Unit 5.0 vocab - ESS

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31 Terms

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soil

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

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translocation

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

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salinisation

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

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leaching

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

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O horizon

uppermost layer of newly added organic material

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A horizon

upper layer where humus builds up

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humus

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

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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

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C horizon

a layer of mainly weathered rock from which soil forms

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R horizon

parent material (bedrock or other medium)

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porosity

the amount of space between soil particles

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permeability

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

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subsistence farming

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

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cash cropping

growing crops for the market, not to eat yourself

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commercial farming

large-scale production of crops or livestock for sale

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LEDC - less economically developed country

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

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MEDC - more economically developed country

a highly industrialised country with a high average GNP per capita

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agribusiness

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

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extensive farming

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

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intensive farming

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

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pastoral farming

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

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arable farming

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

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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

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soil degradation

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

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overgrazing

when too many animals graze in the same area

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overcropping

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

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cover crops

fast growing crops to cover the soil

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terracing

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

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ploughing

breaking up the soil structure, temporarily increasing drainage

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contour farming

plowing and cultivating along the contour lines of the land

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crop rotation

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