Soil / Land Use
Essential Topics:
I. Basic Soils
Knowledge
a. Formation
b. Drainage
c. Soil
horizonz
d. Hands-on
investigations
e. Soil
quality
II. Understanding Maps,
Surveys and Landforms
a. Soil
survey maps and data tables
b.
Topographic maps
c. Land forms
and geologic terms
III. Land Use
a.
Agriculture and conservation practices
b. Current
environmental concerns and land use issues
c. Soils and
history
d. Pollution
remediation
e.
Identification and benefits of wetlands
IV. Decision-Making and
Protection of Soils
a. Scenarios
b. Actions at
home and at school
Learning Objectives:
*Correlated with the Academic Standards and Assessment
Anchors for Environment and Ecology
After completing study on this issue, students will:
1. Describe the
relationship between soil formation and the movement of water both within the
soil and across the landscape.
* 4.1 Watersheds and Wetlands - 4.1.10.A, B, C
2. Describe how soil
characteristics are affected by water, and how to control water movement to
prevent erosion and pollution. Understand how topography, stream movement, and
drainage are related.
* 4.1 Watersheds and Wetlands - 4.1.10.B
3. Explain the
important of wetlands and hot to recognize potential wetland areas and hydric
soils.
* 4.1 Watersheds and Wetlands - 4.1.10.D, E
4. Explain the
importance of soils as a natural resource which must be managed properly in
order to sustain a healthy society. Understand that soils are in some ways
nonrenewable, and what effects gross mismanagement of soils has had
historically.
* 4.2 Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources - 4.1.10.A, B, C
5. Describe the effects
of human activity on soils and how soils can be used to clean up pollutants or
can become a major pollutant.
* 4.2 Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources - 4.1.10.C, D
6. Describe basic soil
chemical and physical properties and how they interact with other variables to
determine soil fertility or the ability of a soil to remediate pollution and
improve environmental health.
* 4.3 Environmental Health - 4.3.10.A, B
7. Explain how soil is
alive, and how biological diversity is important for soil health and hence
human, plant, and environmental health.
* 4.3 Environmental Health - 4.3.10.C
* 4.7 Threatened, Endangered and Extinct Species - 4.7.10.A
8. Explain the soil
food web and the different roles and survival strategies that various soil
microbial organisms develop within the soil environment.
* 4.7 Threatened, Endangered and Extinct Species - 4.7.10.B, C
9. Understand and be
able to describe the importance of soils to agriculture and soil quality
properties. Describe current research findings on best management practices to
maximize agricultural production, maintain and build soil health, and prevent
soil loss and pollution.
* 4.4 Agriculture and Society - 4.4.10.A, B, C, D
10. Use the soil survey
to evaluate the best crops to grow in a given area and what limitations certain
soils have to agricultural productivity. Also identify areas of prime farmland
that should be preserved.
* 4.4 Agriculture and Society - 4.4.10.C
11. Describe the
hydrologic, carbon, and nutrient cycles and how soil management relates to those
processes.
* 4.6 Ecosystems and their Interactions - 4.6.10.A, B
12. Explain how
societal needs, economic forces, and natural forces affect soil resources and
how we can ensure long term sustainability of soil health.
* 4.8 Humans and the Environment - 4.8.10.A, B, C, D
13. Explain historical
events that led to the creation of the soil conservation service.
* 4.9 Environmental Laws and Regulations - 4.9.10.A
14. Explain in detail
the role that geology plays in soil formation, the kinds of soils that are
formed, and their basic characteristics including texture, pH, color, and
structure.
* 3.5 Earth Sciences - 3.5.10.A
15. Describe the basic
geological features and rocks of the state of Pennsylvania and how they were
formed.
* 3.5 Earth Sciences - 3.5.10.A
16. Understand and
interpret geographical and geological information from topographic maps. Be able
to make some basic assumptions about appropriate land use from topographic and
geologic maps and information.
* 3.5 Earth Sciences - 3.5.10.A
17. Use a soil survey
or web-soil survey data to evaluate land use in Pennsylvania. Show how
information in soil surveys can help the land user predict or avoid problems
like sinkholes, or regions prone to landslides, flooding, drought, or soil
instability.
* 3.5 Earth Sciences - 3.5.10.B
18. Compare different
kinds of land uses and conservation practices on erosion and sedimentation.
* 3.5 Earth Sciences - 3.5.10.B
19. Explain how climate
is a major soil forming factor through it's affect on vegetation, organisms,
water, and weathering.
* 3.5 Earth Sciences - 3.5.10.C
20. Explain how soils
and soil management are integral to maintaining clean water and a healthy
aquatic environment.
* 3.5 Earth Sciences - 3.5.10.D
Assessment Anchors:
S11.A.2.1 Examine and interpret data and scientific research using soils knowledge.
S11.A.2.2 Demonstrate how to use web soil survey and printed survey to evaluate soil for the most appropriate land use. Understand how to use a basic pH kit to measure soil acidity and what the practical applications of that measurement are.
S11.A.3.1 Describe the hydrologic, carbon, and nutrient cycles and the role of soils in these systems. Explain the affect of human impact on these systems.
S11.A.3.3 Describe how soils occur in a predictable pattern depending on the soil forming factors.
S11.B.3.1 and S11.B.3.2 Describe the soil food web, the role different organisms play in the soil ecosystem, and the importance of soil microbial diversity to soil quality and productivity.
S11.B.3.3 and S11.D.1.2 Describe the impact of human activity on soils, soil health, soil productivity, and subsequent effect on environmental health and agricultural productivity. Describe land use patterns as it relates to soils.
S11.C.1.1 Understand and explain the physical and chemical properties of soils and how that relates to their chemical activity or the active fraction.
S11.D.1.1 Explain basic geological processes and how they relate to current landscape features, soil formation, and subsequent land use.
S11.D.1.3 Explain the role of soils to water quality as well as the role of water in soil formation.
S11.D.2.1 Understand the role of soils in the carbon cycle and how soil could be an important factor in offsetting carbon dioxide build up in the atmosphere.
Reference Material
The following references can be found on Envirothon Soil / Land use CD.
1. An Introduction to Soils of Pennsylvania
2. Soil Survey (York County)
3. Soil Quality Information Sheets (found on
the following website://soils.usda.gov/sqi/)
Soil Quality
Introduction
Indicators for Soil Quality Evaluation
Erosion
Organic Matter
Sediment Deposition
Soil Crusts
Compaction
Aggregate Stability
Salinization
Infiltration
Soil Biodiversity
Soil pH
Available Water Capacity
Pesticides
(rangeland not used in Pa.)
Hydrophobicity
4. Sustaining Our Soils and Society
6. Soil Biology Primer (use only chapter 1 "The Soil Food Web", pages 4-9
9.
Soil References for Landforms and Geologic
Terms
"Soil
Structure"
"Soil
Texture"
11. Cornell Soil pH kits - pH kits may be purchased from the Cornell University by visiting the following website: http://www.css.cornell.edu/soiltest/soil_testing/products.asp
14.
Web Soil Survey - Refer to the 2008
Current Issue CD
The web site is:
http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/