130 likes | 255 Views
Teacher Information!. Necessary materials: PowerPoint Guide. Soil Formation. Pgs 46-50 in Ch.4 of Managing Our Natural Resources. Soil and Water Resources. Students will be able to…. Discuss how soil is formed. Describe weathering processes. Soil.
E N D
Teacher Information! • Necessary materials: • PowerPoint Guide
Soil Formation Pgs 46-50 in Ch.4 of Managing Our Natural Resources Soil and Water Resources
Students will be able to… • Discuss how soil is formed. • Describe weathering processes.
Soil • Geologic definition: Loose surface of the earth as distinguished from solid bedrock (support of plant life not required). • Traditionaldefinition: Material which nourishes and supports growing plants (includes rocks, water, snow, air). • Organic + Inorganic material
Soil • Mixture of inorganicmatter (mineral), organicmatter, water, and air. Air 25% Mineral Matter 45% Water 25% Organic Matter 5%
% Soil components varies: • Type of vegetation • Amount of mechanical compaction • Amount of soil water present.
Soil matters • Inorganicmatter • Rock slowly broken down into small particles • Organicmatter • Decaying plants and animals • Decomposers are vital! • Soil formation is slow!
Parent material • Minerals • Examples? • Rocks • Aggregates of minerals • Three types • Igneous • Sedimentary • Metamorphic
More parent material • Glacial deposits • Common in the Midwest U.S. • Loess deposits • Windblown silt • Eastern Mississippi Valley soils • Alluvial and marine deposits • Water-borne sediments • Organic deposits
Weathering forces • Rocks & minerals break down smaller pieces • Temperature changes • Water action • Plant roots • Ice expansion • Mechanical grinding
OrganicMatter • Only about 5% of most soils • Small proportion but very important • WHY is organic matter important?
OrganicMatter • Decayed plants and animals • Two types • Original tissue—still recognizable • Examples? • Humus—matter is too decomposed unrecognizable • Examples? • WHAT causes decomposition?
Review • Discuss how soil is formed. • Describe weathering processes.