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19 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Pedosphere |
-the outermost layer of the Earth that is composed of soil and subject to soil formation processes. |
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Pedogenesis |
-the process of soil formation |
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Major Rock Types 1) |
Igneous -having solidified from lava or magma (volcanic) -basalt: fine grained material -granite:coarse grained material |
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Major Rock Types 2) |
Sedimentary -clastic (chemically formed) e.g. rock salt, iron ore, flint -non clastic e.g. breccia, conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone, and shale |
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Major Rock Types 3) |
Metamorphic -is a result of a transformation of a pre-existing rock when subjected to extreme heat and pressure -e.g. slate, schist gneiss, marble |
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Granite |
-coarse textured rock -soil formed is initially sandy, then fine grained and acidic e.g. quartz, orthoclase |
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Basalt |
-fine textured rock -high iron and readily weathered minerals -fine textured clay soils |
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Sandstone |
-50% sand sized material -sedimentary rock -soil is coarse textured (sandy & low fertility) |
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Limestone |
-CaC03 -Clay, Clay loam soil |
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Soil Catena |
-A sequence of different soils from hilltop to valley down a slope -soils are linked by parent material and topography |
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Colluvium |
loose earth material that accumulates at the base of a slope through the action of gravity |
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Alluvium |
A deposit of clay, silt and sand left by flowing floodwater in a river valley producing fertile soil |
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Components of Soil |
-Water (20-40%) -Air (10-25%) -Mineral Component (Sand, Clay, Silt) (40-60%) -Organic (remainder) |
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Determining Mineral Component Size |
Particle Size Analysis Hydrometer method-measure time for particles to fall out of solution Sieving Sedimentation |
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Soil Organic Matter -Living |
Phytomass -living tissue, plant Microbial Biomass -organic materials, living soil microorganisms Fauna Biomass -organic material, soil animals |
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Soil Organic Matter -Non Living (1) |
Particulate Litter -at soil surface, devoid of mineral particles Macro-organic matter -<0.05 mm diameter Light Fraction -separated from soil by flotation |
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Soil Organic Matter -Non Living (2) |
Humus-natural decay of material such as leaves in the soil's top layer. Humic Substances -unidentifiable chemical structures include humic acid, flulvic acid, humin Non-Humic Biomolecules -identifiable chemical structures include polysaccharides, proteins, waxes and lignin |
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PED (factors) |
An individual aggregate made up of primary clusters 1) Grade of Pedality 2) Size of Peds 3) Type of Pedality |
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Elluviation Illuviation |
-the movement of the particles (such as minerals (clay) and organic matter) into lower soil horizons. E for exit Illuviation is the accumulation of those particles in the lower soil horizons. -I for in |