Soil

Question 1

What’s the acronym for controlling soil formation?

Answer 1

Cl , O , R , P , T

Question 2

What does Cl,O,R,P,T stand for?

Answer 2

Cl= Climate
O= Organisms
R= Topography/Relief
P= Parent material
T= Time

Question 3

controlling soil formation:
soil

Answer 3

represents the soil properties, including its texture, structure, chemical composition and biological activity.

Question 4

controlling soil formation:
Climate

Answer 4

refers to the overall atmospheric conditions, including temperature, precipitation and wind patterns.

Question 5

controlling soil formation:
Organisms

Answer 5

includes the effects of plants, animals and microorganisms of the soil

Question 6

controlling soil organisms:
Topography/Relief

Answer 6

represents the shape and elevation of the land, influencing water flows and erosion patterns

Question 7

controlling soil organisms:
Parent material

Answer 7

the underlying rock or sediment from which the soil develops

Question 8

controlling soil organisms:
Time

Answer 8

the duration over which soil formation occurs, which can be thousands of years

Question 9

components of soil

Answer 9

Mineral skeleton, Air, water, Living organisms, Organic matter

Question 10

What’s hygroscopic water?

Answer 10

held by adhesive forces on the mineral particle. CANT be absorbed by plants

Question 11

What’s capillary water?

Answer 11

water held by soil particles so doesn’t drain from the soil, but CAN be absorbed by plants

Question 12

What’s gravitational water?

Answer 12

spaces filled by air or water. drains easily from soil.

Question 13

why’s water and air content important in soil?

Answer 13

it affects the overall fertility of the soil. waterlogged soil is less fertile

Question 14

name the 3 soil textures, smallest to biggest.

Answer 14

smallest- clay, silt, sand- biggest

Question 15

What are detrivores?

Answer 15

slugs, millipedes, worms breakdown DOM and release nutrients They help aerate soils by tunneling through it

Question 16

what are decomposers?

Answer 16

bacteria - fungus digest DOM and release nutrients after it’s been broken down.

Question 17

Name the types of soil biota

Answer 17

nitrogen fixing bacteria, nitrifying bacteria, mycorrihza fungus, detrivores, decomposers

Question 18

What macronutrients does soil contain?

Answer 18

nitrates, phosphates and potassium

Question 19

What micronutrients does soil contain?

Answer 19

boron, copper and magnesium

Question 20

What happens with toxic heavy metals in soil?

Answer 20

toxic heavy metals should be in an insoluble form

Question 21

What’s the pH of fertile soils?

Answer 21

usually in the range of 5.5-7

Question 22

What happens if the soil is too acidic?

Answer 22

toxic metals are soluble, soil biota killed off

Question 23

What happens if the soil is too alkaline?

Answer 23

phosphate is insoluble.

Question 24

what’s good about deeper soils?

Answer 24

they’re less likely to dry out or become waterlogged. provides good anchorage for plants

Question 25

what's the role of DOM in soil?

Answer 25

breaks down slowly and produces a steady stream of nutrients into the soil. Also helps increase water retention

Question 26

drainage rate in sandy soils

Answer 26

the larger pore spaces of sandy soils allow rapid drainage which reduces water content but increases aeration

Question 27

drainage rate- clay soils

Answer 27

they're poorly drained

Question 28

capillary action- sandy soils

Answer 28

there's no capillary rise of water in sandy soils.c

Question 29

capillary action- clay particles

Answer 29

the tiny pore spaces between clay particles allow water underground to rise towards the surface.

Question 30

aeration- sandy soils

Answer 30

pore spaces between sandy soils are well drained so they're filled

Question 31

aeration- clay soils

Answer 31

they're more likely to be waterlogged with a low aeration rate

Question 32

nutrient retention- sandy soils

Answer 32

nutrients don't easily adsorb into sandy soils

Question 33

nutrient retention- clay soils

Answer 33

nutrients do easily adsorb into clay particles

Question 34

thermal capacity- sandy soils

Answer 34

sandy soils have a lower thermal capacity

Question 35

thermal capacity- clay soils

Answer 35

clay soils have a higher thermal capacity meaning they heat up slowly and cool down slowly

Question 36

root penetration- sandy soils

Answer 36

this is easier in sandy soils

Question 37

root penetration- clay soils