ExploringSoils-magazine

Contents What’s the same about these soils? What’s different? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Where do we find soil? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 . What does soil look like? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6. What is soil made of? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 How does water affect soil? . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 0 What happens when soil is too wet? . . . . . . . 1122 How well does soil absorb water? . . . . . . . . 1144

Note: The terms in red text can be found in the Glossary on page 32. Where do we find wet soil? . . . . . . . . . . . 166 How does soil help living things? . . . . . . . . 18 How do living things affect soil? . . . . . . . . . 2200 Water! Where are you taking my soil? . . . . . . 222 How can water affect the nutrients in soil? . . . 2244 What do we make with soil? . . . . . . . . . . . 2266 Can you find the products made from soil? . . . 2288 Why should we protect our soil? . . . . . . . . 3300 Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322

What’s the same about these Soil comes in many forms.Tiny pebbles, grains of sand, and chunks of clay can all be mixed into a scoop of soil. Soil can also be made of gravel or huge boulders jutting out from a hilly landscape. What do you know about soil? What would you like to find out? Small loose rock called scree is found on this lookout point in Gros Morne National Park. Rocky beaches are common in Newfoundland and Labrador. Sandy Cove, Bonavista Bay, is known for its sandy beach. Sand is a type of soil. What does sand feel like? 2

soils? What’s different? The soil in Flatrock contains large boulders. The Skerwink Trail on the Wildflowers like lupins grow well in the hard-packed Bonavista Peninsula has gravel soil in Heart’s Content. Where have you seen soft, rich, moist soil. What wildflowers before? do you think it smells like? 3

Where do we find Soil is in many places. It’s Rocky tundra on mountains, beaches, in Saglek Fjord in and farmers’ fields. It’s Torngat Mountains also in the forest and at the roadside. Sometimes National Park. soil is hidden beneath a layer of grass, concrete, Fine grey sand or wood. at Shallow Bay, Soggy soil sits at the Gros Morne bottom of bodies of water, National Park. such as ponds and lakes. Rivers and streams can carry tiny pieces of soil called particles to other places. Soil covers our province, our country, and our planet. You’ll find different types of soil in different areas. 4

soil? Limestone barrens at Port au Choix National Historic Site on the Great Northern Peninsula. Rugged sandstone cliffs and a rocky beach at Port Rexton. Wetland soil in the Codroy Valley can be mucky, squishy, and spongy. It is often covered by water. Sand dune at Deadman’s Cove, Harbour Breton. 5

What does soil Soil contains broken-up pieces of rock. This dirt road is made Some pieces are large, while others from hard-packed are small and powdery. Most soil is a gravel and sandy soil. mixture of different textures, shapes, and particle sizes. Soil from different places often contains different minerals. The minerals affect the colour of soil. How many colours of soil can you find in these pictures? A loader scoops gravel to make a road. These round beach rocks have been smoothed and shaped by waves. Dark, rich soil is good for farming. Topsoil is often used to make flowerbeds, lawns, and gardens. 6

look like? dark soil red soil You can use your senses to explore different kinds of soil.What do soils look like? Do they have a smell? What do they feel like when you touch them? Soil can contain a mixture of textures. Soil can have different sizes of particles. grey soil sandstone soil 7

What is soil made of? Look closely at some soil. cobbles and What do you see? Are boulders there pebbles or cobbles? Are tiny particles visible? Soil How big are they? pebbles rroocckk ppaarrttiicclleess ((ssaanndd,, ssiilltt,, aanndd ccllaayy)) silt wwaatteerr Silt has much smaller particles than sand. Clay has even smaller particles. You’ll need a magnifying glass or microscope to see the particles in silt and clay. Check out these photos of different types of soil. What do you see? 8

Components organic matter oorrggaanniicc mmaatttteerr All soil begins as rock. aaiirr Over a very long time, large rocks break down into smaller and smaller pieces. But soil is more than just tiny particles of rock. Soil is a mixture of rock, air, water, and organic matter. When organic matter such as dead animals and plants decay, it makes humus. It is humus that gives soil a dark rich colour and provides nutrients. 9

How does water What does dry sand feel like? How do you think Have you ever tried to build with water affects other dry sand? What do you think types of soil? would happen? How could you make sand stick together? Using wet, sloppy sand, you can make a drip castle with lumpy towers. Or, with slightly damp sand, you can use containers as moulds to make a strong castle with identical towers. 10

affect soil? With your fingers—and toes—you can feel how much water is in soil. With just the right amount of water, soil will form clumps. Is there an ideal amount of water to make soil clump? Why is it easy to write in wet sand? Wet sand-and-pebble beach at Gros Morne National Park. 11

What happens when you walk on a wet, muddy trail? Heavy equipment can get stuck in mud. Most crops can’t grow on waterlogged fields. But, over many seasons, floodwater refreshes and renews soil. In this way, water can 12 keep farming soil healthy.

