Soil Profile
True or False: All soils vary by region
True
Different parent material, different climate, different amount of precipitation, etc.
Which soils have the largest soil particles?
Sandy soils
What is soil structure?
It is how the soil particles fit together
What nutrient is important for plants and the most abundant in the atmosphere?
Nitrogen (N)
Name 2 factors that affect soil texture and structure.
Parent Material
Organic Material
Climate
Relief (elevation)
Time
The layer of the soil horizon that is found in the deepest parts is known as the...
Which soils hold onto the least amount of water?
Sandy soils
What two climate factors affect soil structure?
Temperature and Percipitation
How do worms help in the nutrient cycle?
They help to circulate nutrients by creating air holes for water and nutrients to cycle through
What is water holding capacity?
What is the first layer of soil called?
Top soil
Which soil type has intermediate particle sizes?
Silt soils
Particle sizes fall between sandy soils and clay soils, but still able to hold onto moisture.
What factors affect the thickness of the top soil (Name 2)?
Amount of organic material that is able to accumulate and how much time there is for the collection of the organic material
What does it mean for a soil to have good nutrient holding capacity?
The soil is strong enough to hold the nutrients without letting them leak to the surface
What is crop rotation?
Practice of planting different crops in a certain order on the same field over different seasons to improve soil health, manage nutrients, and break pest/disease cycles
What types of materials make up the top soil layer?
Organic material (leaf litter, dead or decaying plant and animal material) and mineral particles from decaying material
Which types of soils hold onto the most amount of moisture?
Clay soils
Smallest particles, so water can be retained there much easier.
What happens to the soil when it is exposed to little rainfall and high salt content?
The top soil and sub soil start to turn white from the accumulation of salt.
What are the three most important nutrients for fertile soil?
Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), and Potassium (K)
What is eutrophication?
Process in which nutrients accumulate in a body of water, resulting in an increased growth of algae and loss of oxygen resulting in fish and other organisms dying
Name one thing that parent material influences in the soil.
Types of minerals (mineral composition) and particle size in the soil
Which soils structures are the best for growing variety crops?
Loam soils
What two climatic factors need to occur to get dark top soil?
High rainfall and warm temperatures
Name three ways humans impact the nutrient cycle in soils.
Addition of pesticides or fertilizers to the soil
Emissions in the atmosphere (From factories, burning of fossil fuels)
Over production of crops
Clearing of plants on the surface
What is nitrogen fixation?
Process of converting atmospheric N and making nitrogen accessible to living organisms, mainly plants