Unit 2 Vocab Flashcards
Arthropod
A phylum or division of the animal kingdom characterized as having an external skeleton
Bacteria
Single-celled microorganisms; some are harmful and some are beneficial
Bedrock
Unweathered hard rock that lies directly beneath the soil layers
Clay
A size term for particles with diameter less than two microns.
Climate
The long-term average weather conditions.
Fungi
Plantlike organisms that get their nourishment from living or decaying organisms
Gravel
water-worn pebbles larger than two millimeters in diameter.
Ground cover
Any vegetation that growing on the ground that protects the soil
Horizon
A layer of soil, having distinct characteristics produced by soil-forming processes.
Internal drainage
The relative degree of downward movement of water in a soil.
Loam
Soil that consists of less than 52 percent sand, 28 to 50 percent silt, and 7 to 27 percent clay (ideal)
Microorganism
An organism so small that you need a microscope to see it
Mottle
Color difference on a mass of moderately poorly drained soil.
Nematodes
Microscopic, organisms that can attack plant roots or stems to cause unhealthy growth.
Organic matter
Matter found in, or produced by, living animals and plants
Organism
Any living individual whether plant or animal.
Parent material
The horizon of weathered rock or partially weathered soil material from which the soil is
formed.
Ped
A unit of soil structure such as an aggregate, crumb, prism, block, or granule
Permeability
The capacity of soil or rock for transmitting a fluid.
Porosity
Refers to the extent of voids or openings in the soil that exist between soil particles
Profile (Soil)
A vertical section of a soil.
Rock
Mineral matter assembled in masses or
considerable quantities in nature.
Sand
ranging in size from 2.00 to 0.5 millimeters in diameter. It is the textural class of any soil that contains 85 percent or more of sand and not more than 10 percent of clay.
Silt
A textural class of soils that contains 80 percent or more of silt and less than 12 percent clay.
Soil
The mineral and organic surface of the earth capable of supporting upland plants.
Soil profile
A vertical section of a soil.
Soil structure
The arrangement of primary soil particles
Soil texture
individual soil grains.
Acid
A substance containing hydrogen that dissociates to form hydrogen ions when dissolved in water.
Alkaline
A chemical term referring to basic reaction where the pH reading is above 7
Base
A substance which gives off hydroxyl ions when dissolved in water
Conductivity
The property or power of conducting heat, electricity, or sound.
Fertilize
To supply the necessary mineral and organic nutrients
Gypsum
A mineral calcium sulfate, combined with water of hydration. It treats sodic soils.
Hydrogen
the lightest of the elements that combines chemically
with oxygen to form water.
Hydroxyl
The ion OH-
Ion
An atom or a group of atoms carrying an electrical charge
Irrigation
application of water to soil
Leaching
The removal of soluble constituents from soils by percolating water.
Lime
Strictly, calcium oxide, CaO, but, as commonly used in agricultural terminology, calcium carbonate,
CaCO3, and calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2, are included.
(any of them)
Nutrient
An element or compound in a soil that is essential for the growth of a plant.
Organic
Produced by plants and animals; of plant or animal origin.
pH
A numerical measure of acidity of a substance such as food or soil
Saline soil
A soil containing soluble salts
Salinity
The quantity of saltiness in seawater or freshwater
Sodic soil
exchangeable sodium percentage of 15 percent or greater/pH between
9.5 and 10.0.
