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Environmental Science > Soils > Flashcards

Soils Flashcards

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Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Soil

A

The uppermost layer of the earth’s crust or lithosphere

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2
Q

Pedology

A

Soil science, the study of soils

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3
Q

Four components of soil:

A
  • Mineral fraction
  • Organic matter
  • Soil air
  • Soil water
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4
Q

Soil Profile

A
  • The vertical section of soil

- Differs in physical, chemical and organic composition and physical properties (texture, structure, colour)

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5
Q

O =

A

Organic horizons

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6
Q

Organic Horizons

A

Are derived from organic parent material and peat in wet ecosystems

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7
Q

L =

A

Leaf litter

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8
Q

F =

A

Fibric material

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9
Q

H =

A

Humus

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10
Q

Mineral Horizons:

A
  • Ah
  • Ae
  • B
  • C
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11
Q

Ah =

A

A horizon, rich in humus, dark, and nutrient rich

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12
Q

Ae =

A

A horizon, leached, grey and few nutrients

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13
Q

B =

A

Modified horizon and deposits from Ae

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14
Q

C =

A

Parent material and is essentially unaltered

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15
Q

CLORPT

A

Climate, organisms, relief, parent material, time

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16
Q

Climate:

A

The temperature and precipitation. It controls the physical and chemical weathering

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17
Q

Organisms:

A

Organic matter, biotic influences

18
Q

Relief:

A

Topography, aspect and elevation

19
Q

Parent Material:

A

Composition, structure, texture acidity and nutrients

20
Q

Time:

A

Change, dynamic

21
Q

Soil forming processes:

A
  1. Enrichment
  2. Removal
  3. Translocation
  4. Transformation
  5. Biological processes
  6. Human Impacts
22
Q

Enrichment:

A

Material addition (mineral or organic deposition)

23
Q

Removal

A

= Losses

- Surface erosion (materials removed from LFH or A horizons) and leaching (materials dissolved in water)

24
Q

Translocation:

A

= Movement between horizons

  • Eluviation
  • Illuviation
25
Q

Eluviation

A
  • Is the downward transport of fine particles.
  • Leaves sand and silt
  • Results in Ae horizon
26
Q

Illuviation

A

Is the accumulation of clay, humus and aluminum and iron oxides in B horizons

27
Q

Transformation

A
  • Mineral alteration

- Humification (decomposition of organics into humus)

28
Q

Four main structure classes:

A
  1. Granular
  2. Platy
  3. Blocky
  4. Prismatic/columnar
29
Q

Soil colour =

A

Composition and chemistry

30
Q

Black soil =

A

Organic content

31
Q

While/pale soil =

A

Silica and aluminium oxides

32
Q

Red and yellow soils =

A

Iron oxides and minerals

33
Q

Humus =

A

Very fine organic matter and a good source of nutrients

34
Q

Air space depends on:

A
  • Soil porosity

- Amount of soil water filling pores

35
Q

Soil Water

A
  • Is important for plants and soil organisms

- Held in soil pores depending on the amount of water present and the size of pores

36
Q

Types of soil water:

A
  • Gravitational water

- Capillary water

37
Q

Gravitational water

A

Water removed by gravity when soil is saturated

38
Q

Capillary water

A

Water that resists gravity by clinging to soil particles via capillary tension

39
Q

If we add equal amounts of water to equal volumes of a

fine versus coarse textured soil, in which soil will a plant wilt first?

A

The plant will wilt first in the fine textured soil. The fine textured soil has large surface area and
small pores, and water binds to the surface
with strong capillary tension.
The water is more difficult for plants to extract.

40
Q

Fine textured soils:

A

Have…

  • High storage capacity
  • High capillary tension
  • High wilting point
  • Low water availability
41
Q

Coarse textures soils:

A

Have…

  • Low storage capacity
  • Low capillary tension
  • High water drainage
  • Low water availability
42
Q

Which texture class has the greatest available water capacity?

A

Loam.

Environmental Science (12 decks)

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