Soil and Soil Functions
– The 4 components of soil and their percentages (please see pie-chart)
– Define atmosphere, biosphere, (geo)lithosphere, and hydrosphere (know what each represents)
– Know the 6 soil functions and be able to describe them
– What do plants obtain from soil?
– Given two or more scenarios rank the soil in their suitability for plant growth (for example think about the texture of the soil, the bulk density of the soil and relate that to what a plant needs to grow)
– Describe the role of soil as a modifier of the atmosphere (know what the meaning of “modifier of the atmosphere” is)
– How does clearing of forest land affect CO2 in the atmosphere?
– How does changing from perennial to annual cropping or woodland to annual cropping affect CO2 levels in the atmosphere, which one of these systems would sequester more CO2?- Think of other scenarios that would increase or decrease CO2 in the atmosphere.
– What do we mean with “soil a regulator of water supplies”
– What do we mean with “soil a recycler of raw materials”
–
2. Soil Color, Structure, and Texture
– What are rocks
– Know the three different types of rocks
– What is a mineral
– The factors that influence soil color
– The mineral: Goethite, hematite, calcite, quartz and dolomite will produce what color coating on soil particles (know the colors they produce); what color will humus produce?
– The three components we use to report soil color (hue, value, chroma) and in what order we write it (the correct notification)
– What is soil structure
– How does soil structure form (what are some examples of flocculation and cementation processes)
– Know the names of different soil structures and how they affect water infiltration (poor, fast, medium). Know also what they look like
– What is soil texture
– The different particle sizes for sand, silt and clay (know their diameter!)
– What are some of the characteristics for sandy, loamy, and clay soils
– Some soil properties affected by texture and how are they affected (water holding capacity, aeration, nutrient holding capacity, plasticity)
– How do we determine soil texture (2 methods used)?
– You should be able to use a textural triangle
– Texture calculations (as done during lab0
3. Bulk density/particle density/porosity
– Define bulk density and know the relationship with compacted vs un-compacted soils
– Difference between particle and bulk density
– What is bulk volume
– Equations for bulk density, particle density, pore space, will be given but you should be able to differentiate between them and know how to calculate each (full credit only with complete calculations)
– Ideal bulk density and air filled pore space for plant growth (<1.80 g/cm3 and >=10%)
– Factors that affect bulk density/particle density.
– What particle density is assumed for most soils and why?
– Be able to determine bulk density, with dimensions of cylinder given
– What is porosity, be able to calculate it!
– Relationship between porosity and bulk density
– Recognize symbol for bulk density, particle density and know the units (full credit only with correct units)
– Factors affecting pore space (You will be given different scenarios and then should be able to say if there is an increase/decrease in pore space or increase/decrease in bulk density).
– Why is air filled pore space important!
4. Soil Formation and Parent Material
• The 4 soil forming processes and how they affect the soil profile and soil development overall
• What is weathering. Examples of Physical and Chemical weathering
• In what kind of environment is it more likely that one or the other will occur (please review worksheet on weathering)
• Different modes of transport for parent material
• Know the difference between different parent materials (particle size, sorting, stratification, varves etc..)
• The difference in material between Loess and Eolian; glacial till and outwash, alluvium and lacustrine etc….
• What is colluvium
• The three different alluvial deposits? What is the difference between them.
• Based on a soil profile description determine the number of parent materials and what parent materials they are
• Based on a block diagram determine the parent materials for a soil (see worksheet and also lab notes)
5. Horizons
• What is a soil horizon
• What is a soil profile
• What is the identification (distinctive characteristics) for the different master horizons
• What is an Ap horizon, how do I recognize it
• What is an O horizon, how do I recognize it
• What is an E horizon, how do I recognize it
• Subordinate distinctions for the O horizon (a, e, i) and the meaning
• Difference between mixed horizon and transition horizons
• Be able to define a Bw, Bk, Bz, Bt, and Bg horizon
• Based on a soil profile description you should be able to tell what the texture, structure, parent material the color and the name of a horizon are (review the worksheet and/or your lab notes)
• Based on a soil profile description, identify the name of the horizon and explain why that name should be given to the horizon
6. Soil Taxonomy*
• How many soil orders are there?
• What is the geographical distribution of Alfisols, Oxisols, Mollisols, Spodosols, Histosols, Gelisols (know examples of states where they would occur)
• How do I recognize the soil order in the taxonomic name of a soil and know the abbreviation for each soil order in a name?
• Youngest (least weathered soil order), most weathered soil order
7. The Web Soil Survey (This information can be found at https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/HomePage.htm and the instructions on how to work in it are on Cnvas (Web Soil Survey Answer Explanation)
– Who is it operated by?
– What data does it provide?
– Find campus on the web soil survey
– What is the dominant soil series on (look at the total acres it occupies in the legend)?
– What is the horizonation of the dominant soil series?
– Explain, why these horizons have the name they have?
*Depends on how far we get into this chapter
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