Exercise 8 Soil Resources Student Name Zoila Maldonado Section GEOL1405.20170320.49609 1) The photographs in Figure 8.1 on the next page show cross-sectional (profile) views of two different soils—note the meter st
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Exercise 8 Soil Resources Student Name Zoila Maldonado Section GEOL1405.20170320.49609 1) The photographs in Figure 8.1 on the next page show cross-sectional (profile) views of two different soils—note the meter stick (graduated in centimeters) for scale. The soil profile on the left shows an A-C sequence, and the one on the right is an A-B-C sequence (the C horizon is not visible in the photo). a) Which soil profile (left or right) is older? Explain how you know. Right, because it has more, distinctly formed horizons b) What is causing the reddish color of the B horizon in the right photo? Leaching of minerals in the layer 2) Explain how the color of a B soil horizon can tell you whether a particular site is well-drained or not. Leaching processes the minerals to be drained below to deeper layers thus its color shows that this layer is well drained. 3) Describe why you would want to use soil color to help select a more well-drained site for building a home or installing a septic system. Soil color will determine the drainage of an area. A well-drained area will likely have red soils and this would help you determine which site you would build in this area. 4) In terms of soil formation, are the two soils in Figure 8.1 still developing or do they represent ancient soils known as paleosols? Explain how you can tell. These soils are still developing because they are undergoing weathering and leaching. 5) Take a red marker or pencil and trace the bottom boundary of the A horizon in both photos.6) What is the non-scientific name commonly used to describe an A horizon? Topsoil. 7) What material gives an A horizon its characteristic blackish color? The horizon consists of the most intensively weathered rock material, being the zone most exposed to surface processes, mixed with organic debris from above. 8) Describe the basic way in which an A-horizon forms. It forms by mixing of the organic matter with intensively weathered rock material. 9) Explain why A horizons are such a critical resource to society. This is where most agricultural activities take place, it supports biological life. 10) Describe the basic way in which changing the land-use from natural vegetation to agricultural row crops can lead to a dramatic increase in soil erosion, and then soil loss.
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