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Chapter 17
Soils
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is soil | soil is the thin, uppermost layer of the earth |
| what is soil made of | 5% Organic matter and humus 25% Air 25% Water 45% Mineral Particles |
| what are the mineral particles made of and what does it affect | Sand, Silt, Clay soils permeability |
| what does water do | binds the soil together dissolves nutrients so plants can soak them up through their roots |
| what does air do | Provides Oxygen and Nitrogen |
| what is organic matter and what does it do | living things and micro organisms help air and water circulate |
| what is humus and what does it do | dark gel like material that increases soil fertility |
| what three things play a key role in forming soil | Climate Human Activity Time |
| what is a Soil Profile | a vertical section of soil from its surface downwards |
| what is a horizon | a layer in the soil |
| What is the A horizon called | Topsoil |
| What is the B horizon called | Subsoil |
| what is the C horizon called | Bedrock |
| what two things impact soil formation | Leaching The breakdown of plant litter |
| explain Leaching | Leaching occurs when there is a high amount of rainfall, the water soaks down through the soil and washes important minerals and nutrients down to the B horizon. It creates a hardpan which turns into a thin crusty layer that is impermeable |
| explain leaching pt2 | causing the A horizon to become waterlogged and flooded |
| explain the breakdown of plant litter | dead leaves and twigs that fall on top of the A horizon are broken down by insects into humus. This process is called humification |
| name the four soil types found in Ireland and weather they are fertile or not very fertile and where they are found | Brown Soil-Fertile-midlands Podzol Soil-Less Fertile-Higlands Gley Soil-not very fertile-rolling Lowlands Peaty Soil-Not very Fertile-Bogs |