5. Soil Systems and Terrestrial Food Production- 5.
1 Introduction to Soil Systems Name:
Understandings, Applications and Skills (This is what you may be assessed on)
Significant ideas
● The soil system is a dynamic ecosystem that has inputs, outputs, storages and flows.
● The quality of soil influences the primary productivity of an area.
Big Questions:
● What strengths and weaknesses of the systems approach and the use of models have been revealed through
this topic?
● To what extent have the solutions emerging from this topic been directed at preventing environmental impacts,
limiting the extent of the environmental impacts, or restoring systems in which environmental impacts have
already occurred:
● What value systems can you identify at play in the cases and approaches to resolving the issues addressed in this
topic?
● In what ways might the solutions explored in this topic alter your predictions for the state of human societies
and the biosphere some decades from now?
● How does the systems approach help our understanding of soils and soil processes?
● With respect to soils, how might the environmental value systems of a large-scale commercial farmer differ from
that of a traditional subsistence farmer?
● How might the pressure on soils change over the next 20 years? Give reasons to support your answer
Statement Guidance
5.1.U1 The soil system may be illustrated by a soil profile that has Studies of specific soil profiles, such as
a layered structure (horizons) podsol, are not required.
5.1.U2 Soil system storages include organic matter, organisms,
nutrients, minerals, air and water.
5.1.U3 Transfers of material within the soil, including biological
mixing and leaching (minerals dissolved in water moving
through soil), contribute to the organization of the soil.
5.1.U4 There are inputs of organic material including leaf litter
and inorganic matter from parent material, precipitation
and energy. Outputs include uptake by plants and soil
erosion.
5.1.U5 Transformations include decomposition, weathering and
nutrient cycling.
5.1.U6 The structure and properties of sand, clay and loam soils
differ in many ways, including mineral and nutrient
content, drainage, water-holding capacity, air spaces,
biota and potential to hold organic matter. Each of these
variables is linked to the ability of the soil to promote
primary productivity.
5.1.U7 A soil texture triangle illustrates the differences in Familiarity with the soil texture triangle
composition of soils. diagram used for soil type classification
based on the percentage of sand, silt, and
clay in the soil is required.
5.1.A1 Outline the transfers, transformations, inputs, outputs,
flows and storages within soil systems.
5.1.A2 Explain how soil can be viewed as an ecosystem.
5.1.A3 Compare and contrast the structure and properties of
Adapted from Brad Cramer http://www.mrgscience.com/
5. Soil Systems and Terrestrial Food Production- 5.1 Introduction to Soil Systems Name:
sand, clay and loam soils, with reference to a soil texture
diagram, including their effect on primary productivity
5.1.U2 Soil system storages include organic matter, organisms, nutrients, minerals, air and water.
The soil system is a dynamic ecosystem that has inputs, outputs, storages and flows
5.1.U3 Transfers of material within the soil, including biological mixing and leaching (minerals dissolved in water moving
through soil), contribute to the organization of the
5.1.U4 There are inputs of organic material including leaf litter and inorganic matter from parent material, precipitation
and energy. Outputs include uptake by plants and soil erosion.
5.1.U5 Transformations include decomposition, weathering and nutrient cycling .
5.1.A1 Outline the transfers, transformations, inputs, outputs, flows and storages within soil systems.
1. Watch the video clip on “What Is Soil” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6HGPoQ3dZY&feature=emb_logo
Briefly describe the statement “'From soil comes everything.' (Describe: Give a detailed account)
2. Watch the movie the Symphony of the Soil: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDZVKMe2FTg. As you watch
the movie consider the following:
a. Soil structure and properties
b. Soil system storages
c. Transfers of material within the soil,
d. Inputs of energy and matter
e. Outputs matter and energy.
f. Transformations and transfers
Adapted from Brad Cramer http://www.mrgscience.com/
5. Soil Systems and Terrestrial Food Production- 5.1 Introduction to Soil Systems Name:
3. Identify how the following factors affecting soil characteristics: (Identify: Find an answer from a given number of
possibilities)
Climate
Organisms
Relief
Parent
material
Time
Adapted from Brad Cramer http://www.mrgscience.com/
5. Soil Systems and Terrestrial Food Production- 5.1 Introduction to Soil Systems Name:
4. Draw and label a systems diagram to represent a soil system. When you label each flow, state whether it is a
transfer or a transformation. (Draw: Represent by means of pencil lines; Label: Add labels to a diagram)
a. Inputs – organic material including leaf litter, inorganic matter from parent rock, precipitation, energy
b. Storages – organic matter, organisms, nutrients, minerals, air and water
c. Outputs – leaching, uptake by plants, mass movement, radiation, erosion
d. Transfers within soil – biological mixing (organism living in soil mix nutrients & minerals in with organic
matter), translocation (movement of soil particles in suspension
e. Transformations – decomposition, weathering, nutrient cycling
5.1.A2 Explain how soil can be viewed as an ecosystem
Adapted from Brad Cramer http://www.mrgscience.com/
5. Soil Systems and Terrestrial Food Production- 5.1 Introduction to Soil Systems Name:
5. The information in the texts can all be converted to system diagrams. Some might be best illustrated by drawing
a traditional system diagram while others may be better illustrated with a flow diagram. Label the diagrams,
where appropriate, with inputs, outputs, flows and transformations. In this diagram, label the trophic levels and
feeding relationships.
a. Plants grow on the surface of the soil. Nematodes and fungi feed on the plant roots. When the plants
die, they add organic matter to the soil. This provides food for bacteria and fungi.
b. Protozoa, nematodes and arthropods feed on bacteria.
c. Arthropods also feed on fungi and nematodes. Nematodes also feed on protozoa.
d. Larger species of nematodes feed on smaller species of nematodes.\Larger species of arthropods feed
on smaller species of arthropods and nematodes.
e. Birds and animals such as moles feed on the larger species of arthropods and nematodes.
