Why is soil management important?

Pg 172-173

Bellwork! Write the question and the answer on page 173

1. What ways did we discuss that people use land?

Why is soil management important? Pg 173

• Without soil, most life on land could not exist. Poor soil management can result in three problems: erosion, nutrient depletion, and desertification

• The process by which water, wind, or ice moves particles or rocks or soil is called erosion

• Soil that become less productive is called nutrient depletion

• The advance of desert-like conditions into areas that previously were fertile is called desertification

• One cause of desertification is climate. For example, a drought is a period when less rain than normal falls in an area

Getting down and dirty with soil

• Soil contains the minerals and nutrients plants need to grow

• It can take hundreds of years to form just a few centimeters of new soil.

• Soil also absorbs, stores and filters water. • Bacteria, fungi and other organisms in soil break down

wastes and remains

Soil Layers! Let’s discuss and label

Litter

Topsoil

Subsoil

Bedrock

Soil Layers! Let’s discuss and label when you’re done, staple to pg 172

Litter – top layer of dead leaves and

grass

Topsoil – mixture of rock fragments,

nutrients, water, air and decaying matter

Subsoil – below the topsoil, contains

rock fragments, water and air

Bedrock – all soil begins as bedrock,

the rock that makes ups Earth’s

crust

Apply it! Desertification affects many areas

around the world. Using the map, answer the questions in your notebook

on pg 172

Apply it! Desertification affects many areas around the world.

1. What is desertification?

2. What can cause desertification?

3. Name which continent has the most existing desert?

4. Where in the United States is the greatest risk of desertification?

5. Does desertification have any impact on Florida?

6. Is desertification a threat only in areas where there is existing desert? Explain your answer and use an area on the map to support it.

7. If an area is facing desertification, what are some things people could do to possibly limit its effects?

Exit Ticket! Write the answer on page 172

Now I get it! Now I know that soil management is important because…