Composition
What are the 5 components of soil ?
Mineral Matter, Water, Air, Living Organisms, Humus
T
Topography
What is the is the first horizon closest to the surface ?
A Horizon
What colour is a BES ? Why ?
Rich Brown.
What colour is Podzol soil ?
Grey.
What is desertification ?
The making of desert by taking away soil fertility.
a) What is mineral matter made up of ?
b) What percent of soil is mineral matter
a) Sand, Silt, Clay
b) 45%
C
Climate
What is the middle horizon called ?
B horizon.
What type of forest can you find a BES
Deciduous Forest
What type of forest can you find Podzol Soil ?
Coniferous
What is overgrazing ? What is the solution ?
When animals graze on the same land continuously destroying roots and vegetation leading to soil erosion.
Field rotation and smaller herd sizes.
What percent of soil is made up of water ?
25%
O
Organisms
What is the bottom horizon called ?
C horizon.
Is this soil good for farming ? Why/ why not ?
Yes, it has a lot of humus making it fertile.
Is this soil good for farming ? Why/why not ?
No, it doesn't have a lot of humus.
What is over cropping ? What is the solution ?
Field Rotation and crop rotation.
What percent of soil is made up of air ?
25%
P
Parent Material
What is leaching ?
What and where is a hardpan ?
Leaching is when minerals are washed through the soil.
An impermeable layer of minerals formed at the bottom of the A horizon.
Does leaching occur ? Why/why not ?
No, cover frim tress and vegetation
Does leaching occur in Podzol soils ? What happens if so ?
Yes, minerals are washed to the bottom of the A horizon forming a hardpan which causes the A horizon to become waterlogged and infertile.
What is deforestation ? What are the solutions ?
Cutting down forests.
Forest management and replanting trees.
What percent of soil is made up of organic matter ?
5%
T
H
Time
Human Activity
a) What is humification ?
b) How does it occur ?
a) Humification is the making of humus.
b) Plant litter is broken down by micro organisms to create humus which increases soil fertility.
Where can you find BES ?
Midlands and South East of Ireland.
Where can you find Podzol Soils ?
Co. Clare, Derry and Antrim.
What happens as a result of desertification in the Sahel ?
Grassland has turned to desert = people are forced to migrate where they put pressure on the new land.
Infertile soil = crop failure leading to famine and death.
Forced migration = people struggling to live in refugee camps.