Unit 3: Food from the Land Soil & Vegetation Unit 3: Food from the Land

Vegetation Zones A regions vegetation is determined by its climate & soils. Different types of vegetation require different combinations of climate and vegetation to grow. Areas with different types of natural vegetation are classified as different vegetation zones. Natural Vegetation: plants that grow in a region without any human interference

Vegetation Zones Geographers have identified 7 natural vegetation regions across Canada: Tundra West Coast Forest Cordilleran Vegetation Boreal & Taiga Forest Grassland Mixed Forest Deciduous Forest

Vegetation Zones Transition zones exist between two different vegetation regions and represent an area where one region’s gradually changes into those of the next. Some transition zones are so large they can be considered regions themselves Ex: Mixed Forest Region

Soil Soil consists of 4 main parts: Minerals Water 45-49% of soil volume The texture of a soil is based on the percentage of sand, silt, and clay found in that soil. Water 2-50% of soil volume The capacity of a soil to hold water is largely dependent on soil texture.

Soil Gases 2-50% of soil volume Organic Material 1-5% of soil volume derived from dead plants and animals has a high capacity to hold onto and/or provide the essential elements for plant growth Gases 2-50% of soil volume Oxygen is essential for root respiration Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen also are important for other plant functions

Soil

Soil Profile Topsoil Subsoil Bedrock

Grasslands Location: Southern parts of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta Characteristics Dry Climate Long Growing Season Deep intertwined root systems store moisture

Grasslands Short Grass Prairie: Driest Area of of Southern SK & AB Drought resistant short grasses, cactus and brush Warm, dry climate Limited Moisture High evaporation & Limited Rain = calcified soil Not Suitable for Agriculture

Grasslands Long Grass Prairie: Surrounding the Short Grass Prairie Ideal for growing grains & oil seeds Large amounts of humus produced by dying grass Rich black soil Richest soil in Canada and produces best grains in world.

Grasslands Parkland: Between warm grasslands and the cooler boreal forest. Transition zone: clumps of long grass prairie dotted with tree clumps Coniferous trees to the north Deciduous tress in the southern regions

Manitoban Soils Most prominent soil in MB: Chernozems (52%) 2nd most prominent: Gleysols (21%) 3rd most prominent: Organic Soils (7%) Copy this in notes

Manitoban Soils Using this images along with your Manitoba Agricultural Regions Map, complete the Soils Assignment.

Soil Humus: the organic component of soil, formed by the decomposition of leaves and other plant material by soil microorganisms. Topsoil: is the upper, outermost layer of soil. It has the highest concentration of organic material and microorganisms Loam: a soil with roughly equal proportions of sand, silt, and clay.

Definitions Leached Soil: The removal of water and essential elements from the top horizon of soil where they are useful. Calcified Soil: Calcified soil has a large amount of calcium in it, either from natural or human processes. Usually it refers to soil that has too much calcium to be useful Ex: pH is too high.

Tundra The tundra is the most northerly vegetation region It is located above the tree line, which marks the northern boundary of tree growth Trees do not grow in the tundra because the climate is too cold and dry Most of the tundra has permafrost, or permanently frozen ground Only the top metre or so of permafrost, known as the active layer, thaws during the short summer

Tundra Small shrubs and mosses grow close to the ground in summer Very short growing season, so plants bloom & seed quickly. There is very little humus in the tundra’s soil The lack of vegetation limits wildlife

Boreal And Taiga Forest To the south of the tundra is the Boreal and Taiga Forest It is the largest vegetation region in Canada It is separated from the tundra by the tree line Has a longer growing season and more precipitation than the tundra Coniferous trees, or evergreens, lost some needles throughout the year but are never bare

Boreal & Taiga Forest Needles of the coniferous trees make the soil very acidic. The lack of humus, combined with the high acidity, and the leaching effect of water make these wet-climate soils infertile and unsuitable for agriculture

Mixed Forest South of the boreal forest in eastern Canada is a mixed forest of coniferous and deciduous trees Soils in mixed forest regions are suitable for farming Today, little of the forest remains in the southern part of the region because of farming, lumbering, urban development and transportation routes.

Mixed Forest The mixed forest is a transition zone between the boreal forest to the north and the deciduous forest to the south The regular, abundant precipitation in this region is suitable for both deciduous and coniferous trees

Deciduous Forest The only deciduous forest in Canada is found in southwestern Ontario Only small remnants of this forest remain since most of it has been cleared for farming and urban development The summers in southwestern Ontario are long and hot, the winters relatively mild and the precipitation plentiful

Deciduous Forest Growing season of this region is approximately 5 months. The soils of this region are less acidic & have more humus. They are the most fertile soils of eastern Canada

Grasslands The grasslands, or the prairies, are located in the southern part of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta The climate here is too dry for most species of trees to survive Grass is suited to this dry climate

Grasslands The deep intertwined root system of the grass absorbs and stores moisture, and holds the soil in place The grasslands consist of three sub-regions: Short-grass prairie – found in warm, very dry locations Long-grass prairie - found in warm, dry locations Parkland – a transition zone of long-grass prairie dotted with clumps of trees

Cordilleran Vegetation In the Cordillera, temperatures are warmer in the valley than high in the mountains The rainfall on the west side of the mountain is more likely to be heavier than on the east side As a result, Cordilleran vegetation varies greatly Irrigation is required for agriculture

Cordilleran Vegetation Vegetation changes as altitude increases Forests of coniferous trees grow on lower slopes where precipitation is heavier Above the tree line are only meadows of flowers and shrubs, on the very highest slopes no vegetation can survive

West Coast Forest Along the West Coast of Canada grow lush forests of Douglas fir and red cedar The heavy rainfall plus the mild climate of the coastal region provide excellent growing conditions for the trees of this temperate rainforest

West Coast Forest Trees more than 1m in diameter and over 50m in height are common The lush vegetation provides a lot of plant material to make humus but the high rainfall leaches minerals deep into the soil

Questions To Answer: Describe the four components that make up a true soil? 2.      How is topsoil formed? 3.      How long has it taken to form topsoil in Canada? 4.      Why does topsoil differ in thickness in different parts of Canada? 5.      Explain the difference between leaching and calcification. 6.      In your own words, explain the term natural vegetation. 7.      There are two classes of trees. Which one can survive a harsher climate? Why?