soil

Question 1

types of soil organisms

Answer 1

fungi, bacteria, mites, millipedes, spiders, earth worms

Question 2

soil profile

Answer 2

o horoizon-humus-surface
a horizon-top soil
e horizon- leaching
b horizon- subsoil- iron
c horizon- weathered parent material

Question 3

soil classes

Answer 3

mollisols- fertile dark soil- grasslands
oxisols- tropical
alfisols- forest soil, agricluture
aridisols- dessert

Question 4

soil reigons

Answer 4

mollisols- midwest
oxisols- tropical- rainforest
alfisols- northeast & midwest
aridisols- southwest, airzona, new Mexico, middle east

Question 5

soil properties

Answer 5

1- larger particles have larger spaces separating them then smaller particles have
2- smaller particles have more surface area reltive to their volume then alrger particles have
3-nutrient ions and water molecules tend to cling to surfaces

Question 6

5 things for healthy soil

Answer 6

1- good water supply and good water capacity
2- good nutrient supply and good nutrient capacity
3- good soil aeration
4- neutral ph
5- low salt content

Question 7

soil is classified by

Answer 7

1-profile
2-structure
3-type

Question 8

soil definiton

Answer 8

solid material of geological and biological origin; can be changed by chemical, biological, and physical processes.

Question 9

Loam = Soil

Answer 9

Sand- 40%; 2.0 mm to 0.063 mm
Silt- 40%; 0.063 mm to 0.004 mm
Clay- 20%; 0.004 mm

Question 10

Types of Soil Erosion

Answer 10

splash- impact of falling raindrops break up the clumpy structure of topsoil.
sheet- decreased infiltration that leads to more water running off.
gully- volume, velocity, and energy is increased which results in a greater capacity being picked up and removed.

Question 11

erosion

Answer 11

topsoil is lost; soil and humus particles are picked up and carried away by wind or water.

Question 12

salinization

Answer 12

accumulation of salts in and on soil to the point where there is not much plant growth.

Question 13

overcultivation

Answer 13

soil quality is degraded and productivity is reduced.

Question 14

soil characteristics

Answer 14

1- soil organism
2- organic substance
3- inorganic substance (nutrients)

Question 15

examples of texture

Answer 15

1- sand
2-silt
3-clay
4-loam

Question 16

desertification of soil process

Answer 16

• as soil properties diminish by erosion of topsoil, areas become deserts
  ~both ecologically and agriculturally
• dosent mean advancing deserts; refers to a permanent reduction in the productivity of arid, semi arid, and seasonally dry areas

Question 17

world-loss of soil

Answer 17

causes:
1- poor crops
2-water pollution
3- spread of deserts

Question 18

past neglect of the land

Answer 18

-protecting soil is important for food production and sustainability
~has been overlooked
- greek, roman, mayan empires collapsed
~soil erosion decreased agriculture

> 20% cultivated land
30% forests
10% grasslands

• degraded soils undermine future productivity

Question 19

humans/ dust bowl

Answer 19

-made dust bowl worse
- high crop prices
- erosion from plowing & lack of trees
-the homestead act
~people settles on small farms
- farmers left the southern plains

-2011 dust bowl Phoenix

-Now rare:
1- soil is protected
2- less intense cultivation