Unit 6: Soil

Question 1

Chernozemic Soil

Answer 1

highly fertile, dark-colored soil rich in humus; Typically found in temperate grassland regions like the Ukrainian steppe and Canadian prairies

Question 2

Abiotic factors

Answer 2

are the nonliving components of the environment.

Question 3

Denitrification

Answer 3

is a multi‐ step chemical process in which nitrates in the soil are reduced by denitrifying bacteria and ultimately released to the atmosphere.

Question 4

Desertification

Answer 4

is the degradation of once‐ fertile rangeland or tropical dry forest into non‐ productive desert.

Question 5

Erosion

Answer 5

is the removal of material from one place and its transfer to another by the action of wind or water.

Question 6

Fertilizer

Answer 6

is a substance that promotes plant growth by supplying essential nutrients such as nitrogen or phosphate.

Question 7

Loam soil

Answer 7

balanced of clay/sand/silt. Drains well, but retains moisture for plants

Question 8

Nitrification

Answer 8

is the conversion of ammonium ions by bacteria into nitrite ions and then into nitrate ions.

Question 9

Nitrogen fixation

Answer 9

is the process by which nitrogen gas combines with hydrogen to form ammonium ions which can be taken up by plants.

Question 10

Parent Material

Answer 10

a factor in soil formation; what the soil was originally made from.

Question 11

Silt

Answer 11

soil that is fine, soft & powdery when dry; drains slower than sand, faster than clay.

Question 12

Soil

Answer 12

is the uppermost layer of Earth’s crust, which supports terrestrial plants, animals and microorganisms.

Question 13

Soil degradation

Answer 13

damage to soils, typically through loss of organic matter or moisture, or loss of soils, typically through erosion.

Question 14

Soil Horizon

Answer 14

Distinct layers of soil particles

Question 15

Soil Profile

Answer 15

A vertical slice of soil sorted into O (Litter Layer), A (Topsoil), B (Subsoil), C (Parent material), horizon R (Bedrock)

Question 16

Soil productivity

Answer 16

is the capacity of soil, in its normal environment, to support plant growth.

Question 17

Solubility

Answer 17

is the amount of a substance that dissolves in a given quantity of solvent at specified conditions of temperature and pressure to produce a saturated solution.

Question 18

Humus

Answer 18

dark, organic material in soil

Question 19

Salinity

Answer 19

Soil salinity refers to the concentration of dissolved salts (e.g., sodium, magnesium, calcium) in the soil water, which restricts plant water uptake, causing drought-like symptoms, reduced yields, or bare, white-crusted spots.

Question 20

Macronutrients of soil

Answer 20

nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur

Question 21

Micronutrients of soil

Answer 21

chlorine, iron, boron, copper, nickel, zinc, manganese