Horizons
This is the uppermost horizon that holds things like leaf litter and insects.
O - Organic
Name the three particles that make up soil from smallest to largest.
Clay - Silt - Sand
process by which soil is moved.
What is erosion?
lowering of the quality of soil or the loss of soil productivity
What is (soil) degradation?
Equal parts sand, silt, and clay.
What is Loam?
This horizon is the surface that soils developed from.
C - Parent Material
Which particle helps increase porosity in the soil?
Sand
Causes of accelerated erosion.
What is human activity; can use a specific example.
Three causes of soil degradation
What are construction, contamination, and erosion
rate at which water moves through the soil
What is permeability?
This horizon is where minerals from the upper horizons stop.
B - Subsoil
Which particle is silky in texture?
Clay
occurs when the front edge of a glacier may push soil, rocks, fallen trees, and other materials.
What is glacial erosion?
an accumulation of soluble salts
What is salinization?
Soils that appear darker in color are said to be higher in this substance.
What is organic matter?
This horizon is where most roots stop growing.
A - Topsoil
Which particle is sticky in texture?
Silt
water erosion that occurs when rain falls faster than it can be absorbed into the soil
What is runoff?
Name one cause of soil contamination due to agriculture.
1. Use of too much fertilizer
2. Use of excess chemicals
3. Use of irrigation water containing salt
The difference between dirt and soil
Soil contains nutrients
Name the 5 soil horizons in order from top to bottom.
O - organic
A - topsoil
B - subsoil
C - parent material
R - bedrock
Which particle attracts ions required by plants?
Clay
erosion that occurs on sloping land that is wet.
What is land slippage?
the packing of soil particles tightly together after years of tillage with heavy machinery
What is compaction?
Name the 4 primary components of Soil; and list their estimated percentage makeup.
Mineral matter: 45%
Organic Matter: 5%
Water: 25%
Air: 25%