Soils

Question 1

What is soil

Answer 1

The layer of loose material on the earths surface

Question 2

Why is soil a very important natural resource

Answer 2

As without it we would not be able to grow plants and crops therefore we wouldn’t have food

Question 3

What is soil made from

Answer 3

45% mineral matter
25% water
25% air
5% humus
2% living organisms

Question 4

What is mineral matter in soil

Answer 4

Biggest ingredient in soil

Made up of small pieces of rocks (sand silt clay) broke. Down by weathering and erosion

Question 5

What is air in soil

Answer 5

Air fills the spaces between the soil particles

It contains oxygen and nitrogen which are essentials for plants and organismic living in the soil

Question 6

What is water in soil

Answer 6

Water contains dissolved minerals

Plants absorb these minerals through their roots helping them grow there for these minerals are called nutrients

Question 7

Living organisms in soil

Answer 7

Earthworms slugs woodlice insects and microorganisms. They break down the dead plants and help creat humus

Question 8

Humus is soil

Answer 8

This is dark, decaying organic matter
It’s the remains of dead creatures pangs leaves and grass
It provides nutrients to the soil

Question 9

How does climate effect how soils are formed

Answer 9

Temperature and rainfall influence the rate at which the parent rock is broken down by weathering
Hot climates experience chemical weathering and cold experience freeze-thaw

Question 10

How does the parent material effect how soil Is formed

Answer 10

Type of rock effects soil formation
Granite is slow or break down by weathering while sandstone breaks down easier and forms soil quickly
Soils that develop from limestone are more fertile