factors of soil formation

Question 1

what are the 5 factors that cause soils to be different from one location to another

Answer 1

parent material, climate, topography, time, organisms

Question 2

what does parent material influence

Answer 2

soil texture

soil mineralogy

Question 3

where does soil formation begin

Answer 3

raw geologic (rocks, sediments) and organic materials (peat)

Question 4

how is parent material classified

Answer 4

residual (or sedentary)-developed in place

transported-material moved from one location and deposited

Question 5

what is an example of residual soils

Answer 5

organic soils developed in wetlands: or mechanical weathering of rocks

Question 6

what is transported soils

Answer 6

materials moved from one location and deposited to another by gravity, water, wind, glaciers

Question 7

what breaks down parent material

Answer 7

mechanical and biological weathering

Question 8

how was most parent material transported

Answer 8

glaciers

Question 9

what is glacial advanced

Answer 9

Glaciers ground-up rock into sand, silts, and clays, and transported and mixed the materials

Question 10

what is glacial retreat

Answer 10

glaciers left behind unsorted sediments as they melted

and reworked (sorted) by wind and water(from melting glaciers more recently)

Question 11

what is glacial till parent materials

Answer 11

it is raw material that glaciers left behind. it is a heterogeneous mixture of particle sizes (boulders, stones, sand, silt, and clay). it is the most common parent material in the Canadian prairies. results in kettle topography (hummocky)

Question 12

what is hummocky

Answer 12

is a non‐genetic, descriptive term applied to landscapes with irregular hills and depressions

Question 13

what happens to glacial lacustrine parent material

Answer 13

• silt and clay deposited in a glacial lake
• creates flat topography
• gives rise to the most productive soils

Question 14

what are glacial fluvial parent material

Answer 14

soil formed from fast-flowing water. and it would carry gravels and coarse sand

Question 15

what are the different names of recent (post glacial) parent material

Answer 15

aeolian parent material, alluvium, peat

Question 16

what is aeolian parent material

Answer 16

wind deposited material

forms sand dunes

Question 17

what is alluvium

Answer 17

• mixture of sand, silt, and clay deposited by rivers and streams
• it is young fertile soils which are great for agriculture

Question 18

what is peat

Answer 18

• it is organic parent material
• sphagnum and or sedges accumulate in peat deposits in a very wet boggy area
• peat areas can be very productive if they can be properly drained

Question 19

what effects does climate have on soil formation

Answer 19

soils produced from the same parent materials will differ under different climates
climate governs the rate and type of soil formation and it is also the main determinant of vegetation distribution

Question 20

what are the two components of soil climate

Answer 20

moisture (precipitation)

temperature (influences evaporation)

Question 21

what happens when precipitation exceeds evaporation

Answer 21

leaching of materials (clay, nutrients, SOM) from the soil profile will occur

Question 22

what do precipitation and temperature control the rate of

Answer 22

weathering

Question 23

what effects does a hot, humid climate have on soil

Answer 23

• fast soil development

- faster weathering and leaching of nutrients and organic matter

Question 24

what effects does a cool, dry climate have on soil

Answer 24

slower soil development
higher fertility (limited leaching of nutrients, clay, and organic matter

Question 25

what things play a role in organisms effect on soil

Answer 25

plants
roots
microorganisms

Question 26

how do plants influence soil development

Answer 26

the nature of the SOM is determined by the vegetation cover and resultant litter inputs

Question 27

how do roots influence soil development

Answer 27

they contribute dead roots to the soil, bind soil particles together, and affect soil structure

Question 28

how do microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi affect soil development

Answer 28

assist in the decomposition of plant litter. it is mixed into the soil by microfaunae (soil animals) such as worms and beetles

Question 29

what effect does burrowing animals have on the soil

Answer 29

make soil horizon is less distinct

Question 30

what is topography

Answer 30

the lay of the land or the arrangement of the natural and artificial physical features of an area

Question 31

what effects does topography have

Answer 31

• modifies the effect of climate
• slope affects water runoff
• aspects affect temperatures, creates microclimate conditions

Question 32

what happens to the temperature with elevation

Answer 32

as the elevation increases temperature decreases and precipitation increases

Question 33

what is an example of microclimate conditions

Answer 33

south-facing slopes are warmer in the northern hemisphere

Question 34

what are some characteristics of young soils

Answer 34

little profile development
Weakley weathered
little clay movement

Question 35

what are some characteristics of old soils

Answer 35

well developed horizons
secondary minerals
more time for pedogenic processes to occur

Question 36

do we consider Saskatchewan soils old or young

Answer 36

we consider sask soil as young

Question 37

what are the benefits of young soils compared to old soils

Answer 37

young soils carry lots of nutrients like P, K, and Ca

where old soils are weathered and have lost much of their original fertility due to erosion and leaching