Ch 5: Soil Systems and Societies

Loam soils

________ are ideal for agriculture, as they are a mixture of sand, clay, and silt.

Urbanisation

________: increasing number of people that live in urban areas, potential land for agricultural land for agriculture has cities built on it.

Unsustainable agricultural techniques

________: can not be applied long term, removal of crops after harvest (erosion), ploughing in direction of the slope, excessive use of pesticide, irrigation → can cause salinisation as minerals.

Permeability

________: the ease at which gases and liquids pass through the soil.

Erosion

________ is a process which takes away the soil.

Deforestation

________: removal of forests, removal of vegetation leads to erosion.

Translocation

________: process in which materials stored and layers are formed by water carrying particles either up or down.

Livestock

________: useful means of converting plant material.

nutrients

Overcropping: depletes soil ________ and makes soil dry (risk of erosion), reduced soil fertility.

Crop rotation

________ addresses loss of soil fertility.

Surface area

________ determines water and nutrients retained.

Outputs

________: losses of minerals, water> the soil profile.

Agribusiness

________: business of agriculture production.

Transfers

________: of materials within the soil including biological mixing, leaching, contribute to the organisations of the soil.

Inputs

________: minerals, organic matter, gases, water.

Transformation

________: The complete change of materials in the soil (decomposition, weathering, nutrient cycling)

Diet

________ and food: reduce meat, different crops, more protein.

Subsistence agriculture

________ (or farming): farming or self sufficing to grow enough for a family.

Commercial agriculture

________: large scale production of crops and livestock for sale.

Humus

________ is formed when partially decomposed organic matter is mixed with fine material particles, when decomposition is incomplete, a layer dark organic matter is formed → humus layer.

Soil texture triangle

________: illustrates the differences in composition of soils.

organic matter

Stores: minerals, ________, organisms, air, water, nutrients.

Ideal soil

________: loam which is the balance between clay and soil.

Reduce food processing

________: decrease use of transport and packaging → overall decrease in energy use.

nutrients

Monocropping: ________ are depleted and soil loses fertility.

Outputs

losses of minerals, water > the soil profile

Transfers

of materials within the soil including biological mixing, leaching, contribute to the organisations of the soil

Transformation

The complete change of materials in the soil(decomposition, weathering, nutrient cycling)

Ideal soil

loam which is the balance between clay and soil

Soil texture triangle

illustrates the differences in composition of soils

Translocation

process in which materials stored and layers are formed by water carrying particles either up or down

Leaching

occur when water flows down in the soil, dissolving minerals and transporting them downwards

Permeability

the ease at which gases and liquids pass through the soil

Acidification of soil

acid rain causing pollution, adversely affecting soil and causing damage to evergreen forestry

Commercial agriculture

large scale production of crops and livestock for sale

Subsistence agriculture (or farming)

farming or self sufficing to grow enough for a family

Climate, ecological conditions

adapt through irrigation/greenhouses

Political reasons

determined by governments to manipulate production

Socio-economic reasons

market forces determine supply and demand in a free market economy

Livestock

useful means of converting plant material

Harvesting

requires the removal of biomass from the field, net loss of biomass, nutrients, minerals

Factors which cause a decrease in agricultural land

soil erosion, salinisation, desertification, urbination

Monitoring and control

regulate imports and exports to reduce unsustainable agricultural practices

Reduce food processing

decrease use of transport and packaging → overall decrease in energy use

Overgrazing

too many animals graze in the same area, leaves bare patches (roots done hold soil together

Overcropping

depletes soil nutrients and makes soil dry (risk of erosion), reduced soil fertility

Deforestation

removal of forests, removal of vegetation leads to erosion

Unsustainable agricultural techniques

cannot be applied long term, removal of crops after harvest (erosion), ploughing in direction of the slope, excessive use of pesticide, irrigation → can cause salinisation as minerals

Monocropping

nutrients are depleted and soil loses fertility

Urbanisation

increasing number of people that live in urban areas, potential land for agricultural land for agriculture has cities built on it

Soil conditions

chalk, crushed limestone, counters soil acidification, lime

Wind reduction

plant trees/bushes between fields

Soil conserving cultivation techniques

terracing, ploughing, counter farming