This field is very wet and muddy. How do you dress for walking on a wet trail? Wet soil is good for making mud pies! Soil is made up of many different-sized particles. The larger the particles, the more air there is between them.These spaces allow more water to flow through the soil when it rains. 13

Hswoowialwatebellsrdoor?ebs A mixture of different types of soil is called loam. Sandy loam Rain waters contains more sand than silt this plant and the and clay. Clay loam contains more clay than sand and silt. soil it lives in. Different mixtures of soil can The soil under absorb different amounts of this grass holds a water. Some can absorb and hold a lot of water. Others lot of water. hold very little.They allow the water to flow through and drain away quickly. Which soil mixture do you think is best for growing plants? Why do you think that? 14

Pebble beaches are made of large particles of soil. Pitcher plants live in very wet soil conditions such as marshes and fens. Did You Know? The pitcher plant is the provincial flower of Newfoundland and Labrador. 15

You know that soil gets wet after rain, but some soil is able to stay moist for a long time between rainfalls.There are many places to find soil that is wet. From beaches and bogs WWhheerreeddoowweefifinnddto meadows and riverbanks, moist soil wweett ssooiill??is common in our province. A wooden walkway covers over a bog. Where do we find wet soil? Wet soil and rocks sit at the bottom of 16 many streams.

Swampy meadows and small ponds have wet soil. Beaches are often wet. Cows can find 17 wet soil in a muddy pen!

How does soil help living things? Animals Tiger swallowtails get nutrients from soil. • Soil contains moisture that animals need Moose eat tender to survive. plants that grow in the soil at the • Soil contains nutrients bottom of a pond. that animals need to Red foxes make be healthy. their dens in soil. • Plants we eat grow in soil. Many animals eat berries, fruit, leaves, and bark to keep healthy and to stay alive. • Many animals, like foxes, make their homes in soil. Some birds use soil in their nests. Cliff swallows use mud to build their nests. 18

Cloudberries, or bakeapples, Plants grow in the soil of wetland areas such as bogs. • Soil contains moisture, which is essential for plants to thrive. Soil’s ability to hold moisture helps plants survive during times of drought. • Soil has important nutrients that plants need. The nutrients in soil help plants produce healthy fruits. • Nearly all plants grow in soil. Even water plants anchor their roots in soil, at the bottom of rivers and lakes. Yarrow grows in the Did You Know? limestone barrens. Dandelions thrive Some plants can now be in clay soil. grown without soil using a process called hydroponics. Plants are anchored in a material like gravel. Then water containing dissolved plant food is pumped into the system. The plants’ roots draw up nutrients from this water, which allows them to grow. 19

How do living things affect soil? 20

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so i l ?WhWereaatreeyrou!taking my Moving water is a powerful force. It has the power to lift soil and move it to different areas. This can change the shape of the land. a fast-flowing brook waves pound against the cliffs a storm on a lake a forest waterfall 22

12 34 What has happened? 23

Htheonwutcrainenwtsaintseorila?ffect Healthy soil for The ruts or growing plants is soil “drills” between that drains well. But it these rows of also needs to contain potatoes help nutrients.Too much keep the soil water can flush away from washing the nutrients in soil. away. 2244 Brown river water is often carrying particles of soil.

This cornfield looks healthy after rain. Rainwater can affect the balance of minerals in the soil. Like rain, soil can be acidic or basic. Some plants such as carrots, corn, and garlic grow best in acidic soil. Plants that prefer basic soil include beans, beets, and cabbage. Scientists test the acidity of Cabbage plants thrive in this soil with a soil testing kit to moist, nutrient-rich soil. make sure plants are growing in the best type of soil. What can we test with a soil testing kit? Scientists can also test to see if the soil is healthy or if 25 it needs fertilizer to provide some missing nutrients for growing crops. Scientists test to find out what minerals are in soil.They can find out if soil samples contain any poisons.

What do we make with soil? Soil is used to create a variety pottery dishes of products people use. For example, pottery dishes can clay beads be made from clay. Jewellery paints beads are often made of clay or glass. Some types of powdered soil can also be used for makeup and even to create colour for paints. makeup vegetables We also use soil to grow many plants for food. Growing other crops, such as cotton, allow us to make clothes like T-shirts and jeans for people to wear. cotton jeans 26 T-shirt

Soil is used to make many other useful things.We use soil to mix concrete cement that is used to build structures like skyscrapers, bridges, homes, and swimming pools. Clay is used to make bricks for building homes, fireplaces, and patios. brick Builders use cement to glue the bricks together. Did You Know? medicine Soil also helps people stay healthy. Nutrients, such as zinc, calcium, and iron, can be taken from soil. They are used to make vitamins and medicines. Peat is a type of soil made peat pots from humus. Peat can be found in bogs. It breaks down easily and is rich with nutrients. It is dried and used in tiny peat pots for seedlings. Sometimes peat is burned as a source of heat in homes, or as fuel in paper mills or factories. 27

