ANSWERS TO THE SCIENCE HOMEWORK QUESTIONS
1. Cryosphere
2. Silty loam
3. Sandy clay
4. Adding beneficial organisms to the soil
5. Moving water
6. Separating soil by grain size
7. D horizon
8. Soils vary in color based on their depth
9. Sand 60%, Clay 10%, Silt 30%
10. Organic material
11. Sandy clay consists of approximately 35-55% clay, 55-65% sand and small
amounts of other organic material. Jonathan may have made this identification
since; the soil sample has a good and balanced holding capacity as in the particle
size. Their particles also are fine and when a good amount of organic material is
added to it, it makes the soil healthy and the breakdown of microbes in the
organic material makes nutrients and facilitate breakdown of fertilizer for the
plants.
12. If there is a problem in soil drainage, rain water or from sprinklers will collect on
the soil's surface which can make plant roots to submerge in the water hence
prevent oxygen from getting the plant roots, creating a breeding environment for
fungus like root rot thus damage plants. There is therefore need for good soil
drainage.
Once Matthew finds out that the soil is mostly clay, he made to complete
determine the types of soil near his neighbor’s home by following the following
steps: - First, consult a geological map of the area then; take some soils samples
from the neighbor’s home, being mostly clay, and an area receiving medium to
high rainfall, then addition of amounts of sand will assist in aeration and
recommend any other ways to which soil drainage can be improved.
Recommendation plan to improve the soil drainage.
The neighbor can:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
Add organic material into the soil while tilting.
Add a determined percentage of sand to make up sandy clay soil.
If possible eliminate tillage because tillage pass is likely to break pores
that ids in moving water into soils.
He may as well spread a layer of top soil in places if the soil surface is
lower than usual planting space. By so doing, it evens out the soil and
improves drainage.
v.
vi.
vii.
Create a French drain which is an underground drain, essentially a ditch
filled with gravel and covered over.
Drainage wells can also be used as underground drains to help compact
and allow water to run after rainfall.
He may also create a dry well in the garden, filled with pieces of bricks,
stone and concrete for water to drain and slowly get absorbed by the soil
around it.