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RHS level 2 > Properties Of Soil > Flashcards

Properties Of Soil Flashcards

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1
Q

How is soil formed?

A

Weathering of parent rock

Addition of organic materials

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2
Q

Name the 3 ways rock weathers

A

Physical - heat cold rain etc
Chemical - water dissolves minerals
Biological - roots create fissures and dislodge Minerals also leave channels where water can travel and erode more rock.

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3
Q

Name the 4 horizons in the soil

A

Organic layer
Topsoil
subsoil
Parent rock

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4
Q

Properties of topsoil

A 
Small lumps like crumbs
Most soil organisms 
Most organic matter
Dark - presence of humus
Contains most roots 
Warmer
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5
Q

Define the term soil texture

A

The make up of the soil in terms of particle size e.g. The proportions of sand silt and clay

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6
Q

Particle size of fine sand

A

0.06-0.2

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7
Q

Particle size of silt

A

0.002-0.06

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8
Q

Particle size of clay

A

Less than 0.002mm

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9
Q

Describe characteristic of

Sandy loam

A 
Feels gritty
Good drainage
Little water retention capability 
Little nutrient retention capability 
Quick to heat up 
No electrical charge
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10
Q

Describe the characteristics of a silty loam

A

Feels silky and soapy when wet
Fair drainage
No electrical charge

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11
Q

Describe the characteristics of a clay loam

A 
Feels sticky when wet and hard when dry
Poor drainage
Good water retention 
Good nutrient retention 
Slow to heat up 
Negative electric charge
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12
Q

Describe the term soil structure.

A

How the components of the soil are combined (minerals, organic matter and humus) - arrangement of particles.

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13
Q

Describe key things crumb structure allows

A

Free water movement
Gaseous exchange
Through root exploration

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14
Q

Describe the ideal tilth

A

0.5-5mm aggregates.
Inside these crumbs are predominantly small pores which hold water and between the crumbs are macropores which contain air when soil is at field capacity.

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15
Q

What is saturation point

A

All pore spaces filled with water. No air present.

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16
Q

What is field capacity

A

Large pores have drained of water and small pores hold maximum amount of water held against gravity.

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17
Q

What is permanent wilting point?

A

Large and small pores are filled with air. Water held too tightly to soil particles to be liberated by roots. Plants will wilt and die.

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18
Q

Role of water in the plant x3

A

Provides transport for minerals and food through xylem and phloem
Provides structural stability for non woody parts of plant by filling vacuoles
Directly participates in chemical reactions in plants such as photosynthesis.

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19
Q

What is soil moisture deficit

A

Water that needs to be added to return soil to field capacity

20
Q

Describe single digging

A

Digging to depth of 1 spit.
Dig out first trench put to one side.
Second trench then dug into first trench.
Repeat process until last trench then fill with soil from first trench.

21
Q

How can root environment be improved and protected.

A

Cultivation - single and double digging, forking, taking, rotavating
Addition of organic and inorganic material
Managing soil water content - drainage and irrigation

22
Q

Advantages and disadvantages of cultivation x3

A 
Ad
Prepares for planting 
Improves structure 
Exposes clods to winter weathering
Breaks up pans 
Allows fertilisers to be incorporated 
Buries crop remains and weeds
Dis
Disturbs natural structure -earthworms etc
Damages soil structure
Dormant seeds may be brought to the surface
Moisture may be lost from soil
Hard work
23
Q

Advantages and disadvantages of no dig

A

Ad
Preserves natural structure of the soil
Soil organisms not disturbed
Weed seeds not bought to the surface.
Less hard work
Bed system means harvesting can be done in any weather and drainage is improved
Dis
Pests may build up in soil
May be difficult to maintain fertility of soil
Fertility and structure not maintained in long term

24
Q

Symptoms of poor drainage

A 
Poor plant growth 
Water collecting on surface
Soil constantly wet 
Mosses 
Blue/black colouring 
Smell
25
Q

How to increase drainage in any soil

A

Add organic matter

Add lime

26
Q

Why does adding lime (raising pH) improve drainage

A

Lime causes flocculation of clay particles.
This is where clay particles group together to form larger particles improving structure of soil and making it less dense.

27
Q

What are some causes of excess water

A

Compaction of soil
Run off from patios and driveways
High water table

28
Q

How to deal with excess water

A

Lay drainage pipes leading to a ditch
French drains to soakaways
Building raised beds
Appropriate planting

29
Q

Methods of applying water

A

Watering can
Hoses
Sprinklers
Trickle lines or seep hoses

30
Q

How to add water i.e. When and how much?

