Questions and Answers
What is surface litter composed of?
What is topsoil/hummus?
Rotting organic matter from litter layer and minerals from weathering rocks
Describe subsoil.
Crumbling rock, sand, clay, gravel & silt
What is parent material in soil?
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Factors that affect soil formation include ______, climate, organisms, relief, humans, and time.
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Which are characteristics of desert soils?
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What is entisoil?
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What are the characteristics of Aridisols?
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What is salinization?
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Study Notes
Soil Composition and Layers
- Surface Litter: Comprises leaves, branches, animal excreta, carcasses, mushrooms, and decomposing organic matter.
- Topsoil/Humus: Formed from the decomposition of surface litter with minerals from weathered rocks.
- Subsoil: Contains fragmented rock materials, including sand, clay, gravel, and silt.
- Parent Material: Refers to the bedrock that lies beneath the soil layers.
Factors Influencing Soil Formation
- Parent Material: Affects permeability, mineral content, soil texture, and nutrient availability.
- Climate: Influences weathering processes, precipitation levels, and temperature variations.
- Organisms: Contribute organic matter and play a critical role in nutrient cycling and recycling.
- Relief: Encompasses aspects like altitude, slope angle, and orientation which affect soil development.
- Human Activity: Includes the impacts of agriculture, urbanization, and land management practices.
- Time: It can take approximately 400 years to generate 10mm of soil, requiring 3000-12000mm for sufficient agricultural depth.
Characteristics of Desert Soils
- Dry Conditions: Minimal moisture retention leads to unique soil characteristics.
- Composition: Dominated by sand and mineral-rich content; the surface often forms a crust.
- Colorful Appearance: The lack of rainfall prevents leaching, leading to rich and varied mineral hues.
- Thin Layers: Desert soils typically have very limited thickness.
- Stoniness: Often stony if deflation processes occur, which remove finer particles.
Soil Types in Deserts
- Entisol: Young, mobile soils resembling sand dunes; lack defined horizons due to constant movement.
- Aridisol: Characterized by a light color due to accumulated silica, gypsum, and calcium carbonate deposits.
Salinisation Process
- Occurs when high temperatures cause soil moisture to evaporate, pulling salts to the surface through capillary action.
- These salts can be toxic, rendering the land unusable, whether resulting from natural conditions or irrigation practices introduced to dry regions.
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Test your knowledge of desert soils with these flashcards. Each card provides a key term related to desert soil composition and its definition. Enhance your understanding of this unique ecosystem and its characteristics.
