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Name: ______________________________ Student ID:__________ WEEK 7 PRACTICAL TWO: BASIC SOIL CHARACTERISATION DRIVERS OF CLIMATE Activity 1: Discussion on Week 7 Lecture We will spend some time discussing the key ideas presented in this week’s lectures. Students should use this time to ask questions and clarify any doubts. Use the following space to take notes. Some issues to discuss: How does weather differ from climate? What factors account for the climate experienced at any particular area of the globe? What is the ITCZ? What is the Coriolis effect? What is continentality? What factors influence decadal variations to climate in Australia? Name: ______________________________ Student ID:__________ Activity 2: Soil horizons and profiles In the following table, illustrate the master soil horizons (and for the A horizon possible numeric subdivisions) according to the descriptions provided. Draw Horizon and description it here O horizon: dominated by dark colours from organic materials in varying stages of decomposition that have accumulated on the mineral soil surface. A horizon: surface or near-surface mineral horizon with some organic accumulation, usually a darker colour than underlying horizons and/or smaller clay content than underlying horizons May be subdivided into: A1 horizon: organic matter accumulation, gives a darker colour than the underlying horizons. A2 horizon: eluviation of clay particles, organic matter and oxides of iron or aluminium gives a lighter colour than the A1 horizon above and B horizon below B horizon: a mineral horizon characterised by one or more of the following: a concentration of clay, iron, aluminium (illuvation), organic material or several of these; a structure and/or consistence unlike the horizons above and below; stronger colours than the horizons above and below C horizon: consolidated or unconsolidated material, usually partly weathered, little affected by pedogenic processes Define the following processes: Eluviation: Illuviation: Leaching: Name: ______________________________ Student ID:__________ Soil profiles With reference to any two soil profile images supplied to you in the following pages (Figure 1), answer the following questions: Profile 1 Profile 2 How many soil horizons can be observed? Mark these on the profile. With reference to the nomenclature above, how might you describe the process for their formation? Name: ______________________________ Student ID:__________ a. Kurosol b. Tenosol Source: DEDJTR (2015a) Source: ANRA (2012) c. Chromosol d. Vertosol Source: DEDJTR (2015b) Source: DEDJTR (2015c) Figure 1. Soil profile images of (a) Kurosol, (b) Tenosol, (c) Chromosol, (d) Vertosol. (Sources cited above) Name: ______________________________ Student ID:__________ Activity 3: Soil testing and description SOIL TEST DESCRIPTION SHEET Soil described: Parent material: Location: Position in landscape: Soil horizon (A or B): Soil Texture (by hand): Soil Colour: Soil pH and category: Soil Aggregate Stability (one of the following): i. Dispersion ii. Slaking iii. Dispersion & Slaking iv. None of the above Additional comments: Name: ______________________________ Student ID:__________ SOIL DESCRIPTION SHEET Soil described: Parent material: Location: Position in landscape: Soil horizon (A or B): Soil Texture (by hand): Soil Colour: Soil pH and category: Soil Aggregate Stability (one of the following): i. Dispersion ii. Slaking iii. Dispersion & Slaking iv. None of the above Additional comments: Name: ______________________________ Student ID:__________ Activity 4: Group Discussion Compare the characteristics of your soils and consider some of the following questions to gauge the practical implications of the measurements you have made: (i) How would water (and dissolved solutes such as fertilizers or pesticides) move through these two soils, and what would the effects be? (ii) Are these soils fertile? What criteria did you use to make this assessment? (iii) Might these soils be suitable for growing crops? Why? (iv) During construction work, would these soils need to be stabilized? Why? (v) Which soils are most likely to be found at your semester task site? Why?