Land Use and Soil Flashcards
6 cards from real Environmental Science practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Land Use and Soil flashcards as text
What is soil horizonation, and what does the 'O horizon' represent?
Answer: Vertical layering of soil; organic matter / surface litter
Soil horizons are distinct layers, and the O horizon is the topmost layer composed of decomposing organic matter and litter.
Which agricultural practice involves growing different crops in adjacent strips to reduce erosion and improve soil health?
Answer: Strip cropping
Strip cropping alternates strips of row crops with grass or grain, reducing wind and water erosion and improving soil structure.
What is desertification?
Answer: Degradation of dryland areas due to human activity and drought
Desertification is the process by which productive land in arid and semi-arid regions degrades into desert due to overgrazing, deforestation, and drought.
Which soil property describes its ability to hold water against drainage?
Answer: Field capacity
Field capacity is the amount of soil moisture held after excess water has drained away, representing available water for plants.
What does the Dust Bowl of the 1930s illustrate about land management?
Answer: The effects of poor soil conservation practices on agriculture
The Dust Bowl resulted from deep plowing and removal of native grasses on the Great Plains, which left topsoil vulnerable to wind erosion.
Which land use change is the leading cause of tropical deforestation globally?
Answer: Agricultural conversion (especially cattle ranching and soy)
Agricultural expansion — particularly for cattle pasture and soy cultivation — drives the majority of tropical forest clearing worldwide.