Soils

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

is any process which involves decrease in water content of a saturated soil without replacement of water by air. Reduction in volume takes place by expulsion of water under long term static loads. It occurs when stress is applied to a soil that causes the soil particles to pack together more tightly, therefore reducing its bulk volume. When this occurs in a soil that is saturated with water, water will be squeezed out of the soil. [wiki] There are 3 stages in consolidation, 1. Initial consolidation

describe the down slope movement of soil, rock, and other earth materials under the effects of gravity and also the landform that results from such movement. 2.Occurrence of Landslides. Landslides can occur virtually anywhere in the world, where climate, precipitation, bedrock and soil conditions and slopes are susceptible to failure. Landslides can occur under water too, along continental slopes and deep sea fans. Landslide can occur in bedrock or on soils; agricultural lands, barren slopes

Life Support Systems Abstract The interactions between plant diversity, microbes, and overall plant health is not fully understood here on Earth nor in space. There have been studies on these interactions in hydroponic type systems and traditional soil based systems each coming to varying conclusions and none really uncovering a clear path forward. I read through many articles on plant-microbe interactions, plant disease in hydroponic systems, and plant health with relation to plant diversity and

“Soil classification is the categorisation of soils into groups at various levels of generalisation according to their physical, chemical and mineralogical properties” (Boul et al 2011:34). The formation and subsequently the classification of soil has been at the forefront of geological scientific research since its emergence in the 19th Century. Over the course of this essay I will be considering the various classifications of soils as well as overcoming management problems they may entail. How

The Effect of different soil types on plant growth Introduction Australian Gardeners are continually looking for better and cheaper options to improve the growth in their gardens. In Chinchilla, it is common to see rich vibrant coloured loam, but this is not suited to all plants. Common gardeners will find that it is important to understand what soil type they are on and how the climate conditions that surround the area may affect the growth of the plants they wish to establish, which contributes

part of the water supply comes from the soil (Larcher, 1995, p.223).” Many factors affect nutrient availability, all of which are interlinked and are vital in the overall cycle of nutrients. For example, the ability of water to transport nutrients to the rhizosphere unimpeded is important. A factor which is considered to be central to nutrient cycling is the soil micro-organisms, which break down soil organic matter (SOM), releasing nutrients back into the soil through mineralization. If nutrients are

Since the time of Darwin (1881), there has been a general perception that the earthworms are beneficial ecosystem engineers that significantly influence soil processes and ecosystem functioning. This has been shown in agricultural systems over the years, where earthworms increase nutrient transformation and plant nutrient uptake (Syers and Springett 1984; Edwards 2000). In addition, earthworms have been put to a use in organic waste management (Edwards 2000). Despite these beneficial effects in agriculture

Pazcoguin Soil Erosion Research Report The topic I chose for the science fair is soil erosion, which is the process of rocks and soil being slowly weathered away. Soil erosion often pushes the soil downhill, and often times contaminated soil will get into our water-ways, causing pollution. It is also said that up to 80% of Earth's agricultural soil can be affected by soil erosion. This can be very unhealthy for the economy, and can be harmful to future agriculture as well. Factors that affect soil erosion

Soil-nailed and ground anchored systems, which respectively are classified as passive and active anchorages, are efficient stabilizing technics for slopes and excavations which have been widely used throughout the world in recent three decades. Ground anchored walls, are also referred to as “tieback walls”, can be more practical especially when lateral movements control are critical, for example where a sensitive structure exists near an excavation (Lazarte et al. 2015). The method involves some