Erosion
Soil erosion is the movement of soil particles by these 3 factors.
What is water, wind, or tillage?
Most toxic chemicals in soil come from these 2 sources.
What is industrial waste and pesticide use?
This is how often farmers and gardeners should test their soil.
What is every 3-5 years?
This is one characteristic of urban soils.
What is compaction, highly contrasting soil layers, and contamination?
Soil is composed of these 3 mineral textures.
What is sand, silt, and clay?
This type of erosion occurs naturally and can be described as a natural leveling process.
What is geological erosion?
These are examples of plants that do not take up contaminants, but their roots excrete compounds that stimulate beneficial bacteria growth.
What are prairie grasses, wildflowers, poplar trees?
This beneficial fungus enhances plant roots and aids in nutrient uptake.
What is mycorrhizae?
These are areas covered in vegetation and designed for recreation and conservation in urban areas.
What are green spaces?
These soil colors indicate good airflow.
What is red / yellow / orange?
This is the minimum wind speed required to move soil.
What is 10 mph?
When pesticies are applied to a field, this % reaches the soil.
What is 30%?
This plant family should be incorporated into crop rotations for its ability to add biological nitrogen to soil.
What are legumes?
This is how urbanization disrupts the hydrologic cycle.
What is impermeable layers (like pavement) reduce water filtration?
These soil colors indicate poor airflow.
What is grey / blue?
Wind erosion is most serious in these types of climates.
What is dry / desert / arid?
This is how pesticides impact earthworms.
What is abnormal burrowing behavior?
This is the ideal pH range for nutrients in the soil.
What is 5.5 to 7.0?
This is one way to improve water infiltration in urban areas.
What are rain gardens or permeable pavement?
This is how soil microbes influence nutrient availability in soils.
What is eating OM and pooping it out?
These are the 3 steps in soil erosion by wind or water.
What is
1. Detachment of soil particles.
2. Transportation of detached soil particles.
3. Deposit of transported soil particles.
This is what happens to organic contaminants as they "age" within soil.
What is microbial activity slows and contaminant concentrations level out because remaining contaminants are trapped in nanopores?
These 2 essential plant nutrients are only available to plants for a short period of time when applied to the soil.
What is Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K)?
These are 3 benefits of green roofs in urban areas.
What is reduced stormwater runoff, heat moderation, improved air quality, building insulation, reduced energy use, noise reduction, increased biodiversity?
These are the 6 roles of soil.
What is
1. Support plant growth
2. Regulate water supplies
3. Modify the atmosphere
4. Recycle waste/OM
5. Habitat for organisms
6. Engineering medium