Soil and Water Study Tool

What are the four components of soil? (not sand, silt, clay)

• rocks, minerals, roots, and insects
• nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium
• bacteria, fungi, algae, and viruses
• air, water, organic matter, and mineral matter

What are the three mineral components of soil?

• sand, silt, and clay
• rock, gravel, and pebbles
• water, air, and organic matter
• iron, copper, and zinc

What do the spaces in soil hold?

• Oil and gas
• Sand and rocks
• Fire and ice
• Air and water

Why is pore space important to the plants?

• Pore space is important to plants because it provides shade for the roots, protecting them from excessive sunlight.
• Pore space is important to plants because it allows for air and water to reach the roots, providing essential nutrients and oxygen for growth.
• Pore space is important to plants because it allows for the roots to anchor firmly in the soil, preventing them from being uprooted.
• Pore space is important to plants because it helps in the process of photosynthesis, converting sunlight into energy for the plants.

What is organic matter made of?

• Decaying plant material

• Subsoil

• Minerals and rocks

• Air, water, organisms, sand, silt, and clay

Please organize the following items in to their correct categories.

Groups:

(a) Things that impact soil formation

,

(b) Mineral soil components

,

(c) How soils form

• Silt

• Reduction

• Translocation

• Organisms

• Time

• Clay

• Sand

• Parent Material

• Addition

• Transformation

• Topography

• Climate

What is parent material?

• The material from which a soil takes its color
• The process of soil formation
• Broken bedrock that soils form from

• The layer of organic matter on the surface of the soil

What problems can soil erosion cause?

How is the texture of soil determined by the percentage of sand, silt or clay?

• The texture of soil is determined by the feel. Each soil particle has a different texture and the most prevalent texture can help identify the soil type.

• The texture of soil is determined by the temperature of the soil
• The texture of soil is determined by the presence of rocks in the soil
• The texture of soil is determined by the color of the soil

What is loam?

• A type of volcanic ash
• A soil type that is a mixture of sand, silt, and clay
• A type of rock formation
• A type of marine sediment