Soil Formation Notes

Match the definition to the term. 1.. aeration 2. aggregates 3. pH

1. introduction of air into a substance 2. clumps of soil particles that bind to each other more strongly than they bind to adjacent particles 3. the measurement of hydrogen ions in a substance

Match the type of soil with its composition. 1. grassland soil 2. forest soil 3. desert soil

2. shallow A and deep B horizon 1. deep A and shallow B horizon 3. shallow A and B horizons

Match the soil horizon with its location in a soil profile. 1. Horizon O (decomposed organic material) 2. Horizon R (bedrock, or solid rock layer) 3. Horizon B (some organic and many inorganic materials)

3, middle of soil profile 2. bottom of soil profile 1. top of soil profile

Match the definition to the term. 1. climate 2. nutrients 3. organic 4. parent material 5. soil horizons

4. foundation or underlying material of soil 2. substances that are needed for proper functioning of a plant or animal body 3. something that is or was alive; substance derived from living things 5. layers of soil, each with its own characteristics 1. average weather conditions in an area over a time period, usually 30 years

How does increasing the slope of land affect soil formation?

Decreases it by causing nutrients to wash away

Extreme acidity in soil helps plants thrive because the hydrogen ions kill off all harmful microorganisms that may stunt a plant's development.

False

Both human and animal wastes are sometimes used as fertilizer. How are the two types treated differently before they are used to fertilize crops?

Human waste goes through physical and chemical treatment; animal waste is used directly.

Which of the following best explains how soil can stop acid rain runoff from reaching streams and rivers?

Low-acid soils will absorb and neutralize the acid water in its pores before it can reach streams and rivers.

Which of the following statements best explains how roots aggregate soil?

Not The roots attract water and help the soil bind the particles together.

Which of the following soil particle sizes forms the densest soil?

Not gravel or sand

Identify three farming practices that contribute to desertification. Discuss how each practice can be avoided and how changing the practice will affect the soil.

Three farming practices that contributes to desertification are one, soil contamination. This contributes to desertification because soil contamination comes from human-made substances. Second is soil depletion. Soil depletion can occur when the soil quality settles. Thirdly is Soil Erosion. Soil erosion is continuously planting without fertilization or crop rotation can deplete soils of important nutrients. When the soil has poor quality it is then eroded. All of the practices contribute to desertification.

A soil's structure will affect how much water the soil retains.

True

Cholera, typhoid, and dysentery are caused by bacteria in water. These kill more than 400 children per hour in Third World countries.

True

Which of the following forms of water pollution is most associated with mining?

acids and heavy metals

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of fertilizer?

allows farmers to grow plants using very little soil

Which of the following is a cause of acid rain?

burning fossil fuels

Which of the following is considered a micronutrient in fertilizer?

copper

Which of the following type of forest is likely to have the most nutrient-rich soil?

deciduous forest

Which of the following is defined as a process of weathering able to move rock and soil particles from one area and deposit them in another?

erosion

Which of the following is the main cause of thermal water pollution?

global warming

Which of the following types of land is the richest in nutrients and organic material?

marsh

Which component found in fertilizer is a known cancer-causing agent?

nitrites

Which of the following elements does soil need in the largest quantities to sustain plant life?

nitrogen

Water pollution does NOT contribute to which of the following problems?

not mutated fish

Which of the following actions by farmers contributes to desertification?

not rotating crops

Which of the following elements found in fertilizer helps plants produce fruit?

phosphorus

Which of the following organisms in the Gulf of Mexico experiences an immediate increase of population due to fertilizer runoff into the Mississippi River?

phytoplankton

The 1945 bombing of Hiroshima resulted in which of the following types of pollution?

radioactive soil

What is a direct effect of climate on soil formation?

rate of soil formation

Use of which type of fertilizer improves air quality?

recycled ammonia

Which of the following suggestions would best help alleviate the Gulf of Mexico dead zone?

reduce farm fertilizer runoff

Which factor determines how well aerated a soil is?

size of pores