Soil 101
Everything you need to know!
Principles of Ag: Soil Science Notes and Activities
Unit Outline:
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Understanding Soil Properties Notes
Understanding Soil Formation Notes and Understanding Soil Texture
Getting to Know the Textural Triangle
Soil Ribboning Experiment
Soil Profiles and Soil Color Notes
Creating an Edible Soil Sample Activity
Understanding Water Holding Ability Notes
Water Holding Ability Experiment
Soil Degradation and Erosion
Soil Research Project
Soil Exam
Soil Formation
What 5 Materials are involved in Soil Formation?
Material
What is it?
Types of Parent Material
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Glacial Origins:
Loess
Outwash
Till
Alluvium
Bed Rock:
Organic Matter:
How Topography Affects Soil Development
How Organisms Affect Soil Development
Types of Weathering
Chemical Weathering
Weathering Causes Soil To……
How Climate Affects Soil Development:
Soil Texture
Defined:
3 Particles:
Soil Texture Affects:
2 Ways to determine Soil Texture:
Physical Weathering
Common Types of Soil Structures
Granular
Crumb
Platy
Prismatic
Massive
Columnar
Blocky
Single Grain
Activity 1: Determining Soil Texture Using the Textural Triangle: Activity Sheet 1
Activity 2: Determining Soil Texture by the Ribboning Method: Activity Sheet 2
Soil Profiles
Defined:
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Each layer of soil may be different from the rest in a physical or chemical way.
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The differences are developed from the interaction of such soil-forming factors as:
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A Profile is studied at _______________________________________________
A Soil Horizon
Layer
O
Description
A
B
C
R
How do soils within a soil profile change over time?
Soil Color
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What are physical features used to differentiate between soils?
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2.
3.
4.
What are the colors used to describe surface soils?
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Colors associated with surface soils are dependent on the amount of organic matter found in
them.
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Colors may be classified as:
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2.
3.
4.
5.
Organic Matter
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 2.
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What colors are used to describe subsoil?
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Subsoil colors are associated with natural drainage of the soils.
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This is the drainage condition that existed when the soil was forming.
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Subsoil colors are classified as:
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2.
3.
What factors determine the color of subsoil?
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3.
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13.
How do parent material, age, and slope affect the color of soil?
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In addition to organic matter and drainage, soil color may also be affected by other factors:
Age
Slope
Parent Material
Activity 1:
Draw a Soil Profile in the Box Below and Color it According to its Correct Colors!! Use the Markers if
Necessary, Draw a line and Label all the different layers. Include plants on the surface, what is going on
below the soil?
Layers
Activity 2: EDIBLE
SOIL
Consider the different Soil layers and horizons you drew above. Consider things that may look like these
layers- Think food!!!! You are going to create and edible soil sample. Using Clear Plastic Cups provided
by Ms. Brown you are going to create a soil horizon in your cup made of foods you like!! Example:
Crumbled Oreo cookies make a great organic Layer! Be Creative!! This is completely your project!!
When you are finished, draw lines on your cup to indicate the different layers, write in permanent
marker on the cup what the layers are! List what foods you will use:
________________________________________________________________________________
Rubric:
All Layers are included
Layers are distinct, easily determined between one another
Layers are listed on the outside of the container!
TOTAL
Potential
Points
10
10
10
30
Grade
Yourself
Ms. Brown
Grade
Water Holding Ability
Moisture Holding Capacity:
What is available to the plants?
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Available soil moisture is the water in the soil that can be used by plants.
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2.
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Soil moisture tension is the force by which soil particles hold on to moisture.
How do we determine how much moisture the soil can hold?
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Moisture holding capacity is determined primarily by the soils texture.
Water Holding Capacity:
Available water holding capacity depends on:
1.
2.
How do you know figure the water holding capacity
Activity 3: Water Holding Experiment: See Activity Sheet 3
Understanding Soil Degradation
Soil Degradation is:
Soil Degradation Occurs From:
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Minimizing soil degradation is important in maintaining a good environment.
Soil degradation results from:
– Construction
– Contamination
– Erosion
How can construction result in soil degradation?
What are the sources of contamination and how do they result in soil degradation?
What is soil erosion and how does it result in soil degradation?
Other Sources of Soil Degradation (Write 2 from each slide)
Activity 4: Soil Degradation Research
Part I: The Research: Using the Mini Lap Tops and Lab Research Soil Degradation and Soil Erosion. Let
your imagination run! What aspect of soil erosion or soil pollution your research is up to you! Write 1/2
page on the importance of this issue. Why is it important? What is causing this to happen? What can we
do to help? BE CREATIVE!!!
Part 2: The PSA
** Create a public service announcement on computer paper. Get the reader’s attention- make it bold
and powerful. Make sure your reader understands the importance of this issue. Think of ads in
magazines and papers- how do they get their readers attention? What makes you want to look at
them?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Include 1 current event description as to how it affects agriculture
Include illustration for poster
Call for Action is included for Public
Poster is attractive, colorful, well thought out and well done.
TOTAL:
____ /10 points
____/ 10 points
____/5 points
____/5 points
______ / 30 points