Question | Answer |
LEO says GER | Loss of Electron is Oxidation
Gain of Electron is Reduction |
sources of nitrogen (5) | biological fixation (organisms), decomposition of N by precipitation, fertilizer, plant residues (organisms), manure (organisms) |
losses of soil Nitrogen (5) | plant removal, leaching, gaseous losses, erosion (wind and water), ammonium fixation |
Mineralization is: | the conversion of organic nitrogen to inorganic nitrogen |
immobilization | converting inorganic N to organic N |
Soil fertility is: | the study of soils' availability to supply nutrients for plant growth |
what does Phosphorous do for plants? (4) | photosynthesis, crop maturation, root development, strengthening cell walls in grasses |
importance of Sulfur to plants? (3) | protein synthesis, photosynthesis, strengthening cell walls |
importance of Potassium for plants? (5) | activator of plant enzymes; photosynthesis; protein synthesis; starch formation; improves drought tolerance (by lowering osmotic water potentials) |
Pedology is.... | the science that deals with formation, morphology, and classification as landscape components |
Weathering: | refers to teh breakdown and changes in rocks at or near the EArth's surface produced by biological, chemical, and physical agents or combinations of them |
Crystallization induces | disintegration |
thermal processes induce | volume change |
wetting and drying change | grain-size |
hydration induces | decompaction |
hydrolysis induces | recombination |
oxidation induces | leaching |
carbonation induces | dissolved ions |
growth induces | accumulation |
decomposition induces | mineralization |
burrowing induces | pulverization |
lichens can cause biochemical changes that enhance | nutrient uptake |
soil formation equation: | S = f(cl, b, r, p, t) |
5 factors of soil formation | climate; biota; parent material; topography; time |
Eluviation is the process of ____ and results in an ____ horizon | removing soil material; Ae |
Accumulation of organic matter results in an _____ horizon | Ah |
Technical classifications are | developed for a specific purpose |
Natural classifications are | based on "natural" groupings of soils (ex. Canadian system) |
A horizon | near soil surface; eluviation; accumulation of OM |
B horizon | illuviation; clay; iron and aluminum oxides |
C horizon | limited (or no) alteration thru soil-forming processes operative in the A and B horizons |
Well drained sites produce which 3 horizons? | L; F and H |
L | accumulation of undecomposed residues |
F | accumulation of partially decomposed residues |
H | accumulation of decomposed matter |
poorly drained horizons? | Of; Om; Oh |
Of (fibric) | high in undecomposed fibrous material |
Om (mesic) | intermediately decomposed fibrous material |
Oh (humic) | dominated by well decomposed organic residues (fibrous material) |
Ah | organic matter |
Ae | eluvial |
Ap | mechanically disturbed (plough) |
Ahe | organic matter/eluviated |
Aej | thin eluvial horizon |
Bt | clay |
Bf | Fe/Al oxides |
Bh | organic matter |
Bm | modified by hydrolysis, oxidation or solution. possesses different color |
Bg | gleyed. grey color and/or mottles |
Bca | enriched secondary carbonates |
Bmk | slight development of Ca-carbonates |
Bn | presence of high % of Na ions |
Ck | Ca-carbonates |
Cs | soluble salts |
Cy | horizon affected by cryoturbation |
what's cryoturbation? | frost action |
Cz | perennially frozen horizon |
Cg | gleyed horizon; grey golor, mottles |
erosion control practices | increased veg cover; increased OM; surface roughness |