6. Explain how negative and positive feedback mechanisms may influence the growth of decomposer populations
in the soil. (Explain: Explain how negative and positive feedback mechanisms may influence the growth of
decomposer populations in the soil.)
Adapted from Brad Cramer http://www.mrgscience.com/
5. Soil Systems and Terrestrial Food Production- 5.1 Introduction to Soil Systems Name:
5.1.U1 The soil system may be illustrated by a soil profile that has a layered structure (horizons)
5.1.U6 The structure and properties of sand, clay and loam soils differ in many ways, including mineral and nutrient
content, drainage, water-holding capacity, air spaces, biota and potential to hold organic matter. Each of these variables
is linked to the ability of the soil to promote primary productivity.
5.1.A3 Compare and contrast the structure and properties of sand, clay and loam soils, with reference to a soil texture
diagram, including their effect on primary productivity
7. During the formation of soil there are three stages; 1) Rock weather, 2) Introduction to living organisms, 3)
Redistribution of material within the soil
a. Using diagrams, outline the processes involved in the formation of fertile soils from bare rock.
(Outline: Give a brief account or summary)
b. Outline how these processes can be affected by location and climate (Outline: Give a brief account or
summary)
Adapted from Brad Cramer http://www.mrgscience.com/
5. Soil Systems and Terrestrial Food Production- 5.1 Introduction to Soil Systems Name:
c. Describe how humans can impact the formation of soil ((Describe: Give a detailed account)
8. Label and Identify the components of each horizon. Relate the diagram to the following key words: (LAbel: Add
labels to a diagram; Identify: Find an answer from a given number of possibilities)
a. Translocation
b. Salinization
c. Leaching
9. Outline the structure and properties of sand, clay and loam soils (Outline: Give a brief account or summary)
Soil Type Sand Clay Loam
Particle Size
Adapted from Brad Cramer http://www.mrgscience.com/
5. Soil Systems and Terrestrial Food Production- 5.1 Introduction to Soil Systems Name:
Mineral/
Nutrient
Content
Drainage
Water-holding
capacity
Air spaces
Biota
Organic Matter
Link to primary
production
5.1.U7 A soil texture triangle illustrates the differences in composition of soils.
10. Read each side of the triangle like an axis on an X.Y coordinate lane in math. Follow each line from the % of
sand=silt-clay, and [lot a point where the percentages intersect. The point identifies the type of soil
Calculate the following textures of the following should sample (Calculate: Find a numerical answer showing the
relevant stages in the working (unless instructed not to do so))
Adapted from Brad Cramer http://www.mrgscience.com/
5. Soil Systems and Terrestrial Food Production- 5.1 Introduction to Soil Systems Name:
a. 0% clay, 50% sand, and
20% silt
b. 7% clay, 10% sand, and
83% silt
11. Use the soil texture by feel flow chart. Determine the soil texture of a given sample of soil. (Determine: Find the
only possible answer)
Adapted from Brad Cramer http://www.mrgscience.com/
5. Soil Systems and Terrestrial Food Production- 5.1 Introduction to Soil Systems Name:
Theory of knowledge:
12. The soil system may be represented by a soil profile—since a model is, strictly speaking, not real, how can it lead
to knowledge?
Adapted from Brad Cramer http://www.mrgscience.com/
5. Soil Systems and Terrestrial Food Production- 5.1 Introduction to Soil Systems Name:
13. Explain why soil is a non-renewable resource (Explain: Give a detailed account of causes, reasons or
mechanisms)
14. Explain the importance of nitrates, phosphates and potassium (NPK) and how they can be replaced in soils
(Explain: Give a detailed account of causes, reasons or mechanisms)
15. Explain why the crop yield on a farm may consistently decrease over a ten-year period whether fertilizers are
used or not. (Explain: Give a detailed account of causes, reasons or mechanisms)
ESS can be like learning a new language. So many words are not commonly used in everyday English. This can be
challenging. To help you keep up with ESS Terms, you will need to create your own ESS DICTIONARY. You should add to
this over the year and keep it in your notebook or on a page file THAT YOU CAN UPDATE AND ADD TO EASILY. Most of
the vocabulary words can be found either on your STUDY GUIDE or at mrgscience.com.
Adapted from Brad Cramer http://www.mrgscience.com/
5. Soil Systems and Terrestrial Food Production- 5.1 Introduction to Soil Systems Name:
You will be responsible for learning the words and their meaning. Periodic quizzes will be given on the words. So, make
your dictionary creative and you will remember the words more easily.
KEY TERMS
soil
parent material
water holding capacity
soil texture
minerals
lithosphere
precipitation
decomposition
biota
sand
porosity
soil profile
infiltration
weathering
clay
permeability
bedrock
deposition
leaching
nutrient cycle
mineral content
silt
soil horizon
Adapted from Brad Cramer http://www.mrgscience.com/
5. Soil Systems and Terrestrial Food Production- 5.1 Introduction to Soil Systems Name:
organic material
drainage
loam
humus
glacial moraines
sheet wash
Adapted from Brad Cramer http://www.mrgscience.com/
