Soil formation, Conservation, and Protection Flashcards
Unconsolidated regolith modified over time by water, air, and organic material.
Soil
a mixture of minerals, air, water, and organic matter in the correct proportion
Fertile soil.
The study of soil as a habitat for living organisms
Edaphology
Study of social as geologic entity, meaning, its formation, classification, chemistry, and morphology
Pedology
Break down of rocks from the result of a mechanical action. Temperature changes, abrasion, or frost can cause rocks to break dowm.
Physical weatherimg
breakdown of rocks through a change of their chemical makeup. this can happen when the minerals than rocks react with water, air, or other chemicals.
Chemical weathering
Breakdown of rocks by living things. Burrowing animals help water and air get into rock, and plant roots can grow Into cracks in the rocks, making it split.
Biological weathering
6 factors that affect soil formation:
• Parent Material
• Time
• Climate
• Organisms
• Topography
• Weathering
determined by the size of them mineral particles within the soil
Soil texture
Largest soil particle which consist of fragments larger than 2.0 mm in diameter
Gravel
0.05 and 2.0 mm
Sand particles
range from 0.002 to 0.05 millimeter.
Silt particles
Smallest particle, less than 0.002 millimeter in diameter
Clay particles
Ideal soil for agriculture. provides good aeration and drainage properties of large particles with nutrient - retention and water - holding ability.
Loam
They use a standard system for classifying soils according to the amount of clay, silt, and sand.
USDA Textural Classification Chart
The topsoil of leaching from which downward percolation of water has remove some place in soluble ion.It is commonly rich and organic matters
A Horizon
Subsoil of accumulation. Clays are more prevalent and organic matter is less abundant.
B Horizon
Transition from the soil profile to the unweathered parent material below.
C Horizon.
Type of land that can be used for farming.
Arable land
In PH, as of 2003, has _____ million hectares of arable land.
5.59 million
Defined as the change in soil health, results in decreased capacity of soil to support organisms.
Soil Degradation
3 Factors that contribute to soil degradation:
• Physical
• Biological
• Chemical
Some areas are more at risk than others.
Areas of Concern
It refers to the tilling at right angles to the slope of the land. It is one of the simplest methods of preventing soil erosion. The practice is useful on gentle slopes. The series of small ridges at right angles to the slope acts as a dam to prevent water from running down in order to allow more water to soak into the soil
Contour Farming
It is practiced when a slope is too steep or too long. Alternating strips are closely sown on crops such as corn. The closely sown crops stop the flow of water, which reduces soil erosion and allows more water to be absorbed into the ground
Strip Farming
One practical method of preventing soil erosion on a very steep land. They are level areas constructed at right angles to the slope to retain water and greatly reduce the amount of erosion
Terracing
depressions on sloping land where water collects and flows off the land. However, when not properly maintained, waterways are susceptible to erosion
Waterways
plantings of trees or other plants that protect the bare soil from the full force of the wind. It will reduce the speed of the wind and decreases the amount of soil that is carried away.
Windbreaks.
Fertile Soil :
Mineral Particles - \_\_\_\_\_%
Air - \_\_\_\_\_\_ %. Water - \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_%
Organic Matter - \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ %
Mineral Particles - 45 %
Air - 25 %
Water - 25 %
Organic Matter - 5 %
