Weathering, Erosion, and Soil

1. the wearing away of rock by other rock particles carried in water, ice, wind, or gravity
6. plowing fields along the curves of a slope to prevent soil loss
7. scale with values from 0 to 14, used to measure the concentration of H+ ions in a solution
9. a measure of how well soil supports plant growth
12. the loose, weathered material on earths surface in which plants can grow
15. the solid layer of rock beneath the soil
16. the layer of soil below topsoil
17. a method in which weeds and dead stalks from the previous years crop are plowed into the ground to help return nutrients, retain moisture, and hold the soil in
20. rich, fertile soil that’s made up of about equal parts of clay, sand, and silt
21. organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead organic matter

2. anything in the environment that humans use
3. the type of weathering in which rock is physically broken down into smaller pieces
4. the planting of different crops in a field each year to maintain the soils fertility
5. the layer of soil that differs in color and texture from the layers above or below it
6. the process that breaks down rock through chemical changes
8. the mechanical breakup of rock caused by the expansion of freezing water in cracks and crevices
10. the process of wearing down and carrying away rocks
11. a dark-colored substance that forms as plant and animal remains decay
13. the process that breaks down rocks and other substances at earths surface
14. the management of soil to prevent its destruction
18. a chemical change in which iron combines with oxygen forming rust
19. topmost layer of soil
22. a material is full of tiny, connected air spaces that allow water to seep through it