O- Organic Horizon, surface mulch of plant litter
A- Soil where nutrient organic matter and biological activity levels are higher
B- Generally has lighter color, lower fertility, and less biological activity than the "A" horizon. Texture may be heavier
C- Weathering rock material from which soils form
A- Soil where nutrient organic matter and biological activity levels are higher
B- Generally has lighter color, lower fertility, and less biological activity than the "A" horizon. Texture may be heavier
C- Weathering rock material from which soils form
“Dig It!” Exhibition
Follow the directions to navigate your way through the online exhibition of “Dig It!” put together by the Smithsonian. The bold text mean you need to answer a question or write something down.
Go to this web site: http://forces.si.edu/soils/02_00_00.html
Read the introduction titled “Sizing Up Soils”
Click on “The Big Picture” and take the Quiz, if you miss a question click on the “Learn More” and learn about the topic.
What is one interesting fact about soil that you learned from the quiz? Every drop of water that we drink has been underground at one point in time.
Click on “State Soil Monoliths” click on Texas then choose 2 other states and read about their soil. What is a Fun Fact about Texas soil? It shrink when its dry and swells when its wet.
What is in the soil of one other state? Tell me the name of the state. In Arizona, there is little plant matter in the soil due to the fact that not many plants grow there and white table salt minerals are in the soil because there isn't enough rainfall to wash it out.
What is so special about the soil of one other state? Tell me the name of the state, it needs to be different from Texas, and the state in the question above. In New York, the natural Honeoye soil is perfect for growing grapes and apples.
Click on “What is Soil” read through all 5 pages and answer these questions.
A teaspoon of good farm soil contains up to 1 billion bacteria in more than 4000 species.
Soil is the skin of the earth. Soils are alive , they are born, they age, they breathe.
What are the ingredients of soil? Air , water, minerals, and organic minerals (biotic and abiotic)
On page 3 watch the “Chef’s Challenge” video.
What is the today’s secret ingredient? Sand
Who are the judges? Quincy Carapace (a turtle), Gassy Gallagher (methane ) , and Sylvania ( a bird)
On page 4 click on the “Recipe Book” read some of the different soil recipes. Then click on the “Soil ingredients” take the quiz to see if you can determine the makeup of different types of soils.
What % of ingredients make up Desert Soil? 53% minerals, 2% water, 44% air, 1% organic matter.
Loamy Soil? 25% water, 25% air, 5% organic matter, 45% minerals
Peaty Bog? 50% water, 10% minerals, 40% organic matter
Read page 5. What does CLORPT stand for? CLimate, Organisms, Relief, Parent material, Time
Click on “Chip off the Old Block” read through all 6 pages.
95% of the earth’s crust is made of just eight elements. What are they? Oxygen, Silicon, Aluminum, Iron, Calcium, Sodium, Potassium, and Magnesium.
Texture influences a soil’s capacity to hold water an d nutrients
On page 6 play the Color Matching game.
Gray.Blue.Green = Wetland Mineral Soils
Red.Yellow.Orange = Upland Soils
Click on “Soil Forming Factors” read through all 6 pages. On page 2 play the Hidden Horizons game.
Describe the A horizon. Mineral layer at or near the surface, with more soil organic matter than lower layers, also called topsoil
What is a monolith? Vertical slice from topsoil down to subsoil
On page 4 click on the “Earth Skin Types”. Describe Ultisols. Weathered tropical and subtropical soils
What type of soil is in our area? Ultisols
On page 6 click play the “Where in the Soil World are You”.
The flip flop is in the South Pacific Volcano soil type
The spur is in the South American Grassland soil type.
The mammoth tusk is in the Siberian Permafrost soil type.
Click on “Matters of Life and Death”, read through all 6 pages.
Not all forms of life need oxygen to breathe. What other things can microorganisms use? Micro-organisms use forms of Iron, Sulfur, Nitrogen, or Carbon to breathe in water-logged soils where it is almost impossible to get Oxygen.
Describe some of the characteristics of Lichens. Mutually beneficial marriage of fungi and algae that survives in the toughest of conditions.
Click on “Underneath it All”, read through all 5 pages. On page 1 click on the “Underneath it All” link to dig deep and examine the effects our choices have on soil.
