Our Living Soil Mr Boland Geography

What is soil? What is soil?

Soil is the top layer of the earths surface. Soil is the top layer of the earths surface. It provides nutrient for plant growth and is the most important natural resource It provides nutrient for plant growth and is the most important natural resource

Soil an essential natural resource is composed of....Can You guess the importance of each element?

rock dissolve Mineral particles 45% are remains of rock broken down, these are soluble as they dissolve in water. micro organisms Air 25% supplies oxygen and nitrogen to micro organisms. distributes plants Water 25% dissolves and distributes mineral nutrients to plants. break humus Micro-Organisms 5% break up the soil and eat plant litter making humus and the soil fertile.

Fill in the Blanks Mineral particles ______% are remains of _______ broken down, these are soluble as they _________ in water. Feed plants Air ______% supplies oxygen and nitrogen to ______________. Water _____% dissolves and _________ mineral nutrients to _____. Micro-Organisms ______% _______ up the soil and eat plant litter making _________ and the soil fertile.

rock dissolve Mineral particles 45% are remains of rock broken down, these are soluble as they dissolve in water. micro organisms Air 25% supplies oxygen and nitrogen to micro organisms. distributes plants Water 25% dissolves and distributes mineral nutrients to plants. break humus Micro-Organisms 5% break up the soil and eat plant litter making humus and the soil fertile.

What are the percentages ?????

Soil creation Weathering breaks rocks down into loose material. Weathering (Physical and chemical) and erosion breaks rocks down into loose material. climatedistinct natural vegetation. The climate in the area makes a distinct natural vegetation. mixes Both the remains of this vegetation and loose material mixes and forms soil.

Climate Natural Vegetation Provides dead Plants Forms Mineral Particles Erodes Parent Rock Mixes to form soil

Climate: causes weathering and erosion to break down rocks into smaller particles. It is also responsible for the natural vegetation People: People can help make land fertile by irrigating and fertilising it. Parent Rock is broken down by climates, people and vegetation Vegetation helps form humus when it dies. Soil

WHAT DO THESE FOUR PICTURES SHOW?????humus

How is Humus Made Dead vegetation like leaves and grass are broken down by micro- organism, bacteria and fungi. black It forms a black coloured jelly substance called humus. Oxygen Oxygen is also needed to break down dead material. very fertile and feeds more plants. Humus is very fertile and feeds more plants.

Nutrient cycle

Soil Profiles cross section of soil layers (Horizons) A soil profile is a cross section of soil showing the different layers (Horizons) Horizon A: The topsoil humus darker Horizon A: The topsoil. This can contain humus and is usually darker in colour. Horizon B: The subsoil. less humus, is lighter in colourmore stones Horizon B: The subsoil. This contains less humus, is lighter in colour and has more stones. Horizon C: The parent rock/ bedrock.

Soil creation Weathering and erosion breaks rocks down into loose material. This mixed with climate, vegetation and human activity to produce soil.

Leaching and Hard Pan percolates (soaks) through the soil Water percolates (soaks) through the soil. This is necessary to bring nutrient to plant roots. Leaching occurs when rain washes minerals down from the A horizon to the B Leaching occurs when rain washes minerals down from the A horizon to the B horizon. This makes soil less fertile. heavy rainfall minerals gather and form a hard pan In areas of heavy rainfall minerals gather and form a hard pan impermeable The hard pan is impermeable, this does not allow water to pass through it.

Areas that undergo leaching are often wet, soggy soil. Ex Monaghan

Types of soil The formation of humus and the movement of water through soils help create different soil types. Three soils that we are looking at are browns soils, podzols and tropical red soils

Brown Soils deciduous forests rich in humus. Develop in deciduous forests and are rich in humus. moderate rainfall (800mm) no leaching or no hard pans. -Occur in areas of moderate rainfall (800mm)and there is no leaching or no hard pans. Very Fertile- Arable (tillage) and pastarol Farming -Very Fertile- Arable (tillage) and pastarol Farming -Found in Laois

Describe characteristics of the soil associated with these pictures

Podzols coniferous forestslittle humus -Occur in coniferous forests with little humus. high rainfall heavy leaching and hardpans. -Occur in areas of resulting with high rainfall heavy leaching and hardpans. Grey colour -Grey colour due to little humus Infertile -Infertile- suitable for grazing and coniferous forests. high/wet areas -Found in high/wet areas like Cork and Tyrone.

Podzol Profile

Which soil is which? Explain your answer?

Name a county for each soil type???

Why is the soil on the equator red???

Tropical Red Soils equator. Red soils are found on the equator. plant litter is acidic Heavy plant litter is acidic which breaks rock down. chemical weathering heavy rainfallhigh temperatures Rocks undergo chemical weathering due to heavy rainfall and high temperatures oxidation The soil undergoes oxidation (rusting) to give it iron oxide in the rocks. a red colour because there is a large amount of iron oxide in the rocks. Though fertile if the forests are cleared heavy leaching makes the soil infertile

Exam Questions