IB ESS HL 5.1.5 Soil System Outputs Questions

overgrazing;

a. Erosion;
b. Leaching;
c. Plant uptake;
d. Eluviation;
e. Denitrification;
f. Acidification;

a. Removal of trees reduces shade and can dry out soil;
b. ...dry soils are more vulnerable to wind erosion;
c. The lack of roots to hold soil makes it vulnerable to wind/water erosion/reduced water/nutrient retention capacity;
d. Fewer plants/trees result in less leaf litter returned to the soil reducing organic matter/nutrient availability/water retention;
e. Erosion of topsoil could greatly reduce microorganisms responsible for nutrient cycling;
f. ...leading to (a positive feedback loop of) worsening soil degradation;
g. loss of canopy increases impact of rain (more water erosion);
h. Logging/land-clearing may compact/pave soil reducing decomposing community/nutrients/ability to retain water;