GEL 5150 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Soil Retrogression And Degradation, Saprolite, Hydrolysis
Document Summary
Storing and cycling of nutrients and chemical elements. Concerns about soil quality (soil degradation) a. b. c. d. Soil degradation is a global problem a. b. c. d. e. Approximately 50% of earth"s surface disturbed by human activity. Most is related to agriculture (~2. 8% earth"s surface is urban) Urban land (>500,000 people): 60-70% disturbed and sealed. Rcra (1976) hazardous waste; ep tox test; list of priority pollutants. Translocation (percolation) a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. N. d = denise (cd) very compacted, bulk density > 1. 6 g/cm^3 b. Non-residual = sediments (alluvial; glacial; lacustrine; eolian; colluvial) b. c. Well drained mineral soils evolve in a unidirectional manner. Color increase of age = increase of redness. Texture increase of age = increase amount of clay. Structure increase age = increase grade = increase size. Consistence increase age = decrease in stickiness = decrease in plasticity. Horizonation increase age = increase complexity, slum thick, bt thick f.