Rocks and Weathering
The movement of rock particles by wind, water, or ice
What is Erosion
Name all of the components of soil.
rock particles, minerals, decayed organic materials, air and water. (Need 3 of these 5)
Name the three uses that change the land
Agriculture, Development (building cities, deforestation, etc.), Mining
Flatenning hill slopes in sections in order to slow the flow of water and erosion.
What is Terraces?
Which of the following is found in the highest percentage in soil?
minerals, organic material, water or air
What is minerals?
True or False: Weathering occurs faster in a dry environment
False: Weathering occurs faster in a wet environment.
Chemical weathering, which involves chemical reactions with water, is significantly faster in wet environments. In dry environments any weathering which occurs is through mechanical weathering, like temperature fluctuations causing rock expansion and contraction, but this process is generally slower than with the aid of chemical weathering.
Soil that is made up of equal parts clay, sand, and silt
What is loam
The loss of so much topsoil that make it difficult for plants to grow
What is soil erosion?
Any crop that leaves bare ground between the rows is alternated with a crop that completely covers the ground. For example alternating rows of hay or wheat with rows of corn, soybeans, cotton, or sugar beets.
What is strip cropping?
List the two requirements for soil development from the following:
mechanical weathering, chemical weathering, erosion, wind
What is mechanical and chemical weathering. If someone says, "weathering without erosion" - that's good.
True or False Erosion is the breaking down of rocks, while weathering refers to their transportation.
False vice-versa
A dark colored substance that forms as plant and animal remains decay
What is humus
When crops are planted in rows parallel to the contours of the land.
What is contour farming?
Plowing, planting and fertilizing are all done at the same time so as to give less time for wind to remove topsoil.
What is the no-till method?
Which layer in a soil profile contains the most rocks from the bedrock?
Horizon A, Horizon B, Horizon C
What is Horizon C?
Name 4 agents of chemical weathering.
water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, living organisms and acid rain
A layer of soil that differs in color and texture from the layers above or below it
What is a soil horizon
Name the 2 of the 5 states severely affected by the Dust Bowl in the thirties
Colorado Kansas Oklahoma Texas New Mexico
Changing crops planted seasonally or annually to improve the soil health and fertility by replenishing nutrents and organic material.
What is crop rotation?
(This can reduce soil erosion and also break the life cycles of pests and diseases.)
Which layer in a soil profile contains the most organic material?
Horizon A, Horizon B, Horizon C
What is Horizon A?
The two factors that affect the rate of weathering?
What are type of rock and climate, including temperature and moisture levels?
Put the following in order from largest to smallest: silt, sand, clay, aand gravel
gravel, sand, silt, clay
Name a means of protecting soil from heavy winds
What is a windbreak? (If a line of trees is given, good for 100 pt. less. If both 100 pt additional)
Approximately how many years does it take for about 1 centimeter of topsoil to take form?
Believe it or not, 100 - 400 years!
Which layer in a soil profile contains the most clay?
Horizon A, Horizon B, Horizon C
what is Horizon B?