Soil Formation and Development

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to soil formation and development, encompassing definitions and important concepts from the provided lecture notes.

Soil Origins

The beginning points and processes that lead to the development of soil.

Soil Forming Factors

Elements that influence soil formation, including parent materials, climate, living organisms, topography, time, and human activity.

Parent Material

The underlying geological material from which soil is formed.

Glacial Till

Material that is deposited by the movement of glaciers, consisting of an unsorted mixture of boulders, stones, sand, silt, and clay.

Esker

A long, winding ridge of sand and gravel formed by sediment deposited by meltwater streams flowing beneath a glacier.

Drumlin

An elongated hill formed by the movement of glacial ice, typically consisting of till.

Kettle Lake

A depression or hole that is left behind after a glacier melts, often filled with water.

Glaciation

The process of being covered by glaciers or ice sheets.

Lacustrine Deposits

Sediments that accumulate in lake environments.

Eolian Deposits

Sediments that are transported and deposited by wind forces.

Residual Soil

Soil that forms in place from the weathering of bedrock.

Organic Matter

Material composed of decayed plant and animal residues, contributing to soil fertility.

Soil Horizons

Layers of soil that vary in composition, texture, and other properties.

Fluvial Deposits

Sediments that are transported and deposited by river action.

Saline Soils

Soils that contain a high concentration of soluble salts, often resulting from specific bedrock influences.

Time in Soil Formation

The duration required for soil profiles to develop, typically taking a minimum of 200 years.

Climate in Soil Formation

Weather patterns that influence the processes of weathering and organic matter addition in soil.

Topography in Soil Formation

The physical features of the earth's surface that affect soil development, including slope and water drainage.