Unit Two, Topic 5 + 6 Flashcards
(45 cards)
Soil is developed from
mineral matter such as rock, soil and clay
Climates determine what about plants?
What types of plants can grow in that climate and how fast they can decompose
What two elements are required for soil organisms to break down plant and animal matter?
Warmth and moisture
What is humus?
rich, dark soil
What does humus do?
Humus holds nutrients and water for plants
The type of vegetation growing in an area determines the
amount and type of organic matter in the soil
Soil gives plants…
nutrients, water and a place to sink their roots and anchor themselves
the mineral matter from which soil develops is called
parent material
In healthy soil, spaces between the particles hold what for the roots?
Water and air
The soil that contains decomposing roots is called
topsoil
What color is topsoil
a brown or black
The most diverse and numerous of all soil organisms is
bacteria
Types of fungi includes
Moulds and Mushrooms
A special type of bacteria that plays a vital role in decomposing organic matter and forming humus is called
Microscopic actinomycetes
If soil contains lots of earthworms, it is usually considered
healthy
Healthy, growing plants require large amounts of what six nutrients?
- Nitrogen
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Sulphur
- Calcium
- Magnesium
Which nutrient helps make leaves green?
Nitrogen
Salinization
The white crust on a soil made of salt that has collected on the surface of soil
How can soil erosion be solved?
by planting a cover of vegetation on the surface of the ground to slow the flow of water. This gives the soil more time to absorb the water.
The rows of trees that farmers plant is called
shelterbelts
What do shelterbelts do?
reduce wind damage to crops and trap snow to increase soil moisture
A technique used to grow plants without soil is called
hydroponics
In Canada, hydroponics is used in
greenhouses
When trees are cut and removed from an area, how is the soil affected?
Wind and water can erode the soil