IB ESS SL 5.1.9 Soil foundation role Question Bank
Practise IB ESS SL/HL 005.001.009 by applying soil foundation role concepts to exam-style environmental systems questions.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Course
- ESS SL
- Level
- SL
Exam points
- identify the relevant environmental system, process or evidence
- apply the correct ESS concept and explain the causal relationship
- evaluate the outcome using ecological, social or management evidence
5.1.9—Soil foundation role question 1
[Maximum number: 7]
Explain the link between soil fertility, primary productivity and human activity.
a. soil fertility refers to the ability of soil to support plant growth/primary productivity;
b This will depend upon the nutrient availability in soils;
c ...and appropriate availability/retention/drainage of water in soils;
d. ...and appropriate soil pH/low salinity to allow for plant growth;
e. It will also depend upon appropriate soil texture/aeration/malleability;
f ...and also the community of soil organisms that maintain its nutrient content/condition;
g. human activities may deplete nutrient content through over irrigation/ overcropping/monoculture/overgrazing;
h. human activities may increase salinity through over-irrigation;
i. human activities may increase soil erosion/compaction through tilling/overgrazing/overcropping/land clearance j. human activities may lower pH through emissions of NOx/SOx/acid precipitation; k. human activities may reduce soil water through evaporation due to anthropogenic global warming;
I. human activities may improve nutrient content through fertilization/polyculture; m . human activities may reduce erosion through drip irrigation/terracing/ wind breaks/contour ploughing;
n. human activities may improve soil texture through conditioners/organic fertilizer;
Marking guidance:
Award 5 max if all three factors (fertility/productivity/human activity) are not addressed in links.
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