5.1 SoilIB Environmental Systems and Societies HL: Flashcards
Card 1 of 140 of 14 known
Question
Give two inputs and two outputs of the soil system.
Tap or press Space to reveal
Tap card or press Space to flip
See all 14 cards
- Give two inputs and two outputs of the soil system.
- Inputs: dead organic matter, minerals. Outputs: decomposition losses, mineral loss, heat.
- Which essential nutrient do plants not get from soil?
- Carbon, taken from the atmosphere.
- What determines soil texture?
- Relative proportions of sand, silt, clay and humus.
- When is soil a carbon sink?
- When input of dead organic matter exceeds decomposition.
- (HL) How are soils classified and mapped?
- By the appearance of the whole soil profile.
- (HL) Name the four key horizons.
- O (organic), A (mixed/topsoil), B (mineral soil) and C (parent rock).
- (HL) Why is the A horizon valuable?
- It is rich in organic matter and is the most valuable layer for plant growth.
- (HL) Which horizons are most vulnerable?
- The A and O horizons, to erosion and degradation.
- (HL) Name the five factors in soil formation.
- Climate, organisms, geomorphology, geology (parent material) and time.
- (HL) Compare sand and clay particles.
- Sand has large particles and drains quickly; clay has very small particles and holds water and nutrients.
- (HL) List soil properties that can be analysed.
- Sand, silt, clay percentages, organic matter, water, infiltration, bulk density, colour and pH.
- (HL) In what forms is carbon released from soils?
- As methane or carbon dioxide.
- How does soil contribute to biodiversity?
- By providing a habitat and niches for many species.
- What do systems flow diagrams of soil show?
- Flows into, out of and within the soil ecosystem.
Written by the Exaim team, led by Shaun Daswani (Head of Upper Secondary, Improve ME Institute; MSc Financial Mathematics, Imperial College London; BSc, UCL) and Jason Daswani (operational lead, Improve ME Institute; LSE).