Soil Flashcards

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1
Q

Complex mixture of organic and inorganic, water, air, and microscopic organisms

A

Soil

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2
Q

How is soil formed?

A

Soil is formed my rock and decaying organic matter

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3
Q

List the layers of soil

A
  1. Surface Layer
  2. Top Soil
  3. Leaching Layer
  4. Subsoil
  5. Parent Material
  6. Bed Rock
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4
Q

Describe the Surface Layer

A

Freshly fallen and partly decayed leaves and twigs

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5
Q

Describe Topsoil

A

Humus, dark in color, most plant roots found here

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6
Q

Describe the Leaching Layer

A

Light in color because it has lost clay and minerals as water drips through the soil

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7
Q

Describe Subsoil

A

Contains clay and mineral deposits such as iron, aluminum, oxides

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8
Q

Describe Parent Material

A

Slightly broken up bedrock within soil. Little organic material here

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9
Q

Describe Bed Rock

A

Unweathered rock

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10
Q

Partly decomposed matter by bacteria

A

Humus

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11
Q

The wearing away of top soil

A

Erosion

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12
Q

What are the problems with erosion?

A

No top soil, no crops

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13
Q

List and describe the causes of erosion

A
  1. Farming Practices - Plowing loosens soil so easily washed away, compacting water can’t soak it, and Harvesting removes nutrients from soil
  2. Clearing Froests - Logging and development, trees and shrubs hold soil together and hold a lot of water, and desertification
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14
Q

Farming a desert due to erosion of top soil

A

Desertification

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15
Q

List and describe the components of soil

A
  1. Clay - Very fine particles
  2. Silt - Fine particles
  3. Sand - Medium
  4. Gravel - Big to very big particles
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16
Q

Relative amounts of clay, silt, and sand that make up the soil

A

Soil texture

17
Q

Equal amounts of clay, silt, and sand

A

Loam

18
Q

Too much sand, doesn’t hold water

A

Sandy

19
Q

Too much silt, compacts easy and water is not absorbed

A

Silty

20
Q

Measures how acidic or basic a substance is

A

pH scale

21
Q

Soil Acidity

A

Soil pH

22
Q

What pH is best fall for the soil

A

Full

23
Q

How does pH of the soil affect the plant

A

pH affects the uptake of nutrients

24
Q

Made of dead plants and animals

A

Organic Matter

25
Q

What are the major plant nutrients?

A
  1. Nitrogen
  2. Phosphorus
  3. Potassium