ENV100H1 Lecture 10: ENV234Y1 Lecture 10: Soils: interface between geology + biology

• School: UTSG
• Department: School of Environment
• Course: ENV100H1
• Professor: Helene Cyr

Document Summary

Support plants (basis of life on earth, agriculture) Determine the fate of water in the hydrologic system, and its quality (where is water. Owing after precipitation, percolation- rely on soil to lter water) Act as septic systems- absorb compounds in water. Recycle organic wastes + nutrients (nature"s recycling system- decomposition) Habitat for soil organisms (bacteria, viruses > mammals) Basic medium in human-built ecosystems (building material, support, human use) Role of organisms in soil formation organisms help mix organic matter into soil plants add organic matter depending on environment- more/less, quality- tough to break down. Climate a ects how soils form additions (organic matter, dust, salts from ground water in arid areas) Continental grassland regions type of soil: chernozem- a horizon good input of organic matter (high % of humus- often neutral- saturated with base cations) fertile soil active soil fauna.