Its a dirty job, but someone has to do it! Canada's Soil and Natural Vegetation Connections Chapter...
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Transcript of Its a dirty job, but someone has to do it! Canada's Soil and Natural Vegetation Connections Chapter...
Its a dirty job, but someone has to do it!
Canada's Soil and Natural Vegetation Connections
Chapter 14 pg 159-162
4 Components of Soil
#1 Minerals Loose minerals (rocks) that
have been deposited by glaciers, wind or a river
Weathering: process when rocks are broken down into smaller particles, nutrients necessary for plant growth
e.g. Calcium, phosphorous, potassium
4 Components of Soil
#2 Bacteria & Organic Materials
Plants and animals die (decompose)
Bacteria breaks down matter, releasing nutrients
Humus: is formed, which gives soil a dark colour
4 Components of Soil
#3 Air Plants need air around
their roots to grow Air pockets are created by
worms, insects and small animals
4 Components of Soil
#4 Moisture Water dissolves the
nutrients (rocks, bacteria), which can then be taken up by the plants
Also helps with the decaying of bacteria and erosion of rocks into minerals
4 Components of Soil
Soil Horizons
Leaching
Wet climates or areas of intense irrigation
Nutrients are dissolved by water and transported from Topsoil (A Horizon) down to the Subsoil (B Horizon)
Calcification
Dry climates Salts and minerals
drawn upward by ground water as it is pulled to the surface by evaporation
Vegetation
Vegetation
Natural Vegetation: Plants that grow without any human interference
(Different types of natural veg. grow in response to different climatic and soil conditions)
Vegetation
There are three main types of natural vegetation in Canada:
1. Tundra
2. Forest
3. Grassland
Which one is is found on the prairies?
Prairies Vegetation
Grasslands:
Located in the Southern part of ________, __________, __________?
Where are all the trees?
Why?
Prairie Vegetation (Grasslands)
Prairie Vegetation (Grasslands)
3 Sub-regions:
1. Short Grass Prairie: the warmest and driest area of the prairies, limited vegetation growth
2. Long Grass Prairie: area of increased precipitation, encourages growth of long grasses. Creates rich black soil (Humus)
3. Parkland: long grass prairie, dotted with clumps of trees. Increased precipitation.