Soil Quality

Question 1

Weathering

Answer 1

Chemical
Mechanical
Biological

Question 2

Soil Components

Answer 2

water
air
inorganic matter (minerals)
organic matter

Question 3

Litter

Answer 3

leaves, branches, organic material on the ground

Question 4

Humus

Answer 4

decomposing litter, dark unable to distinguish individual organisms
nutrient-rich
holds water

Question 5

Soil horizons

Answer 5

O- Organic (Litter and Humus)
A- Surface (minerals)
B- Subsoil (zone of accumulation)
C- Regolith (partially weathered parent material, saturated with water)
R- Bedrock (unearthed parent material)

Question 6

Physical properties of soil

Answer 6

Texture and porosity

Question 7

Types

Answer 7

Sand- 2-0.05mm
Silt- 0.05-0.002mm
Clay- <0.002mm

Question 8

Loam

Answer 8

40% sand/40% silt/20% clay
ideal for agriculture
better nutrients than sand
better drainage than silt
easier to till than clay

Question 9

Porosity

Answer 9

Sand: best drainage, excellent for vegetation
Clay: worst drainage, excellent for building

Question 10

Chemical Properties

Answer 10

Clay: cations (positively charged ions) release nutrients into the plant
Essential nutrients: Ca, K, Na, Mg
Soil Fertility: P, N, K

Question 11

Biological Properties

Answer 11

Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, earthworms: decompose and nourish the soil

Question 12

Soil Degradation

Answer 12

soil erosion: overgrazing, intensive irrigation, deforestation, and construction

Question 13

Soil Contamination

Answer 13

Remediations:

aeration, bioremediation, heat, phytoremediation, extraction