Soils

Question 1

What is soil made up of

Answer 1

Mineral matter
Air
Water
Humus
Living organisms

Question 2

Humus

Answer 2

A gel like substance made of plant litir and decayed animals.

Question 3

O horizon

Answer 3

The layer of soil visible. Plant litter falls here to decay which provides humus

Question 4

A horizon

Answer 4

Most fertile layer of soil. Plant roots are found. Dark in colour, mist humus &living organisms

Question 5

B horizon

Answer 5

Lighter in colour bc of less humus. Higher number of stones are found here

Question 6

C horizon

Answer 6

A mixture of solid rock and broken rock. The remains of the parent rock from when the soil was formed

Question 7

3 things soil formation is influenced by

Answer 7

Time
Landscape/ relief
Vegetation

Question 8

Landscape/ relief

Answer 8

Soils in upland areas are thin and poorly drained bc of heavy rain
Soils in lowland areas are more fertile, well drained and rich in humus

Question 9

Vegetation

Answer 9

Vegetation creates plan litir (humus) which makes soil fertile
Deciduous trees=more plant litir
Coniferous trees= less plant litir

Question 10

4 main soil types in ireland

Answer 10

Brown earth soils
Podzol soils
Gley soils
Peaty soils

Question 11

Influence of soil on vegetation

Answer 11

Depth
Acidity
Drainage

Question 12

Depth

Answer 12

Deep fertile soils have a high nutrient content which supports lots of vegetation
Shallow infertile soils are usually limited to coniferous forests

Question 13

Acidity

Answer 13

Many plants do not grow in areas w acidic soil. Farmers spread lime on the soil to make it more fertile and less acidic bc of this

Question 14

Drainage

Answer 14

Sandy soils- well drained & supports lots if vegetation
Clay soils- waterlogged & doesn’t support much vegetation

Question 15

Influence of vegetation on soil

Answer 15

Plant littir
Soil erosin
Leaching

Question 16

Plant littir (influence of vegetation on soil)

Answer 16

Vegetation provides plant littir to make humus

Question 17

Soil erosin (influence of vegetation on woil)

Answer 17

Vegetation binds the soil- protects it from soil erosin
If there is no Vegetation soil erosin occurs

Question 18

Leaching (influence of vegetation on soil)

Answer 18

Vegetation protects soil from heavy rainfall.
Reduces the effects of leaching

Question 19

Causes of soil erosin

Answer 19

Deforestation
Overgrazing
Overcropping

Question 20

Case study

Answer 20

Desertification in the sahel (borders Sahara desert)

Question 21

Causes of desertification- Climate Change

Answer 21

Less rain in the sahel
Results in drought and famine
Vegetation has died and soil is less fertile

Question 22

Causes of desertification- Human Activity

Answer 22

Soil erosin occurring due to cutting down of trees
Increased herd numbers=overgrazing
Farmers growing cash crops (coffee)= not suitable to region

Question 23

Results of desertification

Answer 23

Soil no longer fertile, not good for agriculture- crop failure and animals dying
Grassland has been changed into desert- forcing migration
Famine.