| A | B |
|---|
| bedrock | the solid layer of rock beneath the soil |
| biodegradable | capable of being brokendown by bacteria and other natural decomposers |
| composting | helpin the natural decomposition process to break down certain wastes |
| corrosive | able to dissolve or break down many other substances; strong acids are corrosive |
| crop rotation | the planting of differrent crops in a field each year |
| desertification | the advance of desertlike conditions into areas that previously were fertile |
| development | the construction of buildings,roads,dams, and other structures |
| erosion | the process by which water,ice,wind, or gravity moves fragments of rock or soil |
| explosive | capable of reacting very dropped |
| fallow | left unplanted with crops |
| flammable | capable of catching fire easily and burning |
| hazardous waste | a material that can be harmful if it is not properly disposed of |
| incineration | the burning of solid waste |
| land reclamation | the process of restoring land to a more natural state |
| leachate | water that has passed through buried wastes in a landfill |
| litter | the loose layer of dead plants and stems on the surface of the soil |
| municipal solid waste | waste produced in homes,businesses,and schools |
| nutrient depletion | the situation that arises when more soil nutrients are used than the decomposers can replace |
| recycling | the process of reclaiming and reusing raw materials |
| resin | solid material produced during oil refining that can be used to make plastics |
| radioactive | containg unstable atoms |
| sanitary landfill | a landfill that holds nonhazardous waste such as municipal solid waste and construction debris |
| subsoil | the layer of soil beneath the topsoil that contains mostly clay and other minerals |
| topsoil | mixture of hummus,clay,and other minerals that form the crumbly, topmost layer of soil |
| toxic | damaging to the health of humans or other organisms;poisonous |
