SOIL RESOURCES

Chapter 6.2

SOIL RESOURCE

Do you think soil is a resource? Frodo

Soil resources

Soil is a resource

Many things you need depend on healthy soil

Food, Paper, Plants, etc

TOPSOIL

Topsoil The mineral- and

nutrient-rich portion of the soil is called topsoil

Topsoil is the upper, outermost layer of soil, usually the top 2 inches (5.1 cm) to 8 inches (20 cm). 

Topsoil

Topsoil is very important! Good topsoil absorbs

and holds the water that plants need.

Good topsoil is produced by many years of interactions between soil and plants

But topsoil can be damaged or lost quickly!

PROTECT

TOPSOIL

Deforestation

serena

Deforestation

The loss of forest,called deforestation ,can also harm soils.

Deforestation can lead to severe soil erosion. Soils and microclimates can change so much that trees cannot grow there again.

Deforestation There are about 2 million

trees chopped down every day. A lot of trees were used for papermaking,throwaway chopsticks……People infinitum to cut. Unfortunately,more than half of the world’s old-growth forests have already been lost.

Example

Loess Highlands

Shangrila

DeforestationAffect

People want to make more economic efficiency. They think nature’s resourse is inexhaustible ,and thy think they the ruler of the world. They are not aware of that doferestation will lead to many seriouse Consequence. The law system is imperfect. People have the wrong values and ethics.

trees be cut down nothing to hold…

soil be blown away

soil be washed into…

The area of desert is growing. desertification

-Soil Erosion-

DesertificationBy Ellen

What is desertification?

Lower land productivity caused by overfarming , overgrazing, seasonal drought, and climate change.

Why it happens? The most common cause of desertification is the over

cultivation of desert lands.

Over-cultivation causes the nutrients in the soil to be depleted faster than they are restored. Improper irrigation practices result in salinated soils, and depletion of aquifers.

Areas affected

Drylands occupy approximately 40–41% of Earth’s land area and are home to more than 2 billion people.

The Dust Bowl

A ranch in Boise City, Idaho, is about to be hit by a cloud of dry soil on April 15, 1935.

The Great Plains Today

SOIL USE AND SUSTAINABILIT

Y

Giovannate & Neo

statisticsThe forest coverage of the world is around 30%The desert coverage of the world is also around 30%

To reduce wateroff and erosion

Diffierent timeTo stop erosion and the loss of nutrient

Problem solving

I .Crop Rotation

II. Contour Plowing