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Soils. Soils are the result of weathering Mechanical Chemical Critical resources for food, timber, textiles... Waste filters Understanding soils is important for land-use planning, and engineering. Idealized soil profile from a humid climate at middle latitudes. Zone of Leaching.
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Soils Soils are the result of weathering Mechanical Chemical Critical resources for food, timber, textiles... Waste filters Understanding soils is important for land-use planning, and engineering
Idealized soil profile from a humid climate at middle latitudes Zone of Leaching
Porosity and Permeability Water saturation and air space Nutrients to plant roots
The Water Table The level below which the soil is saturated with water (no air space)
Soil water Representative water budgets Deficiencies can be remedied by storage andirrigation
hot hot laterites Temperature pedocals pedalfers tundra soils cool cold low 50 cm/yr high Precipitation Effect of climate on soil types tundra soils
Effect of climate on soil types A typical pedocal with white caliche (CaCO3) deposits in a shallow B horizon
Tundra soil Laterite Effect of climate on soils Making laterite bricks Temple at Angkor Wat Cambodia (700 yrs old)
Pf Pc Pf Pf, Pc L Pf, L A Newer Classification of Soil Types
Rates of soil formation: Central USA: ~ 1 cm/100 years in very porous and permeable rock Humid N. Carolina: ~ 1 cm/5 years “ Granite may require over 1000 years for a cm
Universal Soil Loss Equation A = RKLSCP • A = long-term average annual soil loss for site • R = long-term rainfall runoff erosion factor • K = soil erodibility index • L = hill slope/length factor • S = hill slope gradient (slope) factor • C = soil cover factor P = erosion-control practice factor
Both Ends of the Erosion Problem Serious soil erosion and gully formation related to diversion of water runoff over a few months in central California Sediment pollution following heavy rains in North Carolina
Soil Degradation • Erosion • Deforestation • Agricultural depletion • Contamination - Pollution • Salinization • Pesticides • Chemical additions and spills • Urbanization • Desertification • Overgrazing
Soil Erosion Raindrop impact: millions in a single shower hit at ~ 30 mph
Soil Erosion Rill-wash and gullying in loose and poorly-consolidated soils
Soil Erosion Number of dust storms during the month of March, 1936
Soil Erosion Figure 3.12: (a) a natural forested slope (b) the same slope following a clearcut
Soil Erosion Figure 3.12: (c) the same slope after conversion to farmland (b) the same slope following urbanization
Soil Erosion 1968 motorcycles first come to Deer Creek near Bakersfield, CA 1972 after only 4 years of ORV use little vegetation or topsoil remains
Soil Erosion ORV users increased from 21 to 38 million between 1982 and 1992 ATVs rip through a marsh in West Virginia Great Grizzly Hike, Montana
Soil Erosion 1985 photo of bulldozer and jeep tracks in Alaskan tundra made in 1946
Salt accumulation due to irrigation in an arid climate: San Fernando Valley
Grain production levels off while population continues to grow
Combating Soil Degradation Strip-cropping and Contour plowing
Combating Soil Degradation Rice terraces in Asia
Combating Soil Degradation No-till Farming