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    Module 25 rocks and soils

    Climate change simulator:

    https://www.climateinteractive.org/tools/en-roads/

    Check out building efficiency and how it changes the temp when you are 95 years old...

    Weekend homework:

    Please read chapter 9 in the Withgott text (same person who wrote the Frog book on your iPad):

    Download file "withgott ch. 9 soils_1.pdf"

    Answer questions 1-10 on page 232, and calculate your ecological footprint on page 233.

    For this last part, use your class size, and estimate our state population as 1.4 million. The US population is 328 million

    Jeffrey Sachs on Radio New Zealand on Sustainable goals:

    Download file "aft-20201102-1510-jeffery_sachs_-_the_ages_of_globalization-128.mp3"

    Soils:

    "The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself" -FDR

    "There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other is that heat comes from the furnace" -Aldo Leopold

    Why we need to learn about soils:

    Soils are a complex system:


    Next: Rocks Module 25
    Three types of rocks that become parent materials for soils:
    Igneous (fire)
    Sedimentary (layers)
    Metamorphic (Kafka rocks, just kidding: changed by heat and pressure)
    Click for full-size image




    Igneous= directly from magma, can be either basalt (low melting point, like our island or oceanic plates) or granite (lighter, what continents are made of)
    Granite breaks down into light colored sand, makes for fertile soil. Basalt (like us) can make sand too, but less fertile (e.g. black sand beach).

    Sedimentary= just like it sounds, from mud, sand or dust, usually in layers.

    Metamorphic= changed by heat and/or pressure (slate, marble or coal)

    How do parent materials become soils?




    In mature soils, we often find these profiles or "horizons":


    Click for full-size image


    These used to be just A, B, C layers
    E layer was added (eluviated layer-where water washes out nutrients)
    O layer was added (overlayer-detritus)

    Latest version:



    Soil structure (physical analysis)


    Click for full-size image
    n.b. the trick to reading the lines is always look clockwise...

    Finer soils drain slowly (capillary action), hold nutrients (because of reduced water flow), and settle last in rivers

    Coarse soils (e.g. sand) drain quickly, are nutrient poor (water washed the nutrients away) and settle first in rivers

    Loam is the term for a perfect balance of these inorganic soil types, often found in tended gardens

    Farmers refer to "tilth" of a soil, which includes ability to hold water, organic content and more:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilth

    Organic matter is not included here: it holds water and decomposes, releasing nutrients
    For healthy soil, we need both the physical (above), organic and chemical systems to balance.

    Chemical analysis:
    N=nitrogen: critical for plant growth
    P=phosphorus: roots and fruits
    K= Kalium=Potasssium=potash: plant immunity

    pH is the Hydrogen ion content: pH of 7 is neutral water, others may have other values
    Hydroponics use a term EC for Electrical conductivity, which is a measure of dissolved ions in solution.
    1.5-2.5 is ideal for most hydroponic systems, depending on plant types

    See also CEC: Cation exchange capacity
    Desertification:
    Usually from removal of native plants, overgrazing and/or over-irrigation with well water (salinization)
    Solutions:

    Click for full-size image

    Click for full-size image

    See also chapter 12 in the Froggie book...

    Soils Lab:
    Physical tests----
    • Gross analysis: how does the soil feel in your hands: like clay or sand? Does it have organic matter? Can you squeeze it and have it hold shape (tilth)? What color do you see?
    • Percolation test: time it takes water to move through a soil sample, measured in cm/second. Measure the seconds, and the cm depth of your soil, divide.
    • Sedimentation test: settled layers after mixing with water, measure total thickness, then layer thickness, present at percentage of total
    • Dry sifting test: drop your sample into the sifter column, measure mass of each layer
    Chemical tests----
    • Decant (pour off) liquid from the sedimentation test above, use for the pH test kit
    • N test: same with the N soil test kit
    • P test: same with the P soil test kit
    • K test: same with the K soil test kit
    • (optional) organic matter test: bake the sample, mass before and after, difference is organic matter

