Soils

Question 1

What are the five components of soil

Answer 1

Water 
Air
Mineral matter
Humus
Living organisms

Question 2

Explain mineral matter in terms of it being a component of soil.

Answer 2

Mineral matter makes up most of the soil. This consists of broken down material ex. Rocks that have been broken down by weathering and erosion. Mineral matter in soil is made up of stones, sand, silt and clay

Question 3

Explain water in terms of it being a component of soil.

Answer 3

Water binds the soil together and contains minerals which plants absorb through their roots.

Question 4

Explain air in terms of it being a component of soil.

Answer 4

Air fills the spaces between the minerals in the soil. Air contains nitrogen and oxygen which plants and animals in the soil need to live

Question 5

Explain humus in terms of it being a component of soil.

Answer 5

Humus is dark partly decayed mineral matter in soil. Made up of remains of organisms and the soil itself it keeps the soil fertile.

Question 6

Name three factors which form soil

Answer 6

The climate
People
Time

Question 7

Give a positive effect that people can have on soil

Answer 7

We can increase soil fertility and health by draining irrigation and fertilising the soil

Question 8

Give in percentages the composition of soil

Answer 8

45%- Mineral matter
25%- air
25%- water
5% - living organisms and plant remains

Question 9

Give one Negetive effect people can have on soil

Answer 9

People can reduce the fertility of soil by overworking the land

Question 10

Explain how climate allows soil to form

Answer 10

Climate influences vegetation growth which when it decays forms humus.

Climate provides water in soil from precipitation

Climate also provides frost and water which erodes rock by weathering to form mineral particles

Minerals+water+humus = soil

Question 11

Explain what is needed for humus to form

Answer 11

Micro organisms oxygen and warm conditions lead to the humification of plant litter

Question 12

Explain leaching

Answer 12

Leaching is when water soaks down through the soil carrying nutrients down past the level of the plant roots

Question 13

Explain the negetive effect leaching can have

Answer 13

Too much leaching can lead to plants being deprived of their nutrients, minerals can build up in the soil forming a hard layer called hard pan

Question 14

What sort of material is found in first layer or horizon A of soil

Answer 14

Humus dark horizon, living organisms

Question 15

What sort of material is found in second layer or horizon B of soil

Answer 15

This is lighter in colour contains small stones

Question 16

What sort of material is found in third layer or horizon C of soil

Answer 16

Bedrock or the parent rock ex. Limestone

Question 17

Name four types of soil in Ireland

Answer 17

Podzol soils
Brown earth soils
Peaty soils
Gley soils

Question 18

What is the most common soil in Ireland

Answer 18

Brown earth soils

Question 19

Where and how do brown earth soils form

Answer 19

They develop on areas previously covered in deciduous forest but now develop under grassland or crops.
Because of the large amount of plant litter in a forest this soil has lots of humus forming making it fertile.
Rainfall does not tend to seep into the soil because of vegetation so little leaching occurs

Question 20

Where can he be found in Ireland

Answer 20

Across the Midlands, east and in the lowlands of the south

Question 21

Why is brown earth soil popular for farmers

Answer 21

It is very fertile and is suitable for almost every type of farming

Question 22

Where and how to podzol soils form

Answer 22

They form on floors on coniferous forests in cold wet areas. There is little plant litter in these forests so little humus. There is little earthworm activity because of conditions

Heavy rainfall causes leaching creating a hard pan. The A horizon gives off a grey colour.

Infertile and acidic

Question 23

Where are podzol soils found in Ireland

Answer 23

Poorly drained areas of Galway and Cork

Question 24

Give characteristics of podzol soil

Answer 24

Very wet, contains hardpan due to leaching, grey

Question 25

Where are podzol soils found?

Answer 25

Coniferous forests (parts of cork, Wexford, galway)

Question 26

Characteristics of tropical red soils

Answer 26

-Rusty red in colour because acids in humus speed up chemical weathering
-humus is created rapidly due to large amount of plant litter
Hot climate causes bedrock to decompose quickly

Question 27

Where are tropical red soils found

Answer 27

Near the equator in hot/wet places

Question 28

How does soil influence vegetation?

Answer 28

• Rich/weak in nutrients
• Well drained/waterlogged
• Deep/shallow

Question 29

How does vegetation influence soil?

Answer 29

Deciduous- lots of humus (rich in nutrients)
Coniferous- less humus (less fertile)

Vegetation absorbs water and protects soil