Soil

Freezing/Thawing - Water in the soil freezing creates ice crystals that push the soil particles outwards, causing what is called "heave." When the ice crystals thaw, the soil flows don the slope due to gravity.

Wetting/Drying - Heavy rainfall causes an increase to the moisture in the soil, which increases the volume and weight of the soil. This allows the soil to move down the slope under the influence of gravity. When the soil, especially clay, dries out, the soil contracts.

The definition of climate, vegetation, and soil regions

These regions are defined by natural forces.

These 3 usually have the same boundaries.

The climatic conditions affect the types of vegetation that can grow there, and the soils the develop.

Soil regions have similar patterns to geologic, landforms, and climate regions.

Examples:

1.A polar region has a cold, dry climate -a cold desert.

It is a region that has little vegetation and very poor soil.

2.In a tropical region with continuous heat, high precipitation, and gentle slopes, thick soil forms rapidly.

Sandy and rocky soil is often found in the drier regions of the western United States, such as deserts and arid landscapes. These soils have low moisture retention and organic matter, making them less fertile and more prone to erosion.

Geologists measure soil temperatures to understand heat flow within the Earth's crust, which can provide insights into processes like magma movement, geothermal heat potential, and permafrost dynamics. Monitoring soil temperature also helps in studying the impact of climate change on the environment and ecosystems.

most soil consists of weathered inorganic rick material. the relative amounts of different sizes and types of rock particles or grains determines the texture of the soil. The three main types are: sand, silt, and clay

Soil survey is important in order to check that the soil present in the farm is suitable or not for the crop which is to be grown. Also, we can check that the soil is acidic, basic, neutral. It helps farmers for a better crop production. That is why soil survey is important.

Rice grows best in clayey soil that is able to retain water well. It is also important for the soil to be rich in nutrients, especially nitrogen, to support the growth of the rice plants. Additionally, the pH of the soil should be around neutral for optimal rice production.

Loamy soil, which is a combination of sand, silt, and clay, is generally ideal for growing fruit as it provides good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient availability. Additionally, slightly acidic soil with a pH level between 6.0-6.5 is preferred for most fruit crops. This type of soil supports healthy root development and overall fruit production.

The main source of organic material in soil is decaying plant and animal matter. This organic material undergoes decomposition by microorganisms, releasing nutrients that are essential for plant growth. Additionally, organic material helps improve soil structure, water retention, and nutrient availability.

By either leaving the soil to go fallow which is leaving it to grow weeds for a year to allow the nutrients to return to the soil naturally or you could plant specific plants that compensate each others nutritional needs such as one type that requires alot of nitrogen with one that releases alot of nitrogen as it rots down. You can also add manure to the soil or you can use man made fertilisers. Also using certain plants that have good root systems to hold the soil together to help maintain the structure of the soil may help too.

Marshes generally have a type of soil known as peat, which is rich in organic matter and forms from the accumulation of partially decomposed plant material. This type of soil is typically waterlogged and acidic, providing a unique habitat for marsh plants and wildlife.

depends on the specie, some seeds have to germinate within a few weeks or months or they will die; others can remain dormant for up to 20 years before conditions can be right and they will germinate.

there was a instance a while back where a 2000 year old date seed that was found in an archaeological site was successfully germinated

1- Physical characteristics of the soil

2- how much moisture is already in the soil

3- the type and extent of the vegetation cover

4- the slope of the surface

5- nature and duration of the rainfall

Dilatancy of soil refers to an increase in volume or expansion that occurs when soil particles are sheared or subjected to stress. This phenomenon causes a soil to become less dense and increases its permeability. Dilatancy is commonly observed in granular materials like sand during shear deformation.

Loosening the soil before planting helps improve aeration, drainage, and root penetration for the seed. It creates a softer environment for the seed to establish roots and allows moisture and nutrients to reach the seed more easily as it germinates and grows.

Absorption of water by soil is the process where water is taken up by soil particles and held on their surface through capillary action, creating a thin film around them. Percolation of water through soil, on the other hand, is the movement of water downwards through the soil profile, driven by gravity and soil permeability, until it reaches the groundwater table or drainage system.

Soil sanity refers to the health and quality of soil, including its ability to support plant growth and ecosystem function. It is influenced by factors such as nutrient content, pH levels, organic matter, and microbial activity. Maintaining soil sanity is essential for sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation.

Climate affects soil development by influencing factors such as temperature, precipitation, and vegetation cover, which in turn determine the rate of weathering, erosion, and the types of plants and organisms that contribute organic matter to the soil. For example, in cold regions, freezing and thawing can physically break down rocks and minerals, while in wet tropical climates, heavy rainfall can leach nutrients from the soil. Overall, the climate has a significant impact on the type and fertility of soil that develops in a particular region.

