Soil Flashcards
What is Soil?
Soil is the thin, uppermost layer of the earth without soil plants could not grow and there would be no food for land animals therefore soil is vital natural resource
What are the 5 ingredients for soil?
Soil is composed of 5 main ingredients. These ingredients work together to make the soil fertile
- Mineral particles
- Water
- Air
- Organic matter and humus
Describe the composition of soil and what is the process?
- Mineral particles - sand and clay make up most of the soil
- Water sticks the soil together is also dissolves any minerals and nutrients in the soil
- Jar is found in the spades between the soil particles
- Organic matter is made of anything living such as worms and beetles as well as micro-organisms. Works help air and water circulate through the soil
Plants remains or plant litter consists of leaves and twigs which turn into humus when they decay in the soil
Name the 3 soil profiles (horizons)
- The A horizon is called the topsoil most fertile, dark in colour and contains the most humus and plant litter*
- The B horizon is called the subsoil it has less humus and is lighter in colour. It contains more stone since it’s closer to bedrock
- The C horizon is called bedrock it has a mixture is solid rock
What is leeching?
Leeching occurs when there is a high amount of rainfall
Water soaks through the soil and washes away important minerals into the B horizon
What is brown soil?
Brown soil is irelands most common soil too
It’s brown in colour
Found in the midlands
It is very fertile and excellent for farming there
What is podzol soil?
Podzol soil is found in the highlands where more rain occurs
It’s grey in colour and it’s less fertile
What is Gley soil?
Gley soils, this is founded on rolling lowland
It is very thin and is not very fertile
It’s blue grey colour
What is Peaty soil?
Peaty soil is also known as bog lands are soil that take 1000 of years to form and is not very fertile
