Soil

Question 1

What essential functions does soil perform?

Answer 1

Reservoir for water (aquafiers etc), medium for plant growth and food, filters the air and the water, recycles dead plants/animals, storing huge amounts of carbon

Question 2

Main components of soil

Answer 2

45% mineral. 25 % air. 25% water. 5% organic

Question 3

Mineral part of soil

Answer 3

Formed by weathering of parent material.
Primary minerals = changed little since formation
secondary minerals = formed from breakdown and chemical weathering of less resistant primary minerals

Question 4

Soil litter

Answer 4

remainder of decomposed animal and plant waste

Question 5

Soil humus

Answer 5

A dark and organic material that forms in soil when plant and animal matter decays

Question 6

Soil biomass

Answer 6

living organisms and plant roots

Question 7

Mineralisation

Answer 7

The process where the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms leads to nutrients being released such as nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus

Question 8

Water in soil

Answer 8

Important as it is required for parent material weathering.

Question 9

Saturated soil

Answer 9

When all the soil is saturated the pores are filled with water

Question 10

Soil air

Answer 10

The air within the soil occupies the pore spaces within the soil (if it is not saturated with water that is)

Question 11

Soil profile

Answer 11

Vertical section through the soil from ground surface down to the parent material.

Question 12

Soil horizons

Answer 12

The layers within the soil profile.

O, A, E, B, C, R

Question 13

O horizon

Answer 13

Basically the surface layer (soil humus). Consisting of organic matter (decay of animals and plants). Not always present.

Question 14

A layer

Answer 14

The topsoil.

Contains rich organic material with minerals. High concentration of organic matter and microorganism.

Question 15

E horizon

Answer 15

Elevation layer (may be missing in some soils)
Mineral horizon. Lighter in color. Leaching happens here

Question 16

B horizon

Answer 16

Mineral horizon but enriched in iron

Soil of acculumation.

Question 17

C horizon

Answer 17

Loose material. Much of original material and fragments. often light in color.

Question 18

R horizon

Answer 18

Bedrock. Form parent material.

Question 19

Pedogenesis

Answer 19

Process of soil formation. The soil horizons develop after number of processes.
Processes like weathering, winds, rain etc.
A rock splits and expands leading to smaller particles entering the soil with new minerals.

Question 20

Addition of pedogenesis

Answer 20

Comes from parent material. Can also be material gathered by wind or energy from the sun

Question 21

Losses of pedogenesis

Answer 21

Removals from soil because of erosion or filtering

Question 22

Mixing of pedogenesis

Answer 22

Mixing of organic and inorganic components is carried out by soil animals and plant roots or by freezing of water and shrinking/swelling.
Humans = ploughing

Question 23

Factors affecting soil formation - Climate

Answer 23

Perhaps the most influential factor. Determines the moisture level and temperature and therefore amount of precipitation (affecting weathering).
Climate impacts weathering and the process of transforming the soil into different minerals (clay for instance)
Influences which productivity occurs of photosynthesis and therefore the amount of biomass integrated into the soil (A-horizon)
Little precipitation often leads to salinization and calcification

Question 24

Factors affecting soil formation - topography

Answer 24

Altitude = can quickly change climatic conditions (usually drier and colder)
Higher slopes = allows for more erosion.
lower temp = less biological activity and less decomposition of organic matter

Dry podzol on top of steeper soil
Wet podzol further down
Lower topography often peat

Question 25

Factors affecting soil formation - organisms/flora&fauna

Answer 25

Earthworms or other small animals mix and freshen the soil which creates pore spaces Found to increase the infiltration rate Could be animals, plants rooting or even humans ploughing that change biological factors such as moisture

Question 26

Factors affecting soil formation - time

Answer 26

Time continually forms the parent material under the influence of the other factors. Sedimentation and depositing takes time. Important to be aware of the fact that soil processes are usually very slow and certain conditions are needed for changes to occur.

Question 27

Impact of human activities on soil - erosion

Answer 27

further accelerated by human activities. Farming such as removal of vegetation and heavy machinery could affect. In turn this impacts our food supply chains.

Question 28

Impact of human activities on soil - acidification

Answer 28

enhanced by use of fossil fuels resulting in acid rain and overuse of nitrogen fertilizers. The more hydrogen ions the more acid the soil is.

Question 29

Impact of human activities on soil - pesticides

Answer 29

Human use to protect crops. Have a broad spectrum activity.

Question 30

Salinization and soil

Answer 30

Salt increase leading to less fertility.

Question 31

Soil compaction

Answer 31

Caused by heavy machinery or trampling of livestock especially in wet soil conditions. Leads to reduced porosity of the soil and therefore increases risk of erosion as less water can infiltrate soils pores (less saturation can take place)

Question 32

Terraced crop growing

Answer 32

Sustainable way to farm to avoid soil erosion with "steps" in slopes.

Question 33

Definition of Land degradation

Answer 33

"Temporarily or permeant loss of productive capacity of land due to human action" "A temporary or permanent decline in the productive capacity of the land. This can be seen through a loss of biomass, a loss of actual productivity or in potential productivity or loss or change in vegetative cover/soil nutrients"

Question 34

Example of land degradation in Netherlands

Answer 34

Veluwe Today mostly sand not forest Peat has been dug out and animals used in deciduous forest, animals that eat ekthorns which leads to less nutrients and vegetation can therefore not grow

Question 35

What are the main causes of land degradation?