There are a number of impacts of farming.

Some may be positive, or mildly positive. Tilling may aerate the soil. Organic fertilizers such as manure may add to and improve the soil. Tilling crop waste into the soil may also help it. Removing rocks may also "improve" at least the agricultural aspects of the soil.

But, there are also negative aspects. Native plants and vegetation are often lost. Characteristics of the land not favorable to farming may be changed, such as draining swampland, and thus destroying the native swamp habitat. Rock removal or adding fill do essentially permanent changes to the soil, good or bad.

Much of the Southwest's soil has a few layers including the Cryptobiotic crust, and the Caliche layer that help stabilize the soil, but are very slow to regenerate and are severely damaged by farming and other human activities.

In other places, "turf" and whatever was binding the soil together is broken leading to soil instability.

Poor farming practices can open the pathways for erosion and soil loss.

There can be soil depletion. I.E. When the plants are harvested, the soil nutrients are lost.

Farming practices can disrupt the local ecosystem. This can be especially true if forests are cut to make way for farming. Especially in the equatorial rain forests where there is extremely fertile land, but also an extremely complex ecosystem. And sometimes this can also cause regional drying of the soil or warming of temperatures.

Most farming practices use large "single" crops that are susceptible to disease. They also often use pesticides and poisons to control pests and diseases... many (or their derivatives) which can get into the soil, or in the worst case, penetrate into deep layers of the soil and even down to the groundwater. This can also be true with highly concentrated livestock such as in feedlots, large hog farms, or large chicken farms.

Finally, too high of animal density (out grazing) just leaves mud or dust behind.

There are many "invasive species" caused by planting crops or plants that got out of control.

Sludge from human waste can be great fertilizer, but also carries heavy metals and derivatives of whatever was in the waste stream, and contaminate the farmland.

Not really a soil issue, but where do all the animals (and native plants) go that were living somewhere BEFORE the farmland?

Irrigation can lower groundwater levels and cause sinkholes.

Irrigation has also caused salt layers to raise up in parts of Nevada and Utah, and poisoning the land.

There are increasing fights over water distribution for both crops and human use. And, movement of water from one place to another can leave previously "green" places without water.

Irrigation also often includes dams which cover soil with water. It also changes river flow, sediment flow and sediment settling patterns, fish migration, etc.

With dams, one also has flood control. One aspect of floods is the redistribution and deposition of soil. For example the Mississippi valley regularly flooded and deposited fresh new fertile soil in the valley. This has been blocked by dikes and dams. The soil settles behind dams and must be dredged, or flows all the way out into the Gulf of Mexico. New Orleans is sinking because soil that used to be deposited in New Orleans is no longer being deposited there. But, in a sense, the same thing is happening to all of the farms from the Great Lakes down to the Gulf of Mexico, including along the Missouri and Ohio rivers and other tributaries.

Fences and roads now break up the entire country and limit the free range of native animals. And, since many native animals are considered "pests", they are killed or excluded from farmland.

We've changed the face of the planet. There are fields where there once were trees. There are roads where there was wilderness. Thousands of square miles of asphalt. Irrigation where there was dryland. Huge herds of animals have been decimated, and if they are lucky, put on small reserves.

I suppose my question that I've often proposed is how much of the surface of the planet should be dedicated to serving a single species? And, should that species be allowed to take the choicest of land for their exclusive use?

Many farms have loamy soil, which is a mixture of sand, silt, and clay and provides good drainage and fertility for crops.

Air and water make up about half the volume of soil, with the proportions varying depending on the most recent rain and how quickly the soil drains. The other half is mostly particles of sand, silt, and clay, in various proportions depending on how the parent rock was weathered and what forces--water or wind--deposited the soil where it lies.

Humus and organic matter make up only about 5% of the soil volume. In a really good organic garden soil, the organic matter fraction may be as high as 10-12%.

soil creep is the slowest form of mass movement. the expansion and contraction of the water within soil is the main cause of it. wetting causes the soil to expand and to move downslope under the influence of gravity.

The main climate features that affect soil type in biomes include temperature, precipitation, and humidity. Temperature influences soil formation rates and microbial activity, while precipitation affects soil moisture levels and leaching of nutrients. Humidity can influence soil pH and nutrient availability, ultimately shaping the characteristics of the soil in a particular biome.

Water in soil is vital for plant growth as it helps transport nutrients to roots, facilitates cellular processes, and supports the structure of the plant. It also provides a medium for soil microbes to thrive, which contribute to soil fertility and overall ecosystem health. Without adequate water, plants wouldn't be able to photosynthesize, leading to stunted growth and poor health.

Phosphorus in the soil comes from various sources, including weathering of rocks, organic matter decomposition, and fertilizers. It can also be added to soil through processes like animal manure application or runoff from agricultural fields.