SOIL APES NOTES

The ROCK CYCLE IGNEOUS ROCK = granite, pumice, basalt, obsidian METAMORPHIC ROCK = marble, schist, slate, quartz SEDIMENTARY ROCK = conglomerate, shale, limestone, sandstone

MECHANICAL WEATHERING *PRESSURE FROM WIND AND WATER *FREEZING AND THAWING *ANIMAL ACTIONS *PLANT GROWTH

CHEMICAL WEATHERING WATER (H2O) -water dissolves substances OXYGEN (O2) - it will combine with iron to cause rust CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) – combines with water to form an acidic solution LIVING ORGANISMS – they secrete/excrete chemicals that can change the pH ACID RAIN – as a result of atmospheric pollution LICHEN GROWING ON ROCK

What is soil? Soil is a mixture of different materials: Weather rock particles Decayed remains of organisms Water Air Living organisms and their excretions

SOIL HORIZONS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZibUOYUMbE (the Parent Material )

ESSENTIAL SOIL NUTRIENTS

FERTILIZERS FERTILIZERS : substances that contain essential nutrients * INORGANIC FERTILIZERS: synthetically manufactured mineral supplements * ORGANIC FERTILIZERS: from the remains or wastes of organisms (manure, crop residues, fresh vegetation) (Compost = produced when decomposers break down organic matter) OVER-APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS: *over applying inorganic fertilizers can pollute the soil *runoff causes eutrophication (over abundance of nutrients ) in water systems *over abundance of Nitrates leach through the soil and contaminate groundwater https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ5OohqO9b4

FACTORS OF SOIL Infiltration: the downward movement of water through the pores of soil Leaching: dissolving of minerals and organic matter in upper layers carrying them to lower layers. Soil Classification: based on color, texture, nutrient content, and infiltration

SOIL COLOR SOIL COLOR indicates its composition and fertility * Black or dark Brown = soil will be rich in organic matter * Pale gray or white = contains little or no organic matter and indicates leaching (mostly calcite) * Red = indicates iron content

TYPES OF SOIL CLAY = consist of very small particles, (less than .002 mm in diameter) Clay particles adhere to each other and is more compact than other soils (STICKY FEEL) SILT = medium size particles (.002 - .05 mm in diameter) (SMOOTH/POWDERY FEEL) SAND = large size particles, (.05 -2.0 mm in diameter), Sand will consist of larger pores which means low water retention (GRITTY FEEL ) Gravel layer

PROPERTIES OF SOIL SAND SILT CLAY DRAINAGE HIGH GOOD LOW AERATION FERTILITY WATER HOLDING CAPACITY

LOAM LOAM = SOIL WITH AN EVEN MIXTURE OF THE THREE TYPES OF SOIL ( CLAY, SILT, SAND) and HUMUS (dead, organic matter) SILTY SOILS WITH MEDIUM SIZE PORES, OR LOAMY SOILS WITH MIXTURES OF PORE SIZES ARE BEST FOR PLANT GROWTH AND CROP AGRICULTURE

SOIL TEXTURE TRIANGLE 34 % Sand Texture = 33 % Silt CLAY LOAM Sand + Silt + Clay = 100% 34 % Sand Texture = CLAY LOAM 33 % Silt 33 % Clay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hW59WZ0EQI

Texture by Feel

EROSION EROSION = the movement of soil by wind or water * removes topsoil * occurs when vegetation is absent * occurs easily on steep slopes EROSION INCREASES THROUGH: * excessive tilling * overgrazing * clearing forests TYPES OF EROSION: *SPLASH *SHEET *RILL *GULLY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0F2c1ECuo4 SPLASH EROSION RILL EROSION GULLY EROSION

DESERTIFICATION RESULTS FROM: erosion, soil compaction, vegetation removal, overgrazing, salinization, climate change, depletion of water sources Dust Bowl: * in the 1930’s , settlers in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado over grew wheat, overgrazed cattle, removed excessive vegetation which led to soil degradation *a drought in the 1930’s made conditions worse

FACTS ABOUT AGRICULTURE: AGRICULTURE = practice of raising crops and livestock for human use and consumption CROPLAND = land used to raise plants for human use RANGELAND/PASTURE = land used for grazing livestock FACTS ABOUT AGRICULTURE: *38% of Earth’s land surface is devoted to agriculture *mismanaged agriculture can result in soil degradation which leads to desertification, diminishes biodiversity, and pollutes soil *Land suitable for farming is running out *Coupled with rapid population, some believe that the future of agriculture is in crisis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=403sT9CGRl0

TYPES OF AGRICULTURE * SUBSISTENCE AGRICULTURE = family farming * INDUSTRIALIZED AGRICULTURE= using large-scale mechanization, fossil fuels, irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticides to boost yields * MONOCULTURES = uniform planting of a single crop Industrialized Monoculture Subsistence

SOIL CONSERVATION CROP ROTATION = alternating the crops grown from one season to the next CONTOUR FARMING = plowing furrows sideways across a hillside, perpendicular to its slope TERRACING = level platforms are cut into steep hillsides (looks like a “staircase”) INTERCROPPING = planting different types of crops in alternating bands SHELTERBELT/WINDBREAK= rows of trees or other tall plants that are planted along the edges of fields to slow the wind ALLEY CROPPING = using both shelterbelts and intercropping REDUCED or NO TILLAGE = furrows are cut in the soil, a seed is dropped in and the furrow is closed DRIP IRRIGATION = watering that targets water directly to the plants

Irrigation vs Drip Irrigation

SOIL CONSERVATION PROGRAMS FOOD SECURITY ACT OF 1985 : farmers that adopt soil conservation plan receive price supports and other benefits CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM (1985) : farmers are paid to place highly erodible land into conservation reserves with trees and grasses planted instead of crops FEDRAL AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT ACT (1996) : also known as the “Freedom to Farm Act” : aimed to reduce government influence over farm products and to promote conservation practices in agriculture. It created the Environmental Quality Incentive Program and Natural Resource Conservation Foundation FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO): the international, United Nation’s main agricultural program https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg7XSjcnZQM