Soil

Question 1

What five ingredients make up the soil?

Answer 1

• Mineral matter
• Water
• Air
• Humus
• Living organisms

Question 2

What is the name of the soil profile above the ground?

Answer 2

O horizon

Question 3

What are the three soil profiles under the ground?

Answer 3

A horizon
B horizon
C horizon

Question 4

What is the other name for the B horizon in the soil?

Answer 4

Subsoil

Question 5

What is the other name for the C horizon?

Answer 5

Bedrock and parent material

Question 6

What is leaching?

Answer 6

The washing of minerals, hummus and nutrients from the À horizon to the B horizon

Question 7

What is an hardpan?

Answer 7

In extremely wet conditions minerals build up at the bottom of the À horizon. This is an impermeable later that chases the soil to become water logged

Question 8

How does climate effect soil formation?

Answer 8

The rate at which parent rock is broken down by weathering depends on temperature and amount of rainfall. Moisture influences the types of living organisms in the soil