Soil

Question 1

bedrock:

Answer 1

rock thats structurally apart of/connected to earths crust

Question 2

regolith:

Answer 2

any loose fragmented earth material that covers bedrock

Question 3

what is soil?

Answer 3

• the upper most material of terrestrial environments.
• provides chem and phys needs of plant life (including water)
• contains minerals (from rocks) and organic matter
• soil isnt just dirt (the solid factor)
• it contains gas and liquid components too
• soil atmosphere contains O2 and other gases from air, and CO2 and methane from the soil.
• soil water contains dissolved substances such as nutrient’s for the plants

Question 4

how does soil form? (soil formation aka pedogenesis)

Answer 4

5 factors !
1) parent material
2) climate
3) organisms
4) relief
5) time

Question 5

1) parent material (underlying rock)

Answer 5

The nature of the parent mat. will influence the composition of the soil made from it

Question 6

2) relief (topography)

Answer 6

slope of the environment and its aspects whether it faces N, S, E, W

Question 7

3) climate

Answer 7

• measure of temperature and precipitation
• precipitation influences downward movement of mat.
• temp influences decomposition

Question 8

4) organisms

Answer 8

Biological activity of plants, animals, and microbes (bacteria and fungi) is essential for good soil development

Question 9

5) time

Answer 9

properties of soil develop over time in centuries

Question 10

S.P - colour

Answer 10

• colour of soil changes with depth in its profile
• colour can come from the parent material or processes of the location
• munsell soil colour chart

Question 11

S.P - texture

Answer 11

• based on the particles of sand, silt, and/or clay present in the sample
• clay > silt > sand. clay retains the most water
• determines different factors (e.g ability to retain water and how much gases in it)

Question 12

S.P - structure

Answer 12

• refers to the way particles are grouped together into soil masses called PEDS
• shape and size of peds influences movement of water + air

Question 13

S.P - minerals

Answer 13

parent material
↓
primary minerals
↓
secondary minerals (changes from primary)

• Clay minerals are the most important secondary bcus they hold plant nutrients
  through chemical interactions.

Question 14

S.P - chemistry

Answer 14

• pH of soil, how acidic/basic it is
• primary nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium
• pH affects nutrients availability for plants (e.g farmers alter the soil pH to suite their needs)

Question 15

S.P - moisture

Answer 15

• water comes from precipitation.
• some water flows over surface, some infiltrates the soil
• water leaves soil through evaporation, transpiration, and leaching (aka percolation)

Question 16

soil horizon:

Answer 16

distinct layers that are different in phys or chem composition, organic content, or structure

• we follow the canadian system of soil classification CSSC for naming horizons

Question 17

soil horizon

Answer 17

• Horizons develop from the removal or accumulation of chemical compounds, usually by water movement
• Horizons are separated into organic and mineral groups

Question 18

soil profile: soil pedon: polypedon:

Answer 18

the full set of horizions in a location down to its parent material.

a small division of soil column in an area showcasing these properties

area of the same type of soil type, made of many pedons

Question 19

Organic Horizons

Answer 19

• top most layer of the soil profile
• O horizon
• formed from material that accumulates from plants and animals (organic material)
  -humus.

Question 20

Mineral Horizons

Answer 20

• A, B, C horizons
• the roots of plants penetrate and influence A + B horizons.

Question 21

A Horizon

Answer 21

Mineral soil at surface where mixed with organic humus
- mineral and humus

Question 22

B Horizon

Answer 22

where drained/filtered materials accumulate
- high concentrations of clay located here

Question 23

C Horizon

Answer 23

• weathered rock
• little to no organic material
• partially altered parent material
• above bedrock

Question 24

Ah + Ae Horizons (Mineral horizons)

Answer 24

• Ah, darked coloured organic rich layer where biological activity occurs
• Ae, light coloured portion where downward eluviation (transport) has removed clay, o.g matter, iron, and aluminum compounds.
• common subdivision of the uppermost mineral layer

Question 25

soil forming (4) processes

Answer 25

1) enrichment: Addition of (mineral or organic) material to the soil.

2) removal: removal of material (erosion or leaching) from the soil.

3) transformation: chemical change of material within soil. Humification is the decomposition of organic matter to produce humus

4) translocation: The movement of materials upward or downward in the soil profile
- Eluviation – downward movement of fine materials (like clays, metal oxides)
- Illuviation – accumulation of these
fine materials (usually in B horizon)

Question 26

are all soil profiles the same everywhere?

Answer 26

no. Not every soil profile will have all the horizons and subhorizons described.
This is due to locations.

Question 27

how many soil classifications are in Canada?

Answer 27

10 soil orders

Question 28

Chernozemic Order

Answer 28

Soil of Canada’s agricultural bread basket; the Prairies
Have thick, dark A horizons, rich in organic matter
Roots of grasses provide material for decomposition

Question 29

Luvisolic Order

Answer 29

One of 3 forest soil types
“The ground under your feet”; the mixed wood plains of Southern Ontario are underlain by luvisols
Soils often rich in clays because of geology

Question 30

Podzolic Order

Answer 30

Forest soil associated with coniferous (i.e. needle-bearing) trees
Moist, cool climate rapidly breaks down organic matter
Percolation of water moves minerals, giving strong Ae horizon

Question 31

Brunisolic Order

Answer 31

Forest soil of cooler, drier locations
Associated with sandy, glacial deposits
Tend to be somewhat acidic
Thick, brown horizon, not as well developed as the podzols (no distinct Ae)

Question 32

Organic Order

Answer 32

Called histosols in other countries
Accumulation of organic matter (peat) in water-logged soils
Large amount of organic matter (high in carbon) means organic soils are of great interest to climate science!

Question 33

Unclassified areas

Answer 33

Not all of Canada has abundant soils
Glacial ice and exposed bedrock occur in many locations across Canada
This includes portions of central Ontario dominated by exposed Canadian Shield bedrock