Soils 1a

Activity

Chemical reactivity of a particle with ions, water, and other particles.

Clay

Mineral particle smaller than 0.002 mm.

Clay synthesis

Formation of clays in soils through transformation or generation of new clay particles.

Desertification

Transformation of non-arid landscape to arid landscape through climate changes and human-induced soil degradation.

Dirt

1. Synonym for soil material; 2. Soil out of place; 3. Unclean material of any composition.

Eluviation

Removal of materials from a horizon, such as clays, organic matter, iron, or aluminum.

Erosion

Surface removal of soil material from soils by water or wind action.

Eutrophication

Excess algal growth leading to oxygen depletion, often caused by excess nutrient inputs.

Factors of soil formation

Predictive factors for soil formation processes: climate, organisms, topography, parent material, and time.

Gas regulation

Absorption and release of gases that mediates atmospheric gas levels.

Illuviation

Deposition of materials into a horizon, such as clays, organic matter, iron, or aluminum, from an upper horizon.

Leaching

Removal of dissolved ions from a soil.

Natural bodies

Systems formed in nature with integrated functions that differ from the sum of their parts.

Remediate

Transformation of a chemical from a toxic form to a non-toxic form.

Salinization

Build up of salts in soils leading to destruction of physical and chemical properties, hindering water uptake by plants.

Sand

Mineral particle ranging in size from 0.02 to 2 mm.

Silt

Mineral particle ranging in size from 0.002 to 0.02 mm.

Soil

A material composed of minerals, living organisms, soil organic matter, gas, and water.

soil horizon

Layer present within soil bodies

soil organic matter

decomposed/ing plant, animal, and microbial residues

soil texture

percentages of sand, silt, and clay particles in a soil

soil quality

capacity of a soil to provide desirable ecosystem services

transpiration

evaporation of water from openings in plant tissues called stomata

weathering

physical, chemical, and biological processes that breakdown rocks and minerals