1. More Soil INfo

2. Review from last time
What are the three types of soil particles?

3. Which one is best at retaining water?

4. What is humus?

5. What about our soil?

6. Our soil
The St. Lawrence River valley used to be at the bottom of the Champlain Sea.
It has lots of detritus, clay, and silt. This makes it one of the most fertile soils in the world.

7. What is leeching?
When minerals dissolve in water. Some leeched particles are good for plants (Mg, Ca, Fe), and some are bad (pollutants).

8. What is Decomposition
When living things die and are broken down, turning them into nutrients.
Is this a physical or a chemical change?
What decomposers help with this process?
Plant nutrients:
Nitrogen (N): for leaves
Phosphorus (P) for fruits and flowers
Potassium (K) for roots

9. What do plants need? Soil that contains minerals and nutrients
Soil that retains water to be absorbed, and to dissolve minerals.
Porosity (some air pockets) to allow for gas to be exchanged.