Important Definitions
Soil Trivia
SOIL HORIZONS
kNOw soil, kNOw life
100
It is a fairly thin layer (5 to 10 inches thick) composed of organic matter and minerals. This layer is the primary layer where plants and organisms live
What is Topsoil?
100
The percentage of food that is produced on our soil?
95%
100
The weathered rock below the B horizon, is also known as the deposit of Earth's surface from which soil developed from.
What is Horizon C?
100
The type of relationship between all life on earth and soil.
What is a symbiotic relationship?
200
Water, wind, and other natural forces cause rocks and earth to wear away. These forces also move bits of rock and earth to new places. This movement changes the shape of the land.
What is Erosion?
200
This critter is known for its hard work in aiding the cycling of organic matter and minerals.
What are earthworms?
200
Referred to as Subsoil, rich in the minerals that percolate down from the topsoil. The section can be seen gradually accumulating clay and cations.
What is Horizon B?
200
The earliest fossil soils were rich in this nutrient.
What is Potassium?
300
This describes the physical features of an area of land. These features typically include natural formations such as mountains, rivers, lakes, and valleys
What is Topography?
300
This soil although confided in the extremes of cold weather is filled with nutrients and minerals.
What is Polar Soil?
300
Often referred to as topsoil, filled with the earth's minerals and some organic matter. This is the habitat for millions of microorganisms.
What is Horizon A?
300
This environment usually has thin rocky soils with sparse vegetation.
What is an Arid environment?
400
A widespread and often dramatic form of soil erosion caused by flowing surface water
What is an erosional gully?
400
The best mixture of soil that is most fertile for plant life. Consisting of Sand, Silt, and Clay.
What is Loam?
400
A mass of rock such as granite, basalt, quartzite, limestone or sandstone
What is Bedrock?
400
Abundant rainfall with high weathering rates on gentle slopes is usually found in many tropical landscapes. These are all signs of what.
What is deforestation and or Erosion?
500
a term that means equal standstill. This translates to pieces of the Earth's crust floating on the top of the Earth's mantle in an equilibrium position
What is Isotasy?
500
Accounting for the rough estimation of erosion, This is the amount of time the US Department of Agriculture calculates for soil to replenish one inch of topsoil.
What is 500 years?
500
The partially decomposed organic matter that's found on the ground's surface and easily susceptible to erosion if exposed to rainfall, runoff, and or high winds.
What is the O horizon?
500
In our ecosystem, this is the key factor in water infiltration, filtration, and storage.
What is HEALTHY SOIL?