Soil Science Terminology 8th grade

Vocabulary flashcards defining core terms related to soil composition, landforms, horizons, and erosion based on the lecture notes.

Soil Composition

The materials that make up soil.

Topsoil

The fertile upper soil layer important for crop production.

Soil Conservation

Managing soil to prevent degradation and maintain its productivity.

Slope

The rise or fall of land, expressed as a percent or angle.

Angle of Inclination

The angle used to describe how steep a slope is.

Landform

A geological feature that shapes the Earth's surface.

Flood Plain

Low-lying land beside a river where sediment can be deposited.

Alluvium

Rounded rock and coarse material transported and deposited by water.

Terrace

A landform between a floodplain and upland.

Glacial Till

Dense material deposited by glaciers that can restrict water movement.

Colluvium

Material moved downhill by gravity.

Residuum

Soil formed in place through weathering of underlying bedrock.

Soil Profile

The sequence of soil horizons from the surface downward.

Master Horizon

A major soil layer identified by its distinctive characteristics.

Parent Material

Material from which soil develops through weathering and breakdown.

Redoximorphic Feature

Soil coloring that can indicate poor drainage or aeration.

Restrictive Feature

A condition or material that limits root penetration.

Wind Erosion

Removal of soil by wind.

Sheet Erosion

Removal of an entire layer of topsoil.

Rill Erosion

Water erosion that creates small channels in the soil.