Regolith Soil Soil
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1 SSoilsoils Chapter 5, continued 2 regolith nDEF.: a blanket of soil or loose rock fragments on a planet’s surface 3 soil DEF.: the superficial material that forms at the Earth's surface by organic and inorganic processes. 4 soil DEF.: the superficial material that forms at the Earth's surface by organic and inorganic processes. DEF.: pedology _ the study of soils from "Pedon" Gk. ground. 5 Picture of lichen weathering leading to soil formation 6 reasons why geologists like soils 1. Provide clues as to the ENVIRONMENT of formation 7 reasons why geologists like soils 1. Provide clues as to the ENVIRONMENT of formation 2. Can be VALUABLE sources of MINERALS 8 reasons why geologists like soils 1. Provide clues as to the ENVIRONMENT of formation 1 2. Can be VALUABLE sources of MINERALS 3. Reflect the NATURE of the rock material from which they were formed. 9 An ancient soil in the South Dakota badlands 10 Typical components in a soil that yields good plant growth 11 Factors controlling soil formation 1)Parent material 2)Climate 3)Topography 4)Plants and animals 5)Time 12 Factors controlling soil formation 1) Parent material – the bedrock or sediment from which the soil develops 13 Factors controlling soil formation 2) Climate nMost influential ntemperature and precipitation 14 Factors controlling soil formation 3) Topography – the physical features of a landscape. nSteep slopes often have poorly developed soils 2 nOptimum terrain is flat-to-undulating 15 Variations in soil development due to topography 16 Factors controlling soil formation 4) Plants and animals + nProduce much of the O2, CO2 and H ions involved in chemical weathering reactions nH+ replace Ca, K, and Na in feldspars (hydrolysis) 17 How do plants and animals influence soils? nAlso furnish organic matter to the soil 18 Factors controlling soil formation 5) Time 19 An idealized soil profile – Fig. 5.19 20 An idealized soil profile 21 An idealized soil profile 22 An idealized soil profile 23 An idealized soil profile 24 An idealized soil profile 25 An idealized soil profile 26 A soil profile showing different horizons 27 28 Soil types nThree very generic soil types 3 nPedalfer nPedocal nLaterite 29 1) Pedalfer nAccumulation of iron oxides and Al-rich clays in the B horizon nCharacteristic of forested, humid, temperate regions 30 2) Pedocal nPed = soil nCal = calcium nHigh accumulations of calcium carbonate nAssociated with dry grasslands and brush vegetation; “hot desert soil.” 31 32 3) Laterite “Extreme” type of pedalfer Hot and wet tropical climates Intense chemical weathering 33 3) Laterite “Extreme” leaching . Al2Si 2O5(OH)4 Æ Al2O3 nH2O + SiO2 clay bauxite 34 35 36 Soil erosion nRecycling of Earth materials nNatural rates of soil erosion depend on nSoil characteristics nClimate nSlope nType of vegetation 4 37 Reasons for human-caused soil erosion n Farming (top soil eroding faster than it forms on 1/3 of all crop land) n Logging n Construction n Overgrazing n Overexploitation for fuel wood 38 39 40 What can be done to reduce soil agricultural erosion? nLeave stubble in the field nPlant cover crops nPlant hedges or trees as windbreaks nLow fences nPlow rows parallel to the contours of a hill nterracing 41 End of Chapter 5 5.