| A | B |
|---|
| weathering | the process that breaks down rocks |
| mechanical weathering | type of weathering that breaks down by physical process |
| chemical weathering | type of weathering that occurs when chemical reactions dissolve minerals in rocks |
| surface area | as more of this is exposed, more weathering of different types occur |
| ice wedging | when water gets into cracks and freezes breaking apart rocks |
| soil | a mixture of weathered rock, decayed organic matter, mineral fragments, water and air |
| humus | the best part of soil that is dark colored decayed organic matter that supplies nutrients to plants, found in top soil |
| soil profile | different layers of soil put together in a stack |
| horizon | found on top of the ground, helps slow down soil erosion, consists of twigs, leaves, roots, and dead organisms |
| leaching | removal of minerals that have been dissolved in water in the A horizon, then move down to the B horizon and reform |
| overgrazing | when animals graze down to bare soil |
| no till farming | when farmers leave the stalks in the ground from the previous year and do not till their land |
| contour farming | planting along the natural shape of the land |