Can you find the products made from soil? 28

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Wphryostheoculdt woeur soil? We couldn’t survive without foods A geologist grown in soil and many products made working from soil. It’s important to keep soil outdoors. healthy so that we can grow enough food. By keeping soil clean and protecting it from pollution, we make sure all plants and animals have access to healthy foods and safe homes. Some scientists spend their lives Soil scientists at work. working with soil. Geologists are scientists who study rocks, soil, and Soil scientists are soil processes like erosion that shape experts.They know many Earth.They spend a lot of time facts about soil, and they test working outside, and and analyze soil samples. investigating soil. The hard work of these An ecologist An ecologist scientists helps us learn studies the testing pond more about soil and how to relationship water. protect it.Who else works with soil? between living things and their environment. 30

When we keep soil healthy, we help plants thrive. What can you do to help keep our soil healthy? You can turn your fruit Planting trees is one and vegetable scraps into way to protect soil. compost. When you mix Never throw your garbage these scraps with soil, you on the ground. create humus that can give nutrients to the soil. 31

Glossary clay: a type of soil with very fine rock fragments; can be shaped when wet and dries hard compost: living material, such as plant matter, that is dead and breaking down or decaying; used to fertilize soil decay: living things breaking down or decomposing fertilizer: material containing nutrients or organic matter used to make soil more fertile (able to grow more plants) humus: the decayed organic material of soil; gives soil a rich, dark colour loam: a type of soil with varying amounts of sand, silt, and clay; may also contain humus nutrients: minerals from soil and dissolved in water; taken up by the roots of plants and used as food organic matter: living organisms and dead or decaying organisms particle: a very small piece of material sand: a type of grainy soil made up of loose small pieces of rock (larger than silt or clay) silt: a type of soil with very fine pieces of rock (larger than clay but smaller than sand) topsoil: upper layer of soil that is rich in nutrients 32

