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Soil

Soil, by definition, is a earthly compound comprised of biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) matter that is formed in several layers over millions of years. It is the very component of the Earth that plants need to root themselves and grow in in order to feed all animal life. There are many different types of soil across the globe for each continent and biome, and each type has its characteristics that depict what plants can grow where, when, and how. Questions and answers about soil can be asked and answered here.

10,730 Questions

What turns and loosens soil improving it for crops but leaving soil vulnerable to erosion?

Tilling or plowing the soil can turn and loosen it, making it suitable for planting crops. However, tilling can also leave the soil vulnerable to erosion by disrupting its natural structure and exposing it to the elements.

What is the best type of soil in Texas?

The best type of soil in Texas generally depends on the specific needs of the plants being grown. However, sandy loam soil is typically preferred as it provides good drainage and nutrient retention, making it suitable for a wide variety of crops. Additionally, clay soils can also be productive with proper management and amendment.

Which is the best type of soil for planting crops?

Loam soil is considered the best type of soil for planting crops because it has a balanced mix of sand, silt, and clay which provides good drainage, retention of moisture, and nutrients for plant growth.

What is Refractory organic matter?

Refractory organic matter is organic material that is resistant to decomposition by microbial or chemical processes. This can include substances like lignin or complex organic compounds that are difficult for microorganisms to break down. Refractory organic matter can accumulate in soils over time and play a role in soil carbon storage.

How does weathering relate to soil?

They are related because weathering brakes down rocks into minerals and that is also called soil erosion. This takes most of the nutrients out of the soil, thus harming plants and vegetation. Soil erosion is bad. Without weathering there is no soil and without soil there are less animals and stuff like that for all you bitches and bastards that blow your homework off and use this website to get answers

What are the causes of soil erosion in the Philippines?

Soil erosion in the Philippines is mainly caused by deforestation, improper land use practices like overgrazing and slash-and-burn agriculture, as well as natural disasters like typhoons and heavy rainfall. These factors contribute to the loss of vegetation cover, which increases the vulnerability of soil to erosion by water and wind.

List at least three important benefits of thick soil solum for crop growth?

Three important benefits of thick soil and solum for crop growth include the ability to provide support, drainage, and store minerals. Solum is the layer above bedrock while soil is on or near the surface.

Is soil an acid or alkali?

Soil can be either acidic, neutral, or alkaline, depending on its composition and pH level. Factors such as the type of rocks and minerals present, organic matter content, and environmental influences all contribute to the acidity or alkalinity of soil. Testing the soil pH is important for determining its acidity or alkalinity.

When erosion and other factors cause soil to lose its ability to hold water and other nutrients and to support plant life is called?

It is called soil degradation. This process can lead to reduced crop productivity, loss of natural vegetation, and increased soil erosion. Soil degradation is a major environmental concern that can have long-lasting impacts on ecosystems and agriculture.

How can soil erosion be prevented in the forests?

Soil erosion in forests can be prevented by implementing techniques such as contour plowing, terracing, reforestation, and maintaining ground cover through planting cover crops or mulching. These methods help to stabilize the soil, reduce the impact of rainfall, and promote root growth to hold the soil in place. Regular monitoring and management of forest ecosystems are also important to prevent soil erosion.

48 List two human activities and two natural events that can cause a large increase in the rate of soil erosion?

Human activities such as deforestation and improper agricultural practices can cause a large increase in the rate of soil erosion. Natural events like heavy rainfall and strong winds can also contribute to accelerated soil erosion.

Why air important in soil?

Air is important to plants because plants are living things so they breathe through the small pores present on the lower side of the leaves of the plants called stomata.

Plants also need Carbon dioxide from the air for photosynthesis. The aquatic plants get it from the water.
Plants all need the carbon dioxide in the air to go through photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is required to produce the nutrients the plant needs to grow and thrive.

Where can soil be found?

Soil can be found on the Earth's surface, covering the land. It is formed through the weathering of rocks and the decomposition of organic matter. Soil is a crucial component for supporting plant life and is found in various ecosystems such as forests, grasslands, and agricultural fields.

Is plowing an empty field good?

Plowing an empty field can help prepare it for planting by breaking up the soil and incorporating organic matter. However, excessive plowing can lead to soil erosion and loss of important nutrients. It's important to balance plowing with other soil conservation practices to maintain soil health.

Where are some of Europe's best farming soils found?