Answer 35

Agriculture (drainage, deforestation and use of pesticides) Extraction of recourses such as mining Waste (drug waste in nature) Urban growth

Question 36

Different types of land degradation

Answer 36

Soil erosion, soil acidification, soil pollution, soil trampling, loss of organic matter, desertification, desiccation, salinization and loss of general biodiversity in soil

Question 37

Soil erosion as type of land degradation

Answer 37

different processes contribute to erosion? | The weather, Vegetation cover, Land use, animal life, type of soil, water/precipitation and topography/steepness

Question 38

Measures to help deal with erosion/land degradation

Answer 38

- contour ploughing (reduced overland flow) - windbreaks (reduces wind power to erode) - strip farming - leaving crop remains on land - winter crops - terraces with slopes

Question 39

What is pesticide and pest?

Answer 39

Pesticide = substance intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest pest = insects, mice, fungi, weed, bacteria or virus Effects of use? Humans face the risk of direct exposure as well as drinking contaminated water and inhaling. Could lead to birth defects, kidney failure and cancer

Question 40

Water balance and vegetation effects

Answer 40

Different scenarios depending on vegetation cover. 1. Lot of vegetation. Means that each water droplet has less impact on soil. Trees can transpire the water 2. No vegetation cover. Each water droplet has high impact on soil cover 3. Urban buildings. No vegetation or sparse cover. Each droplet has high impact on overland flow.

Question 41

What is soil? Definitions?

Answer 41

Non-renewable resource Performs vital functions Concerns the loose material and upper part of earths crust that is vital for vegetation Transition between atmosphere, lithosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere

Question 42

What are minerals in soil?

Answer 42

``` The solid materials (non pore space) = Gravel/stones are > 2 mm Sand 0.05-2 mm Silt 0.002-0.05 mm Clay < 2 nano mm ``` Soils tend to be a combination of minerals Texture is result of weathering

Question 43

Organic matter (5 % of soil composition)

Answer 43

Helps hold moisture and creates nutrients in soil

Question 44

Water in soil

Answer 44

The amount of water depends on texture, structure and organic matter. Example: lot of clay, means less pore space for water

Question 45

Geogenesis

Answer 45

Builds up over time. First step (before pedogenesis). The stratification due to geological deposition

Question 46

Process of pedogenesis: Transformation

Answer 46

Takes place when the soil freezes or calcium is broken down

Question 47

Process of pedogenesis: Translocation

Answer 47

Particles in upper part of soil + moves within the soil

Question 48

Soil formation factors: Parent material

Answer 48

Part of geogenesis For example: Fluvial (tend to be layered and well sorted) Glacial (tend to be unlayered and not well sorted due to thick ice has pushed) Lacustrine (lakes) (well sorted and layered with fine sediments) Marine (sea) (layered and well sorted) not clay marine (difficult to cultivate) Organogenic (Low in minerals but layered) not always classified as soil

Question 49

Soil across the world

Answer 49

The distribution of soil varies widely | Mountain soils, podzols, ice covered soils, arenosols, black clay soils, chernozem, laterite soils

Question 50

Three categorises of soil

Answer 50

Zonal soils; characteristic for climatic zones Intrazonal soils: independent of climatic variables Azonal soils: young soils, cannot yet show clear signs of pedogenesis

Question 51

Chernosem

Answer 51

Missing b horizon High moisture (good for growing crops) Russia

Question 52

Brown earth soil

Answer 52

Deeper good for agriculture contains a lot of earth worms

Question 53

Tundra

Answer 53

No layers in soil

Question 54

Podzol

Answer 54

Clear layers | Red line in soil layer

Question 55

Laterite soils

Answer 55

Experience huge precipitaiton very productive and contains large amount of biomass easily washed out by rain (organic material)

Question 56

Netherlands soil

Answer 56

Clay (fertile and good for agriculture) sand peat former dunes and beach soils (good for bulp growing in middle of netherlands)

Question 57

Landscape triangular model

Answer 57

Landscape composed of three factors = Cultural (people), Abiotic (geology) and Biotic (nature) Not about labelling. All factors are important. Some landscapes have stronger cultural functions while some stronger biotic functions. UNESCOs world heritage can be both cultural and natural but only chooses one focus on each site.

Question 58

Dutch landscape?

Answer 58

Around 20 different landscapes People think of flat land. Reclaimed land and built environment. Farming. Man made and integrated. Canals. Tulips. Sand dunes.

Question 59

"Dutch people have always batted against the water" - true or false?

Question 60

Contextualising climate change - has corona changed something?

Answer 60

Not really. The fact that people want to use their own car and less public transport as well as working from home - rising energy consumption from servers. KNMI had to adjust sea level rise to 1.2 - 2 meters

Question 61

What do you need to know to study an impact?

Answer 61

Origin (path dependency could play a role - the past influences future development) different depending on the region

Question 62

Gyttja

Answer 62

sediment rich in organic matter deposited at the bottom of a eutrophic lake.

Question 63

Bog peat VS fen peat

Answer 63

Fen peat = same level as regional ground water Rich in nutrients Results in lakes or strips of land Rasied bog peat = above the regional ground water. Supplied by rain water and is poor in nutrients (oligotrophic)

Question 64

Peat definition

Answer 64

The most widely distributed type of organic-rich biological sediment is peat, which forms through the accumulation of dead plant material in wet conditions

Question 65

Leaching

Answer 65

Chemical removal of soil material by percolation of water