The Importance of Soil
Valuable natural resource Humans and many organisms rely on soil Therefore, it is important to monitor and maintain the health of soil
What is soil? Solid material on Earth’s surface Results from interaction of weather and biological activities with geologic formation Created when rocks are broken down, combined with organic matter, water and air. Consisting of varying amounts of silt, sand and clay Color of soil varies based on minerals, chemical and biological interactions in the soil
Where is soil found? Found in layers Distingushed by Color Texture Structures Organic material content Gravel
How do humans change the soil? Change the land for different purposes Landscaping Building Agriculture Road construction Vegetation They change it different than nature does
Who depends on soil? All organisms Plants Animals Protozoans Bacteria Humans Fungi Protozoans Algae Bacteria
What are nutrients? Substances that provide food for growth and life
What is organic matter? Matter made of living or once living organisms that contain C, O, H, and N.
Thought Questions ??? Where does your food come from? Is it grown or raised locally? Most food is grown or raised in other parts of the world, transported, and then purchased at local grocery stores
What comes to your mind when you hear the word soil? Rank how soil is important to you worksheet Share your list with your group.
How Dirt works Podcast http://vimeo.com/77792712
How does dirt work? Two minute reflection paper You are to respond to the above question in two minutes on a separate sheet of paper and turn in.
Soil Profile Fold a piece of paper in thirds In one third, fold a forth section that is about an inch wide.
Soil Horizons O Horizon-This is the surface layer that has large amounts of organic matter in different stages of decomposition. Dead leaves can be illustrated. A Horizon- The top layer of soil and is where most biological activity occurs. Earthworms, grass, fungi, plant roots and arthropods can be illustrated. B Horizon- The subsoil and consists of mineral layers. Plant roots also penetrate this layer. C Horizon- Contains large shelves or clumps of rock.
Why is soil a valuable natural resource? Regulates the flow of water from rain Some flows over the surface Some enters the soil and is retained Used by plants that grow in soil Used by organisms living in soil Much will flow to deeper layers below
Which Soil will absorb most amount of water ? Lab activity Students conduct lab and share results
What are Pollutants? Substance that contaminates the water, air or soil
Soil as a filter lab activity Students do lab on filtration Students share their results
Meet the Scientists-Sophia Parker http://vimeo.com/77788834
Why is soil a valuable resource? http://vimeo.com/78368785
Why is soil a valuable resource? Two minute reflection paper You are to respond to the question above in two minutes on a separate sheet of paper and turn in. Summaries may include filtration and storage of water, decomposition and recycling of nutrients, roots in the soil, transporting nutrients to plants, and that soil is the building block of a healthy system
How do humans rely on soil? Tic-Tac-Toe-Watch video “how do humans rely on soil?” Put each example in any one of the spaces on a tic-tac-toe boards.
How do humans rely on soil? http://vimeo.com/78368784
Dust Bowl A period of severe dust storms causing ecological and agricultural damage.
Dust Bowl Result of poor agricultural practices and years of sustained drought Plains and grasslands have been deeply plowed and planted with wheat. Years with lots of water=plentiful crops Droughts of 1930’s; farmers kept plowing and planting=nothing would grow Ground cover that held the soil in place was gone Winds whipped across raising clouds of dust to the skiesskies would darken, thick layers of dust
The Dust Bowl Episode PBS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guTek7ipD4U Approx 6 min
Why is it important to monitor the health of soil. http://vimeo
Soil takes years to develop so it is important to monitor and maintain soil.
What are some of the strategies used to improve and maintain the health of the soil? http://vimeo.com/7836782
What are some of the strategies used to improve and maintain the health of the soil? Two minute reflection essay Answer the question above in two minutes on a separate sheet of paper and turn in.
Cycling of matter by decomposers Bacteria Worms Recycle nutrients in the soil by eating and digesting the organic matter for nutrients. Organic matter comes from plants and animals that live in the soil Worms spread nutrient-rich waste developing new soil where new plants can grow. Composting bin
Need to know for test!!! Describe the role of soil as a valuable natural resource Explain the relationship between humans and soil List two reasons why it is important to monitor and maintain the health of soil. Use the Dust Bowl as an example
Cycles of Matter Summarized
The Water Cycle The continuous process by which water moves from the Earth’s surface to the atmosphere and back. It uses the process of: Evaporation (liquid to gas) Condensation (gas to liquid) Precipitation (water vapor falls to Earth)
Water Cycle Going further See teacher notes
What are the transitions in the water cycle?
Problems can occur with nutrient cycles
Is there an equal quantity of water in each part of the cycle at any given time?
Does the proportion of water held at each part of the cycle remain constant? i.e., is there generally the same amount of water in the oceans/hydrosphere, the atmosphere, lithosphere at all times
Does the amount of water on earth—in the lithosphere hydrosphere, and atmosphere combined ever fluctuate?
How long has water been on our planet?
Is there any reason to be concerned about wasting water if water is always cycling and will never actually leave the planet?
Which parts of the water cycle are relatively faster and which are relatively slower?
Besides water, what other nutrients cycle through the atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere for use by all organisms?
The Carbon Cycle 6CO2 + 6 H2O C6H12O6 + 6 O2 Carbon and oxygen are recycled. Producers, consumers and decomposers all play a role in this cycle. 6CO2 + 6 H2O C6H12O6 + 6 O2 Plants and Consumers are dependent on each other!
The Carbon Cycle Producers take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. (consumers are opposite). Consumers eat producers (taking in carbon-food molecules) and release them as carbon dioxide and carbon waste products. Decomposers break down the remains of producers and consumers and return it to the soil. They also release carbon dioxide.
Most organisms take in oxygen and give off carbon dioxide. The Carbon Cycle Producers take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. (consumers are opposite) Most organisms take in oxygen and give off carbon dioxide.
Carbon (purple) and Oxygen (orange) Cycle
The Human Impact Humans affect the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere: Burning oil and other fossil fuels Clearing forests for lumber Burning down trees to clear a forest Factories give off carbon dioxide
The Nitrogen Cycle Nitrogen moves from the air to the soil, into living things, and back into the air. Nitrogen gas is plentiful in the atmosphere (78%) but cannot be used until it is “fixed”. Most nitrogen is fixed by bacteria. They change free N to useable N.
The Release of Nitrogen Producers use Nitrogen to build proteins and other compounds. Decomposers can break down waste (including animal waste) and return it to the atmosphere. Nitrogen fixing bacteria can live on the roots of legumes, such as peanuts and beans.
The Phosphorus Cycle Sedimentary cycle (unlike Carbon, water and nitrogen cycles) Phosphorus enters the biosphere through soil through weathering of rocks and absorption up the roots of plants Used by organisms for energy (ATP) and to make nucleic acids (DNA and RNA)