Soil! Flashcards
Biosphere
consists of several physical layers that contain:
Renewable
just know it
Non-renewable
just know it
Mature soil
soil that have developed over a long time
Parent material
the rock and minerals from which the soil is made
Topography
physical characteristics of the location where the soil is formed
Topsoil
a-horizon can take 200 to 1000 years to form
Water-holding capacity
fertilizers help improve it
Erosion
movement of weathered rock or soil components from one place to another
caused by flowing water wind and human activity
-destroys soil profile and water-holding capacity
Weathering
can happen physically
Oxygen capacity
capacity of oxygen
Evaporation
how water returns to atmosphere from water stores
Transpiration
transpiration from plants happens after evaporation
Precipitation
water returns to earth’s surface
Consumption
sulfur taken up by plants from soil and past through because of this
Decomposition
sulfur taken up by plants from soil and past through because of this
Photosynthesis
how carbon enters biosphere (6CO2+6H2O arrow C6H12O6+6O2)
Cellular respiration
how carbon is returned to atmosphere
Fossil fuel
know what it is
Deforestation
know what it is
Ammonia
n2 from atmosphere converted in to this (NH) or nitrate ions(NO3-) because energy is released in lightning
Ammonium
happens from nitrification
Nitrates
what’s formed from nitrification
Nitrites
ammonia converted into nitrites because of nitrification
Legume
what certain kinds of bacteria is associated with in some kinds of soil
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria
atmospheric nitrogen gas, which is almost inert, into solid nitrogen compounds that can then be absorbed by plants.
Nitrification
process by which ammonia (NH3) is converted into nitrites (NO2-)and nitrates(NO3-)-the forms useable by plants
Assimilation
process in which NO-2 and NO-3 are taken up by plant roots and utilized to produce proteins and DNA
Ammonification
decomposing bacteria convert dead organisms and other waste to ammonia (NH3)or ammonium ions (NH4+) which can be reused by plants
Denitrification
N released from soil by bacteria as N2 back into the atmosphere
bacteria primarily in the sediments of aquatic zones such as lakes,oceans,swamps,estuaries,and bigs,convert ammonia and ammonium ions into nitrogen gas(N2) and nitrous oxide(N2O) a greenhouse gas
Phosphate
form of phosphorous
erosion
movement of weathered rock or soil components from one place to another
geology
study of earth
igneous rock
formed when rock is melted( by heat and pressure below the crust) into a liquid and re-solidifies
metamorphic rock
subject to heat and pressure from tectonic activity
-slate and marble
mineral
solid inorganic components
mineral resource
concentration of naturally occurring material in or on earth’s crust that can be extracted and processed into useful materials at an affordable cost
rock
natural substance, a solid aggregate of one or more minerals or mineraloids. For example, granite, a common rock, is a combination of the minerals quartz, feldspar and biotite. The Earth’s outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock.
rock cycle
rocks recycled in earth's tectonic plates 3 main categories of rocks -metamorphic -igneous -sedimentary
sedimentary rock
formed as sediment(eroded rocks and plant and animal remains) builds up and is compressed
ex.sandstone,shale and limestone
biogeochemical cycle
the continuous renewal cycles of various nutrients for living organisms
carbon cycle
cycles through biosphere, hydrosphere,atmosphere, and geosphere
enters bio sphere through photosynthesis
fossil fuel
oil,natural gas,coal
humus
sand and granular substance
hydrologic cycle
water cycle powered by sun which leads to evaporation,precipitation and transpiration
helps distribute and purify earth’s vital quality
infiltration
downward movement of water through soil
leaching
dissolving minerals and organic matter in upper layers carrying them to lower layers
nitrogen cycle
78% of atmosphere
taken out by lightning and bacteria
nitrogen fixation
getting nitrogen into soil
conversion by bacteria in the soil and cyanobacteria in aquatic systems, of nitrogen gas (N2) in the atmosphere into ammonia and ammonium
nutrient
nutrience
nutrient cycle
global recycling nutrient through earth’s air,land,water and living organisms
percolation
movement and filtering of fluids through porous materials.
permeability
the state or quality of a material or membrane that causes it to allow liquids or gases to pass through it.
empty space
phosphorus cycle
not found in atmosphere
stored in rocks
released by weathering
porosity
(of a rock or other material) having minute spaces or holes through which liquid or air may pass
acidity/alkalinity
ph
soil
made up of sand, silt, clay, gravel, loam
soil horizons
mature soils that have developed over a long time are arranged in series of horizontal layer
soil profile
what soil in area is like
soil structure
Soil structure describes the arrangement of the solid parts of the soil and of the pore space located between them. It is determined by how individual soil granules clump or bind together and aggregate, and therefore, the arrangement of soil pores between them. Soil structure has a major influence on water and air movement, biological activity, root growth and seedling emergence
peds
natural, relatively permanent aggregates, separated from each other by voids or natural surfaces of weakness. Peds persist through cycles of wetting and drying.
