What is Soil? Flashcards

1
Q

What is soil

A

Soil is a complex, self-renewing, living system. It is a vital natural resource. It is the
resource that most terrestrial life depends on directly or indirectly for survival. It is a
composite of inorganic minerals, organic humus, living organisms, moisture, and air.
Soils are the product of interactions between abiotic and biotic processes and take
thousands of years to form.

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2
Q

The study of soil is called?

A

Pedology

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3
Q

What Greek roots are in pedology

A

Pedon- soil
Logos- reason

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4
Q

What are the 5 soil forming factors

A
  1. Parent (source) material
  2. Climate that the soil components are under
  3. Plant and animal life in the area
  4. Relief on the land
  5. Length of time other factors have interacted
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5
Q

What is the parent material

A

Unconsolidated, chemically
weathered mineral, rock, or organic matter

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6
Q

What are the climatic factors

A

Precipitation, temperature, humidity, and
wind

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7
Q

What are mature soils

A

Those with clearly defined layers

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8
Q

What are immature soils

A

Those without clear layers

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9
Q

What are soil horizons?

A

The layers in the soil

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10
Q

O horizon

A

Organic material- plant matter and organic accumulations

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11
Q

A horizon

A

Where most plant root activity occurs, accumulation of organic matter and minerals

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12
Q

E horizon

A

Silicate clay, iron, aluminum, causing sand sized particles

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13
Q

B horizon

A

Subsoil, “zone of accumulation”, rain and irrigation materials move through the soil

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14
Q

C horizon

A

Substratum, contains less clay or weathered sediments

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15
Q

R horizon

A

Bedrock

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16
Q

What does the texture of a soil indicate?

A

water holding capacity, mineralogy, susceptibility to being transported by wind and water, chemical properties

17
Q

Mechanical analysis

A

Process by which soil separates are obtained

18
Q

12 major textural classes

A

sand
loamy sand
sandy loam
sandy clay loam
sandy clay
clay
clay loam
loam
silt loam
silty clay loam
silty clay
silt

19
Q
A