Chapter 5: SOILS Flashcards
Define PWP(Permanent Wilting Point).
As defined, it is the point at which there is no more water available to the plant. It varies from plant to plant.
What are some ways in which man is affecting the available soil?
Through these ways is man affecting the available soil: 1) Increases in human population
2) Quality of human diet
3) Quality and management of soil to produce foods
What is soil?
It is the soft material that covers the earths surface and provides a place from the growth of plant roots.
define infiltration
it is the process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil.
DOUBLE QUESTION: 1) What are the effects of particle size?
2) Define internal surface area.
1) Particle size affect 2 important soil features: -internal surface area
- # and size of pore size
2) Internal surface area, as defined, is the total surface area of all the particles in the soil. The finer the soil texture, the greater surface area.
What are the benefits of adequate levels of organic matter in soil?
These are the benefits:
- They improve physical condition and structure
- They increase water infiltration.
- They decrease erosion losses.
- They supply plant nutrients.
Define CEC(Cation Exchange Capacity).
It is defined as the total number of exchangeable cations a soil can hold. The ___ depends on amounts and kinds of clay and organic matter present. ___ increases as organic matter increases.
Define field-capacity water.
As defined, it is the range of water available to plants. It varies from plants to plants.
What are soil profiles? What are they also known as?
As defined, they are the multiple layers of soil. They are also known as soil horizons.
What things are affected by temperature?
things that become affected by temperature are:
- seed germination
- proper root growth(stunted if temp. isn’t proper for plant)
Where have soils been managed well? Where have they’ve been poorly managed?
They’ve been managed well in Egypt along the Nile, and South East Asia. They’ve been poorly managed in expanding cities, the Amazon rainforest, and the American Dust Bowl.
What do plants depend on soil for?
Plants depend on soil for:
- anchorage
- water
- nutrients
- oxygen
Is soil a renewable source?
It takes a long process to make, so no. In the long run, it technically is.
What are some soil pore facts?
- Pore size and # depends on particle size.
- More pores are found between small particles than between larger ones.
- Pores are larger between larger particles.
Define soil physical properties.
Soil physical properties are soil characteristics you can see or feel. They greatly affect how soils are used to grow plants.
