Chapter 5 - The Soil Flashcards
What is soil?
Soils the surface of the earths crust where plants have their roots and animals make their homes.
Soil is made up of how many layers? Mention them.
3 layers, topsoil, subsoil and solid rock.
What’s found in topsoil?
Top soil is a dark layer of soil at the top where plants and animals live. It is formed by the breaking of rocks and activities of animals. It contains the decaying remains of dead organisms aka humus. It’s surface is covered with leaf litter.
What is subsoil?
This is lighter than top soil. It is made of gravel, stones and clay.it contains the deeper roots of large plants, otherwise very few organisms live there.
Solid rock is what?
Solid rock is the non-porous rock that does not let water go through, water collects above it and this is called the water table.
Components of a fertile soil.
Soil air, soil water, lime, humus, mineral salts and rock particles.
