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Understanding Soil Formation: Processes, Components, and Importance

This lesson focuses on the essential aspects of soil formation, including the processes of weathering and the components that make up soil. Students will explore the geologic and traditional definitions of soil, the roles of organic and inorganic materials, and the impact of vegetation and compaction on soil types. The lesson emphasizes the significance of decomposers and the slow nature of soil formation, covering various parent materials such as igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Engaging PowerPoint materials will guide the discussion on the vital role of soil in supporting plant life.

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Understanding Soil Formation: Processes, Components, and Importance

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  1. Teacher Information! • Necessary materials: • PowerPoint Guide

  2. Soil Formation Pgs 46-50 in Ch.4 of Managing Our Natural Resources Soil and Water Resources

  3. Students will be able to… • Discuss how soil is formed. • Describe weathering processes.

  4. Soil • Geologic definition: Loose surface of the earth as distinguished from solid bedrock (support of plant life not required). • Traditionaldefinition: Material which nourishes and supports growing plants (includes rocks, water, snow, air). • Organic + Inorganic material

  5. Soil • Mixture of inorganicmatter (mineral), organicmatter, water, and air. Air 25% Mineral Matter 45% Water 25% Organic Matter 5%

  6. % Soil components varies: • Type of vegetation • Amount of mechanical compaction • Amount of soil water present.

  7. Soil matters • Inorganicmatter • Rock slowly broken down into small particles • Organicmatter • Decaying plants and animals • Decomposers are vital! • Soil formation is slow!

  8. Parent material • Minerals • Examples? • Rocks • Aggregates of minerals • Three types • Igneous • Sedimentary • Metamorphic

  9. More parent material • Glacial deposits • Common in the Midwest U.S. • Loess deposits • Windblown silt • Eastern Mississippi Valley soils • Alluvial and marine deposits • Water-borne sediments • Organic deposits

  10. Weathering forces • Rocks & minerals break down  smaller pieces • Temperature changes • Water action • Plant roots • Ice expansion • Mechanical grinding

  11. OrganicMatter • Only about 5% of most soils • Small proportion but very important • WHY is organic matter important?

  12. OrganicMatter • Decayed plants and animals • Two types • Original tissue—still recognizable • Examples? • Humus—matter is too decomposed  unrecognizable • Examples? • WHAT causes decomposition?

  13. Review • Discuss how soil is formed. • Describe weathering processes.

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