Horizon Levels
Layer with unconsolidated parent material that has begun to weather
What is C horizon?
makes up 5% of soil
What is organic materials?
Carbon
Which element is very rich in humus?
temperature, water, wind causes this type of weathering
What is physical or mechanical weathering?
These components in soil come from the atmosphere, plant decomposition, and weathering
What are plant nutrients?
layer that leaf litter and humus
What is the O (organic ) layer?
20-30% found in pore space
What is water?
Dead plant material
What is the primary ingredient in humus?
Rock dissolves minerals in rock formations and the changes the rocks composition.
What is chemical weathering?
The removal of carbon from the atmosphere
What is a carbon sink?
Indicator of past environmental conditions
What is soil color?
45% of soil is this
What are minerals?
Rocks that are not weathered
What is bedrock or parent rock?
These reactions involve a transfer of electrons to breakdown parent rock
What is an oxidation-reduction reaction?
Oceans, groundwater and the atmosphere,
What are some examples of water reservoirs?
Mix of organic and mineral material with more minerals that organic material.
What is the A horizon composition?
air
What fills in when water evaporates.
simple plants
What are the first plants found in new creating soil?
This event causes rocks to breakdown into soil and comes to Earth when it mixes with precipitation?
What is acid rain?
This organism breaks up soil, exposes nutrients, allows oxygen and nitrogen to flow through the soil. It is an important needed resource for soil.
What does an earthworm due to make soil more fertile?
material that is dry, sticky can be like plastic when wet. It does not allow for much drainage of water?
Bonus: loam
What is clay?
What is the best type of soil for growing crops and living plants?
A process that breaks down soil into pieces
What is weathering?
overdevelopment of land in the Great plains caused desertification to occur.
What caused the great dust bowl?
sand, silt, and clay
What are the components of weathered rock?
Adobe, Cob, Sod
What types of dwelling are made of sand, clay, straw?