Download Soil Management, Air Pollution, and Geologic Processes and more Cheat Sheet Earth science in PDF only on Docsity! Earth Science – Quarter 2 ASSIGNMENT #2 (120 pts total) Use yellow paper. Deadline: Dec. 9, 2022 ACTIVITY 1. Soil Management 1. What is soil? 5 pts - the upper layer of earth in which plants grow, a black or dark brown material typically consisting of a mixture of organic remains, clay, and rock particles. It is the loss of soil or land overtime. 2. Define soil erosion. 5 pts - Soil erosion is a gradual process that occurs when the impact of water or wind detaches and removes soil particles, causing the soil to deteriorate. 3. Give at least five (5) effects of soil erosion. 10 pts - reduced ability of the soil to store water and nutrients - exposure of subsoil, which often has poor physical and chemical properties - loss of newly planted crops - deposits of silt in low-lying areas. - Soil compaction - Low organic matter - Loss of soil structure - Soil acidity - salinity 4. How do the following cause soil erosion: 3 pts each a. Agriculture - The farming practices are the major cause of soil erosion. The agricultural activities disturb the ground. The trees are cleared and the land is ploughed to sow new seeds. Since most of the crops are grown during the spring season, the land lies fallow during winters. Most of the soil is eroded during winters. - Also, the tyres of tractors make grooves on the land, making a natural pathway for water. Fine soil particles are eroded by wind. b. Grazing Animals - The grazing animals feed on the grasses and remove the vegetation from the land. Their hooves churn up the soil. They also pull-out plants by their roots. This loosens the soil and makes it more prone to erosion. c. Logging and Mining - A large number of trees are cut down to carry out the logging process. Trees hold the soil firmly. The canopy of the trees protects the soil from heavy rainfall. The leaf litter that protects the soil from erosion, is also lost during logging. - Mining activities also disturb the land and leave the soil more prone to erosion. d. Construction and Development - The construction of roads and buildings exposes the soil to erosion. The forests and grasslands are cleared for construction purposes, which exposes the soil making it vulnerable to erosion. e. Recreational Activities - Recreational activities may accelerate soil erosion. Off-road vehicles disturb the landscape and the area eventually
