Leaving Certificate Geography

  • Home
  • Physical Geography
    • Skills (Maps, Photos, Graphs) >
      • Ordnance Survey Map skills
      • Aerial photographs
      • Graph skills
    • Horizons Second Edition >
      • Chapter 1 Plate Tectonics
      • Chapter 2 Folding and Faulting
      • Chapter 3 Earthquakes
      • Chapter 4 Volcanoes
      • Chapter 5 The rock cycle
      • Chapter 6 Weathering
      • Chapter 7 The Karst Landscape
      • Chapter 8 Mass Movement
      • Chapter 9 Rivers
      • Chapter 10 Coastal Studies
    • Planet and People physical chapters >
      • Plate tectonics >
        • Plate Tectonics 2
        • Plate Tectonics 3
      • Rock Formation and Cycle >
        • Rocks
        • Rock types and their formation
        • Rock Cycle
        • Rock Cycle 2
        • The Rock Cycle 3
        • Rock Landscapes: Limestone
        • Intrusive and Extrusive volcanic landforms
        • Human interaction with the rock cycle
        • Tara Mines case study
      • Folding and Faulting
      • Weathering and Erosion
      • River processes and features
      • Glaciation
      • Coastal Studies >
        • Coastal Studies Ms. Carr
  • Regional Geography
    • Horizons Regional Chapters >
      • Chapter 22 Concept of a region
      • Chapter 23 The Western Region
      • Chapter 24 The Greater Dublin Area
      • Chapter 25 The Paris Basin
      • Mezzogiorno: Peripheral European region
      • Subcontinental India
    • Planet and People Regional Chapters >
      • Regional Geography Outline
      • Definition of Regions
      • Ireland: The Greater Dublin Region - Core
      • West of Ireland - Ms. Carr
      • The West of Ireland : Peripheral Region
      • Core region: Paris Basin
      • European Regions (Core Periphery) >
        • Paris Basin: Ms. Carr
        • Mezzogiorno - peripheral region
        • Mezzogiorno: European Peripheral Region
      • Subcontinental Region: India >
        • Introduction
        • India: Powerpoint
        • India: Secondary Activities
        • India: Tertiary Activities
        • India: Ms. Carr
      • EU enlargement
  • Elective: Human Environment
    • Folens: Human Elective >
      • Chapter One: Populations
      • Chapter 2 Human development and overpopulation
      • Chapter 3 The dynamics of settlement
      • Chapter 4 Migration
      • Chapter 5 Urban problems
      • Chapter 6 Urban settlement and planning issues
    • Planet and People: Human Elective >
      • Chapter 1: Population Studies >
        • Population test
      • Chapter 2 Overpopulation in Sudan >
        • Overpopulation question
        • Overpopulation and Resources
      • Chapter 3: Migration >
        • Migration Test
        • Student presentations
        • Student Presentations 2
      • Chapter 4 Settlement >
        • Settlement Patterns
        • Student work
        • Student work 2
      • Urban Sprawl-Introduction
      • Chaper 5 Three urban land use models >
        • Chapter 5: Land use change
      • Chapter 6 Urban problems in developed world cities
      • Chapter 7 Heritage Issues & Environmental Issues
      • Chapter 8 Urban planning strategies in Ireland >
        • Chapter 9 Developing world cities / counter-urbanisation
  • Culture and Identity (Hons)
    • Physical indicators of population
    • Cultural indicators of population
    • Nationality and Nation states
    • Case study: Switzerland
  • Geoecology (Hons)
    • Soils
    • Aridisoils
    • Brown earth soils
    • Latosols - Tropical rainforest soil
    • Soil Formation
    • Soil erosion - human activities
    • Soil erosion - preventative methods
    • Biome: Tropical rainforest
  • Field Investigation
    • 2013 field study
  • Exam and Papers
    • Leaving Cert Exam
    • Honours Paper
    • Ordinary Paper
    • What do I study?
  • Revision Centre
    • Physical Revision >
      • Physical Powerpoints
      • Plate tectonic questions
      • Volcano & Earthquake questions
      • Rock revision
      • River Revision
      • Glaciation Revision
    • Regional Revision >
      • Regional Powerpoints
      • EU expansion revision
      • European Regional Revision
    • Elective Revision >