Answers for back cover Answer key for pages 28-29: Can you find the products made from soil? What did the sea say What did the soil Pottery: earthenware pots to the sand? do after school? and mugs; stoneware teapot and pitchers; porcelain Answer Answer dinnerware (plates and bowls) Nothing. It just waved. It had a claydate. What’s a vole’s What do you call it Glass: beads, bead case, favourite game? when worms take ornaments, lantern, over the world? window panes, eyeglasses Answer Answer Clay: jewellery, modelling Hide and squeak. clay in packages Global worming. What did the big Other: makeup, craft paint, flower say to the vitamins, ceramic dog little flower? statues, floor tiles; metal spoon Answer From plants grown in soil: What’s up, Bud? sunflower seeds; popcorn; potato chips; T-shirts; Grade 3: Unit 1: Exploring Soils Magazine postcards; wooden bowls, Copyright © 2018 Scholastic Canada Ltd. wooden spoon rack, 175 Hillmount Road, Markham, Ontario, wooden counter, shelves, Canada L6C 1Z7 and window frames; barrel Written by Jill Bryant Photos ©: cover: funnyangel/Shutterstock; inside cover top left: Kevin M. McCarthy/Shutterstock; inside cover top right: GalapagosPhoto/Shutterstock; inside cover bottom left: XiXinXing/ Shutterstock; inside cover bottom right, 1 bottom left: Skip Moody/Dembinsky Photo Associates/Alamy/All Canada Photos; 1 top: GeoStock/Media Bakery; 1 bottom right: stars_hjp/Fotolia; 2-3 background: David P. Lewis/Shutterstock; 2 top: mmac72/iStockphoto; 2 bottom: Edward Krupa/Alamy Images; 3 top: CookiesForDevo/iStockphoto; 3 bottom left: Keith Levit/Alamy Images; 3 bottom right: Wayne Barrett & Anne MacKay/Getty Images; 4 top: age fotostock/Alamy Images; 4 bottom left: Keith Levit/Alamy Images; 4 bottom right, 5 bottom left: Dale Wilson/All Canada Photos; 5 top left: Turks/Shutterstock; 5 top right: Ron Erwin/All Canada Photos; 5 centre right: Keith Levit/Alamy Images; 5 bottom right: Jim Kidd/Alamy Images; 6 top: Pulsar Images/Alamy Images; 6 centre left: Ritter75/iStockphoto; 6 bottom left: Africa Studio/Shutterstock; 6 centre right: National Geographic Creative/Alamy Images; 6 bottom right: GeoStock/Media Bakery; 7 top left: nito/ Shutterstock; 7 centre left: Phattranit Vinit/Shutterstock; 7 bottom left: kwanchai.c/Shutterstock; 7 top right: GalapagosPhoto/Shutterstock; 7 centre right: kiattisak wongsuea/Shutterstock; 7 bottom right: nito/Shutterstock; 8 left: Vladimir Zaplakhov/Alamy/All Canada Photos; 8 top right: Bert Folsom/Fotolia; 8 bottom right: Hailshadow/iStockphoto; 9 top left: robert/Fotolia; 9 centre left: showcake/Fotolia; 9 bottom left: viktoriya89/Fotolia; 9 top right: patila/Fotolia; 9 centre right: Andrew Bargery/Alamy Images; 10 left: Simon Dannhauer/Shutterstock; 10 top right: DenisFilm/ Shutterstock; 10 bottom right: XiXinXing/Shutterstock; 10-11 background: Pavel Cheiko/Alamy Images; 11 top: verve231/Thinkstock; 11 bottom: De Visu/Fotolia; 12 top: Ron Erwin/Getty Images; 12 bottom left: Reimphoto/iStockphoto; 12 bottom right: Perry Mastrovito/Getty Images; 13 top left: BrianAJackson/iStockphoto; 13 bottom left: Urban Zone/Alamy Images; 13 top right: Bhandol/ Alamy Images; 13 bottom right: Scimat/Science Source; 14 top, 15 top left: Nigel Cattlin/Science Source; 14 bottom: Nigel Cattlin/Science Source; 15 top right: Vladimir Zaplakhov/Alamy/All Canada Photos; 15 bottom: Skip Moody/Dembinsky Photo Associates/Alamy/All Canada Photos; 16 left: Edward Krupa/Alamy Images; 16 right, 17 left: Melking/Fotolia; 17 top right: ArchonCodex/Alamy Images; 17 centre right: Jim Kidd/Alamy Images; 17 bottom right: kevinruss/Thinkstock; 18 bottom left: Robert McGouey/Wildlife/Alamy Images; 18 top right : Kevin M. McCarthy/Shutterstock; 18 centre right: R_Berthiaume/iStockphoto; 18 bottom right: Dssimages/Dreamstime; 19 top: Lasse Bolstad/Alamy Images; 19 centre: Bob Gibbons/Alamy Images; 19 bottom: Koirill/Fotolia; 22 top left: ArchonCodex/iStockphoto; 22 bottom left: lightphoto/iStockphoto; 22 top right: lightphoto/iStockphoto; 22 bottom right: Sherman Hines/Alamy Images; 24 top: diyanadimitrova/Fotolia; 24 bottom: National Geographic Creative/Alamy Images; 25 top: omphoto/Fotolia; 25 centre: stars_hjp/Fotolia; 25 bottom: R Ann Kautzky/Alamy Images; 26 makeup: ijasper/Shutterstock; 26 vegetables: Valérie Edern/Fotolia; 26 cotton: g215/Fotolia; 26 pottery dishes: Rick Henzel/Fotolia; 26 paints: Michael Flippo/Fotolia; 26 jeans: Alexandra Karamyshev/Fotolia; 26 clay beads: Dmitry Grushin/Fotolia; 26 T-shirt: pixelrobot/Fotolia; 27 cement: Tongra/Fotolia; 27 brick: pixelrobot/Fotolia; 27 medicine: fotofabrika/Fotolia; 27 peat pots: mihalec/Shutterstock; 30 top: Greg Pickens/Fotolia; 30 centre: Zero Creatives/Media Bakery; 30 bottom: BartCo/iStockphoto; 31 top right: g-stockstudio/iStockphoto; 31 centre left: i love images/Fotolia; 31 bottom right: Blend Images/Fotolia; 32 clay: viktoriya89/ Fotolia; 32 compost: i love images/Fotolia; 32 decay: Andrew Bargery/Alamy Images; 32 fertilizer: patila/Fotolia; 32 humus: showcake/Fotolia; 32 loam: Scimat/Science Source; 32 nutrients: stars_hjp/ Fotolia; 32 organic matter: patila/Fotolia; 32 particle: kiattisak wongsuea/Shutterstock; 32 sand: robert/Fotolia; 32 silt: Hailshadow/iStockphoto; 32 topsoil: GeoStock/Media Bakery. Illustrations ©: 20-21: Trevor Keen; Page 23: Bojan Redžic´ ; 28-29: Sheldon Dawson; back cover: Ben Hodson ISBN 978-1-4430-4762-3 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent FgoSFCePs Olhoegroe of the publisher or a license from The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright). For an Access Copyright license, call toll free to 1-800-893-5777. Printed in Canada 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 18 19 20 21 22

VerySoilly Jokes What did the sea What did the say to the sand? soil do after school? What do you call it when worms take over the world? What’s a What did vole’s the big flower favourite say to the game? little flower? Look inExploring Soils answers side forISBN 978-1-4430-4762-3 to these soil jokes. 9 781443 047623 Exploring Soils