| A | B |
|---|
| conservation plowing | Soil conservation method in which the dead stalks are left in the ground to hold the soil in place. |
| contour plowing | Plowing fields along the curves of a slope to prevent soil loss. |
| crop rotation | The planting of different crops in a field each year. |
| decomposers | An organism that breaks down wastes and dead organisms. |
| desertification | The advance of desertlike conditions into areas that previously were fertile. |
| development | The construction of buildings, roads, dams, and other structures. |
| Dust Bowl | The area of the Great Plains where wind erosion caused soil loss during the 1930s. |
| fallow | Left unplanted with crops. |
| land reclamation | The process of restoring land to a more natural state. |
| litter | The loose layer of dead plant leaves and stems on the surface of the soil. |
| sod | A thick mass of grass roots and soil. |
| soil conservation | The management of soil to prevent its destruction. |
| soil horizon | A layer of soil that differs in color and texture from the layers above or or below it. |
| subsoil | The layer of soil beneath the topsoil that contains mostly clay and other minerals. |
| topsoil | Mixture ofhumus, clay, and other minerals that forms the crumbly, topmost layer of soil. |
