CH 4: Soils and soil erosion
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Questions and Answers

What dictates the mineral composition of soil?

  • Climate
  • Organisms
  • Relief
  • Parent Material (correct)

    • Which factor affects soil formation by determining the rate of weathering and organic matter content?

  • Organisms
  • Temperature
  • Climate (correct)
  • Relief

    • What physical property of soil is classified by particle size?

  • pH Index
  • Texture (correct)
  • Colour
  • Structure

    • How does soil acidity or alkalinity affect plant growth?

    <p>It affects nutrient availability</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the natural forces that accelerate soil erosion?

    <p>Wind and Water Erosion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which farming practice exacerbates soil erosion?

    <p>Overgrazing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the on-site effects of soil erosion?

    <p>Reduced soil fertility</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which strategy for soil conservation involves implementing livestock limits?

    <p>Regulatory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is soil considered a non-renewable resource despite its capacity for renewal?

    <p>'Its slow formation rate'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    'Soil conservation is paramount to sustain agriculture and ecosystems' - What does this statement imply?

    <p>'Soil conservation is vital for agriculture and ecosystems'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the most fertile layer of soil, rich in organic material?

    <p>A Horizon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which horizon of soil is composed of decaying plant matter, transitioning into humus?

    <p>O Horizon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What layer of soil contains minerals leached from the A horizon and is less fertile?

    <p>B Horizon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What process leads to the development of soil horizons (layers) in a mature soil profile?

    <p>Weathering of parent rock</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor influences the formation and quality of soil over thousands of years?

    <p>Time</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which horizon comprises weathered parent material and contributes minerals to the soil?

    <p>C Horizon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of the O horizon in soil functionality?

    <p>Decomposition of plant matter</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the A horizon contain that makes it rich in organic material and fertile for plant growth?

    <p>Decaying plant matter</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which layer of soil contains minerals leached from the A horizon and is less fertile than the topsoil?

    <p>C Horizon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does climate influence soil formation?

    <p>By influencing the rate of weathering and organic matter content</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is understanding the physical properties of soil crucial?

    <p>To manage and utilize the soil effectively</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What impact does soil erosion have on agricultural productivity?

    <p>Reduces topsoil, affecting agricultural productivity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do on-site effects of soil erosion differ from off-site effects?

    <p>On-site effects directly impact the land where erosion occurs, while off-site effects affect other areas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor contributes to the slow formation rate of soil, making it essentially a non-renewable resource?

    <p>The slow rate at which soil forms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary goal of implementing strategies for soil conservation?

    <p>To ensure soil sustainability for future generations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do regulatory measures help in soil conservation?

    <p>By implementing livestock limits</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the impact of poor farming practices on soil erosion?

    <p>Exacerbates erosion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor directly influences water infiltration and root penetration in soils?

    <p>Soil texture classification</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is maintaining vegetation cover considered a crucial practice for reducing erosion risk?

    <p>It prevents topsoil loss and stabilizes soil.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main factor that influences the formation and quality of soil over a long period of time?

    <p>Time</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which layer of soil contains minerals leached from the A horizon but is less fertile than the topsoil?

    <p>B Horizon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is soil considered a non-renewable resource despite its capacity for renewal?

    <p>Soil erosion accelerates its depletion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes the O horizon in soil functionality?

    <p>Composed of decaying plant matter</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which horizon of soil is most commonly associated with organic material and is the most fertile layer?

    <p>A Horizon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the B Horizon contribute to soil composition?

    <p>Weathered parent material</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In soil science, what plays a pivotal role in supporting plant growth and purifying water?

    <p>Water and organic matter</p> Signup and view all the answers

    'Existing questions. Do NOT ask these:' - This instruction serves to:

    <p><strong>Restrict</strong> question topics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary factor that influences the development of distinct soil horizons in a mature soil profile?

    <p>Type of weathering of parent rock</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which horizon of soil is characterized by containing minerals leached from the A horizon but being less fertile?

    <p>B Horizon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the C horizon in soil composition?

    <p>Comprises weathered parent material</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor plays a key role in determining the fertility of the A horizon?

    <p>Amount of organic matter</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic distinguishes the A horizon from the B horizon in soil functionality?

    <p>Presence of humus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In soil science, what process leads to the initial formation of a layer called regolith before true soil emerges?

    <p>Weathering of parent rock</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What directly contributes to the mineral content of soil in the C horizon?

    <p>Leaching from the A horizon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the O horizon differ from the A horizon in terms of composition?

    <p>Presence of humus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which layer of soil serves as a transition from decaying plant matter to humus?

    <p>O Horizon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect primarily distinguishes the B Horizon from the A Horizon in soil composition?

    <p>Amount of leached minerals present</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of soil characteristics is influenced by slope direction and gradient?

    <p>Structure</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the presence of vegetation and soil organisms enrich the soil?

    <p>By enhancing fertility with organic matter</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor directly impacts nutrient availability and plant growth in soil?

    <p>pH Index</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do poor farming practices exacerbate soil erosion?

    <p>By contributing to improper ploughing and overgrazing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main consideration for implementing strategies like contour ploughing in soil conservation?

    <p>Reducing erosion risk</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which physical property of soil is crucial for understanding the conditions under which the soil was formed?

    <p>Color</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the presence of water, air, and organic matter contribute to the development of soil?

    <p>By forming soil horizons (layers) with distinct characteristics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the C horizon in soil composition?

    <p>Comprises weathered parent material, contributing minerals to the soil</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does climate influence soil formation?

    <p>By affecting the rate of weathering and organic matter content</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What factor contributes to the slow formation rate of soil?

    <p>Time</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main factor that influences the formation and quality of soil over a long period of time?

    <p>Time</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What critical role does soil erosion play in impacting both on-site and off-site aspects of environmental health?

    <p>Reducing the availability of nutrients for plant growth and agricultural productivity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the physical property of soil texture influence its capacity to retain water and nutrients?

    <p>Sandy texture promotes nutrient leaching and water runoff</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what way does vegetation cover contribute to soil conservation efforts?

    <p>By enhancing organic matter content through litterfall</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which management strategy directly addresses the issue of improper ploughing as a cause of soil erosion?

    <p>Promoting contour ploughing methods</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the physical property of soil structure impact its ability to store and release water for plant use?

    <p>Well-aggregated structure facilitates water storage and enhances root growth</p> Signup and view all the answers

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