Introductory Concepts and Earth Science
Help Questions
AP Environmental Science › Introductory Concepts and Earth Science
Which element is not a component of soil?
None of these
Living organisms
Mineral material
Partially decomposed organic matter
Explanation
All of these components make up soil. Differences in ratios of these components account for different soil types.
Which element is not a component of soil?
None of these
Living organisms
Mineral material
Partially decomposed organic matter
Explanation
All of these components make up soil. Differences in ratios of these components account for different soil types.
Which element is not a component of soil?
None of these
Living organisms
Mineral material
Partially decomposed organic matter
Explanation
All of these components make up soil. Differences in ratios of these components account for different soil types.
Soil with insufficient nitrogen is generally easier to fix than soil insufficient in phosphorus. Why might this be?
Nitrogen is abundant in the soil and the atmosphere, while phosphorus is only available in the soil and in bedrock.
Phosphorus is generally scarce in the natural world.
Many plants are incapable of taking up available phosphorus, making it very difficult to have compost that is rich in phosphorus.
There are significantly more steps in the phosphorus cycle to make phosphorus usable for plants, limiting availability.
Atmospheric phosphorus disperses in the form of precipitation, and irrigating crops from a well source will be insufficient in replenishing phosphorus to the soil.
Explanation
There is a sizable bank of nitrogen in the atmosphere that can be fixed by certain bacteria (and plants that harbor this bacteria in their roots), while phosphorus originates largely from bedrock and is released into the soil in limited quantities. Nitrogen can be fixed from a collective atmosphere that is three-quarters nitrogen, while phosphorus is more region-specific and can be harder to replace than nitrogen once it's depleted. Farms located in phosphorus-poor regions often have to rely on mined phosphates.
Soil with insufficient nitrogen is generally easier to fix than soil insufficient in phosphorus. Why might this be?
Nitrogen is abundant in the soil and the atmosphere, while phosphorus is only available in the soil and in bedrock.
Phosphorus is generally scarce in the natural world.
Many plants are incapable of taking up available phosphorus, making it very difficult to have compost that is rich in phosphorus.
There are significantly more steps in the phosphorus cycle to make phosphorus usable for plants, limiting availability.
Atmospheric phosphorus disperses in the form of precipitation, and irrigating crops from a well source will be insufficient in replenishing phosphorus to the soil.
Explanation
There is a sizable bank of nitrogen in the atmosphere that can be fixed by certain bacteria (and plants that harbor this bacteria in their roots), while phosphorus originates largely from bedrock and is released into the soil in limited quantities. Nitrogen can be fixed from a collective atmosphere that is three-quarters nitrogen, while phosphorus is more region-specific and can be harder to replace than nitrogen once it's depleted. Farms located in phosphorus-poor regions often have to rely on mined phosphates.
Soil with insufficient nitrogen is generally easier to fix than soil insufficient in phosphorus. Why might this be?
Nitrogen is abundant in the soil and the atmosphere, while phosphorus is only available in the soil and in bedrock.
Phosphorus is generally scarce in the natural world.
Many plants are incapable of taking up available phosphorus, making it very difficult to have compost that is rich in phosphorus.
There are significantly more steps in the phosphorus cycle to make phosphorus usable for plants, limiting availability.
Atmospheric phosphorus disperses in the form of precipitation, and irrigating crops from a well source will be insufficient in replenishing phosphorus to the soil.
Explanation
There is a sizable bank of nitrogen in the atmosphere that can be fixed by certain bacteria (and plants that harbor this bacteria in their roots), while phosphorus originates largely from bedrock and is released into the soil in limited quantities. Nitrogen can be fixed from a collective atmosphere that is three-quarters nitrogen, while phosphorus is more region-specific and can be harder to replace than nitrogen once it's depleted. Farms located in phosphorus-poor regions often have to rely on mined phosphates.
The soil beneath your feet is stratified into layers that help us understand how soil is formed. If you collected a soil sample that contained accumulations of clay and subsoil, from which horizon (layer) did this soil come?
B Horizon
O Horizon
A Horizon
C Horizon
R Horizon
Explanation
The correct response is B Horizon. The B horizon is referred to as the zone of accumulation because all the clay, minerals, and subsoil that is washed into it via illuviation from the overlying layers of soil. The B horizon is usually dark red or brownish due to the presence of clay and iron oxides.
__________ soil is considered ideal for food production, usually nutrient-rich, and holds both air and water well.
Loamy
Silty
Sandy
Clay-rich
Alkaline
Explanation
Loamy soil is a mixture between sand, silt, and clay. It is rich in organic matter, and the properties of sand and clay combined allow it to hold air and water well.
__________ soil is considered ideal for food production, usually nutrient-rich, and holds both air and water well.
Loamy
Silty
Sandy
Clay-rich
Alkaline
Explanation
Loamy soil is a mixture between sand, silt, and clay. It is rich in organic matter, and the properties of sand and clay combined allow it to hold air and water well.
The soil beneath your feet is stratified into layers that help us understand how soil is formed. If you collected a soil sample that contained accumulations of clay and subsoil, from which horizon (layer) did this soil come?
B Horizon
O Horizon
A Horizon
C Horizon
R Horizon
Explanation
The correct response is B Horizon. The B horizon is referred to as the zone of accumulation because all the clay, minerals, and subsoil that is washed into it via illuviation from the overlying layers of soil. The B horizon is usually dark red or brownish due to the presence of clay and iron oxides.