soils and climate change

Why are soils important?

Soils are the largest terrestrial carbon store/sink, a place to grow food, habitats for biodiversity, water filters, sources of minerals and fuels, and preserve archaeological remains.

What is soil?

A non-renewable resource that is natural and unconsolidated, comprised of mineral and organic components, that is the layer above the bedrock, capable of supporting plant growth.

How long does it take to generate 1 cm of soil?

It takes 200-400 years to generate 1 cm of soil.

What are the components of soil?

Composed of small rock particles, humus, water, and air.

What are peat soils?

Peat soils contain no mineral components and are 100% organic matter.

What are the soil textural classes?

Sands (light), clays (heavy), and loams (a mixture of sand, silt, and clay, ideal for agriculture).

What is PEDS in soil?

Clumps or aggregates of soil when picked up.

What are soil horizons?

Layers between the soil profile, which can be subdivided and not all possible horizons are always present.

What is the difference between zonal and intrazonal soils?

Zonal soils that are influenced by climate, rock type, vegetation, relief, and time, while intrazonal soils are affected by local factors like geology and topography.

What are podzolic soils?

Bleached ash-grey subsurface horizon above a dark accumulation horizon enriched with iron or organic carbon, occurring in humid areas.

What are the critical soil nutrients?

Critical soil nutrients include potassium (K), phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg).

What does high soil toxicity indicate?

Indicates high levels of certain elements, while low concentrations are essential for plant health.

What are some threats to soil quality?

Climate change, sealing, compaction, erosion, landslides, loss of organic matter, contamination, and changes in soil biodiversity.

What is sustainable soil management?

Practices like switching to forest/grassland use, cover cropping, and contour cultivation.

What is regenerative agriculture?

minimizes soil disturbance, reduces chemical inputs, maximizes crop diversity, and maintains living roots year-round.

What is climate change mitigation?

Refers to anthropogenic efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to lessen the impacts of climate change.

What is an example of climate change adaptation?

An example of climate change adaptation is adjusting agricultural practices to cope with changing climatic conditions.