      • Human Elective Powerpoints
      • Economic short questions (H&O)
    • Geoecology Option >
      • Geoecology Powerpoints
      • Geoecology questions
    • Sample Answers >
      • Sample Answers Outline
      • Physical: Sample Answers >
        • Waterfall: River Landform
        • Delta: River Landform
        • Cirques: Glacial landform
        • Drumlin: Glacial landform
        • Cave,Arch,Stack,Stump: Coastal landform
        • Beaches: Coastal landform
        • Isostatic and Eustatic Processes
        • Human control of natural processes
        • Impact of Flood Control
        • Impact of Coastal Management
        • Landform in a Karst landscape
        • Weathering and Erosion
      • Regional: Sample Answers >
        • Regions are areas defined by one or more criteria (two discussed)
        • Agriculture in Irish region influenced by factors
        • Development of agriculture in Mezzo influenced by factors
        • Development of agriculture in Paris Basin influenced by factors
        • Development of secondary activities in a Core Region
        • Industry in The Greater Dublin Area
        • The Gaeltacht
        • Climatic Region: The Cool Temperate Oceanic Climate
        • Tertiary activities in the Paris Basin
        • Two EU policies and their impact
        • EU expansion and the impact on a member state
        • The defining role of Culture (India)
        • Urban Growth : Kolkata, India
        • Growth of an urban area Paris
        • Culture defining a region - India -outline
      • Elective: Sample Answers >
        • Migration
        • Overpopulation
        • Three Urban Models
        • Geoecology: Sample Essays >
          • Soil Formation
          • Characteristics of soil
          • How human activities can accelerate soil erosion
          • Natural processes and soil
          • Tropical rainforest biome
          • Human interaction with a biome
        • Urban problems and solutions
        • Map work: Location of a Town
      • Swapped powerpoints
  • General Information
    • Geography at Leaving Cert level
  • Home
  • Physical Geography
    • Skills (Maps, Photos, Graphs) >
      • Ordnance Survey Map skills
      • Aerial photographs
      • Graph skills
    • Horizons Second Edition >
      • Chapter 1 Plate Tectonics
      • Chapter 2 Folding and Faulting
      • Chapter 3 Earthquakes
      • Chapter 4 Volcanoes
      • Chapter 5 The rock cycle
      • Chapter 6 Weathering
      • Chapter 7 The Karst Landscape
      • Chapter 8 Mass Movement
      • Chapter 9 Rivers
      • Chapter 10 Coastal Studies
    • Planet and People physical chapters >
      • Plate tectonics >
        • Plate Tectonics 2
        • Plate Tectonics 3
      • Rock Formation and Cycle >
        • Rocks
        • Rock types and their formation
        • Rock Cycle
        • Rock Cycle 2
        • The Rock Cycle 3
        • Rock Landscapes: Limestone
        • Intrusive and Extrusive volcanic landforms
        • Human interaction with the rock cycle
        • Tara Mines case study
      • Folding and Faulting
      • Weathering and Erosion
      • River processes and features
      • Glaciation
      • Coastal Studies >
        • Coastal Studies Ms. Carr
  • Regional Geography
    • Horizons Regional Chapters >
      • Chapter 22 Concept of a region
      • Chapter 23 The Western Region
      • Chapter 24 The Greater Dublin Area
      • Chapter 25 The Paris Basin
      • Mezzogiorno: Peripheral European region
      • Subcontinental India
    • Planet and People Regional Chapters >
      • Regional Geography Outline
      • Definition of Regions
      • Ireland: The Greater Dublin Region - Core
      • West of Ireland - Ms. Carr
      • The West of Ireland : Peripheral Region
      • Core region: Paris Basin
      • European Regions (Core Periphery) >
        • Paris Basin: Ms. Carr
        • Mezzogiorno - peripheral region
        • Mezzogiorno: European Peripheral Region
      • Subcontinental Region: India >
        • Introduction
        • India: Powerpoint
        • India: Secondary Activities
        • India: Tertiary Activities
        • India: Ms. Carr
      • EU enlargement
