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geography > soils > Flashcards

soils Flashcards

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1
Q

what 5 elements is soil composed of ?

A
  • mineral matter(rock)
  • humus
  • air
  • water
  • living organisms
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2
Q

explain rock particles.

A

pieces of rock resulting from the process of weathering and erosion. they contain minerals that help plants grow.

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3
Q

explain humus.

A

forms when plants and animals decay and rot. it makes soil fertile. it provides food for living organisms in the soil. the colour of soil depends on how much humus is in it. the darker the soil, the richer the humus content.

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4
Q

explain air.

A

theres air spaces between the rock particles within the soil. air contains nitrogen and oxygen which are vital to plant life. it creates air spaces to allow water to pass through.

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5
Q

explain water.

A

it can make up 25% of soil composition. it carries the minerals and nutrients to the plant roots.

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6
Q

explain living organisms.

A

soil contains earthworms, woodlice and millipedes. it contains micro-organisms such as bacteria and fungi. living organisms help to break down dead plant matter to form humus.

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7
Q

what is a soil profile ?

A

a cross section of a soil showing its layers.

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8
Q

what are the 6 factors of soil formation?

A
  • climatic condition
  • parent material
  • vegetation
  • living organisms
  • water
  • time
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9
Q

explain climatic conditions

A

rainfall and temperature changes determine the weathering and erosion that the rock experiences.

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10
Q

explain parent material.

A

parent material gives the rock its charecter.

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11
Q

explain vegetation.

A

when vegetation dies it is broken down by micro-organisms to form humus.

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12
Q

explain living organisms.

A

the soil is broken up by the action of living organisms.

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13
Q

explain water.

A

plant roots only take in minerals if they are dissolved in water.

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14
Q

explain time.

A

the development of soil may take thousands of years- an ongoing process - renewable resource.

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15
Q

what are the different soil textures?

A
  • sandy
  • clay
  • loam
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16
Q

describe sandy soils.

A
  • dry light and gritty
  • made up of more than 70% sand
  • well drained.
17
Q

describe clay soils.

A
  • heavy texture
  • difficult to plough
  • best used for pastoral farming
18
Q

describe loam soils

A
  • mixture of sand and clay
  • well drained
  • suitable for crop farming and gardens.
19
Q

what are the main soil types in ireland ?

A

brown soil
peaty soils
podzols

20
Q

describe brown earth soils

A

forms where there was deciduous forests. rotting vegetation. fertile topsoil. most common soiltype in ireland.

21
Q

describe peaty soils.

A

dark in colour. develop in mountainous and low lying regions with poor drainage. lack oxygen - waterlogged. coniferous trees, moss and heather.
infertile

22
Q

describe podzols.

A

developed in cold and wet areas that had coniferous trees. pine neeedles- plant litter. leaching. grey in colour. in poorly drained areas - antrim

                                - limerick
                                - derry
23
Q

what are the factors of human interference in soils ?

A
  • overcropping
  • overgrazing
  • monoculture
  • deforestation- italy
  • fertilisers
24
Q

what is deforestation ?

A

removal of vegetation. takes away the nutrients of the soil.

25
Q

what is overgrazing ?

A

animals in the field eat away the roots of the vegetation which causes the removal of vegetation.

26
Q

what is monoculture?

A

the farming of a single crop. no crop rotation so soil doesnt get a break.

27
Q

what is overcropping ?

A

overcropping is the planting of the same crop in the same land time after time. this exhausts the fertility of the soil.

28
Q

what are fertilisers ?

A

fertilisers are

29
Q

what is soil ?

A

the covering of loose material which makes up the outermost layer of our planet.

geography (4 decks)

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