rock cycle soil formation soil composition physical and chemical properties of soil main soil...
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Rock cycleSoil formationSoil compositionPhysical and chemical properties of
soilMain soil typesErosion and other soil problemsSoil conservation
groups: igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic
Igneous – from melted rock that has cooled/solidified (Ex. granite) Rarely has fossils, crystals
Sedimentary – formed on surface (land/water) from layered sediment broken from rock (Ex. limestone, shale) Most rock, fossils, visible layers
Metamorphic – other rock that changes due to heat/pressure (ex. slate and marble) Rarely has fossils, may have layered crystals
THE ROCK CYCLE !
Holds nutrients and waterCleanses and filters water as it flows
through soilAffects the amount of water that
returns to atmosphereNamed for physical and chemical
properties EX: texture, pH
IT TAKES A YEAR TO MAKE 1 mm TOPSOIL
Formed from weathering, takes TIME TIME (rocks broken into smaller and smaller bits) Physical weathering – alternate freezing and
thawing, wind/water erosion, ocean waves Chemical weathering – carbonic acid in soil
(from CO2 and H2O) Biological weathering – lichen produce acid
several factors influence the soil formed: Parent material – rock/mineral it came from Living organisms – decompose litter and
recycle nutrients (Ex. Rhizobium, fungi, insects, worms, snails)
1. Mineral Particles (45%) Weathered rock Provides essential nutrients for plants
2. Organic Material (5%) Litter, animal dung, dead remains of plants and
animals Increase water-holding capacity Humus – decomposed org. matter, binds
nutrients/water3. Water (25%)4. Air (25%) PERCENTS ARE FOR A
TYPICAL/HEALTHY SOIL
Pore space air- good for
aeration (O2, CO2, N2)
water- provides water to roots
O-horizon Rich in plant litter/organic
matter A-horizon
Topsoil (organic matter and humus), plant growth, leached
E B-horizon
Lighter colored subsoil, illuviation, high inorganic
C-horizon Somewhat weathered
parent material, groundwater, no organic
Bedrock - unweathered
There are millions of microorganisms in 1 tsp of fertile agricultural soil
Soil organisms provide ecosystem services
Examples Decaying and cycling organic material Breaking down toxic materials Cleansing water Soil aeration (especially done by
earthworms)
Nutrients are cycled between plants, organisms and soil
Example Bacteria and fungi
decompose plant and animal wastes
They are transformed into CO2, soil nutrients and water
Soil Texture Relative proportion of sand, silt and clay Sand: 2mm-0.05mm (large) Silt: 0.05mm-0.002mm (medium) Clay: less than 0.002mm (small)
Soil texture affects soil properties Coarse textured soil (sandy)
Will not hold water well- flows through easily
Fine textured soil (high in clay) Due to negatively charged surface, able to
hold onto important plant nutrients (K+, Ca2+)
Poor drainage Low oxygen levels in soil
Loam Combo all textures – 20% clay, 40%
sand and silt Ideal for agriculture▪ Sand holds air/water▪ Clay holds nutrients
Nutrients: Nitrogen, potassium (potash), phosphorus
Soil Acidity Measured using pH scale▪ 0-7 = acidic ; 7 = neutral ; 7-14 = basic
pH of most soils range from 4-8 Affects solubility of certain plant nutrients Affects leaching of nutrient minerals▪ Ex: acidic soil doesn’t bind positive ions as well
Optimum soil pH is 6-7▪ plant nutrients are most available to plants▪ Soil amendments (ex: lime) can be used to achieve this
pH
Physical and chemical properties of soil
Soil vocab: clay, silt, sand, loam, humus, topsoil
coniferous forests O-horizon
composed of needles
Not good farmland- too acidic
Temperate Deciduous Forests
Precipitation high enough to leach most organics and nutrients out of O-, A- and B-horizons
Soil fertility maintained by leaf litter
temperate, semi-arid grassland
Very fertile soil Soluble nutrients
stay in A-horizon due to low leaching
arid regions Low precipitation =
no leaching, no vegetation = not much org. matter
tropical and subtropical areas with high precipitation
Very little organic material accumulation due to fast decay rate
B-horizon is highly leached, acidic, and nutrient poor
Nutrient minerals in plants, not soil
Soil Erosion Def: wearing away of soil from the land Caused primarily by water and wind
Why a problem? less soil grow less plants Decrease amount of nutrients need
more fertilizers Sediment into surface water that
decreases quality of fish habitat
Erosion causes: natural, but anthropogenic activities
make it worse:▪ Poor agricultural practices▪ Removing natural plant communities when building roads (plant cover holds soil)▪ overgrazing
Great Plains have low precipitation and subject to drought 1930-1937 severe
drought No natural vegetation
roots to hold soil in place▪ Replaced by annual crops
Winds blew soil as far east as NYC and DC.
