grasslands. Located in lowlands and Midlands of Ireland.
Name 4 things about podzols.
Grey in colour. Origin is coniferous trees. Contain less humus. Features are leaching and hardpan. Less fertile quality. Used in forestry, sheep grazing. Located in uplands, mountains.
Name 4 things about tropical red soils.
Found in Equatorial areas.
Caused by chemical weathering.
Red colour comes from iron oxide mixing with soil.
Fertile.
Name 2 ways soil influences vegetation.
Provides nutrients for vegetation growth.
Deep soil=deciduous shallow soil =coniferous
Name 2 ways vegetation influences soil.
Plant litter provides humus, making fertile soil.
Vegetation provides cover for soil.
Deforestation and overgrazing destroys vegetation cover making soil less fertile.
