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Deciduous Tree

Unit 5 - Soil Systems & Terrestrial Food Production Systems & Societies

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Globe Showing Europe Africa

Unit 1 - Foundations Of Environmental Systems & Societies

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Herb

Unit 2 - Ecosystems & Ecology

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Flexed Biceps

Unit 3 - Biodiversity & Conservation

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Writing Hand

Unit 4 -Water & Aquatic Food Production Systems & Societies

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Cloud

Unit 6 - Atmospheric Systems & Societies

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Thermometer

Unit 7 - Climate Change & Energy Production

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Briefcase

Unit 8 - Human Systems & Resource Use

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Bar-Chart

Internal Assessment

If you started making a soil layer today and waited for it to grow just 30cm deep, you might have to wait up to 10,000 years! So next time you&rsquo;re feeling impatient, remember soil&rsquo;s got you beat.

<ul>
	<li>Outermost layer of Earth&#39;s surface.</li>
	<li>Mix of:
	<ul>
		<li>Weathered bedrock (called regolith) 🪨</li>
		<li>Organic matter (dead and alive stuff) 🍂🐜</li>
		<li>Air 🌬️</li>
		<li>Water 💧</li>
	</ul>
	</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>30 cm soil layer = 1,000 to 10,000 years to form.</li>
	<li>Soil forms sooo slowly, it&#39;s like that movie you watched which felt like it was never-ending. 🍿📽️</li>
	<li>Because of its sloth-like speed, it&rsquo;s a non-renewable resource.</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>Begins with weathering of bedrock into tiny particles.</li>
	<li>Then, there are these cool biological processes in the soil that take it to the next level! 🌱</li>
	<li>Things that influence the soil&#39;s development:
	<ul>
		<li>Bedrock type</li>
		<li>Climate (like if it&rsquo;s sunny or rainy) ☀️☔️</li>
		<li>Existing soil</li>
		<li>Land&rsquo;s shape (topography)</li>
		<li>Plants growing on it 🌿</li>
		<li>How the land&#39;s being used (farming, construction, etc.)</li>
	</ul>
	</li>
</ul>

Real-World Example: Imagine a rocky hillside in a rainy area vs a flat desert region. The soil in these two places will look, feel, and act totally different due to their different conditions.

<ul>
	<li>Soil can be as different as your moods on a Monday morning vs. a Friday evening.</li>
	<li>They can change a LOT even in small spaces, like within one single field!</li>
	<li>Why? Because even small changes in the bedrock, slope, or direction the land faces can affect soil.</li>
</ul>

Real-World Challenge: The next time you&#39;re out in a field, garden, or even your school ground, get your hands dirty and feel the soil. 🖐️ Notice its texture, moisture, and color. This is you getting up close and personal with thousands of years of Earth&#39;s work!

Don&#39;t just read about soil - interact with it! Dive deep, and you&#39;ll be amazed by its unique characteristics in different places. Now, go forth and be the coolest soil detective around! 🔍🌱

Soil Secrets: Formation to Fertility

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Standard Level

Environmental Systems & Societies SL

Unit 5 - Soil Systems & Terrestrial Food Production Systems & Societies

Soil Secrets: Formation to Fertility

Table of content

Quick fun fact🤓

What exactly is soil 🤔

The speed of soil formation 🐢 vs 🐇

Unlock the Full Content!

Unit 5 - Soil Systems & Terrestrial Food Production Systems & Societies

Soil Secrets: Formation to Fertility

Table of content

Quick fun fact🤓

What exactly is soil 🤔

The speed of soil formation 🐢 vs 🐇

Unlock the Full Content!