SOIL BASICS
What is soil?
The top layer of Earth where plants grow, made of broken-down rocks, organic material, water, and air.
Which soil particle is the largest?
Sand.
What is the O Horizon mostly made of?
Organic matter.
What is plant science? the study of.....
The study of plants, how they grow, reproduce, and interact with their environment.
What is an annual?
A plant that completes its life cycle in less than one year.
Name one thing soil provides.
Plant growth, water regulation, nutrient recycling, habitat, a foundation for buildings/roads, or carbon storage.
Which soil particle is the smallest?
Clay.
What is another name for the A Horizon?
Topsoil.
What process allows plants to make oxygen?
Photosynthesis.
How many growing seasons does a biennial take?
Two growing seasons.
Name three components of soil.
Mineral particles, organic matter, water, air, or living organisms.
Which soil particle feels gritty between your fingers?
Sand.
What is the B Horizon also called?
Subsoil.
What are plants called because they can make their own food?
Producers.
What growth pattern does Corn have?
Annual
Why is soil important to agriculture?
Soil provides the foundation where plants grow and supplies plants with things they need.
Put these in order from largest to smallest:
Clay • Sand • Silt
Sand → Silt → Clay.
What happens in the E Horizon?
Materials such as minerals and organic matter are washed or leached out by water.
Name three things plants provide people.
Food, fiber, fuel, medicine, or oxygen.
What is a perennial?
A plant that continues to grow for more than two years.
What are the five substances that make up soil?
Mineral particles
Organic matter
Water
Air
Living organisms
What three particles are used to determine soil texture?
Sand, silt, and clay.
What is the R Horizon?
: Bedrock—the solid, unweathered rock underneath the other soil layers.
What three things do plants use during photosynthesis to make sugar?
Carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight.
What growth pattern does trees have?
Perennials