Environmental Science-Soils Section
Informational List
www.envirothonpa.org
Weathering:
-Temperature
-Erosion-(water, wind, humans, plant roots and chemical reactions)
-Wind Erosion-Loess Deposits
-Water Erosion-Alluvial Deposits
Vegetation:
Climate and Time:
Formation of soils/development:
-Metamorphic-Pressure
-Sedimentary-Heat & Pressure
-shale, sandstone, siltstone and limestone
-Igneous-Heat
-Petrologic Age-formation of different rocks and minerals during different time periods
Bedrock:
Parent Material:
Soil Texture:
-sand, silt and clay
-textural triangle
Soil Water:
-permeability-infiltrationSoil pH:
0 to 6.9=acidic
7.1 to 14=basic
Soil Series:
-named for where the soil was first discovered
Soil Profile/Horizon:
O, A, B, C, R
O=organic matter/surface layer
A=topsoil
B=root zone
C=parent material
R=Bedrock
OM:
-Organic Matter
Soil Peds:
Structural units of similar soils
Glacial Outwash/ Glacial Till:
Residual Soils:
Strip Mining vs. Deep Shaft Mining:
Mine Spoils:
Natural Gas Hydrofracking:
Colluvium:
-
Loose parent material
Fragipans:
-
Developed by human activities creating a non-porous layer
Perfect/Ideal Soil:
25% Air
25% Water
45% Inorganic Matter
Active Fractions:
-
Soil Organic Material
Exchange Capacity:
-
The activity of trading ions between soil elements
Mottling:
-Rusting of soil due to iron deposits present in soil
Pennsylvania Facts:
-State Soil=Hazelton Soil Type
-State Average Yearly Precipitation=42 inches
-Latitude from equator=41 degrees North
5% Organic Matter
Columbia County Fact:
-
Average Yearly Precipitation=42 inches
Land Use:
-Pie graph-handout
Soil Color/Hue:
-Munsell Soil Color Chart
Nitrogen Cycle within Soil:
-Handout
Phosphorus Cycle within Soil:
-Handout
Soil Structure:
-Handout
Soil Probe:
Soil Sampling Tube:
Soil Sampling Auger:
Tillage: