the soil resource: foundation of terrestrial ecosystems
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The Soil Resource: Foundation of Terrestrial Ecosystems. The Soil Resource is:. 1. A dynamic natural body composed of mineral matter, organic matter, gases and living organisms in which plants grow. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Soil Resource: Foundation of Terrestrial
Ecosystems
The Soil Resource is:1. A dynamic natural body composed of mineral
matter, organic matter, gases and living organisms in which plants grow.
2. The collection of natural bodies occupying the Earth’s surface that support plants and have properties due to the integrated effects of climate and living organisms acting upon mineral material, as conditioned by relief, over periods of time.
Factors Influencing Soil Formation
1. Climate - Temperature & precipitation
2. Living Organisms - Animals (humans too), Plants, & Microorganisms
3. Parent Material - Physical & chemical properties of geologic materials
4. Topography - Landform, slope & aspect
5. Time - Duration over which climate and living organisms have influenced parent material
Old Growth Douglas-firOld Growth Douglas-firCoast Range in Western OregonCoast Range in Western Oregon
VegetationVegetation
SoilSoil
VegetationVegetation SoilSoil
Desert GrasslandDesert GrasslandGreat Basin, New MexicoGreat Basin, New Mexico
Pinyon-Juniper WoodlandPinyon-Juniper WoodlandNorthern New MexicoNorthern New Mexico
VegetationVegetation
SoilSoil
Alpine MeadowAlpine MeadowContinental Divide, ColoradoContinental Divide, Colorado
VegetationVegetation SoilSoil
Lodgepole Pine ForestLodgepole Pine ForestFront Range, ColoradoFront Range, Colorado
VegetationVegetation
SoilSoil
Shortgrass SteppeShortgrass SteppeCentral ColoradoCentral Colorado
VegetationVegetation
SoilSoil
Tallgrass PrairieTallgrass PrairieEastern KansasEastern Kansas
VegetationVegetation
SoilSoil
Oak SavannaOak SavannaNorthcentral WisconsinNorthcentral Wisconsin
VegetationVegetationSoilSoil
Northern Hardwood ForestNorthern Hardwood ForestNorthern Lake States & New EnglandNorthern Lake States & New England
VegetationVegetationSoilSoil
What Controls the Geographic What Controls the Geographic Distribution of Soil and Vegetation?Distribution of Soil and Vegetation?
Geological History: The Key to Geological History: The Key to Understanding the Occurrence of Understanding the Occurrence of
Vegetation and SoilVegetation and Soil
Geological History: The Key to Geological History: The Key to Understanding the Occurrence of Understanding the Occurrence of
Vegetation and SoilVegetation and Soil