Soil

• What are the five main components of soil?

  Mineral matter, organic matter, air, water, living organisms
• What does soil texture refer to?

  The percentage of sand, silt, and clay particles
• What can rainfall cause in soils?

  Leaching of minerals
• What is a soil profile?

  • A cross-section of soil layers
  • Includes horizons from surface to bedrock
  • Identified by content, texture, and color
• What is the definition of bedrock?

  The bottom layer of solid rock
• What is the A horizon in soil?

  The upper layer called topsoil, rich in humus
• What is the B horizon in soil?

  The subsoil layer, lighter in color with more stones
• What is humus?

  Organic matter formed from decomposed plants
• How does leaching affect soil?

  Washes minerals from the A horizon to B horizon
• What happens to minerals during heavy rainfall?

  They can become cemented into hardpan
• What factors influence soil formation?

  • Parent material
  • Climate
  • Living organisms
  • Landscape/relief
  • Vegetation
  • Time
• What is parent material in soil formation?

  The type of rock broken down to form soil
• How does climate affect soil formation?

  Influences weathering rate and vegetation type
• What are brown earth soils?

  The most common soils in Ireland
• Where are podzol soils typically found?

  In acidic coniferous forests in cold conditions
• How does soil influence vegetation?

  • Deep fertile soils support diverse vegetation
  • Shallow infertile soils limit vegetation types
  • Acidic soils affect plant growth
  • Sandy soils are well-drained and support many plants
• What are the human activities that impact soil?

  • Land clearing
  • Overgrazing
  • Deforestation
  • Intensive farming
• What is deforestation?

  The removal of forests for other land uses
• What are the consequences of deforestation?

  Soil erosion and loss of fertility
• What is over-cropping?

  Growing crops continuously without resting soil
• What is monoculture?

  Growing a single crop repeatedly
• What causes desertification?

  Climate change and human activity
• What are solutions to desertification?

  • Reforestation
  • Changing farming practices
  • Reducing livestock numbers
  • Implementing irrigation schemes