Unit Two, Topic 5 + 6 Flashcards
Soil is developed from
mineral matter such as rock, soil and clay
Climates determine what about plants?
What types of plants can grow in that climate and how fast they can decompose
What two elements are required for soil organisms to break down plant and animal matter?
Warmth and moisture
What is humus?
rich, dark soil
What does humus do?
Humus holds nutrients and water for plants
The type of vegetation growing in an area determines the
amount and type of organic matter in the soil
Soil gives plants…
nutrients, water and a place to sink their roots and anchor themselves
the mineral matter from which soil develops is called
parent material
In healthy soil, spaces between the particles hold what for the roots?
Water and air
The soil that contains decomposing roots is called
topsoil
What color is topsoil
a brown or black
The most diverse and numerous of all soil organisms is
bacteria
Types of fungi includes
Moulds and Mushrooms
A special type of bacteria that plays a vital role in decomposing organic matter and forming humus is called
Microscopic actinomycetes
If soil contains lots of earthworms, it is usually considered
healthy
Healthy, growing plants require large amounts of what six nutrients?
- Nitrogen
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Sulphur
- Calcium
- Magnesium
Which nutrient helps make leaves green?
Nitrogen
Salinization
The white crust on a soil made of salt that has collected on the surface of soil
How can soil erosion be solved?
by planting a cover of vegetation on the surface of the ground to slow the flow of water. This gives the soil more time to absorb the water.
The rows of trees that farmers plant is called
shelterbelts
What do shelterbelts do?
reduce wind damage to crops and trap snow to increase soil moisture
A technique used to grow plants without soil is called
hydroponics
In Canada, hydroponics is used in
greenhouses
When trees are cut and removed from an area, how is the soil affected?
Wind and water can erode the soil
How are weeds considered pests?
They steal moisture, nutrients, space and light from the crop
4 ways dandelions are successful pest plants?
- They have powerful roots
- They have broad leaves
- They have super seeds
- They are adaptable
What are dandelions chemical weapons?
they release chemical agents to slow down the growth of grass and other plants nearby
7 of the worst pests around canola plants
- Canada Thistle
- Wild Oats
- Blackleg Fungus
- Sclerotinia
- Fusarium Fungus
- Bertha Army Worm
- Lygus Bugs
What do lygus bugs do?
suck the juice out of buds, flowers and seeds
When pollutants move from level to level and get stored in organisms is called
Bioaccumulation
When chemicals are washed off the plants, they can sometime leave what in the soil and water?
risidue
If pesticides are not easily decomposed, they can stay in the environment and remain…
poisonous
Scientists have discovered that as pesticide use increases, the number of insect species that can withstand their effects become
Resistant. Therefore there are more stronger pests
Food that has been grown without the use of chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides is called
organic food
the layers of soil in a cross section is called
soil horizon
The colour of top soil is
brown or black
What did Charles Darwin call earthworms?
He called them intestines of the soil
How much bacteria can live in one hectare of soil?
4 tonnes (t)
What is a pest?
any organism that causes plants to die or produce less than they would otherwise
Introduced species
a species which are introduced into an environment where they are not naturally found
Why is a monoculture easier to deal with when it comes to pests
it is easier to find the right technique to kill pests that are specific to the type of crop
What are cane toads?
a toad that was released in many areas of australia to control pests in sugar cane fields on farms. However, they live in cities too and have become a major nuissance in both urban and rural areas
How did families control weeds before 1930?
they walked through the fields, pulled the weeds up and fed them to the family’s wild stock
Name a chemical that was used thousands of years ago to control pests?
Herbicides
A Natural way of controlling pests in your garden would be
finding a predator to do the work for you
