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Questions and Answers
What is the predominant soil type in southeastern Minnesota?
What is the predominant soil type in southeastern Minnesota?
Which type of parent material results from sediment deposited in lakes formed by glacial meltwater?
Which type of parent material results from sediment deposited in lakes formed by glacial meltwater?
What factor makes erosion a major concern for soils formed in southwestern Minnesota?
What factor makes erosion a major concern for soils formed in southwestern Minnesota?
Which region of Minnesota has soils formed in outwash that are excessively well-drained?
Which region of Minnesota has soils formed in outwash that are excessively well-drained?
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What characterizes soils formed in till over bedrock in northeastern Minnesota?
What characterizes soils formed in till over bedrock in northeastern Minnesota?
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What are the primary components of soil?
What are the primary components of soil?
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What are the common factors among Minnesota soils?
What are the common factors among Minnesota soils?
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What are the five factors affecting soil formation?
What are the five factors affecting soil formation?
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What are the five major parent materials found in Minnesota?
What are the five major parent materials found in Minnesota?
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Why are the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil important?
Why are the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil important?
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What is the primary role of soils in sustaining plant and animal life?
What is the primary role of soils in sustaining plant and animal life?
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How many different soil series are formed in Minnesota due to the interaction of various factors?
How many different soil series are formed in Minnesota due to the interaction of various factors?
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Why are Minnesota soils considered geologically young despite being formed 11,000 to 14,000 years ago?
Why are Minnesota soils considered geologically young despite being formed 11,000 to 14,000 years ago?
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Which type of parent material in Minnesota soils results from sediment deposited in lakes formed by glacial meltwater?
Which type of parent material in Minnesota soils results from sediment deposited in lakes formed by glacial meltwater?
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How do horizons in soils form according to the text?
How do horizons in soils form according to the text?
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What distinguishes soil horizons from the initial material?
What distinguishes soil horizons from the initial material?
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Which of the following is NOT considered one of the five major parent materials in Minnesota soils?
Which of the following is NOT considered one of the five major parent materials in Minnesota soils?
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How many different soil series are formed in Minnesota according to scientists?
How many different soil series are formed in Minnesota according to scientists?
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Why are the geological soils in Minnesota considered young?
Why are the geological soils in Minnesota considered young?
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Which factor plays a crucial role in determining the physical, chemical, and biological properties of different soils?
Which factor plays a crucial role in determining the physical, chemical, and biological properties of different soils?
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Which parent material in Minnesota typically results in soils with poor internal drainage?
Which parent material in Minnesota typically results in soils with poor internal drainage?
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Which type of soil texture is commonly found in soils formed from loess in southeastern Minnesota?
Which type of soil texture is commonly found in soils formed from loess in southeastern Minnesota?
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Which parent material is predominantly found in the south-central, west-central, and southwestern parts of Minnesota?
Which parent material is predominantly found in the south-central, west-central, and southwestern parts of Minnesota?
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Which soil texture is not typically found in lacustrine parent materials?
Which soil texture is not typically found in lacustrine parent materials?
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Which region of Minnesota has soils formed in outwash, characterized by excessive well-drained conditions and sandy loam textures?
Which region of Minnesota has soils formed in outwash, characterized by excessive well-drained conditions and sandy loam textures?
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What is the typical texture of soils formed in loess in southeastern Minnesota?
What is the typical texture of soils formed in loess in southeastern Minnesota?
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What is the main concern for soils formed in till and loess in southwestern Minnesota?
What is the main concern for soils formed in till and loess in southwestern Minnesota?
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What is the main characteristic of soils formed in outwash in Minnesota?
What is the main characteristic of soils formed in outwash in Minnesota?
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What is the primary concern for soils formed in lacustrine material in northwestern Minnesota?
What is the primary concern for soils formed in lacustrine material in northwestern Minnesota?
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What type of soil texture is common in soils formed in till in south-central, west-central and southwestern parts of Minnesota?
What type of soil texture is common in soils formed in till in south-central, west-central and southwestern parts of Minnesota?
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Study Notes
Soil Formation in Minnesota
- Minnesota's geologically young soils were formed by the last glacier in the northern United States, 11,000 to 14,000 years ago.
- There are five major parent materials: Till, loess, lacustrine, outwash, and till over bedrock.
Till
- Till is predominant in the south-central, west-central, and southwestern parts of Minnesota.
- Soils formed in till have silty clay loam to silty clay textures, many different rock sizes, and poor internal drainage.
- Poor drainage has a large influence on nitrogen management and cultural practices.
Loess
- Loess is windblown, silt-sized material deposited after the glacier melted.
- Soils formed in loess have silt loam textures and no rocks.
- Most soils formed in loess occur in southeastern Minnesota, where the loess deposits are on top of limestone or sandstone.
- Soils in southeastern Minnesota are generally well-drained.
- Loess in southwestern Minnesota is deposited over glacial till and is poorly drained.
Lacustrine
- Lacustrine parent materials result from sediment deposited in lakes formed by glacial meltwater.
- Soils formed in lacustrine deposits have clay, clay loam, and silty clay loam textures, poor internal drainage, and no rocks.
- Many soils in northwestern Minnesota were formed in lacustrine material.
Outwash
- Outwash is material deposited on the edges of fast-running rivers from the melting ice of receding glaciers.
- Soils formed in outwash are excessively well-drained and have sand and sandy loam textures.
- Examples of Minnesota areas with soils formed in outwash include the Anoka Sand Plain, North Central Sands, and Bonanza Valley regions.
Till over Bedrock
- Till over bedrock deposits occur in northeastern Minnesota.
- Materials from the glacier were deposited over bedrock, similar to south-central Minnesota.
Soil Functions
- Soils perform vital functions to sustain plant and animal life, regulate water flow, filter and buffer pollutants, cycle nutrients, and provide physical stability and sort.
- Scientists attribute soil formation to the following factors: Parent material, climate, biota (organisms), topography, and time.
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Test your knowledge on the composition and functions of soil, including its ability to support plant growth and regulate water flow. Explore the different layers of soil and how they are formed.
