Flashcards
Soils - definitions
Cards in this deck (12)
- 1SoilSoil is the thin layer of loose material on the earths surface. Soil has five main ingredients:
-Mineral Matter
- Air
-Water
-Living organisims
-Humus - 2Mineral MatterThis is the biggest ingredient in soil. It is made up of rock particles that have been broken down by weathering and erosion.
- 3AirAir fills the space between the mineral particles in the soil. Air contains Oxygen and Nitrogen.
- 4WaterWater helps to bind the soil particles together. Water is important for plant growth because it contains dissolved minerals.
- 5Living organismsSoil is home to creatures such as earthworms, woodlice and slugs. It is also home to millions of tiny creatures that cannot be seen by the naked eye. These are called micro-organisms.
- 6HumusThis is the organic matter composed by dead creatures and plants. It is broken down and mixed into soil by the living organisms.
- 7ClimateHot climates experience chemical weathering,
Cold climates experience freeze-thaw - 8Parent materialThe type of rock in an area affects soil formation. For E.g granite is slow to break down by weathering and sandstone is easier to break down by weathering.
- 9VegetationWhen vegetation dies, it is broken down and decays to add Humus and Nutrients to the soil.
- 10Living organismsMicro-organisms such as bacteria and fungi help to break down the dead plant and animal life in the soil, turning it into Humus.
- 11LandscapeUpland areas are cold and wet but can get waterlogged easily. There is little plant life so there is no humus.
Lowland soils are deeper and drain easier. They have more Humus as there is lots of plant and animal life. - 12TimeTime is very important for soil formation. The longer the rock is exposed, the more it is broken down.
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- Second year Geography Flashcards on Soils - definitions , created by JJ Mahon on 30/09/2017.
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- JJ Mahon
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