soil consistence
to describe the resistance of a soil at various moisture contents to mechanical stresses or manipulations. It is commonly measured by feeling and manipulating the soil by hand or by pulling a tillage instrument through it.
adhesion water
Adhesion is the tendency of dissimilar particles or surfaces to cling to one another. The forces that cause adhesion and cohesion can be divided into several types.
cohesion water
component of shear strength of a rock or soil that is independent of interparticle friction. In soils, true cohesion is caused by following: Electrostatic forces in stiff overconsolidated clays (which may be lost through weathering)
gravitational water
larger soil pores (macro pores) and moves down readily under the force of gravity. Water in excess of the field capacity is termed gravitational water. Gravitational water is of no use to plants because it occupies the larger pores. It reduces aeration in the soil.
leachates
the specific meaning of a liquid that has dissolved or entrained environmentally harmful substances that may then enter the environment.
water table
the surface where the water pressure head is equal to the atmospheric pressure
soil compaction
process in which a stress applied to a soil causes densification as air is displaced from the pores between the soil grains. When stress is applied that causes densification due to water (or other liquid) being displaced from between the soil grains then consolidation, not compaction, has occurred.
ion holding capacity
capacity of holding ions
capillary action
ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without the assistance of, or even in opposition to, external forces like gravity.
nutrient depletion
nutrient depleting
erosion
rainfall
soil texture
determine classes for agricultural soils based on their physical texture. The classes are distinguished in the field by the “textural feel” which can be further clarified by separating the relative proportions of sand, silt and clay using grading sieves: The Particle-size distribution
sulfur cycle
stored in deep oceanic deposits
released into atmosphere by weathering, undersea hydrothermal vents, and hydrogen sulfide
water cycle
evaporation,precipitation,transpiration
atmosphere
Membrane of air around the planet
hydrosphere
all the earth’s water,liquid,ice,water vapor
lithosphere
earth’s crust and upper mantle
Dust Bowl
1930’s in Oklahoma,Texas,and Kansas
overuse of land destroyed soil and caused increased erosion which lead to drier conditions which resulted in more erosion(positive feedback loop)
most topsoil blown away causing mass migration of people
Grapes of Wrath . Steinbeck
physical weathering
frost,wedging,glaciers
chemical weathering
oxidation of rocks
biological weathering
from roots
sand
sedimentary material coarse,water flows through rapidly,does not hold water well
silt
sedimentary material,smaller than sand and bigger than clay,highly erodible by water
clay
very fine particles,compacts easily,forms dense clumps when wet,holds water well (waterlogged)
gravel
coarse,rock particles
loam
equal mix of sand,silt and clay,nutrient rich,holds water well but does not become water logged
O horizon
surface litter; leaves and partially decomposed organic debris
-varies is depth depending on where soil is found
A horizon
topsoil;organic matter(humus),living organisms,minerals
E horizon
mineral horizon(loss of silicate clay, iron, or aluminum, or some combination of these, leaving a concentration of sand and silt particles.) in the upper part of the soil. Typically present only in forested areas it underlies an O or A horizon. It is a light colored, leached horizon. These horizons exhibit obliteration of all or much of the original rock structure.
B horizon
subsoil;yellowish in color due to presence of iron,aluminum,humic compounds,and clay from above horizons
C horizon
weathered parent material
bedrock
parent material
organic fertilizer
add soil nutrients and improves soil qualities
- manure and compose
- improves soil texture
- adds nitrogen
- simulates beneficial bacteria and fungi
- improves water-holding capacity
- helps prevent erosion
inorganic fertilizer
- doesn’t add organic material
- decreases soil ability to hold water
- decreases soil ability to support organisms
- lowers oxygen in soil
- supplies only nitrogen and phosphorous
- requires large amounts of energy to produce transport and apply
- releases greenhouse gasses (NO2)
monoculture
the cultivation of a single crop in a given area
row cropping
A row crop is a crop that can be planted in rows wide enough to allow it to be tilled or otherwise cultivated by agricultural machinery
overgrazing
to over graze
sheet erosion
soil moves off as a horizontal layer
rill erosion
fast flowing water cuts small channels in the soil
gully erosion
extreme case of rill erosion
desertification
loss of native vegetation leads to increased wind erosion,reduced water availability,and increased salinity of soil
salinization
water that isn’t absorbed is evaporated, leaving salts behind in the soil; crops are stunted and eventually destroyed
waterlogging
saturation of soil with water;roots enveloped with water,killing roots and eventually plants
Soil Erosion Act
1935
established conservation to protect the nation’s soil reserves
Soil/Water Conservation Act
programs to aid landowners and users;continual evaluation of US soils,waters,and resources
Food Security Act
discouraged the conversion of wetlands to agricultural lands
