Sacred Balance Chapter 4 and Bonney Woods

• Soil Profile• Soil Ph• Soil biodiversity in the O horizon• Tree Species biodiversity

Chapter 4

Made From the Soil

Ch. 4 Main Concept Questions

What is the rock cycle and how is it connected to soil structure?

• What is the nitrogen cycle and why is it so important? • Focus on pages 124-137

• Sacred Balance Connection to Future of Food Movie • Focus on pages 143-155

Rock Cycle Terminology

• Lava Flow out of volcano leads to crystallization of magma to form igneous rock

• Erosion caused by wind and rain of solid rock to form sediment

• Transportation of sediments via rivers and streams

• Deposition of sediments: sediments settle at the bottom of the ocean

• Compaction and cementation: sediments compact due to pressure and cement due to mineral accumulation forming sedimentary rock

• Metamorphism: under heat and pressure sedimentary rock becomes metamorphic rock

• Melting of metamorphic rock

Rock Cycle

• Rock Cycle

• Rock cycle• Process of Weathering and Erosion• Responsible for the creation of soil• Biodiversity: Diversity of Life

• Biodiversity of soil• Increased soil biodiversity• Increased tree biodiversity

Ch. 4 Main Concept Question #2

• What is the nitrogen cycle and why is it so important? (pg. 80-82)

Nitrogen Cycle Terminology• Animal waste and Plant matter exist on the surface of the soil.• Decomposers (Bacteria and Fungi) break down animal waste and plant

matter and convert it to Ammonia (NH3)• Nitrosimonas bacteria convert Ammonia to Nitrite (NO2)• Nitrobacter bacteria convert Nitrite (NO2) to Nitrate (NO3) • Nitrates can be taken up directly by plants and are essential for plant

growth and reproduction• Atmospheric Nitrogen(N2) fixing bacteria exist on legume (bean) root

nodules and convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) to Ammonia (NH3)• Fertilizers contain nitrates to enhance plant growth and are added

directly to the soil• Atmospheric Nitrogen (N2) can be converted to Nitrite (NO2) by the

enormous energy from lightening. The lightening breaks the nitrogen molecules and enables their atoms to combine with oxygen in the air forming nitrogen oxide (NO). Nitrogen oxide dissolves in rain and forms Nitrates (NO3)

Sacred Balance

Trees from Fish??

Sacred Balance

• Soil Video

Ch. 4 Main Concept Question #3

• “Some ten thousand to twelve thousand years ago, human beings realized that seeds placed on or in soil would grow into plants that were useful to people. This realization led to the agricultural revolution, which fundamentally altered human behavior and provided the foundation of civilization.”

• What is happening to our food? (Future of Food Video) (pg. 98-104)

Future of Food

GMO Crops

Future of Food Guiding Questions Part 1

• How has agriculture changed over the last half of the 20th century?• Herbicides, Pesticides, Genetic Engineering “Green

Revolution”

• What is the problem with Patenting Life?• Corporate control• “Whoever controls the seeds controls the food”

Future Of Food Guiding Questions Part 2

• What is Genetic Engineering?

• Invading plant cells using bacteria and viruses to produce crops that are resistant to a variety of factors (including herbicides and pesticides)

• Cell invasion technology

• Flounder example

• Round-up ready corn

• How do scientists create genetically modified crops?

• Soil bacteria combined with E. Coli Bacteria

• Must get through Cell Wall

• Smuggle Foreign DNA using soil bacteria that causes tumors in plants• Stream of electricity causing holes in the plant cells• Cell gun containing particles of gold coated with the engineered DNA

Future of Food Guiding Questions Part 3• What are the potential effects of genetically modified foods?

• Allergic reaction • No labeling means corporations cannot be held responsible

• What can you do? • Buy Local• Be Informed• Make wise choices

• More Information• Community Supported Agriculture

• http://www.localharvest.org/• The Center for Food Safety

• http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/• Campaign Grass Roots Political Action

• http://www.thecampaign.org/• Family Farmed (Buy Local)

• http://www.familyfarmed.org/• GET INVOLVED IN MAINE

• http://www.gefreemaine.org/