Lesson 2 | Soil

Name

Date

Class

Content Vocabulary

LESSON 2

Soil

Directions: Use the clues and the terms listed below to complete the puzzle. NOTE: There is no empty square in the puzzle between the words of two-word terms. Some words may not be used.

biota parent material

climate pore

decomposition sediment

horizon soil

organic matter topography

Across

1. the shape of the land

4. the broken-down remains of dead plants and animals

6. all the living things in an area

9. the process that produces organic matter

10. mixture of weathered rock, rock fragments, decayed organic matter, water, and air

Clues

Down

2. the starting material that weathers and forms soil

3. a small space in the soil

5. the average weather of an area

7. rock material broken down or dissolved in water

8. a layer of soil

Weathering and Soil

29

Name

Date

Class

Lesson Outline

LESSON 2

Soil

A. What is soil?

1.

is a mixture of weathered rock, decayed organic matter,

mineral fragments, water, and air.

2. About half the volume of soil is made of

materials.

a. Soil also contains water, other liquids, and

.

b. In the soil, water and gases fill small holes called

.

c.

can flow through soil because pores are present.

d. The movement of water through pores is called

.

3. The solid part of soil once part of living organisms is

.

a. Organic matter forms when once-living material undergoes

by organisms in the soil.

b. Organic matter helps hold water and

in the soil.

4. The

part of soils is made from materials, such as rock

fragments, that have never been alive.

B. Formation of Soil

1. There are five

of soil formation.

2. The starting material of soil is called

.

a. Parent material is made of the rock or and forms soil.

b. The particle size and type of parent material can determine the

that weathers

of the soil that develops.

3.

is the average weather of an area. Soil can form rapidly

in

, wet climates.

4.

is the shape and steepness of the landscape.

5. The

is all the organisms that live in a region. Some

biota in the soil form passages for

to move through.

6. As time passes, weathering is constantly acting on sediment. Soil formation is a(n)

and , but slow process.

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Weathering and Soil

Name

Date

Class

Lesson Outline continued

C. Horizons 1. weathering.

are layers of soil formed from the product of

2. There are

horizons common to most soils.

a. The

is the part of the soil you are most likely to see

when you dig a shallow hole; it contains most of the organic matter in the soil.

b. The

usually contains a great deal of clay particles.

c. The

consists of parent material.

D. Soil Properties and Uses 1. The

of a soil determine the best use of the soil.

2. Plants depend on the and the weathering of rocks.

that come from organic matter

3. There are

major soil types in the world.

4. Soil type depends partly on

.

Weathering and Soil

31

Name

Date

Class

Content Practice A

LESSON 2

Soil

Directions: Complete this chart by choosing terms from the word bank and writing them in the correct spaces.

A-horizon color pH time

B-horizon consistency soil moisture topography

biota fertility structure

C-horizon infiltration temperature

climate parent material texture

1. List nine terms that describe the properties of soils: a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i.

Soils

2. List three terms that describe the layers where soils are found:

a.

b.

c.

3. List five terms that explain the formation of soils: a. b. c. d. e.

Weathering and Soil

33

Name

Date

Key Concept Builder

Soil

Key Concept How is soil created?

Directions: Answer each question in the space provided.

3. What is climate?

4. What are two ways climate is measured?

?

?

5. In what type of climate is parent material quickly weathered?

1. What is parent material?

Class

LESSON 2

6. What does biota mean? 7. What effect do biota

have on soil formation?

8. What are two specific ways biota assist soil formation?

? ?

9. What is topography?

10. How does a flat topography affect soil formation?

11. How does a steep topography affect soil formation?

2. What are two ways parent material form soil?

? ?

12. What are three things that are true about soil formation?

?

?

?

13. What often happens to

the level of organic material in soil over time?

14. What materials produce layers in the soil?

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Weathering and Soil

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