//Our Living Soil

Question 1

What is soil and why do we need it?

Answer 1

• Loose material on the earths surface

- Natural resource for food, plants, air

Question 2

Air in plants

Answer 2

• Loosens soil
• Gives oxygen for plants
• Nitrogen for organisms

Question 3

Mineral particles and water in soil

Answer 3

Water -Contains dissolved minerals to nourish plants

Mineral Particles -Main ingredient, made of small pieces of rock broken down by weathering and erosion

Question 4

Living organisms and plant litter in soil

Answer 4

Living Organisms -Insects eg. earthworms create humus by breaking down dead plants
Plant litter -Dead creatures, plants and grass decay and form humus which nourishes the soil

Question 5

Each layer of soil is a:

What is leaching?

Answer 5

Horizon
A- top soil//high humus, living organisms
B- subsoil//mix of soil and rock, less humus
C-parents rock/bedrock, parent rock, limestone makes fertility
-Leaching: water carrying nutrients flows down to bedrock making top layer dry and undernourished

Question 6

How does climate effect soil?

Answer 6

Climate=

• Water (rain) = erodes parent rock = mineral particles + water for soil + influences type of vegetation
• micro organisms survive in climate - eg. Earthworms form humus, breakdown plant litter - nourishes soil, carbon dioxide realised from respiration provides air for soil - loosens and CO2 for plants - binds soil

Question 7

Soil types in Ireland

Answer 7

Poor Peaty soils (Donegal)
Damp gley soils (Derry)
Brown soils (most of mid and eastern Ireland)
Podzols (throughout)

Question 8

Brown earth soils

Answer 8

• Deciduous forests
• Some rainfall
• Dark brown
• Plenty of humus
• Fertile and suited to cattle

Question 9

Podzols

Answer 9

• Coniferous forests
• High rainfall = hard pan
• Grey
• shortages of humus+serve leaching
• infertile- Suitable for rough grazing

Question 10

Red soils

Answer 10

• Tropical climates- hot, wet climates
• Chemical weathering decomposes bedrock
• Leaching due to heavy rain and deforestation

Question 11

What is soil erosion

Answer 11

• Soil becomes dried out from no rain and is blown away by the wind
• Soil is overused by farmers

Question 12

Human Interference

Answer 12

Deforestation = flood land - reforestation
Over-grazing = cattle = no binding of soil - fertilisers
Farming = same crop in field = exhausts soil -irragation