A

Apply in large quantities back to field capacity only

31
Q

3 categories of organic matter

A

Dead organisms
Living organisms
Humus

32
Q

How does addition of organic matter influence soil structure

A

Soil is physically opened up thus creating improved aeration
Improves water holding capacity - particularly humus
Source of nutrients as decomposes
Soil warms up quicker as humus is dark
Helps to form stable crumbs

33
Q

Describe the characteristics and use for well rotted farmyard manure
Benefits and limitations

A 
Good all year round conditioner
Carbon rich 
Encourages earthworms 
Limits
Must be well rotted
Danger of pesticide residues 
Nutrient values vary widely depending on amounts of bedding incorporated
34
Q

Describe the characteristics and use for garden compost

Benefits and limitations

A 
Soil improver and mulch 
Basis of no dig systems 
Convenient
Green - recycling and no need for transport 
Cheap 
Limits
May contain pests, weed seeds and diseases 
Decomposition can take up to a year 
Some decomposition may be incomplete
35
Q

Describe the characteristics and use for mushroom compost

Benefits and limitations

A 
Raises pH - alternative to liming 
Soil improves 
Mulch or work in
Good for brassicas 
Mushrooms pop up 
Relatively cheap 
Good soil conditioner
Limits
Not good for all plants due to alkaline 
Mushrooms pop up
36
Q

Describe the characteristics and use for composted municipal/green waste
Benefits and limitations

A

Like garden compost
Can be mixed with coir etc to make good container compost
For soil improvement
Good soil conditioner
Recycled garden waste
High temperatures mean weeds pests and diseases killed off
Limits
May contain rubbish
High wood content so can have high carbon content

37
Q

Describe the characteristics and use for Leaf mould

Benefits and limitations

A 
Attractive mulch for ornamental horticulture 
Excellent soil conditioner 
Neutral pH or if pine acidic 
Limits
Low nutrient content 
Small amount from large piles of leaves
Slow process to decomposition
38
Q

Describe the characteristics and use for chipped bark

Benefits and limitations

A 
Mulch 
Looks natural under shrubs and trees
Lasts a long time 
Weeds don't germinate in it.
Various sizes
Limits
Robs soil of nitrogen
Birds throw it around
Slugs and snails lay eggs in it.
39
Q

Describe the characteristics and use for composted straw

Benefits and limitations

A 
Strulch (chopped straw)  as mulch 
Light and easy to put down 
Knits together so doesn't blow away.
Limits
Low nutrient content 
Possible herbicide residues.
40
Q

Describe the characteristics and use for green manure.

Benefits and limitations

A

Instead of mulch or compost
Provides improved soil structure, aeration, water holding
Adds nutrients especially nitrogen fixing
Weed suppressant
Protects from erosion
May provide flowers for pollinators
Limits
Hard work
Can encourage slugs
Can be difficult to get back to fine seed bed.

41
Q

Purposes of mulching

A 
Decorative finish
Weed suppressant 
Moisture retention
Protect surface of soil and from erosion
Modifying soil temperatures
42
Q

Names some non organic mulches

A

Minerals
Tumbled glass
Sheets such as polythene woven fibres

43
Q

Conditions for successful composting

A 
Air (oxygen) 
Water - not too much. Roof good 
Ratio of green to brown mix 
PH not too acid 
High temperatures 
Suitable heap size - right surface area to volume ratio
44
Q

How to make a hotbed

A

Horse manure in container in winter 30cm
When it starts to give off heat cover with 15cm of soil
Plant into the soil
Gives off heat for a couple of months

45
Q

How to make a wormer

A

Container with a tap and divided into 2 compartments separated by drainage plate.
Place kitchen waste into composter on top of drainage plate with brandling worms several 100
Worms digest waste and any liquid drains down and can be used as fertiliser

46
Q

How to make comfrey or nettle tea

A 
Place a handful of cut up comfrey leaves in a bucket. 
Cover with water and a lid
Leave for 2-3 weeks (stirring daily) 
Dilute liquid 1-10 
Comfrey rich in potassium
Nettles in nitrogen
47
Q

How would you use comfrey tea?

A

Liquid feed for fruiting plants

RHS level 2 (30 decks)

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