12 Questions
What are the four great Earth domains that soil is at the confluence of?
Atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere
What percentage of soil consists of dead organic matter?
1 - 5%
What is the basis of life's structure and energy storage according to the text?
Carbon
What process converts the sun's energy into sugar?
Photosynthesis
Which term is used in soil ecology to describe molecules that do not contain carbon or are very simple?
Inorganic
What are the two gaseous forms mentioned that carbon exists in?
CO2 and CH4
What process do microbes carry out on dead plant matter in soil?
Decomposition
How long ago did glaciers retreat from Illinois, allowing soil development?
~10,000 years ago
What is the approximate rate at which soil tends to build up each year?
0.001 m
What comprises about half of the volume of soil?
Pore space
What initially colonized the land before the evolution of complex soil ecologies?
Plants and fungi
What is the term used for the accumulated residue of long-dead plants found in soil?
Topsoil
Learn about the accumulation of dead matter in soil, the evolution of complex ecologies of soil organisms, and the role of dead plant matter as food in soil ecosystems. Explore how plants and fungi colonized land, leading to the formation of soil over millions of years.
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