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Soil > soil - properties and processes > Flashcards

soil - properties and processes Flashcards

1
Q

why is soil important?

A

grows crops/food

stores carbon - helps mitigate environmental pollution

building foundation

ecosystems - supports life/ nutrients

influences quality of surface and groundwater resources

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2
Q

where does soil come from?

A

from pure black rock from fresh volcanic fields

this weathers over of 100s of years

creates rusty brown rock with few plants/lichen

100 yrs later

broken down into soil creating fully functioning ecosystem colonised by life.

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3
Q

name the 9 elements which make up earths crust?

A 
iron 
silicon 
calcium
sodium
aluminium
hydrogen
oxygen
magnesium
potassium
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4
Q

how much pedigrams of carbon in soil?

A

1.5 to 2.5 thousand

400-600 for vegetation

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5
Q

name the 4 soluble cations?

A

sodium
magnesium
potassium
calcium

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6
Q

define soluble

A

easily leaches/dissolved in water

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7
Q

define cation

A

positively charged ion

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8
Q

name the 5 less soluble cations?

A 
oxygen
hydirgen
iron
aluminimum
silicon
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9
Q

what does it mean by less soluble cations

A

they remain in soil as clays or oxyhydroxides

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10
Q

define soil

A

natural body with solids, liquids and gases

distinguished horizons or layers

losses/additions/ transfers of energy

supports rooted plants

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11
Q

what is the composition by volume of a topsoil

A

air - 25%
water - 25%
solid - organic matter 5% (humus 80% - roots 10% - organisms 10%)

mineral particles 45% (Clays/sands)

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12
Q

how is soil an open system

A

inputs
outputs
transfers
transformations

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13
Q

inputs into soil

A

rain
solar energy
manure
harvesting

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14
Q

outputs of soil

A

erosion - wind and water

human activity

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15
Q

transfers in soil

A

water transfer to streams

ground water percolation

veg uptake of water and nutrients

mechanical mixing

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16
Q

transformations in soil

A

clay mineral formation

mineral weathering

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17
Q

what makes up the topsoil

A

o horizon

a horizon

e horizon

18
Q

what makes up subsoil

A

b horizon

19
Q

what makes up the transition region?

A

c horizon

20
Q

whats at the bottom of the soil profile ?

A

unweathered parent material

21
Q

O horizon

A

loose

particially decayed organic matter

thin

22
Q

A horizon

A

mineral matter mixed with humus
animals help mix it

acididic - leaching can occur

thick

23
Q

E horizon

A

zone of eluviation and leaching

white

24
Q

B horizon

A

accumulation of clay

transported and leaching from above

rich in chemical weathering products

25
Q

C horizon

A

partially altered parents material

can be glacial till

26
Q

name 5 main uk soils

A 
brown earth
podzol
lithomorphic 
gley 
peat
27
Q

Define brown earth

A

humus well mixed

leaching lead to slight acidifcation

nutrient rich - goof for farming

base rich parent material

28
Q

define podzol

A

mor humus
poorly mixed
strongly acidic

leaching iron and aluminimum

found in conifer areas as pine needles acidic

base deficient parent material eg granite

29
Q

define lithomorphic soil

A

limestone dissolves as it weathers leaving no soil minerals

not great for farming

alkaline from calcide

grasslands/beech lowlands

freely draining

30
Q

define gley soils

A

peat accumulation
poorly drained
oraganic rich at top

oxidation and reduction reactions craete orange soil

acididic to neutral

boggy

31
Q

define peat soils

A

organic matter accumulation in waterlogged conditions forms peat - paludification

poor drainge
boggy
acidicic - neutral

32
Q

describe soil distribution in uk

A

north - gley

wales/cornwall - podzol

south - brown with lithomorphic bits

peats least disttibuted in uplands

33
Q

what controls soils distribution in the uk

A

rainfall more in west than east

glacial till location - clay rich has poor drianage

bedrock type - underlying rock - south its chalk and clay

altitude - peat high up

34
Q

what 2 things control soil thickness

A

supply

kinetic

35
Q

what is supply

A

rate at which soil forming material are delivered to surface

36
Q

what is kinetics

A

rate at which bio/chem/phys processes act on soil

37
Q

define supply limited soil

A

soil growth limited by delivery of appropriate earth material

akin to weather limited sloped

38
Q

define kinetic limited soil

A

soil growth limited by speed at which soil forming processes progress

akin to transport limited slopes

39
Q

what soil does supply limited contol?

A

gley
peat
lithomorphic

40
Q

what soil does kinetic limited control

A

brown earth

podzol

Soil (3 decks)

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