Soil improvers

strong alkaline substance) and special fertilizers in there soil neutralize the acid in the soil on a regular daily basis. In general, soil structure is classified as sandy, clay, or loam, although most garden soils are mixtures of the three in varying proportions. A sandy soil is very loose and will not hold water. A clay soil is dense and heavy, sticky when wet, and almost brick hard when dry. Loam is a mixture of sand and clay soils, but it also contains large quantities of humus, or decayed

New Zealand’s forests are one of its greatest natural resources, holding significant financial, physical, and spiritual value (DOC, 2013). These forests provide a significant trading resource (Perry, Oren, & Hart, 2008), directly influence soil and flora quality (West, 2006), and contribute to the cultural health of Maori by enhancing their whakapapa (or ‘Connection’ with the land) (Gallagher & Te Atawhai o te Ao, 2011). This resource, however, is under threat through poor management (Levack, Poole

other waste materials. The process lasted between the years 2005 to 2007. Presently, it is owned by a private general contractor, Demaximis Inc., that’s main purpose is to stabilize the site. The threat of problems for the population was high because soil over a mile from the nuclear dump at the site was radioactive. A 1993 study discovered the town's residents suffered higher rates of cancer than the state average. The most contaminated area on the site was adjacent to Camp Thoreau, which is a summer

crops and wildlife but does not completely destroy them. Causes and Physical processes of drought No one really knows why droughts happen. They could be affected by the shape of the land, by ocean currents, or by how moist the soil is. For example, The Kalahari and Sahara deserts in Africa are so far away from in land that no rains can reach them. Some people believe that drought is caused by a change in weather patterns and climate, including global warming

Study Questions:   1.) Why is sub-soiling needed in soils with hard pans? Sub-soiling is essential especially to hard pan layer because it will help the roots penetrate deep and be able to explore and obtain water and nutrients from larger volume of soil. Hard span obstructs root's downward proliferation and restricts root growth of crops (of crops that have vertical root growth). With sub-soiling, the needed soil depth, at least 80cm will be met . With sub-soiling, we can break hard pan without

Introduction African soils are extremely poor by nature, they consist of low organic matter as well as all major nutrients. Sub-Saharan Africa does not produce enough food to support their countries even in years of good harvest. Land degradation is exhibited as deforestation, decreasing biodiversity resources, soil moisture stress as well as soil erosion. The following report will be assessing the socio-economic as well as the environmental impacts of soil erosion and land degradation impacts in

Dolliver et al. (2007) investigated the effect of antibiotic usage on concentration of antibiotics due to manure use in the soil. Many farmers will add manure to their soils; in order to add nutrients to their crops. The farmer may not be aware that when they are adding the manure they may also be adding antibiotics. Sulfamethazine, a very important antibiotics used in livestock production, is given to the livestock and they release the antibiotics in their feces. In 2001, 400 tons of sulfamethazine

improving drainage, aerating soil, mixing the soil structure and decomposing material, when they are preyed apon by the New Zealand Flatworm they can completely disappear in severe cases and in those areas the land can become water logged and as a result growth of plants suffer and the whole ecosystem is effected . The worm is believed to have reached Ireland by the importation of exotic potted plants which contained the flatworms eggs mixed in throuh the potted soil. The worm has established itself

embankment as a result of water moving through the soil structure. If the seepage forces are

To begin, climate plays a major role in the creation and maintenance of soil. Firstly, wind can blow soil to a different area. In the 1930s, there was a drought in the prairies and topsoil blew away. The soil was dry and all the vegetation died, so it was light and the wind blew the topsoil away, exposing the subsoil. This greatly reduced the amount of topsoil in the prairies. Secondly, rain supports growth of plants, creating more humus from plant decay. In the west coast forest vegetation region