DEFINITIONS
Soils are complex mixtures of minerals, water, air, organic matter and countless organisms that are the decaying remains of once-living things.
Is clay soil the heaviest soil?
Yes, it is the heaviest soil because it holds water well and because it has almost no air inside.
TRUE! Loamy soil is gardeners number one choice in soils.
How can we see very tiny life forms in soil that we cannot see from our eyes.
With a MICROSCOPE!
What is a decaying matter?
The breaking down or rotting of plants and animals
Which type of soil cannot grow plants because the particles are so close together.
a) Silt b) Sandy c) Clay d) Loamy
Clay Soil! The particles are tightly packed together
TRUE OR FALSE: Soil is alive? Is this true or false. Explain why
TRUE! Soil is alive. There are many living organisms living in soil. Fun fact: 1 square feet of soil contains over 1 billion living organism.
What is the bottom most soil layer called?
It is called Bedrock!
What is a soil additive?
Additives are something that we add to the soil to make it better. Fertilizer is a soil additive.
Loamy soil contains an equal amount of _______, silt, and ________
Sand and Clay
Loamy soil contains an equal amount of sand, silt and clay.
TRUE OR FALSE: organic food contain additives.
FALSE! organic food is grown in natural soil that does NOT contain additives
5 layers: Organic Layer, Top Soil, Sub Soil, Parent Material, Bedrock
What is a pesticide?
A pesticide is a chemical that is used to kill or prevent small animals or organisms from eating plants.
What is one advantage of sandy soil?
Sandy soil is good for water drainage. In areas where we need water to move, sand is used because it does not absorb water like other soils do. Sandy soil is also easier to work with than other soils.
TRUE OR FALSE: Pesticides help prevent diseases
TRUE! Pesticides help prevent diseases because they kill bacteria on plants
IT means that living organisms need soil and soils need living organism. For example, earthworms are living organisms that find their food in the soil (so soil helps them) and similarly, earthworm manure makes the soil rich (so living organisms helps the soil)
What is a fertilizer?
A fertilizer is a chemical that helps plants to grow. Ammonia is a common fertilizer.
Tell me 3 facts about silt soil
• Silt soil is smooth and is a decent quality soil that holds water better than sand. Silt soil is used to grow plants in because it allows air and water to get into the soil.
• It is light and made of medium sized rock pieces.
•Can be compacted easily
•Is easily washed away by the rain and can travel long distances in water
•Can also travel long distances through the air with the wind because it is so light
•It is formed when fine sediments like dust, organic matter, and debris are carried by water and then deposited
•Is commonly used to grow plants in
FALSE: the deeper layers is made up of large solid mass, they are stronger than topsoil.
State one advantage and one disadvantage of using pesticides
Advantages:
•Farmers get to keep all of their crops
•Prices on fruits and vegetables are lower because the supply of plants is higher as farmers aren’t losing their supply to pests
•Prevention of diseases because pesticides kill bacteria on plants
Disadvantages:
•Damages soil and the environment because they are chemicals
•Kills animals regardless of whether they are pests or not
•It is not as healthy for humans to eat plants that have been sprayed with pesticides