APES - Unit 4 Correct Questions & Answers(SCORED A+)

ecosystem services provided by soil - ANSWER - provides habitats - allows for the cycling of nutrients through terrestrial ecosystems - provides a substrate for plant growth - filters water as rainwater passes through it on its way to rivers and groundwater How does soil form? - ANSWER weathering is the primary process that forms soil - breaks down rock into smaller particles - these small particles of rock combine with decomposing organic material to form soil - As a result, soil is neither completely biotic nor completely abiotic What influences the speed of soil formation? - ANSWER climate influences the speed of weathering cold climates: little water movement, so physical and chemical weathering will proceed slowly Names of the six possible horizons - ANSWER O horizon, A horizon, E horizon, B horizon, C horizon, R horizon (Orange And Eager Bears Can Run) A horizon - ANSWER minerals and organic material have been mixed together, aka topsoil O horizon - ANSWER stands for organic, called humus, consists of decaying organic material, found in forest ecosystems E horizon - ANSWER a zone of leaching; due to the soil's acidity, material is more likely to dissolve and be transported down to the B horizon B horizon - ANSWER subsoil, contains mostly inorganic material, it is where nutrients will accumulate C horizon - ANSWER the least weathered layer of soil, It consists of pieces of the parent material R horizon - ANSWER Bedrock define leaching - ANSWER dissolved particles move down through horizons relative sizes of silt, sand and clay particles - ANSWER Sand is the largest particle, followed by silt, and then clay sand, silt, clay most desirable soil texture for agriculture - ANSWER silty soils with medium-size pores or loamy soils with mixtures of pore sizes Define porosity - ANSWER - the amount of space in between the grains of sand, silt and clay that make up the soil - determines the ease with which water, oxygen, and nitrogen can work their way down between soil particles to the root zones of plants - determines how quickly & easily water can soak in and become groundwater in an aquifer define permeability - ANSWER - how easily water passes through soils - influenced by the porosity and can be measured with a percolation test - if it is too low, the soil can become water-logged - if it is too high, the soil can't retain enough water for plant growth how a soil's moisture content relates to its texture - ANSWER Sand: poor ability to retain moisture Silt: little ability to retain moisture Clay: high ability to retain moisture the three main nutrients that must be in soil for plant growth - ANSWER nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium How do plants prevent soil erosion ? - ANSWER slow down water as it flows over the land roots hold the soil in position break the impact of a raindrop before it hits the soil What activities can lead to the destruction of topsoil ? - ANSWER natural, human, and/or animal activity major harmful effects of soil erosion - ANSWER 1) the loss of soil fertility 2) the increase of sediment in surface waters where it pollutes water, kills fish, and clogs water supply (the polluting of water) reading a ternary diagram - ANSWER the basics of the Food Security Act - ANSWER made to preserve soil Farmers that adopt soil conservation plan receive price supports and other benefits farmers that conserve soil get benefits 1985 the basics of the Conservation Reserve Program - ANSWER Farmers are paid to place highly erodible land into conservation reserves 1985 define food security - ANSWER condition under which every person in a given area has daily access to enough nutritious food to have an active and healthy life define undernutrition - ANSWER consuming insufficient food to meet ones minimum daily energy needs for a long enough time to cause harmful effects define malnutrition - ANSWER faulty nutrition, caused by a diet that does not supply an individual with enough protein, essential fats, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients needed for good health define famine - ANSWER widespread malnutrition and starvation in a particular area because of a shortage of food, usually caused by a drought, war, flood, earthquake, or other catastrophic events that disrupt food production and distribution define overnutrition - ANSWER diet so high in calories, saturated animal fats, salt, sugar, and processed foods and so low in vegetables and fruits that the consumer runs a high risk of developing diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and other health hazards