Download SOIL STUDY GUIDE Test is Friday, February 15

SOIL STUDY GUIDE
Test is Friday, February 15
The process of rocks being broken up by growing plant roots is
an example of weathering.
Movement of rock pieces to new places is called erosion.
Rotting plant and animal materials that are part of topsoil are
called humus.
Soil that is rich in nutrients is fertile if it has the right
conditions for plants to grow.
Farmers and gardeners practice soil conservation because
they understand the importance of saving soil.
Farmers control soil loss by contour plowing around hills
instead of up and down the hills.
Planting crops between rows of other crops, a practice known
as strip cropping, helps hold soil in place.
Cutting wide, flat plant areas into the sides of steep hills or
mountains is called terracing.
Soil is made up of weathered rock and humus.
The three layers of soil are topsoil, subsoil and bedrock.
Soil is a necessary resource because plants grow in it.
Clay soil doesn’t absorb much water, so plants in clay soil need
a lot of water.
The best soil for growing most plants contains a mixture of
ingredients.
Soil that is poor for growing plants can be improved by adding
fertilizer.
When there is more rain than the soil can hold, topsoil can be
carried away by runoff.
One way farmers conserve soil is by strip cropping, which
helps prevent wind erosion.
Growing the same crop year after year can use up certain
nutrients in the soil.