Biosphere Flashcards
(3 cards)
1
Q
Brown Earth
A
- Thick black mull humus
- Abundant leaf litter causes faster humification
- A horizon has lots of organisms which aerates the soil
- Long tree roots draw nutrienst from C making it fertile
- Indistinct horizons from microfauna and tree roots
- C horizon is permeable from tree roots breaking it up
- Free drainage
- Avoids waterlogging allowing for high fertile soil
2
Q
Podzol
A
- Thin black acidic mor humus
- Cool climate slows organic breakdown
- Pine needles are waxy and acidic, decompose humjus takes acidity
- A horizon is ashy and infertile due to leeching
- Leaves horizon void of nutrients and gives colour
- Leaching draws humus down staining A horizon
- Waterlogged due to impermeable iron pan
- Iron pan, ferrous material dissolves and drawn to between A and B
- Water sists in the boundary so it is desopited and sets
- B horizon is reddish brown as iron and aluminium oxides react
- C horizon made of flurio glacial creating good drainage
- Distinct horizons due to shallow roots
3
Q
Gley
A
- Thin black acidic mor humus
- Cold tempertures from Artic causes very slow orgaic breakdown
- Small shrubs, lichens, moss due to cold and wind
- A horizon is infertile and silty due to no microfauna
- Dark colour shows orgain breadown but it is limited
- Regulary waterlogged due to poor drainage from C
- B horizon is anerobic causing gleying
- Gleying, insoluble FeO turn blue react with no O2 + H20
- Red mottling FeO reacts with O2 if soil os disturbed
- C horizon is impermeable due to dense clays
- Distinct horizons due to lack of tree roots
