Soils

Question 1

How long does it take for zonal soils to form?

Answer 1

Hundreds of years

Question 2

What are zonal soils?

Answer 2

Consist of weathered rock, organic water and air. Form under a long period of time under the influence of vegetation and climate

Question 3

What are zonal soils dependent on?

Answer 3

Climate, topography, parent material, living organisms and time

Question 4

What order are soils arranged in zonal soils?

Answer 4

Surface (O)
Topsoil (A)
Subsoil (B)
Parent material (C)
Bedrock (R)

Question 5

What is the O horizon?

Answer 5

The surface.
Organic debris, partly decomposed

Question 6

What is the A horizon?

Answer 6

The topsoil.
Mineral particles mixed with organic material

Question 7

What is the B horizon?

Answer 7

The subsoil.
Compounds draining from above accumulate

Question 8

What is the C horizon?

Answer 8

Partly weathered rock

Question 9

What is the R horizon?

Answer 9

Bedrock

Question 10

Where are ferralsols found?

Answer 10

In tropical regions

Question 11

What are ferralsols?

Answer 11

Deep and intensely weathered. Often red or yellow. Low pH (acidic). High levels of Fe and Al in B horizon. Rapid decomposition of organic material plus large amounts of rainfall can cause leaching. Most nutrients found in O&A horizons

Question 12

What is farming like with ferralsols?

Answer 12

Drain well to reduce soil erosion.
Not good at holding water, creating drought conditions.
Crop rotation common. Permanent vegetation cover prevents erosion

Question 13

What are ferralsols commonly used to cultivate?

Answer 13

Black pepper and rubber in Brazil.
Coconut and oil palm in Indonesia

Question 14

How long do podzols take to develop?

Answer 14

3000-5000 years

Question 15

What are podzols?

Answer 15

Mature soils. B horizon can become hard, causing poor drainage and waterlogging. Dark O&A horizons which store large amounts of nutrients. Acidic

Question 16

Where are podzols found?

Answer 16

In areas of high precipitation levels and cool temperatures

Question 17

What is farming like with podzols?

Answer 17

Low in nutrients & very acidic. Unsuitable for arable farming. Deep ploughing to promote water drainage and continual fertilisation sometimes allow for crop growth

Question 18

What are podzols commonly used for?

Answer 18

Forestry, recreation and extensive grazing

Question 19

What causes soil erosion?

Answer 19

Water and wind

Question 20

What is wind erosion?

Answer 20

Caused by agricultural removal of hedges, deforestation, etc. Which removed wind barriers and often coincides with droughts

Question 21

What is salinisation?

Answer 21

Salt building up in the soil happens because of irrigation and evaporation. Can be prevented by careful irrigation or growing salt tolerant crops

Question 22

What is waterlogging?

Answer 22

Soil too wet and saturated to grow. Reduced yield and increased water erosion. Improve drainage to fix