Soil Terms and Definitions, Quizzes of Environmental Science

Download Soil Terms and Definitions and more Quizzes Environmental Science in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 Soil DEFINITION 1 -mineral and/or organic material at the Earth's surface that is capable of supporting plant growth and that is influenced by soil forming factors. TERM 2 5 acts of soil DEFINITION 2 -medium for plant growth-recycling systems for minerals and organic wastes-habitat for soil organisms-system for water supply and purification-engineering medium TERM 3 humus DEFINITION 3 -leaf litter and roots are "bio-processed" and decomposed to humus.-dark black material seen on topsoil layer TERM 4 Soil (pedosphere) is composedion of 4 sections DEFINITION 4 -atmosphere (carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen)-biosphere (plants, animals)-hydrosphere (water)-lithosphere (rocks, minerals) TERM 5 ions contained in soil DEFINITION 5 NPKCaMgS TERM 6 TDS DEFINITION 6 -Total Dissolved Solids.-expressed as mg/L-sum of Ca+K+SO in solutionCOMES FROM:-acid-base reactions-carbonation reactions-hydrolysis-entrained Cl and SO4 TERM 7 sandstone mine soil DEFINITION 7 lower pH so tress LOVE TERM 8 siltstone mine soil DEFINITION 8 higher pH, trees HATE TERM 9 Master Soil Horizons DEFINITION 9 O- organics litter layers (>20% OM)A- organic darkened mineral soilE- leached light-colored eluvial zoneB- zone of clay/iron/OM illuviaitonC- geochemically weathered parent materialR- bedrock, really a layer not a horizon TERM 10 Argillic DEFINITION 10 (Bt) horizon in soil with moderate to high charge clays TERM 21 pH common for humid region mineral soils DEFINITION 21 5-7 TERM 22 pH common for arid region mineral soils DEFINITION 22 7-9 TERM 23 alkalinity DEFINITION 23 basic TERM 24 soil quality DEFINITION 24 -a measure of the ability of soil to carry out ecological functions-reflects a combination of physical, chemical, and biological properties TERM 25 6 essential elements found in upper 15cm of soils DEFINITION 25 CaMgKPSN TERM 26 weathering DEFINITION 26 -the chemical and physical breakdown of rocks, soils, and mineral particles into smaller and frequently different mineral forms. TERM 27 unloading DEFINITION 27 physical weather TERM 28 weathering rind DEFINITION 28 chemical weathering TERM 29 clays weather into DEFINITION 29 secondary Fe-oxides and Al-oxides TERM 30 physical weathering DEFINITION 30 -the disintegration of large rocks and mineral into smaller mineral grains.-driven by: WATER, ICE, GRAVITY, WINDex: exfoliation TERM 31 chemical weathering DEFINITION 31 -the decomposition of primary minerals like feldspars and quartz into secondary minerals like kaolinite and soil vermiculite.-considerable mass is also lost as ions leach to ground water TERM 32 dark colored primary minerals (Fe, Mg) DEFINITION 32 weather easier than light colored primary minerals (quartz, mica) TERM 33 most resistant to less resistant DEFINITION 33 -goethite FeOOH-hematite Fe2O3-gibbsite-clay minerals- dolomite-calcite-gypsumGHGCDCG TERM 34 secondary minerals that form at the earth's surface DEFINITION 34 very stablethe most soluble minerals are also the least stable at the earth's surfaceopal is also at the top of the list because it is nearly pure SiO2type of bonds and shape of crystal structure is important also TERM 35 chemical weathering is driven by DEFINITION 35 -rainfall-leaching-warm temperatures-organic acids in the soil solution-accelerated by microbial and vegetative action TERM 46 vegetation effects DEFINITION 46 -O and A horizon genesis-nutrient cycling and concentration- O.M. decomposition leading to carbonic acid and organic acids in solution-enhance infiltration and limit runoff TERM 47 typical forest soil DEFINITION 47 acidic, highly weathered with clay accumulation TERM 48 forest vs. grassland DEFINITION 48 -larger B horizon in forest-O horizon only in forest TERM 49 topographic effects DEFINITION 49 -controls runoff vs. infiltration-slope/aspect affect solar loading-lower positions receive sediments, nutrients and salts (in arid areas)-often controlled by parent material TERM 50 effects of time DEFINITION 50 -primary minerals weather to secondary minerals-sands weather to silts and clays-iron oxides and gibbsite (Al) accumulate-may be limited by climate, P.M., etc. TERM 51 Horizon A accumulates DEFINITION 51 CARBON TERM 52 soil profile vs. pedon DEFINITION 52 soil profile- 2Dpedon- 3D TERM 53 master horizons DEFINITION 53 OAEBCR TERM 54 3 properties of soils DEFINITION 54 COLORTEXTURESTRUCTURE TERM 55 B horizon DEFINITION 55 -most accumulation, highly developed TERM 56 solum DEFINITION 56 - everything above C horizon TERM 57 g special property DEFINITION 57 -strong gleying (mottling)-matrix color is caused by Fe and Mg and is mostly under water throughout the year. TERM 58 jj special property DEFINITION 58 - cryoturbation (frost churning) TERM 59 j special property DEFINITION 59 Jarosite- FeSO4- extremely low pH, streams run red TERM 60 p special property DEFINITION 60 - plowing or other disturbance