Lecture 14-Soil Flashcards
what is the Scientific Definition of soil
Solid earth material that has been altered
by physical, chemical and organic processes so that it can support rooted plant life.
what is the Engineering definition of soil
Anything that can be removed without blasting
in Ireland what as parent rock been derived from
– Solid rock which has weathered
– Superficial deposits such as glacial drifts or alluvium which has been transported
– Organic matter
soil humus def
the dark organic matter in soil that is formed by the decomposition of plant and animal matter
how long in Britain/Ireland does it takes for 10mm of soil to develop
about 400 years
give evidence for soil being a good C resovir
that holds more carbon than is contained in the atmosphere and terrestrial vegetation combined.
what does SOM stand for
soil organic matter
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES def
the direct and indirect contributions ecosystems (known as natural capital) provide for human wellbeing and quality of life.
Rainsplash def
is concerned with the impact of raindrops on the surface of a soil
Sheet wash def
is the removal of a thin, almost unseen,
layer of surface soil.
Rill erosion def
is the creation of a very small eroded
channels across a soil surface
Gully erosion def
is the creation of large gullies by large quantities of water flowing over the soil surface
what are the 5 main factors of how soil is formed
organisms, time, togography, climate and parent materail
