Science 10M

Chapter 3.1 The Importance of Soil

Page 74-75

  1. What are two uses of land just North of lake Ontario?

It is used for cities and highways (urban) and for farming (agriculture)

  1. What is the difference between land and soil?

Land is any area not covered by water, but soil is a layer of material that supports plants.

  1. What materials make up the mixture in soil?

It includes weathered rock (particles of rock) and decomposing organic material and air/water spaces.

  1. What are the two major types of soil used for farming?

Grassland and forest soils

  1. How is the topsoil (A horizon) different for grassland soil, forest soil and desert soil? (see Figure 3.3)

Grassland has the thickest topsoil, forest soil is in-between and desert has the thinnest topsoil.

  1. In chapter 1, what did we call the organisms that break down wastes and dead things?

Decomposers or detritivores

  1. Give three examples of these organisms in soil.

Earthworms, beetles, ants, bacteria

  1. How do animal burrows and tunnels affect the soil?

They mix the soil, and open up spaces for air and water

Page 79 – 80

  1. How does flooding improve soil? (See Figure 3.5A)

It builds up the thickness, adds nutrients and organic matter

  1. What is erosion? (See Figure 3.5B)

Any process that removes soil from an area.

  1. What are the three most important factors that determine where people can live?

Soil type, climate and types of vegetation (today people can live far from farms and buy food from a distance)

Using the PearsonSchool Atlas (Page 16-17)

  1. Where are most Class 1, 2 and 3 soil found in Canada? (look at the small map – soil capability)

The prairies (southern Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta)

Southern Ontario (near the Great Lakes)

In Quebec along the Saint Lawrence River

Smaller areas in British Columbia and the Maritimes

  1. What is the A horizon made up of? (look at the Soil Profiles)

It is made of mainly organic material

  1. What are the two materials in the B horizon?

Organic material and mineral material (rock particles and dissolved minerals)

  1. What is in the C horizon?

Mainly weathered rock particles or bedrock (a solid layer of rock)

Science 10M

Chapter 3.1 The Importance of Soil

Page 74-75

  1. What are two uses of land just North of lake Ontario?
  2. What is the difference between land and soil?
  3. What materials make up the mixture in soil?
  4. What are the two major types of soil used for farming?
  5. How is the topsoil (A horizon) different for grassland soil, forest soil and desert soil? (see Figure 3.3)
  6. In chapter 1, what did we call the organisms that break down wastes and dead things?
  7. Give three examples of these organisms in soil.
  8. How do animal burrows and tunnels affect the soil?

Page 79 – 80

  1. How does flooding improve soil? (See Figure 3.5A)
  2. What is erosion? (See Figure 3.5B)
  3. What are the three most important factors that determine where people can live?

Using the PearsonSchool Atlas (Page 16-17)

  1. Where are most Class 1, 2 and 3 soil found in Canada? (look at the small map – soil capability)
  2. What is the A horizon made up of? (look at the Soil Profiles)
  3. What are the two materials in the B horizon?
  4. What is in the C horizon?