Soil
What is the primary purpose of soil for plants?
What is to provide food, water, and support
What is the parent material in soil formation?
What is the original rocky material before weathering?
What is physical weathering?
What is the breakdown of rocks caused by temperature changes and moisture?
What are minerals in soil?
What are the inorganic materials present in the soil?
What are the requirements for a good plant medium?
What are moisture retention, nutrient retention, good porosity, and support for the plant?
How does the soil mix affect a plant's health?
What is it influences the plant's vitality and appearance?
What role do lower plant forms like lichens and mosses play in soil formation?
What is they help in breaking down rock matter?
Define chemical weathering.
What is the alteration of rocks through chemical reactions with water and gases?
What is organic matter in soil?
What is the decomposed remains of plants and animals?
Define porosity in soil media
What is the air space between solid particles?
Name one factor that affects the soil mixture's impact on plant growth.
What is organic content, particle size, or mineral composition?
List one process that starts soil formation.
What is weathering caused by snow, ice, wind, or rain?
Name one effect of weathering on soil.
What is changes in consistency, chemical makeup, or moisture content?
Describe the significance of pH in soil.
What determines the acidity or alkalinity that affects plant growth?
Explain the importance of aeration in plant media.
What is it allows air movement through the soil, crucial for root health?
What are the two main types of weathering that affect soil?
What are physical and chemical weathering?
How does topography affect soil formation?
What is it causes the movement of soil particles and relocates parent material?
How does moisture content in soil change due to weathering?
What can it increase or decrease, affecting plant growth?
What is the role of microorganisms in soil?
What is they decompose organic matter and recycle nutrients?
What is capillary water?
What is the water held by soil and available to plants through their roots?
Explain how organic matter contributes to soil formation.
What is it decays and enriches the soil with nutrients?
What is the significance of organic matter in soil creation?
What is it is essential for soil structure and nutrient availability?
Describe an example of how wind contributes to soil weathering.
What is it can erode and transport soil particles over time?
Identify one benefit of adding compost to soil
What is it improves soil structure and nutrient levels?
Describe hydroponics and its advantages.
What is a growing method using a mineral-nutrient solution instead of soil, providing easier control and faster growth?