Copy of CPAR NI VIAN

Soil

The part of the regolith that supports the growth of plants.

Regolith

The layer of rock and mineral that covers most of Earth's land surface.

Soil Horizons

Layers of soil.

Soil Profile

The vertical section through all the soil horizons.

O horizon

Organic materials (Humus).

A horizon

Topsoil, mineral with humus.

E horizon

Eluviation, leached mineral and little organic.

B horizon

Subsoil, considered as the zone of accumulation.

C horizon

Parent rock, partially altered parent and weathered material.

R horizon

Bedrock, unweathered parent material.

Soil Conservation

Keeping soil healthy by preventing erosion and using smart farming techniques.

Crop Rotation

The practice of planting different crops on the same field in different years or growing seasons.

Conservation Tillage

Disturbing the soil less when planting to keep it in good shape and prevent erosion.

Terraces

Flat areas built on a hillside to hold rainwater and prevent it from running downhill.

Counter Plowing

Channeling rainwater to prevent it from running straight downhill and carrying away soil.

Wind Breaks

Rows of trees planted between fields to break or reduce the force of winds that can carry off soil.

Mechanical Weathering

Causes rocks to crumble, often through the actions of water, frost wedging, abrasion, pressure, and expansion/contraction.

Frost Wedging

Physical weathering that breaks down rocks through the freezing and thawing process.

Abrasion

The physical process of rubbing, scouring, or scraping whereby particles of rock are eroded away by friction.

Pressure

The propagation of fractures near the surface of solid rock due to expansion related to the release of confining pressure.

Expansion & Contraction

Rocks expand when heated and contract when cooled due to daily and yearly cycles of heating and cooling at Earth's surface.

Biological Weathering

Weathering caused by plants and animals.

Chemical Weathering

Results from chemical reactions between minerals in rocks and external agents like air or water.

Dissolution

Some minerals dissolve in water while others do not.

Hydrolysis

Water reacts with a mineral to form a crystal structure.

Oxidation

The reaction of rock minerals with oxygen.

Carbonation

The process where rock minerals react when carbon dioxide and water combine to form carbonic acid.