Soils: Understanding their Composition, Properties, and Horizons, Study notes of Physical Geography

Download Soils: Understanding their Composition, Properties, and Horizons and more Study notes Physical Geography in PDF only on Docsity! KEY TERMS FOR SOILS Vocabulary for Notes (use wherever there is a ______________________ Acidic Inorganic Pore Aerating Life Sandy Alkaline Lime Separates Carbon dioxide Loamy Silty Clayey Mixing Soil horizons Erosion Organic matter Water Fertilizing Physical SOILS Summary: “ESSENTIALLY ALL LIFE DEPENDS ON SOIL….THERE CAN BE NO LIFE WITHOUT SOIL AND NO SOIL WITHOUT LIFE; THEY HAVE EVOLVED TOGETHER”—Clark Kellog—USDA (Image: MOFGA, 2007, http://www.garickbulk.com/images/products/Hand/potting_soil.jpg July 19 2007) Objectives: To Successfully be Able to Explain: 1. What is soil? 2. Select soil physical and chemical properties 3. Formation and characteristics of soil horizons 4. Role of earthworms Misconceptions: 1. Weathering and erosion are synonymous 2. Soils are rocks 3. Most soils are classified texturally as sand, silt, or clay. Did you Know? 1. Michigan’s state soil is the Kalkaska sand? 2. Soils can be red, orange, brown, red, white, and black in color? Tying it all together: Last session we learned the basics of climate, the average weather over a period of 30 years is the weather. Climate is the most important soil forming factor, influencing not only how quickly a soil will form but also its physical, biological, and chemical properties. Thick, well developed soil is often found where physical and especially chemical weathering helps create well defined, deep horizons. On the other hand, where little or no chemical weathering occurs, as in desert or polar regions, soil horizons are typically poorly developed and