Land, Air, and Water

Chapter 8
Page 252 to 299
Pearson Interactive Science
Conserving Land and Soil

Lesson 1
Page 252 to 259
 Natural Resources

Natural Resources are anything that

is formed in nature and is used by
people.
Can you name three main natural
resources?
Ecosystems goods: water land and air
Earth Ecosystems; services.
 How do people use land?
Agriculture
Less than one third of Earth can be
farmed for food, it is also used for
grazing life stock and for growing crops
like cotton.
Mining
Mining for nonrenewable resources for
manufacturing.
Development
Construction of homes, and
infrastructure.
 Why is soil important?
Fertile soil is necessary for plants to live
(producers).
The soil must provide
minerals and nutrients.
It can take hundreds
of years for a few
centimeters of soil to form.
Humus = A dark-brown or black organic
substance made up of decayed plant or
animal matter. Humus provides nutrients
for plants and increases the ability of soil
to retain water.
Without soil most life on land could not
exist.
Poor soil management can result in
serious problems.
Erosion fertile soil is washed away (by wind
and running water) from its original location,
when plants are removed, during logging,
mining or farming.
Nutrient depletion plants need nitrogen,
potassium and phosphorus, over farming
causes nutrient depletion.
Desertification the results of nutrient and
water depletion (droughts and over farming).
 Land Management
Land reclamation is never the
same, page 257
Use of fertilizers and compost to
return nutrients to soil.
Alternate crops, high nutrients/low
nutrients.
Leave fields unplanted/resting.
Prevent erosion by planting in
terraces, page 255
 Effects of Deforestation
Deforestation affects soil, the flow
of water, biodiversity and Earths
climate.
Nutrients depletion due
to erosion, run off due
to lack of roots,
destruction of shelters
and habitats, the
reduced number of
trees increase the
accumulation of carbon
dioxide in the air
contributing to Global
Warming, less oxygen
to breath.
Effects of Urbanization
Benefits: jobs, housing,
and cultural life.
Cost: loss of land for
farming, increase in water
usage, water pollution, air
pollution, loss of flood
control, loss of wildlife,
increase in air pollution
(from cars, trucks, and
factories). Run off from
rain can carry pollutants
to into streams and
ground water. Human
waste can also pollute
water supplies.