Some of Europe's best farming soils can be found in regions like the Pampas in Argentina, the Great Plains in the United States, the Canterbury Plains in New Zealand, and the North China Plain in China. These areas are known for their fertile soil, which is ideal for agriculture and has supported thriving farming industries for generations.

Process in which nitrogen is released into the air and soil?

Nitrogen fixation is the process by which nitrogen gas is converted into a form that plants can use, predominantly by nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Denitrification is the process by which nitrogen is released from soil back into the atmosphere in the form of nitrogen gas.

What action can be taken to prevent soil erosion?

Use plants to provide windbreak, absorb water, and trap soil within their root mass to prevent erosion. Native trees or shrubs on slopes or stream beds may need to be mulched to protect the roots until they get established.

In agricultural areas, planting cover crops or perennial crops provide year-round protection from the elements and prevent erosion. Many farmers now practice no-till methods of cultivation, leaving the some of the roots of the previous season's crop in the soil to compost and hold the soil while the current season's crop is planted.

List three ways that worms benefit the soil?

  1. Worms improve soil structure by creating channels that allow air and water to penetrate, promoting root growth.
  2. They break down organic matter, converting it into nutrient-rich castings that enrich the soil.
  3. Worm activity increases microbial activity in the soil, which helps to decompose organic material and release nutrients for plant uptake.

How much water can sand holds?

Sand can hold varying amounts of water depending on factors like particle size and compaction. On average, sand can hold about 20-30% of its volume in water. Fine sand can hold more water than coarse sand due to its higher surface area and pore space.

How can you help soil conservation?

Contour Farming

Terracing

Strip Cropping

Cover Cropping

Crop Rotation

Shelter Belts

How can humans make soil unproductive?

BY using it too intensively. Soil is a slow accumulation of plant matter, organic material. When farming a considerable portion of the plant matter is remove so people can eat the part of the plant they want. Usually the part of the plant they want is the seed as in wheat, rice, corn, or the seed and its protective nutrient rich covering, as in apples, pears, plums, fruits in general. Nuts, of course too. So, by removing the nutrient rich part of the plant matter the soil gets depleted. IN tropical areas soil depletion is oddly fast, one or two harvests, it enough to leave the soil nearly barren. In cooler climates, and less wet climates, the accumulation is thicker and richer, the soil can be used more times before damaging it. Still, without fertilizers most fields lay fallow (allowed to rest and recuperate, often with planting nitrogen fixing legumes) once every three to 7 years.

Human behavior causes floods mostly by one of 2 methods. The first one is simply by trying to control where and how rivers flow. SOmetimes the flooding in controlled, forming reservoirs, but just as often flooding occurs unplanned some place else.

The other method of provoking flooding is by removing lots of vegetation from an area, allowing the water to run off quickly. Farmland replacing forests is an example of this. Uncultivated forests are capable of handling huge amounts of water, just because a given area of land has so much more tonnage of plants and trees to take up water and retain it as plant matter, or release it back into the air as plants "breathe." Most agricultural products reduce severely the total amount of plant matter on the land. IN some areas this lack of "breathing" lets the water table rise, reducing the amount of available "cushioning" a lower water table provides and so flooding occurs more quickly with less rain.

Many small local floods are caused just by having to much land area covered by pavement, houses, building in general, and with bad planning the rain water directed into too small an area to absorb it.

Interrelationship of plants and soil and decomposers in a forest?

In a forest ecosystem, plants interact with the soil by extracting nutrients and moisture from it to grow. Decomposers like fungi and bacteria break down dead plant material into organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil for plants to use. This cycle of nutrient transfer between plants, soil, and decomposers is crucial for maintaining the health and productivity of the forest ecosystem.

Which soil will water pass through fastest?

Sandy soil will allow water to pass through fastest due to its larger particle size and better drainage properties.

Whats a soil management practice that improves plant growth?

Aeration is one of the soil management practices that improves plant growth. It helps reduce run-offs by mechanically removing small plugs of soil to improve air and water flow through the wall.

What is a Dry-climate soil region?

A dry-climate soil region is an area characterized by low levels of precipitation and high rates of evaporation, resulting in limited moisture available for plant growth. These soil regions often have soil profiles that are shallow, rocky, and low in organic matter, making them more challenging for agriculture and supporting only specific types of vegetation adapted to arid conditions. Examples include deserts and semi-arid grasslands.