Chapter 6: Soils

Question 1

What is soil?

Answer 1

The layer of loose material on the earths surface

Question 2

What would happen if there was no soil and what does this make it?

Answer 2

Crops and plants would not grow, there would be no food for animals and then people
A very important natural resource

Question 3

Percentages of soil

Answer 3

Mineral matter (43%)
Air (25%)
Humus (25%)
Living Organisms (2%)
Water (25%)

Question 4

Explain mineral matter in soil

Answer 4

The biggest ingredient in soil, made up of small pieces of rocks (sand, silt,clay), broken down by weathering and erosion

Question 5

Explain air in relation to Soil

Answer 5

A are fills the spaces between the Soil particles. It contains oxygen and nitrogen which are essential for plants and organisms living in the soil.

Question 6

Explain water in relation to soil

Answer 6

Water contains dissolved minerals. Plants absorb these minerals through their roots, helping them to grow

Question 7

Living organisms in relation To soil

Answer 7

Earthworms, slugs, woodlice and insects and millions of micro organisms. they break down dead plants and help to create humus.

Question 8

Humus in relation to Soil

Answer 8

Dark, decaying organic matter, remains of deadcreatures plants,leaves and grass.provides nutrients (minerals etc.) to the soil

Question 9

Climate as a factor affecting the formation of sOil

Answer 9

Temperature and rainfall influence the rate at which the parent rock is broken down by weathering.hot climates experience chemical weathering, while the cold climates experience freeze thaw

Question 10

Parent material as a factor in the formation soil

Answer 10

Type of rock affects soil formation. granite is slow to break down by weathering, while sandstone breaks down easily and forms soil quickly.soils that develop from limestone or more for tomorrow then those that develop from granite and sandstone.

Question 11

Vegetation as a factor in the formation of soil

Answer 11

When vegetation dies, it is broken down and decays to add humus and nutrients to the soil. Deciduous vegetation provides more leaf fall than coniferous

Question 12

Living organisms in relation to the formation of soil

Answer 12

Micro organisms such as bacteria and fungi the help to break down the dead plant and animal life in the Soil.as animals such as earthworms dig through the soil, they break it up and makes it, allowing more water and air to enter the soil.

Question 13

Landscape in relation to the formation of soil

Answer 13

Uplands areas or cold and wet, so soils are often waterlogged, Lola and souls are generally deeper well-drained.they have more humorous as there is plenty of plant and animal life

Question 14

Time in relation to the formation of soil

Answer 14

Time is one of the most important factors in relation to the formation of Soil. The longer the rock is exposed to the forces of weathering, The more it is broken down. It can take up to 400 years for 1 cm of Sowell to be made.

Question 15

Explain what a soil profile is

Answer 15

A B and C horizons together make a soil profile