Vocabulary
If the ratio of flour to oil in a recipe is 2 to 1, do you use equal amounts or different amounts of flour and oil?
You would use different amounts.
True or false? Through decomposition, bacteria break down diseases and other deadly substances present in dead animals so they are no longer harmful?
True
What are the "browns" of compost?
The "browns" are the leaves raked in the autumn.
Name 2 inorganic minerals found in soil.
clay
silt
sand
What do you call the microscopic critters beneath the surface?
microorganisms
If someone has supremacy, is he/she likely leading or following?
That person is likely leading.
Name one way cattle and sheep help soil?
They fertilize the soil with manure, which is chockful of nutrients. They also nibble grasses, leaving bite-sized bits on the ground to be whittled down by insects and microorganisms.
What are the 3 "greens" of compost?
The 3 "greens" of compost are:
fresh grass clippings, \
vegetable and fruit scraps, and
weeds pulled from the garden?
TRUE or FALSE?
Fungi, including mushrooms, decompose just about any dead organic materials, returning their nutrients to the earth.
TRUE
Why are some bugs called grazers?
They nibble leaves and grasses, breaking them down into the ingredients for fertile soil.
How does being ruthless help animals survive in the wild?
Being ruthless helps them to kill their prey so they have food to eat.
What is a nematode?
Also called threadworms and roundworms, these eel-shaped colorless worms which feed on bacteria, are often too small to be seen except through a microscope.
True or false? To make your own compost, find a sunny spot in your yard.
False. Find a shady spot.
Name 2 ways soil can be lost.
wind
water
growth of cities
Name 2 ways earthworms help the soil?
Their tunnels make excellent channels for air and water. Their castings enrich the soil.
What does emit mean?
Emit means to give off or send out.
Name one of the tiniest microorganisms beneath the surface.
bacteria and protozoa
Compost is made naturally in forests and grasslands from ________________, _____________________, and ___________________.
dead leaves, roots, and stems
TRUE or FALSE?
Microorganisms in the soil are most important because they create inorganic matter.
FALSE...they release nutrients that is then drawn up by the roots of living plants.
Name 2 of the most ruthless insects on the surface of the soil?
ladybugs
praying mantises
centipedes
When plants undergo the process of decay, what do they do?
They break down after they die and eventually go back into the soil.
What is humus?
Humus is the organic part of soil, a dark fragrant substance formed by the decomposition of leaves and other plant material by microorganisms.
To decay properly, the compost pile needs the right amounts of _________________ and ___________________.
carbon and nitrogen
What is organic material in the soil?
Organic material is the rotted remains of plants and animals that were once alive.
Name 3 mammals from the text that make their home IN the soil?
moles
gophers
prairie dogs
ground squirrels