    Comments

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You should be able to do the following after logging in with your account: To create a new page, click the ...Falseadmin2020-08-19T15:43:59+00:00adminadmin2013-02-05 02:24:03+00:002013-02-05 02:24:03updated4Added tag - hotadminadmin2013-02-05 02:24:02+00:002013-02-05 02:24:02addTag3adminadmin2013-02-05 02:05:35+00:002013-02-05 02:05:35updated2First createdadminadmin2013-02-05 02:03:35+00:002013-02-05 02:03:35created1wiki2013-02-05T02:24:03+00:00groups/apenvironmentalscience/wiki/394a8FalseEnergy notes/groups/apenvironmentalscience/wiki/394a8/Energy_notes.htmladmin4 updatesEnergy notes Week of 2.4.13: energy wrap-up e2 video: coal vs. nuclear in class AP exams: FRQ 2002.1 2004.2 2006.1 2007.2 2008.1 ...Falseadmin2013-02-05T02:24:03+00:00adminadmin2013-02-05 02:23:20+00:002013-02-05 02:23:20updated6Added tag - hotadminadmin2013-02-05 02:23:18+00:002013-02-05 02:23:18addTag5adminadmin2013-02-05 02:23:12+00:002013-02-05 02:23:12updated4adminadmin2013-02-05 02:21:48+00:002013-02-05 02:21:48updated3adminadmin2013-02-05 02:20:26+00:002013-02-05 02:20:26updated2First createdadminadmin2013-02-05 02:06:00+00:002013-02-05 02:06:00created1wiki2013-02-05T02:23:20+00:00groups/apenvironmentalscience/wiki/c360bFalseFeb-May plan/groups/apenvironmentalscience/wiki/c360b/FebMay_plan.htmladmin6 updatesFeb-May plan 1. conclusion of energy chapters (see previous wiki) 2. GCC AP questions FRQ: 2006.2 2005.3 2005.4 2007.3 ...Falseadmin2013-02-05T02:23:20+00:00adminadmin2012-03-07 05:53:55+00:002012-03-07 05:53:55updated14adminadmin2012-03-07 05:43:38+00:002012-03-07 05:43:38updated13adminadmin2012-03-07 05:41:35+00:002012-03-07 05:41:35updated12adminadmin2012-03-07 05:38:57+00:002012-03-07 05:38:57updated11Added tag - hotadminadmin2012-03-07 05:38:55+00:002012-03-07 05:38:55addTag10adminadmin2012-03-07 05:36:47+00:002012-03-07 05:36:47updated9adminadmin2012-03-07 05:22:26+00:002012-03-07 05:22:26updated8adminadmin2012-03-07 05:20:01+00:002012-03-07 05:20:01updated7adminadmin2012-03-07 05:18:58+00:002012-03-07 05:18:58updated6adminadmin2012-03-07 04:58:55+00:002012-03-07 04:58:55updated5adminadmin2012-03-07 04:57:33+00:002012-03-07 04:57:33updated4adminadmin2012-03-07 04:56:53+00:002012-03-07 04:56:53updated3adminadmin2012-03-07 04:54:20+00:002012-03-07 04:54:20updated2First createdadminadmin2012-03-07 04:53:33+00:002012-03-07 04:53:33created1weblog2012-03-07T05:53:55+00:00groups/apenvironmentalscience/weblog/de030FalseGreen Apple/groups/apenvironmentalscience/weblog/de030/Green_Apple.htmladmin14 updatesGreen Apple Team, Please watch this video about NYC: Trailer: http://www.pbs.org/e2/episodes/101_the_green_apple_trailer.html On the server: http://physics.hpa...Falseadmin2012-03-07T05:53:55+00:00adminadmin2011-09-13 19:08:24+00:002011-09-13 19:08:24updated4Added tag - hotadminadmin2011-09-13 19:08:22+00:002011-09-13 19:08:22addTag3adminadmin2011-09-13 19:08:10+00:002011-09-13 19:08:10updated2First createdadminadmin2011-09-13 19:04:30+00:002011-09-13 19:04:30created1weblog2011-09-13T19:08:24+00:00groups/apenvironmentalscience/weblog/4ecddFalseQuestions for Wednesday, wiki adds/groups/apenvironmentalscience/weblog/4ecdd/Questions_for_Wednesday_wiki_adds.htmladmin4 updatesQuestions for Wednesday, wiki adds Team, I'd like to try something for class tomorrow: each of you to create a question from chapter 3, and email it to me by this evening (Tuesday). 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