3.

4 Soil System
B & K Chapter 12 pp 222-27 Course companion Ch 12 pp 224-243

Why study soil

http://soil.gsfc.nasa.gov/uploads/images_db/soildoes.jpg

Soil
Habitat for organisms Holds water & nutrients Filter water passing thru Store & transfer heat Impacts atm temp

http://www.saburchill.com/lab/images/0056.jpg

Connections

http://www.nap.edu/books/12666/xhtml/images/p20018b6ag2001.jpg

connections

http://soil.gsfc.nasa.gov/uploads/images/spheres.gif

In the Time it Took to Form One Inch of Soil

This list of significant historical events all occurred during the time it might take to form a single inch of soil. New planets that could sustain life are discovered orbiting a neighborhood star-1996 Americans with Disabilities Act becomes law1990
http://soil.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.php?section=74

Soil Profile

http://www.seafriends.org.nz/enviro/soil/soil22.gif

Deciduous Forest Soil Profile

http://www.saburchill.com/lab/images/0056.jpg

Comparing soil profiles

http://www.geography.hunter.cuny.edu/~tbw/ncc/Notes/chap4.wc/soils/soil.profiles.jpg

Soil Pyramid p228 CC

http://www.pedosphere.com/resources/bulkdensity/graphics%5CUSAtriangle02.gif

Sandy soil Composition (%) sand silt clay Mineral content Potential to hold organic matter Drainage Water-holding capacity 100

Clay soil 15 15 70 High Low Poor Very high

Loam soil 40 20 40 Intermediate Intermediate Good Intermediate

High Low Very good Low

Air spaces
Plants & animals Primary productivity

Large
Low Low

Small
Low Quite low

Intermediate
High high

Soil composition
Result of
Climate Parent rock material Shape of land Organisms living on & within it time

http://www.eoearth.org/files/122901_123000/12 2944/400px-Soil_breakdown.gif

Soil Layers/ Horizons

O Horizon
contains organic material: leaf litter

A Horizon
Partially decomposed organic & fine mineral particles

E Horizon
Older soils = minerals & organic material leached from soil; pale usually high in silica

Soil Layers/ Horizons

B Horizon
Soluble minerals & organic matter deposited from layer above (clay & iron deposits)

C Horizon
Weathered rock

R Horizon
Parent material

3 stages for soil formation

Weathering
Mechanical & chemical breakdown, water movement

Introduction of living organisms

Plant roots, animals moving & mixing soil

Decomposition
Microbes to breakdown organics to make humus

Weathering

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=chaparral+soil+cross+section&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1280&bih=863&tbm=isch&tbnid=oJDFDnp0uiOkyM:&imgrefurl=http://www.seaf riends.org.nz/enviro/soil/geosoil.htm&docid=OTxdzE42iuGhJM&imgurl=http://www.seafriends.org.nz/enviro/soil/soil20.gif&w=400&h=284&ei=RqdETzlM6TYiALftJnIDg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=534&sig=110224468867901193762&page=1&tbnh=153&tbnw=216&start=0&ndsp=20&ved=0CJIBEK0DMBM&tx=87&ty=109

Decomposition impact on soil formation

Humus
Soil texture & adds to chem weathering & water holding capacity

Environmental Factors
Underlying geology Local vegetation Climate topography

Water moving processes

Translocation
Move up soil
Hot, dry climates P<E water evaporates at surface Water moves upward & dissolves minerals & takes to surface Irrigation = Salinization

Water moving processes

Translocation
Water moves down
Colder & wetter climates P>E water moves down soil, dissolving minerals & moving them downward = Leaching

Podsolization
Intense leaching, nutrient poor soil formed

Water moving processes

Gleying
Water cant drain, soil waterlogged Anaerobic conditions Iron oxide reduced & becomes blue-grey

Ferallitization
Tropical soils: red due to High Temp & ppt leaching soil, chemical weathering leaves behind sequestered iron & aluminum oxides

Soil Degradation
Loss of soil & soil fertility Loss of productive farming land Wood fuel source depletion Lack of drinking water Poor sanitation

Soil Erosion
Limited if soil covered with vegetation Sheet wash
Heavy rains: landslides

Gullying
Channels develop

Wind erosion
Dry soils wind removes top soil
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/wrh/02TAs/0212/figure23.gifhttp://ts3.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1595647532902&id=964ac1551d75791bdc2fc76fa094 9c23&url=http%3a%2f%2fvisual.merriam-webster.com%2fimages%2fearth%2fgeology%2flandslides.jpg

Human impact on soil

Overgrazing
Excess animals graze area Sahel area Africa 1970-1980s
Overcropping
Depletion of soil nutrients Decreases soil fertility since no nutrients returned Wind erosion adds Dust Bowl 1930s

http://

Dust Bowl USA Goats grazing in Africa

Sahel , Africa

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o6tTFYYtRy8/SwygYyxLqJI/AAAAAAAAACc/MIHMpS02M7g/s1600/DustBown.j pg http://www.unep.org/dewa/africa/publications/AEO-1/images/img2f7.jpg

Human Impact on Soil Deforestationremoval of some or all forest in an area Increase removal of vegetation, increase rate of soil erosion
http://www.umt.edu/ethics/imx/climatechange/Deforest.png http://goshycab.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/5-Deforestation.jpg http://mi-programacion.co.cc/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/deforestation.jpg

Unsustainable Agriculture
Practices that when used over long periods of time decrease productivity Total removal of crops after harvest Crops in rows w/uncovered soil btwn

Unsustainable Agriculture
Practices that when used over long periods of time decrease productivity Total removal of crops after harvest Crops in rows w/uncovered soil btwn Ploughing in direction of slope Excessive use of pesticidestoxification Irrigation water evaporates, minerals dissolved & forms crustsalinization

Strip cropping
Crops in even width betwn meadow Reduces sheet & rill erosion Can provide food & cover for wildlife

http://www.ia.nrcs.usda.gov/news/images/Pics/sripcropping.jpg

Soil Conservation
Additives: lime & organic materials Wind protection: shelter belts or strip cultivation Cover crops between harvest Terracing Ploughing Contour farming

http://ts1.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1592156433928&id=a565914d850960ab065e7071160 01d3a&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.kathrynkennedywinery.com%2findepth%2fsustain_images%2falternativ e_rows_covercrop_2008.jpg http://www.colorado.edu/geography/class_homepages/geog_3251_sum08/09_terracing_2.jpghttp://ww http://ts4.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1624152290951&id=843ab8ed2c4249cb00b1302e5f9e w.flickr.com/photos/suzypictures/4617625008/ 12a0&url=http%3a%2f%2fmedia.web.britannica.com%2feb-media%2f99%2f65699-004-7FCC0E1C.jpg

Cover crops

Improve Irrigation
Decrease evaporation & salinization

http://nutritionwonderland.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/drip_irrigation_model.jpg

http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/pacoayala/pacoayala1005/pacoayala100500486/8274465-dripirrigation.jpg

Soil Conservation
Marginal Lands
Allow grazing not farming Overgrazing may be a problem Boundaries of desert Crop rotation
Limits nutrient loss Pest & disease buildup

Soil Resources
Web Laboratory Units for Soil 2125, 1125 & 5125

http://www.swac.umn.edu/classes/soil2125/d oc/labunts.htm Soil Science Education http://soil.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.php?section=7 Biogeochemical Model-Data Integration Group https://www.bgc-jena.mpg.de/bgcmdi/index.php