Definitions
What is soil?
Is a mixture of water, air, tiny pieces of rock, and humus
Why is soil important?
Main importance:It helps plants get the nutrients they need to be able to grow.
People and animals eat plants. Some animals use plants to make their shelter. People use plants to make things they use.
What are the 3 types of soil?
Sand, silt, and clay
How do plants use soil?
Plants obtain nutrients from soil. They also get physical support from the soil so they can stand upright above land.
What is humus?
Is a rich mixture of the decomposed, broken down, remains of plants and animals.
State the layers of the soil?
Topsoil, subsoil, bedrock
Do soils contain just one type of particle?
No. Most soils are a combinations soils. They contain all three sizes of particles.
Is loam a type of soil in the same way as silt, sand, and clay?
No, loam refers to an ideal combination soil that consists of clay, sand, silt and humus.
What are nutrients?
They are substances that plants take in from the soil through their roots to help them live and grow.
Where do we find humus most?
Topsoil
Why does water pass through sandy soil more quickly than through soils that contain mostly clay or silt?
The particles size of sand allows more space between them. the water can flow more easily through them.
Why is compost good for plants?
Compost contains nutrients from decomposing plants and animals.
What is silt?
It is tiny particles of rock that are difficult to see with only your eyes.
Where are the largest bits of rock found?
Subsoil
Which type of soil is heavy and sticky?
Clay
What types of materials can you compost at home rather than throw away?
(Answers may vary)
Newspapers, fruit, vegetables, grass, leaves, etc.
What is clay?
Particles of rock that are smaller than silt.
How does soil form?
Bedrock gets weathered by rain, and wind which breaks bedrock into smaller pieces. Then, the small pieces of rock get mixed with air, water, and humus to form soil.
Which type of soil feels slippery when they are wet?
Silt
What is compost?
Humus that you can make yourself.