What are some of the things that you may find in the Washington, D.C. soil sample? A light bulb, chains, some kind of wheel (I think)
What are some of the things that you may find in the Terra Preta Soil of the Amazon? Bricks and mud
On page 3. What is an increasing problem caused by global warming? Global warming is melting permafrost in the upper Northern hemisphere and buildings are sinking. Building and maintenence is more expensive. Coastal settlements are extremely vulnerable to shoreline erosion.
On page 4. What was wrong with the soil in Fredericksburg, Virginia? The soil is too acidic and it had been exposed and moved during landscaping.
Click on “Wise Choices” read through all 7 pages.
Soils are renewable but… it takes a lot of time, money , and knowledge
Describe some of the new technology that helps manage soil fertility. Farmers can put sensors on their tractors that tell how much fertilizer a crop really needs to avoid over-fertilizing .
How is the Millennium Villages Project restoring soil fertility? They are helping buy giving struggling farmer's minerals to naturally fertilize and high-hybrid plants to plant. Next year they are planning on giving them manure and compost to help to soil gain Nitrogen.
Click on “A World of Soils”, read through all 6 pages. On page 1 watch the “Soil: The secret Ingredient” video.
On page 3. Define loess:Wind-blown deposits of silt left behind by the last glaciers
“The secrets of soils are the secrets of our lives.”
Follow the directions to navigate your way through the online exhibition of “Dig It!” put together by the Smithsonian. The bold text mean you need to answer a question or write something down.
Go to this web site: http://forces.si.edu/soils/02_00_00.html
Read the introduction titled “Sizing Up Soils”
Click on “The Big Picture” and take the Quiz, if you miss a question click on the “Learn More” and learn about the topic.
What is one interesting fact about soil that you learned from the quiz? Every drop of water that we drink has been underground at one point in time.
Click on “State Soil Monoliths” click on Texas then choose 2 other states and read about their soil. What is a Fun Fact about Texas soil? It shrink when its dry and swells when its wet.
What is in the soil of one other state? Tell me the name of the state. In Arizona, there is little plant matter in the soil due to the fact that not many plants grow there and white table salt minerals are in the soil because there isn't enough rainfall to wash it out.
What is so special about the soil of one other state? Tell me the name of the state, it needs to be different from Texas, and the state in the question above. In New York, the natural Honeoye soil is perfect for growing grapes and apples.
Click on “What is Soil” read through all 5 pages and answer these questions.
A teaspoon of good farm soil contains up to 1 billion bacteria in more than 4000 species.
Soil is the skin of the earth. Soils are alive , they are born, they age, they breathe.
What are the ingredients of soil? Air , water, minerals, and organic minerals (biotic and abiotic)
On page 3 watch the “Chef’s Challenge” video.
What is the today’s secret ingredient? Sand
Who are the judges? Quincy Carapace (a turtle), Gassy Gallagher (methane ) , and Sylvania ( a bird)
On page 4 click on the “Recipe Book” read some of the different soil recipes. Then click on the “Soil ingredients” take the quiz to see if you can determine the makeup of different types of soils.
What % of ingredients make up Desert Soil? 53% minerals, 2% water, 44% air, 1% organic matter.
Loamy Soil? 25% water, 25% air, 5% organic matter, 45% minerals
Peaty Bog? 50% water, 10% minerals, 40% organic matter
Read page 5. What does CLORPT stand for? CLimate, Organisms, Relief, Parent material, Time
Click on “Chip off the Old Block” read through all 6 pages.
95% of the earth’s crust is made of just eight elements. What are they? Oxygen, Silicon, Aluminum, Iron, Calcium, Sodium, Potassium, and Magnesium.
Texture influences a soil’s capacity to hold water an d nutrients
On page 6 play the Color Matching game.
Gray.Blue.Green = Wetland Mineral Soils
Red.Yellow.Orange = Upland Soils
Click on “Soil Forming Factors” read through all 6 pages. On page 2 play the Hidden Horizons game.
Describe the A horizon. Mineral layer at or near the surface, with more soil organic matter than lower layers, also called topsoil
What is a monolith? Vertical slice from topsoil down to subsoil
On page 4 click on the “Earth Skin Types”. Describe Ultisols. Weathered tropical and subtropical soils
What type of soil is in our area? Ultisols
On page 6 click play the “Where in the Soil World are You”.
The flip flop is in the South Pacific Volcano soil type
The spur is in the South American Grassland soil type.
The mammoth tusk is in the Siberian Permafrost soil type.
Click on “Matters of Life and Death”, read through all 6 pages.
