Earth Science 2/22/19

conservation tillage

method of cultivation in which residues from previous crops are left in the soil, partially covering it and helping to hold it in place until the newly planted seeds are established

Jointing

natural cracks that form in rocks due to removal of overburden or due to cooling

Undernourishment

not enough calories

Rootwedging

roots of plants get in the cracks of rocks

Shelterbelts

rows of trees planted as a windbreak to reduce soil erosion of agricultural land

2 categories

slow movement- gravity is the main factor Rapid Movement- water is the main factor.

Dissolution

the breaking up or dissolving of something into parts; disintegration

Drip irrigation

the practice of using small pipes that slowly drip water just above ground to conserve water to use for crops

parent material

the rock material from which the inorganic components of soil are derived including underlying bedrock, but most are sediments--sand, silt, or clay.

O horizon

the top-most soil layer that has organic matter in various stages of decomposition made up of humus.

Mechanical exfoliation

top layer of the rocks are being pilled off. Due to the expansion of the rock.

Inorganic fertilizer

A fertilizer that consists of mined or synthetically manufactured mineral supplements

Waterlogging

A form of soil degradation that occurs when soil remains under water for prolonged periods. Too much water.

Soil Layer

A unique soil type indicating geological, environmental, or human activity

Salinization

Accumulation of salts in soil that can eventually make the soil unable to support plant growth.

C horizon

Also called regolith: the layer beneath the B Horizon and above the R Horizon. It consists of slightly broken-up bedrock. Plant roots do not penetrate into this layer; very little organic material is found in this layer.

B horizon

Also called the subsoil - this layer is beneath the E Horizon and above the C Horizon. It contains clay and mineral deposits (like iron, aluminum oxides, and calcium carbonate) that it receives from layers above it when mineralized water drips from the soil above.

Intercropping

An agricultural method in which two or more crop species are planted in the same field at the same time to promote a synergistic interaction.

Animal Activity (Mechanical)

Burrowing animals digging

What does CIORPT stand for? What factors make up CIORPT?

CI-Climate(temperature) O-Organism(plants,animals, and microorganism) R-Relief(topography-physical features) P-Parent material(unweathered rocks) T-time(age of soil)

Processes involved in mass wasting

Fall Creep Slide

Landslide

Fall-under influence of gravity Slide-downward movement along a certain path.

Why is water such an important component of soils?

It gives nutrients dissolve minerals, and keeps organisms alive.

What is "relief" and how does it affect soil formation?

It influences sunlight hours, temperature, water runoff, erosion, and organic matter build-up.

Alley cropping

Planting of crops in strips with rows of trees or shrubs on each side.

Contour farming

Plowing and planting across the changing slope of land, rather than in straight lines, to help retain water and reduce soil erosion.

Deposition

Process in which sediment is laid down in new locations.

Five types of soil in the US

Sandy, Silty, Clay, Petty, and Saline.

How is the air found in the soils different from the air in the atmosphere?

The air in the soil is more humid and moist rich in carbon dioxide, but the less oxygen.

Weathering

The breaking down of rocks and other materials on the Earth's surface.

which are the components of a soil?

The components of soil are weathered rocks, organic matter, air, and water. Minerals, rocks, inorganic, organic, water and air.

Abrasion

The grinding away of rock by other rock particles carried in water, ice, or wind

Mass wasting

The large movement of loose material- weathered bed rock.

frost wedging

The mechanical breakup of rock caused by the expansion of freezing water in cracks and crevices

Crop rotation

The practice of rotating use of different fields from crop to crop each year, to avoid exhausting the soil.

Chemical Weathering

The process that breaks down rock through chemical changes

Mechanical/physical weathering

The type of weathering in which rock is physically broken into smaller pieces occurs mainly by temperature and pressure

R horizon

The unweatherd rock (bedrock) layer that is beneath all the other layers.

E horizon

This eluviation (leaching) layer is light in color; this layer is beneath the A Horizon and above the B Horizon. It is made up mostly of sand and silt, having lost most of its minerals and clay as water drips through the soil (in the process of eluviation).

Overnutrition

Too much food energy or excess nutrients to the degree of causing disease or increasing risk of disease; a form of malnutrition

Why would you not find soils on Mars or Venus?

Venus and Mars doesn't have inorganic matter or water.

Where do the minerals (inorganic materials) that form soil come from?

Weathering and erosion.

Conventional irrigation

a region's most common system for providing water to plants by nonnatural means. A conventional irrigation system commonly uses pressure to deliver water and distributes it through sprinkler heads above the ground. Only 40 percent of water reaches plants.

thermal expansion and contraction

a type of mechanical weathering in which the volume of rocks changes in response to heating and cooling

Factors that influence chemical weathering

climate, living organisms, decomposition, time, mineral decomposition, chemical weathering products, clays, metal ores, rounding of boulders.

Terracing

creating flat platforms in the hillside that provide a level planting surface, which reduces soil runoff from the slope.

Slow Movement

creep and solifluction. Creep-low downslope movement of particles that occurs on every slope covered with loose, weathered material. -soil creep- weathered -rock creep-weathered rocks Solifluction- water mixed with soil forms as a thick viscous fluid.

Salt wedging

evaporation salt stays behind

organic fertilizer

fertilizer composed of organic matter from plants and animals

Factors that cause mass wasting

gravity,water,wind, and glaciers.

Malnutrition

lack of proper nutrition

rapid movement

landslide- water is not the main factor. Mainly(gravity). Involves both rock and soil. When support in the rock is removed either naturally or artificially. Characterized by sharply define shear planes. triggered by earthquakes, heavy rain fall, or winds. Earth Flow- Movement of water logged materials. Most common in areas that are alluvium-silt,sand,clay. Mudslide- H20 content is more than earth flow. Debris are transported by stream and rivers. Occurs in areas where vegetation is minimal no plants. In arid regions (dry). Mud-flow is more prominent during rainfall Sheet-wash- Rapid movement of rock and debris or soil saturated with water like viscous fluid. Holds water as much as it can have. During soil erosion large sheets or layers of soil are removed by agents of graduation wind, water, glacier. caused by deforestation.

A horizon

layer of topsoil; it is found below the O horizon and above the E horizon. Seeds germinate, and plant roots grow in this dark-colored layer. It is made up of humus(decomposed organic matter) mixed with mineral particles.