geology nitrification more soil.xlsx - Sheet1 Flashcards
what are some other factors that determine type of soil?
climate, vegetation, time, the surrounding terrain, and even human activities (eg. farming, grazing, gardening etc.), are also important in influencing how soil is formed and the types of soil that occur in a particular landscape.
what is soil again?
Soil is one of the three major natural resources, alongside air and water. made up of three main components minerals that come from rocks below or nearby, organic matter which is the remains of plants and animals that use the soil, and the living organisms that reside in the soil. The proportion of each of these is important in determining the type of soil that is present.
how does soil form
Soil can form from the rocks below, or from rocks a very long distance away - perhaps being carried by wind or water. The glaciers of the last ice age acted as giant bulldozers pushing truly huge amounts of soil along as they grew and dropping the soil as they melted.
one soil function is…
However, soils can also modify the impact of pollutants
nitrification
is the 2-step process of ammonia found in soil being turned into nitrates ( converted to nitrite then nitrate) as it changes, it changes its oxidation state). Nitrates are an inorganic form of nitrogen that plants can use. Ammonia NH(lower 3) to Nitrite NO(lower 2 with neg charge) to Nitrate NO(lower 3 w neg charge).
1st part of nitrification NITRITATION
he first step of nitritation uses a type of bacteria called nitrosomonas. During nitritation, NH4 (Ammonium) is oxidized into NO2 (nitrogen dioxide). The equation for this process is summarized below.
2nd part of nitrification NITRATION
The second part of the nitrification process is called nitration. Nitration uses the enzyme nitrite oxidoreductase (NOR) to complete the nitrification process
how does nitrogen change organic to inorganic
nitrogen IS organic in the ground THEN converted to inorganic by bacteria THEN then back to organic inside the plant.
How have plants adapted ward off predators
Plants do not have the option of fleeing predators. As a consequence, they have developed an elaborate set of chemical defenses to ward off insects and other creatures that want to make them into a meal.
What happens when eat toxic chemicals that plants use to protect themselves
Toxic chemicals that plants use against predators are consumed by us at low levels in fruits and vegetables. Exposure to these substances causes a mild stress reaction that lends resilience to cells in our bodies.
hor me sis HORMESIS
Adaptation to these stresses, a process called hormesis, accounts for a number of health benefits, including protection against brain disorders, we receive from eating broccoli and blueberries.
CUESA
Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture) cultivating a sustainable food system through the operation of farmers markets and educational programs.
Nitrogen fixation
conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into compounds, such as ammonia, by natural agencies or various industrial processes eg. Rhizobium bacteria in the root nodules of legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen.
acid rain
Acid rain is a broad term referring to a mixture of wet and dry deposition (deposited material) from the atmosphere containing higher than normal amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids. The precursors, or chemical forerunners, of acid rain formation result from both natural sources, such as volcanoes and decaying vegetation, and man-made sources, primarily emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) resulting from fossil fuel combustion
where do sulfer dioxide SO2 and nitorgen oxidesNox come fron
In the United States, roughly 66% of all SO2 and 25% of all NOx come from electric power generation that relies on burning fossil fuels, like coal. Acid rain occurs when these gases react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form various acidic compounds. The result is a mild solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid. When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released from power plants and other sources, prevailing winds blow these compounds across state and national borders, sometimes over hundreds of miles.