Lab 5 - Restoration Flashcards
What is a soil profile?
It is a vertical section of the soil exhibiting the results of weathering, creating distinct layers
What is the O or LFH horizon?
It is the organic horizon that can be broken down into litter fall, fungi/fermentation, and humus
What is the A horizon?
It is like top soil as it has lots of organic matter and nutrients, meaning it is often leached
What is the B horizon?
It is mineral soils
What is the C horizon?
It has larger chunks of parent material mixed in with the soil
What is the D or R horizon?
It the parent material/bedrock
What is soil texture?
It is based on the proportion of sand, silt, and clay in a soil
What is a Munsell soil chart?
It is used to systematically assign a colour code and name to a given soil horizon. Colour can often provide condition information.
ex. red soils indicate high iron levels
What is bulk density?
It is a measure of soil quality determined by calculating the mass of oven dry soil divided by the volume of the soil. It is influenced by the quantity and size of pore space - loose porous soil has lower bulk density than compacted soil (typically increases with depth)
What is pH?
It measures the acidity (power of hydrogen) in soils and affects nutrient availability, microorganism activity, and disease
What does nitrogen do for plants?
It is a component of chlorophyll, thus giving them a rich green colour. It also stimulates the use of phosphorous and potassium. Uses cadmium reduction method
What does phosphorous do for plants?
It is necessary for hardy growth of the plant and activity of cells. It encourages root development and naturally increases resistance to diseases. Uses ascorbic acid reduction method
What does potassium do for plants?
It is not fully known, but it has been known to play a vital role in physiological and biochemical functions. It can enhance disease resistance, activate enzyme systems, prevent wilting, enhance fruit size, and aid in amino acid production. Uses tetraphenylboron method
What does coniferous mean?
Non-flowering evergreen trees that bear seed cones, have needle leaves and are softwoods
What does deciduous mean?
Flowering broad-leaved trees that shed them for winter (or in dry season) and are hardwoods
What is direct/active restoration?
It is known as managed succession that uses proactive techniques to accelerate the processes of natural succession towards the desired forest community
What is ecological integrity?
It is the quality of naturally occurring or actively managed ecosystems specifically regarding the degree to which they can practice self-renewal and regeneration and maintain a healthy level ecosystem functioning of all processes
What is a horizon?
It is a distinctive visible layer in the soil indicating a separate layer in the profile
What does indigenous mean?
It refers to species that originate in a specific region (more specific than just native).
ex. red pine native to Canada, but not indigenous to Waterloo
What is a plant community?
It is an assemblage of plants commonly found growing together due to symbiosis or overlapping of needs
What is a root collar?
It is the junction between the plant’s roots and stem
What are root hairs?
They are the outgrowths of epidermal cells that facilitate water uptake and absorption of dissolved nutrients from soil