Not all forms of life need oxygen to breathe. What other things can microorganisms use? Micro-organisms use forms of Iron, Sulfur, Nitrogen, or Carbon to breathe in water-logged soils where it is almost impossible to get Oxygen.
Describe some of the characteristics of Lichens. Mutually beneficial marriage of fungi and algae that survives in the toughest of conditions.
Click on “Underneath it All”, read through all 5 pages. On page 1 click on the “Underneath it All” link to dig deep and examine the effects our choices have on soil.
What are some of the things that you may find in the Washington, D.C. soil sample? A light bulb, chains, some kind of wheel (I think)
What are some of the things that you may find in the Terra Preta Soil of the Amazon? Bricks and mud
On page 3. What is an increasing problem caused by global warming? Global warming is melting permafrost in the upper Northern hemisphere and buildings are sinking. Building and maintenence is more expensive. Coastal settlements are extremely vulnerable to shoreline erosion.
On page 4. What was wrong with the soil in Fredericksburg, Virginia? The soil is too acidic and it had been exposed and moved during landscaping.
Click on “Wise Choices” read through all 7 pages.
Soils are renewable but… it takes a lot of time, money , and knowledge
Describe some of the new technology that helps manage soil fertility. Farmers can put sensors on their tractors that tell how much fertilizer a crop really needs to avoid over-fertilizing .
How is the Millennium Villages Project restoring soil fertility? They are helping buy giving struggling farmer's minerals to naturally fertilize and high-hybrid plants to plant. Next year they are planning on giving them manure and compost to help to soil gain Nitrogen.
Click on “A World of Soils”, read through all 6 pages. On page 1 watch the “Soil: The secret Ingredient” video.
On page 3. Define loess:Wind-blown deposits of silt left behind by the last glaciers
“The secrets of soils are the secrets of our lives.”
Erosion and Soil Notes
One type of erosion is Mass Movement (or mass wasting) which is several processes that have the following in common.
1. Downslope movement of rock or weathered material
2. Movement is due to the pull of gravity
3. There is no flowing medium that carries the material
Driving forces include weight of material on slope, resistance of material, steepness of slope, saturation, biological factors, triggers such as storms.
Types of mass movement is classified by how fast it moves. From slowest to fastest, its creep, flow, slide, slump, avalanche, and fall.
Soil is a loose mixture of rock fragment, organic matter, water, and air that can support the growth of vegetation. It is a product of chemical and physical weathering. The process of soil being made starts when bedrock is weathered. Over time, living things come and live and waste in the soil, making it biotic and abiotic. When living things decompose, it helps the soil gain nutrients and make humus, a substance plants need to grow. Some larger animals live in the soil and when they throw around the dirt or burrow, it increases the air and drainage of the soil. Typically, the top layers of soil have the most nutrients. Lower levels are made of less- weathered materials. Soil that developed from the bedrock below it is called residual soil. Soil that has undergone erosion and deposition is called transported soil. Bedrock and soil may contain the same minerals, but at different rates due to chemical weathering.
Soil Characteristics
1. Ph
2. Pore Space
3. Fertility
4. Texture- silt, sand, clay
5. Color
One type of erosion is Mass Movement (or mass wasting) which is several processes that have the following in common.
1. Downslope movement of rock or weathered material
2. Movement is due to the pull of gravity
3. There is no flowing medium that carries the material
Driving forces include weight of material on slope, resistance of material, steepness of slope, saturation, biological factors, triggers such as storms.
Types of mass movement is classified by how fast it moves. From slowest to fastest, its creep, flow, slide, slump, avalanche, and fall.
Soil is a loose mixture of rock fragment, organic matter, water, and air that can support the growth of vegetation. It is a product of chemical and physical weathering. The process of soil being made starts when bedrock is weathered. Over time, living things come and live and waste in the soil, making it biotic and abiotic. When living things decompose, it helps the soil gain nutrients and make humus, a substance plants need to grow. Some larger animals live in the soil and when they throw around the dirt or burrow, it increases the air and drainage of the soil. Typically, the top layers of soil have the most nutrients. Lower levels are made of less- weathered materials. Soil that developed from the bedrock below it is called residual soil. Soil that has undergone erosion and deposition is called transported soil. Bedrock and soil may contain the same minerals, but at different rates due to chemical weathering.
Soil Characteristics
1. Ph
2. Pore Space
3. Fertility
4. Texture- silt, sand, clay
5. Color