IB ESS Unit 5 - Soil Systems and Society

a complex ecosystem made up of minerals, organic material, gases and liquids which forms the habitat for many animals and plants

when water carries particles either up or down in the soil, forming layers

when water evaporates from soil, leaving minerals behind. This occurs when Precipitation < Evaporation

when water moves down through the soil, carrying dissolved minerals with it. This occurs when Precipitation > Evaporation

uppermost layer of newly added organic material

upper layer where humus builds up

when the decomposition of organic material is incomplete, forming layer of dark brown or black organic material

the layer where soluble minerals and organic matter are deposited from the layer above. In particular, clay and iron salts can be deposited here

a layer of mainly weathered rock from which soil forms

parent material (bedrock or other medium)

the amount of space between soil particles

the ease at which gases and liquids can pass through the soil

the provision of food by farmers for their own families or the local community - no surplus

growing crops for the market, not to eat yourself

large-scale production of crops or livestock for sale

a country with low to moderate industrialisation and low to moderate average GNP per capita

a highly industrialised country with a high average GNP per capita

the business of agricultural production including farming, seed supply, breeding, chemicals for agriculture, machinery, food harvesting, distribution, processing and storage

uses more land with a lower density of stocking or planting and lower inputs and outputs

uses land more intensively with high levels or input and output per unit area

raising animals usually on grass and on land that is not suitable for crops

growing crops on good soils to eat directly or to feed to animals

has both animals and crops and is a system where animal waste is used to fertilise crops and improve soil structure and some crops are fed to animals

when soil is either taken away of is made less suitable for use

when too many animals graze in the same area

when land is overused for growing crops, leading to a depletion of nutrients in the soil

fast growing crops to cover the soil

a method to reduce the steepness of slopes by replacing the slope with a series of horizontal terraces, separated by walls

breaking up the soil structure, temporarily increasing drainage

plowing and cultivating along the contour lines of the land

planting different crops in a rotation to help replenish nutrients in the soil

Climate

- Influences what can grow where

- Adapted by irrigation & greenhouses

Culture & Faith

- Some will not consume certain foods

- Traditions influence preference

Politics

- Government place subsidies or tariffs on foods to encourage/discourage production

Socio-Economics

- Markets determine supply & demand

Term used to explain bad nutrition that is due to an unbalanced diet

- Lacking

- In excess

- Unbalanced

- Poverty

- Poor infrastructure

- Extreme weather

- War

- Food waste

MEDC

- high food for small populace

- Cost of food is cheap

- People purchase food by choice/pref

- Diverse range of food available all year long

LEDC

- Low food supply for large populace

- Struggle to produce enough food to sustain their population

- Political, economic or environmental limitations on food production

- Cash crops (for export) rather than feeding population