Unit 6 Vocabulary

1. Large gritty soil particles that do not hold water well and allow air and water to pass through quickly
2. The process where water carries dissolved nutrients down through soil and away from plant roots, sometime into groundwater.
7. Very small, fine soil particles that stick together, hold a lot of water, and become very hard and compact.
10. Collecting small amounts of soil from different areas to test and analyze its properties and nutrient content.
13. Dead plants, animals, and their waste that contains carbon and nutrients and help make soil healthier.
14. The ability of soil to allow water and air to pass through it, which depends on soil texture and structure.
15. The top layer of soil that is richest in nutrients and organic materials and is where most plants grow their roots.
17. The process where water soaks into and moved down through soil from the surface.
18. Managing and using natural resources like soil in a way that can continue for a long time without damaging the environment or running out of resources

1. The responsible care and management of land and resources, making choices that protect soil and the environment for future generations..
3. Dark, crumbly material made from decomposed plants and animals that improves soil structure and adds nutrients.
4. The ability of soil to provide nutrients that plants need to grow healthy and strong.
5. When soil becomes tightly packed and compressed, reducing pore space and making it harder for water and roots to move through.
6. The size and proportion of sand and clay particles in soil which affects how water moves through it
8. A balanced mixture of sand, silt, and clay that is considered ideal for growing plants because it drains well and holds nutrients.
9. A measurement of how acidic or basic soil is,which affects which nutrients plants can absorb and which organisms can live in the soil.
10. Medium-sized soil particles that are finer than sand but coarser than clay and can hold some water.
11. The amount of sat dissolved in soil which can harm plants if it is too high and prevent water from reaching plant roots.
12. the process where dead plants and animals break down into simpler materials and return nutrients to the soil.
16. The amount of empty space between soil particles where water and air can be stored and move through.