  • Elective: Human Environment
    • Folens: Human Elective >
      • Chapter One: Populations
      • Chapter 2 Human development and overpopulation
      • Chapter 3 The dynamics of settlement
      • Chapter 4 Migration
      • Chapter 5 Urban problems
      • Chapter 6 Urban settlement and planning issues
    • Planet and People: Human Elective >
      • Chapter 1: Population Studies >
        • Population test
      • Chapter 2 Overpopulation in Sudan >
        • Overpopulation question
        • Overpopulation and Resources
      • Chapter 3: Migration >
        • Migration Test
        • Student presentations
        • Student Presentations 2
      • Chapter 4 Settlement >
        • Settlement Patterns
        • Student work
        • Student work 2
      • Urban Sprawl-Introduction
      • Chaper 5 Three urban land use models >
        • Chapter 5: Land use change
      • Chapter 6 Urban problems in developed world cities
      • Chapter 7 Heritage Issues & Environmental Issues
      • Chapter 8 Urban planning strategies in Ireland >
        • Chapter 9 Developing world cities / counter-urbanisation
  • Culture and Identity (Hons)
    • Physical indicators of population
    • Cultural indicators of population
    • Nationality and Nation states
    • Case study: Switzerland
  • Geoecology (Hons)
    • Soils
    • Aridisoils
    • Brown earth soils
    • Latosols - Tropical rainforest soil
    • Soil Formation
    • Soil erosion - human activities
    • Soil erosion - preventative methods
    • Biome: Tropical rainforest
  • Field Investigation
    • 2013 field study
  • Exam and Papers
    • Leaving Cert Exam
    • Honours Paper
    • Ordinary Paper
    • What do I study?
  • Revision Centre
    • Physical Revision >
      • Physical Powerpoints
      • Plate tectonic questions
      • Volcano & Earthquake questions
      • Rock revision
      • River Revision
      • Glaciation Revision
    • Regional Revision >
      • Regional Powerpoints
      • EU expansion revision
      • European Regional Revision
    • Elective Revision >
      • Human Elective Powerpoints
      • Economic short questions (H&O)
    • Geoecology Option >
      • Geoecology Powerpoints
      • Geoecology questions
    • Sample Answers >
      • Sample Answers Outline
      • Physical: Sample Answers >
        • Waterfall: River Landform
        • Delta: River Landform
        • Cirques: Glacial landform
        • Drumlin: Glacial landform
        • Cave,Arch,Stack,Stump: Coastal landform
        • Beaches: Coastal landform
        • Isostatic and Eustatic Processes
        • Human control of natural processes
        • Impact of Flood Control
        • Impact of Coastal Management
        • Landform in a Karst landscape
        • Weathering and Erosion
      • Regional: Sample Answers >
        • Regions are areas defined by one or more criteria (two discussed)
        • Agriculture in Irish region influenced by factors
        • Development of agriculture in Mezzo influenced by factors
        • Development of agriculture in Paris Basin influenced by factors
        • Development of secondary activities in a Core Region
        • Industry in The Greater Dublin Area
        • The Gaeltacht
        • Climatic Region: The Cool Temperate Oceanic Climate
        • Tertiary activities in the Paris Basin
        • Two EU policies and their impact
        • EU expansion and the impact on a member state
        • The defining role of Culture (India)
        • Urban Growth : Kolkata, India
        • Growth of an urban area Paris
        • Culture defining a region - India -outline
      • Elective: Sample Answers >
        • Migration
        • Overpopulation
        • Three Urban Models
        • Geoecology: Sample Essays >
          • Soil Formation
          • Characteristics of soil
          • How human activities can accelerate soil erosion
          • Natural processes and soil
          • Tropical rainforest biome
          • Human interaction with a biome
        • Urban problems and solutions
        • Map work: Location of a Town
      • Swapped powerpoints
  • General Information
    • Geography at Leaving Cert level

