Max Guillen
______________________________
Name (Last, First)
Module 08, Activity 02
GEOG 104: Principles of Physical Geography
Soils and Agriculture
Learning Objectives
In this two-part activity, you will watch 50 minutes of the “Kiss the Ground Documentary” to
answer questions about anthropogenic (human) influence on soils and this relationship to the
carbon cycle. In Part II, you will examine digital models of soil monoliths to answer questions
about soil characteristics.
PART I: Introduction to Soils
Directions: Use the “Kiss the Ground” documentary (access provided by KU Libraries)
https://video.alexanderstreet.com/watch/kiss-the-ground to answer the following questions.
(15 points)
1. When and where did the largest human-made environmental catastrophe occur, and what
caused it?
The Dust Bowl. It happened during the 1930s in the US. It was caused by severe
droughts and unsustainable farming practices.
2. What is the NRCS, and what are two practices that its field agents try to change?
The NRCS is the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Two of the practices they try to
change are to reduce tillage and promote cover cropping
3. What is the single most important element related to soil? What percentage of this element
is transferred to soil via the root systems of plants?
Carbon. 40% of carbon is transferred to soil through root systems.
4. What is the relationship between tilling the earth and the use of chemical sprays?
Tilling disturbs soil structure, releasing stored carbon and reducing soil fertility. This
leads to an increased in the use of chemical sprays.
5. How do crops resist the spraying of pesticides?
They have resistance because of their genetical modification.
6. Since the 1970s, approximately how much of the Earth’s topsoil has been lost?
About 1/3 of Earth's topsoil.
7. Explain the two-step process of desertification as it relates to soil disturbance.
Soil disturbance removes vegetation, exposing soil to erosion. Then, loss of organic
matter reduces water retention
8. Which natural process regulates the “small” water cycles?
Transpiration from plants
9. Explain how soil disturbance is expected to cause major social consequences in the 21st
century.
It can lead to crop failures, food shortages, migration, and conflicts over arable land
10. Which variable did the NASA model track? Explain how the abundance of this variable
changes seasonally across the United States.
They tracked carbon levels in vegetation. More carbon levels mean more carbon absorption during
summer, and less carbon absorption during winter.
11. What is one proposed climate solution highlighted here, and how does it work? About how
long could it take before we see beneficial climate results?
Regenerative agriculture (cover crops, no-till, composting) to sequester carbon. It can
take decades to see results.
12. Why aren’t reductions in carbon emissions sufficient to stabilize global warming?
Because of existing atmospheric CO2.
13. What concept in farming could help draw down atmospheric carbon?
Regenerative agriculture. This improves soil health and captures carbon.
14. What advantage does the “no till drill” tractor leverage with respect to soil and water?
It reduces soil disturbance, keeps organic matter intact, and improves water retention
15. Why are grasslands going to play an essential role in soil stabilization and carbon
drawdown on the global scale?
Because deep-rooted grasses store carbon in soil and prevent erosion
PART II: Soil Monoliths
Figure 1: Global soil regions.
Directions: Use Figure 1 and the 3-dimensional soil monoliths provided in the link to answer the
following questions. (5 points)
1. Which soil order is most associated with Kansas? Mollisols
2. Navigate to the following Soil Monoliths page: https://monoliths.soilweb.ca/chernozem/.
Which Canadian soil order is equivalent to your answer in #1?
Chernozem
3. Open the 3-D model of Orthic Black Chernozem soil (2-01):
https://monoliths.soilweb.ca/2-01/ . Which soil horizons does this monolith contain?
It contains Ah (0-22 cm), AB (22-31 cm), Bm (31-42 cm), Cca (42-53 cm), and Ck (53-66 cm).
4. In a separate tab, Open the 3-D model of another Orthic Black Chernozem soil (2-07):
https://monoliths.soilweb.ca/2-07/ . Compare and contrast visually the 2-01 and 2-07
monoliths. In what way are their horizons similar or different?
The 2-01 image looks taller and looks lighter than 2-07 image. They have a similar material, and the dark A
horizon is similar in both off the pictures.
5. What is the parent (source) material that created these soils?
Glacial deposits, loess (wind-blown silt), and weathered sedimentary rock
Submission
Upload your finished activity to Canvas before this Sunday at 11:59 pm.
