Soil
What is the difference between soil and dirt?
Soil supports life. It contains microbes, organisms, decaying matter, organic matter/humus, roots, nutrients, etc.
What characteristics make up the O horizon?
Organic matter
What are 2 examples of physical weathering?
Abrasion, Expansion, Exfoliation, Running Water
What are the 3 types of soil particles? List them in order from largest to smallest.
Sand, silt, clay
What are the 4 reasons why we care about soil?
Erosion, Groundwater Protection, Carbon Storage, Organisms
What characteristics make up the A horizon?
Minerals from parent material, roots, known as the topsoil.
What are 2 examples of chemical weathering?
Dissolution, Hydrolysis, Carbonation, Hydration, Oxidation
10% sand, 40% silt, 50% clay makes what soil type?
Silty Clay
What are the 5 soil forming factors?
Climate, Topography, Organisms, Time, Parent Material
Leached of clay, minerals, and organic matter. Sandier than A and B horizon.
What are 2 examples of biological weathering?
Roots, Plants, Animals, Microbes
50% sand, 20% silt, 30% clay makes what soil type?
Sandy Clay Loam
What are the 5 properties of soil?
Filtration, Nutrient Cycling/Storage, Foundation for Buildings, Plant Habitat, Water Storage/Supply
What characteristics make up the B horizon?
Subsoil, rich in minerals that leached from A or E horizons.
What mode of transportation created the parent materials found in Nebraska?
Wind
35% sand, 45% silt, 20% clay makes up what soil?
Loam
What is Parent Material?
Materials from which soil developed.
What characteristics make up the C horizon?
Parent material.
What are 2 examples of parent materials found in Nebraska?
Loess and Eolian Sand
10% sand, 10% silt, and 80% clay makes up what soil?