SOIL

-What is the loose, upper layer of the Earth's surface where plants grow?

• clay

• sand

• silt

• soil

What is soil made of?

• organic debris and subsoil

• organic material and rocks and minerals

• organic material and parent material

• humus and bedrock

How long can it take for new soil to form?

• many days

• a year

• 1000 years

• millions of years

What are four factors besides time that affect the forming of soil?

• atmosphere, plants, living organisms, water

• texture, consistency, density, porosity

• living organisms, topography, climate, parent material

• weather, plants, volcanic activity, location

What is topography?

• the relief or slope of the surface of land

• the makeup of topsoil

• the study of the formation of soil

• a graph of the topsoil in an area

What is the parent material of soil?

• clay

• silt

• the organic material that formed the rock

• the rock that the soil was formed from

Why is soil important to plants on earth?

• gasses and sunlight

• minerals and water

• nutrients and an anchor for plants

• plants eat dirt

How does soil impact the atmosphere?

• soil forms clouds

• soil releases gasses

• soil holds heat

• soil filters air

Besides plants, how is the soil important for other living organisms?

• Rock eating bugs

• Some organisms eat dirt

• Soil makes the air smell better

• Worms, bacteria, and fungi live in soil

What two nutrient cycles does soil contribute to?

• Water and energy cycles

• Hydrogen and iron cycles

• Carbon and nitrogen cycles

• Potassium and calcium cycles