Unit 1: Soils
Essential Question: How does soil sustain life?
Activity 1: Introduction to Soils
In your notebook take notes from the Introduction to Soil Power Point
You may also use this soils power point if you need additional resources.
Be sure to include the following topics in your notes:
Answer the following review questions in your notebook:
1. Is the need for maintaining good soil quality likely to increase or decrease in the years to come? Explain you answer.
2. Prepare a list of six soil functions in our human and natural ecosystems. An example would be “medium for plant growth.” Give examples for each.
3. Considering the four plant needs supplied by soil, speculate how these needs are supplied when plants are grown
hydroponically.
You may also use this soils power point if you need additional resources.
Be sure to include the following topics in your notes:
- Soil Functions/Purpose
- Soil Uses
- Soil Components
- Soil Quality
Answer the following review questions in your notebook:
1. Is the need for maintaining good soil quality likely to increase or decrease in the years to come? Explain you answer.
2. Prepare a list of six soil functions in our human and natural ecosystems. An example would be “medium for plant growth.” Give examples for each.
3. Considering the four plant needs supplied by soil, speculate how these needs are supplied when plants are grown
hydroponically.
Activity 2: Soil Horizons
Notes on Soil Horizons
Answer the following questions:
Chapter 2 Review Questions
1. Name the five soil-formation factors and give an example of the effect of each on soil formation.
2. Draw a soil profile containing the seven distinct horizons in the correct order, and label them. Indicate topsoil, subsoil, and solum. Hint: You will use more than just the regular master horizons, and there are many possible configurations.
3. Describe the major parent materials and vegetation as well as climate that contributed to the soils of your locality. Describe how they influenced your soils.
4. What do alluvial fans, floodplains, deltas, and terraces have in common? How are they different?
5. Discuss the four soil-forming processes and give examples of each.
6. Running water removes soil from the surface by erosion. Which of the four soil-forming processes does this exemplify, and how
might the soil-forming factors affect it?
7. Describe several physical, chemical, and biological roles that water plays in soil formation, giving examples.
Notes on Soil Horizons
Answer the following questions:
Chapter 2 Review Questions
1. Name the five soil-formation factors and give an example of the effect of each on soil formation.
2. Draw a soil profile containing the seven distinct horizons in the correct order, and label them. Indicate topsoil, subsoil, and solum. Hint: You will use more than just the regular master horizons, and there are many possible configurations.
3. Describe the major parent materials and vegetation as well as climate that contributed to the soils of your locality. Describe how they influenced your soils.
4. What do alluvial fans, floodplains, deltas, and terraces have in common? How are they different?
5. Discuss the four soil-forming processes and give examples of each.
6. Running water removes soil from the surface by erosion. Which of the four soil-forming processes does this exemplify, and how
might the soil-forming factors affect it?
7. Describe several physical, chemical, and biological roles that water plays in soil formation, giving examples.