Unit 5.0 vocab - ESS

soil

a complex ecosystem made up of minerals, organic material, gases and liquids which forms the habitat for many animals and plants

translocation

when water carries particles either up or down in the soil, forming layers

salinisation

when water evaporates from soil, leaving minerals behind. This occurs when Precipitation < Evaporation

leaching

when water moves down through the soil, carrying dissolved minerals with it. This occurs when Precipitation > Evaporation

O horizon

uppermost layer of newly added organic material

A horizon

upper layer where humus builds up

humus

when the decomposition of organic material is incomplete, forming layer of dark brown or black organic material

B horizon

the layer where soluble minerals and organic matter are deposited from the layer above. In particular, clay and iron salts can be deposited here

C horizon

a layer of mainly weathered rock from which soil forms

R horizon

parent material (bedrock or other medium)

porosity

the amount of space between soil particles

permeability

the ease at which gases and liquids can pass through the soil

subsistence farming

the provision of food by farmers for their own families or the local community - no surplus

cash cropping

growing crops for the market, not to eat yourself

commercial farming

large-scale production of crops or livestock for sale

LEDC - less economically developed country

a country with low to moderate industrialisation and low to moderate average GNP per capita

MEDC - more economically developed country

a highly industrialised country with a high average GNP per capita

agribusiness

the business of agricultural production including farming, seed supply, breeding, chemicals for agriculture, machinery, food harvesting, distribution, processing and storage

extensive farming

uses more land with a lower density of stocking or planting and lower inputs and outputs

intensive farming

uses land more intensively with high levels or input and output per unit area

pastoral farming

raising animals usually on grass and on land that is not suitable for crops

arable farming

growing crops on good soils to eat directly or to feed to animals

mixed farming

has both animals and crops and is a system where animal waste is used to fertilise crops and improve soil structure and some crops are fed to animals

soil degradation

when soil is either taken away of is made less suitable for use

overgrazing

when too many animals graze in the same area

overcropping

when land is overused for growing crops, leading to a depletion of nutrients in the soil

cover crops

fast growing crops to cover the soil

terracing

a method to reduce the steepness of slopes by replacing the slope with a series of horizontal terraces, separated by walls

ploughing

breaking up the soil structure, temporarily increasing drainage

contour farming

plowing and cultivating along the contour lines of the land

crop rotation

planting different crops in a rotation to help replenish nutrients in the soil