Composition and Characteristics of soil.

The scientific study of soil is called pedology. Soil is composed of both organic and inorganic matter, and it is essential for life on earth to exist. The soil type that i have studied is brown earths. Brown earths are the most common soil type in Ireland and are very fertile. Soils are a composition of mineral particles 45% , organic matter 5% , air 25% , and water 25% .

Mineral Particles:
Mineral particles are the largest ingredient and make up approx 45% of soils . They are the original rock that got broken down by weathering and erosion to form the basis of soil. The type of rock that was broken down to form it is called the parent rock. The broken down rock produces minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and potassium in the soil on which the plants feed. The parent material influences the soil colour, depth, texture and ph value

Organic Matter:
Organic matter is decayed vegetation that is broken down by micro organisms in the soil to form humus . Humus is a dark jelly like substance that binds the soil together and improves its texture. It increases the soils ability to retain moisture. Brown earths develop in area of deciduous woodland where there is an abundance of plant litter available to decay. Brown earth soils are also found where temperatures average zero for less than 3 months of the year and rarely exceed 21 degrees. These conditions allow for microorganisms to thrive. The colour of the soil is an indication of the amount of organic material it contains with darker soils having more organic content. Humus is plentiful in brown earths

Air and Water:
Air is vital for the survival of micro-organisms and without theses, there would be a shortage of humus. Brown earths have a granular structure which allow for good aeration. Plants cannot survive without water present in the soil .Mineral particles are soluble in water and the roots of plants can only absorb the nutrients of them after they have been dissolved
Characteristics of brown earths :
Brown earths are usually 2 metres deep and have 4 horizons . The A horizon has a thick layer of dark humus. There is a plentiful supply of micro organisms which mix the soil well and leave no distinct boundary between the A and B horizons. The B horizon is similar but with a lighter brown colour. The C horizon has a n accumulation of clay and broken down rock. The bottom layer is the bedrock
Brown earths are fertile and very suitable for agriculture. Their suitability for agriculture are due to their characteristics of good texture, dark colour, and ph value .


Texture:
Texture is how a sol feels when you touch it. The proportions of sand silt and clay determines the soils texture. The texture determines how well moisture and roots can penetrate the soil and how well excess moisture can drain away. The ideal combination for soil texture is roughly 40% sand, 40% silt, and 20% clay creating what is known as a loam soil. Brown earths fall into this category. They have a well-developed crumb structure which allows water air and organisms pass through it easily, and roots can spread out in it easily. Water retention is good as it is soaked up by the crumbs of the soil and nutrient retention is good also. They also have good drainage and aeration properties. Loam soils such as brown earths are ideal for cultivation

Colour:
Lighter coloured soils deflect sunlight while dark soils absorb more light. This allows the soil to heat up much more quickly and encourages seed germination and crop growth, Heat is also important in the humification process. Brown earths have a high humus content which makes it a darker soil and thus supports good crop growth

PH Value:
PH scale measure the acidity of a substance. The ideal PH value for agriculture is 6.5 which is slightly acidic. A soil which is too acidic lacks calcium and potassium which are essential for growth and has low levels of organisms which are vital for humification. Soils which are quite acidic are peaty soils which have a ph value of less than 4and are found mainly in the mountainous areas of the west. They have suffered from leaching and tend to be waterlogged also. Brown earths have a ph value of between 5 and 7, ideal values that are known to be very fertile supporting a wide variety of plant life

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