14.2 Why Soil is Important
In this section you will find materials that support the implementation of 14.2: Why Soil is Important. Use the navigation below to find the materials.
Section Materials
Visions of Earth, by AGI
A four-DVD set on interactions in Earth systems.
Organic
Matter in Soil, by USDA-NRCS
This site reviews the basics of organic content in the soil of your backyard
garden.
Soil Quality Indicators, by
NRCS
This PDF (you must have Adobe Acrobat to view this file) explains how
organic material is incorporated into soil and why it is important.
Soil
Minerals, by
Forest Preserve District of Cook County (Illinois), NEWTON
This online article reviews the major constituents of soil, with a focus
on the elements which are essential for plant growth.
Soil Biology and Soil Management, by
University of Minnisota
Discusses five basic components of soil: air, water, minerals, organic
matter, and biology.
Soil
pH Preferences for Selected Landscape Plants, by
University of Minnesota Extension Service
This is a very useful pH preference chart for common landscape plants,
organized by Latin names.
Soil Quality Indicators, by
NRCS
This PDF (you must have Adobe Acrobat to view this file) explains what
pH is, what controls soil pH, how soil pH is measured, and more.
Soil
pH Modification, by
University of Minnesota Extension Service
This site discusses pH and plant growth requirements.
Visions of Earth, by AGI
82 High-definition animations showing a variety of Earth and space system processes.
Soil Moisture, by University of Oregon
Animation uses data from NCAR to illustrate how moist soil gets through a year.
Mechanical Weathering, by TERC
Observe the effects of mechanical weathering.
Chemical Weathering, by TERC
Observe the chemical weathering of feldspar to clay.
Weathering, by University of Kentucky
Weathering: physical and chemical mechanisms explained and illustrated
Investigation 14.2 