Terms Flashcards
Dune
Protects against the sea, and provides drinking water, recreation, and nature area.
River or delta area
River made of clay and sand, meadows in lower parts, fruit trees, the delta of Maas and Rijn rivers
Clay
Flat and open landscape, near seashore (salt-loving plants), rich soils, man-made hills (mounts and algae).
Hilly
Geology on a plateau, the highest point above sea level, chalky (Mergel) rock deposits formerly used as fertiliser, in Zuid Limburg.
Peat
Used for grassland, higher areas and lower areas.
Sand
Flat: relatively high in SOM - made from the ice tides.
Mosaic: landscape slightly hilly, moderate SOM, sand from the German rivers.
Hilly: low in SOM, sand from the rivers.
Secondary succession
The primary forest is burned down for agricultural use and grazing.
GIS
Geographical Identification System.
Provides a digital map, including coordinates, and option to combine layers.
Soil horizons (from top to bottom)
- O: humus or SOM
superficial layer with organic
material, formed under (non-
permanent) wet conditions.
A: topsoil
Ah: mineral horizon with organic
matter
Ap: a mineral horizon that is
ploughed
E: eluviated horizon
B: subsoil
C: parent material
R: bedrock
Definition of soil
Soil is the excited skin of the earth in which geology, biology, chemistry, and physics combine to provide us with our requirements for life and which we should leave intact for future generations.
Soil solids
Minerals (45%): sand, clay, slit.
Organic Matter (5%): plants (humus), fungi, bacteria, algae, worms, insects, mammals.
Soil pore space
Gasses/air (20-30%): oxygen, nitrogen, greenhouse gases.
Water/liquids (20-30%): soil solution + ions.
Texture
The distribution of particles is based on the size classes.
Sand characteristics
Ability to compact: low
Air space: high
Soil fertility: low
Tendency to form clods: low
Water-holding capacity: low
Water and air permeability: high
Workability: high
Slit characteristics
Ability to compact: moderate
Air space: moderate-high
Soil fertility: moderate-high
Tendency to form clods: moderate
Water-holding capacity: moderate-high
Water and air permeability: moderate-high
Workability: moderate-high
Clay characteristics
Ability to compact: high
Air space: low
Soil fertility: moderate-high
Tendency to form clods: high
Water-holding capacity: high
Water and air permeability: low
Workability: low
Peat characteristics
Ability to compact: low
Air space: low (H2O soaked)
Soil fertility: high (SOM)
Tendency to form clods: low
Water-holding capacity: high
Water and air permeability: high
Workability: low
Minerals
The swelling and shrinking of clay soil depend on the presence of minerals between clay particles.
Structure
The physical arrangement of particles, their size (texture), and form (aggregate), plus the empty holes (pores) between the particles.
Soil Organic Matter (SOM)
- The main building block is carbon (C)
- Organisms, roots, and hummus
- Humus decomposes slowly and colours the soil brown or black. It is also the glue that makes aggregates