Farmers went bankrupt
Nutrient Mineral Depletion
Soil Salinization Def: gradual accumulation of salt
in the soil Often in arid and semi-arid
areas The little precipitation that falls is
quickly evaporated Leaves behind salts most plants die
Soil remediation Dilution,
bioremediation/phytoremediation
Desertification Def: degradation of once-
fertile land into nonproductive desert
Typically a human-induced condition
Ex: African Sahel; possible solution: Agroforestry to plant crops and Acacia trees (nitrogen-fixing + decomposing leaves)
Conservation Tillage Residues from previous
year’s crops are left in place to prevent soil erosion
Includes no tillage Con: weeds
o Crop Rotation (polyculture)• Planting a series of different crops in the same field
over a period of years• Lessens pest and insect disease• Replenish nitrogen• Ex: corn soybeans oats alfalfa (soy and alfalfa
= legumes)
Contour Plowing Plowing around hill
instead of up-down Rows catch water
Strip Cropping Alternating strips of
different crops on steep slopes ; prevents erosion by naturally damming water
Terracing Creating terraces on
steep slopes to prevent erosion
Strip Strip CroppingCropping
TerraciTerracingng
Organic fertilizers Animal manure, crop residue, worm castings, and
compost (individual and municipal) Nutrients available only as material decomposes▪ Slow acting and long lasting▪ Could contain disease-causing pathogens if not
properly composted.
Inorganic fertilizers Made from chemical compounds Soluble▪ Fast acting, short lasting
Bad for environment▪ leach and pollute groundwater and surface run-off▪ Produced using lots of fossil fuels
Use soil without depleting fertility and amount so it’s productive enough for future generations
Food Security Act (Farm Bill) Food Security Act (Farm Bill) 19851985 Required farmers with highly erodible
soil to incorporate erosion-control practices or are at risk of losing subsidies
What physical test could you do to soil?
What chemical test could you perform on soil?
What are the layers of soil horizons, but top down?
What is the ideal pH for most plants?
Having a pH lower than 7 makes a substance a ____.
What is loam?Why does clay bind readily to some
ions?What inorganic soil particle is the
largest?What inorganic soil particle is the
smallest?
What happens to the quantity of organic material as you move down the horizons?
Which soil horizon is the illuviation zone?
Which soil horizon is where the topsoil is located?
What does leaching mean?
Does rain affect leaching?Other than organic matter and
inorganic particles, what else constitutes soil?
What does anthropogenic mean?What does sustainable mean?
In typical soil, is there more organic matter or inorganic particles?
Why is air space important for soil?What is humus?What part of soil increases its water
holding capacity?Where do the inorganic particles of
soil come from?
Name the 3 types of rockWhich rock is from cooled lava?Which rock forms from layer upon
layer of other rock particles and dead organisms?
What rock forms when either of the other 2 are exposed to high heat and pressure enough to change them?
Granite is an example of what type of rock?
Marble is an example of what type of rock? Limestone and sandstone are examples of
what type of rock? Why is soil important? What are the 3 types of weathering
processes? What role do earthworms play in forming
soil?
How does carbonic acid form?What does it do to rock?Give an example of physical
weathering. Give an example of biological
weathering.Where is bedrock located?
What are the consequences of erosion?
What are causes of erosion?What is desertification?What is soil salinization? How do you remedy it?What causes it?