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8th Grade Science
Soil
Term | Definition |
---|---|
weathering | rocks are broken down into small pieces |
erosion | process in sediments move from one place to another by water, wind, ice, or gravity |
deposition | process by which sediments settle or drop out or drop out of wind or water |
soil | mixture of weathered sediment, organic material, water and air. Created by weathering, erosion, and deposition |
humus | decomposed organic matter |
bedrorck | solid layer of rock beneath the soil |
top soil | crumbly, dark brown soil that is a mixture of humus, clay, and minerals also known as soil horizon A |
sub soil | consists of clay and other particles washed down from the A Horizon also known as soil horizon B |
soil horizon (A,B,C) | layers of soil with distinct physical properties in a soil profile |
pore space | spaces between soil particles, water and air are found in pore spaces |
soil profile | vertical section showing the soil horizons (different layers) |
decomposers | organisms that break down the remains of dead organisms into smaller pieces and digest them with chemicals |
fertility | the ability a soil has to support plant life |
loam | soil made up of about equal parts of clay, sand, and silt |
sediments | loose materials such as rock fragments, mineral grains, and bits of shell |
sod | thick mass of tough roots at the surface of the soil |
natural resource | anything in the environment that humans use |
soil conservation | management of soil to prevent its destruction |
contour plowing | farmers plow their fields along the curves of a slope |
conservation plowing | farmers disturb soil and its plant cover as little as possible |
crop rotation | farmer plants different crops in a field each year |