1. Soil Health & Land Use
Envirothon

2. Soil Composition

3. Soil Types

4. 5 Soil Factors

5. Time
Weathering and erosion of materials so that breakdown is a continuous process.

6. Biological processes aid the breaking down and transport of materials.
Organisms

7. Climate

8. Relief
YES, that one.
Ummmmm, no.

9. Parent Materials
Igneous
Metamorphic
Sedimentary

10. Residual Soils form from top and bottom Bottom
Weathering of bedrock produces rock particles and mineral contribution (B-C)
Top
Decomposition of organic matter produces carbon and nitrogen rich component (O-A-B)

11. Quick & Dirty Erosion
Soil erosion involves the breakdown, detachment, transport, and redistribution of soil particles by forces of water, wind, or gravity.
Solutions
Residue management
Crop rotations
Cover crops
Terraces
Contour farming
Stripcropping
Windbreaks
Herbaceous wind barrier
Causes
Bare or unprotected soil
Long and steep slopes
Intense rainfall or irrigation events when residue cover is at a minimum
Decreased infiltration by compaction

12. Soil Erosion - It’s a BIG Deal
As a result of erosion over the past 40 years, 30 percent of the world's arable land has become unproductive.
About 60 percent of soil that is washed away ends up in rivers, streams and lakes, making waterways more prone to flooding and to contamination from soil's fertilizers and pesticides.

17. 5 Functions of Soil

18. Soil & Plants are BFF’s Soil depth O-A layers Soil texture
Water availability
Rooting depth
Soil texture
Influences surface area
Water retention
O-A layers
Nitrogen and organic matter
Microbial community

19. Soil Horizons

20. Trophic Levels 1st - Photosynthesizers 2nd - Decomposers,
pathogens, root feeders
3rd - Shredders, predators,
Grazers
4th - Higher level predators
5th & higher - higher level
predators

21. Rhizosphere

23. Soil Testing

24. Soil Chemistry Recap
soil survey
Rio grande soil survey