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Chapter 3: G
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Agriculture and the environment C

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1. What is soil? G
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• Soil is a habitat for plants and other organisms that grow within it. A

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2. What are the four main ingredients

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of soil?
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 It is made up of several components. There are four main groups: R
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 Mineral particles, which are a combination of rock fragments and other A

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smaller inorganic (non-living) items N
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 Organic content, which is a mixture of living plants and animals and T

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their dead remains E

 Air, which is held within the spaces (pores) between the particles and E
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organic content of the soil V
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 Water is also held within the soil pores and is the water available for O
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plants to grow. M
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3. Where does all the soil come from?

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 Soil minerals form the basis of soil. T
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 They are produced from rocks (parent material) through the processes A

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of weathering and natural erosion. T

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 Water, wind, temperature change, gravity, chemical interaction, living E

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organisms and pressure differences all help break down parent R
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material. 4 E
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4. What are the different types of soil

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particles?
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5. What is essential for plant growth?

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Most plants require a combination of factors to grow successfully. U
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These include: A

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• The availability of important mineral nutrients to support plant growth T
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• Anchorage to hold the roots securely in one place
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• A supply of water V
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• Oxygen around the roots to enable the root cells to respire N
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