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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

<ul>
	<li>Happen mostly near the surface of the Earth.</li>
	<li>Crucial for the health and development of soils.</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>Plant leftovers turn into a dark, mysterious blob. Imagine it like the remains of your Halloween pumpkin a month later!</li>
	<li>Key Players in this Spooky Decomposition Party:
	<ul>
		<li>🍄 Fungi</li>
		<li>🌱 Algae</li>
		<li>🐜 Small insects</li>
		<li>🦠 Bacteria</li>
		<li>🪱 Worms</li>
	</ul>
	</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>Super wet conditions? The humification process forms peat! Think of peat as Mother Nature&#39;s own sponge.</li>
	<li>Real-World Example: Ireland&#39;s peat bogs. They&#39;ve been used as a source of fuel for centuries!</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>Humus (that dark blob from earlier) doesn&#39;t last forever. Over a long period, it breaks down, a process called mineralization.</li>
	<li>Mineralization releases nitrogenous compounds &ndash; important for plants!</li>
	<li>Did you know? Nitrogen is like a protein shake for plants, helping them grow strong and healthy.</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>Degradation, humification, and mineralization: The Holy Trinity of Soil Processes.</li>
	<li>They are always happening alongside each other, like three best friends who are always together.</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>Super crucial for mixing soils up, like a giant natural blender.</li>
	<li>Example: Earthworms! They wiggle around and mix the soil, making it rich and healthy. If the soil were cake, earthworms would be the mixers ensuring all ingredients combine perfectly.</li>
</ul>

💡 Remember: Soil is like a living, breathing thing. It changes, grows, and evolves. The organisms in it and the processes they drive make sure the earth stays fertile and able to support life. So, next time you step on the ground, remember the complex world beneath your feet!

Soil's Secret Life: Organic Changes Unearthed

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Standard Level

Environmental Systems & Societies SL

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

Soil's Secret Life: Organic Changes Unearthed

Table of content

Introduction to organic changes 🌱

Decomposition of plant litter (humification) 🍂

Peat formation 💦

Unlock the Full Content!

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

Soil's Secret Life: Organic Changes Unearthed

Table of content

Introduction to organic changes 🌱

Decomposition of plant litter (humification) 🍂

Peat formation 💦

Unlock the Full Content!