Questions and Answers
What are two human factors that contribute to soil degradation?
Deforestation and overgrazing.
How does mulching aid in soil conservation?
Mulching helps to retain soil moisture by covering the bare ground with organic matter.
What role do contour barriers play in soil conservation?
Contour barriers slow down water flow and reduce soil erosion.
Explain how terrace farming contributes to soil conservation.
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Identify one natural factor that can lead to soil degradation.
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What is one effect of overusing chemical fertilizers on soil?
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How can rock dams help in preventing soil loss?
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What is rain wash, and how does it affect soil?
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What are the major factors influencing soil formation?
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How does the parent rock affect soil formation?
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In what way does climate contribute to soil formation?
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Why is organic material important in soil formation?
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What role does time play in the process of soil formation?
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What role does climate play in soil formation?
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How does parent rock influence soil properties?
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Explain how relief affects soil formation.
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Discuss the impact of flora and fauna on soil development.
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What is the significance of time in soil formation?
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Identify two major threats to soil as a resource.
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How does rainfall influence the rate of weathering?
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In what ways does soil texture affect its permeability?
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Study Notes
Soil Profile
- Soil consists of layers: topsoil (humus and vegetation), subsoil (sand, silt, clay), weathered rock, and parent rock.
- It takes hundreds of years to form just one centimeter of soil.
Factors of Soil Formation
- Parent Rock: Influences soil color, texture, chemical properties, mineral content, and permeability.
- Climate: Affects soil temperature, rainfall, rate of weathering, and humus formation.
- Relief: Topography, including altitude and slope, impacts soil accumulation.
- Flora and Fauna: Micro-organisms contribute to the organic composition and humus development.
- Time: Determines the thickness and maturity of the soil profile.
Soil Degradation and Conservation
- Major threats to soil include erosion and depletion caused by both human activities and natural factors.
- Key factors leading to soil degradation: deforestation, overgrazing, excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, rain wash, landslides, and floods.
Soil Conservation Methods
- Mulching: Applying organic matter such as straw to bare soil helps retain moisture.
- Contour Barriers: Stones, grass, and soil are used to create barriers along the land's contours to collect water.
- Rock Dams: Piling rocks to slow water flow and prevent soil loss and gully formation.
- Terrace Farming: Creating broad flat steps on steep slopes to grow crops, reducing surface runoff and soil erosion.
- Contour Ploughing: Ploughing along the contours of the land to alternative water flow and enhance soil conservation.
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Description
Explore key concepts from Chapter 2 of the Resources and Development curriculum. This quiz will cover various aspects of soil composition, including top soil and sub soil characteristics, and their significance in environmental studies. Test your understanding and enhance your knowledge in this vital area of geography.