Topic 5.1 explores soil formation, soil profiles, and the physical and chemical properties that determine soil fertility. Students study the role of organisms in soil systems, nutrient cycling in soils, and how human land use affects soil health and productivity.
Key Idea: Topic 5.1 explains what soil is, how it forms, what controls its properties, how soil affects ecosystem productivity (NPP), and why soil degradation is a major sustainability issue.
Soil is effectively non-renewable on human timescales (forms extremely slowly).
For 5–7 marks, write cause → effect chains (e.g., humus ↑ → CEC ↑ → nutrients held ↑ → plant uptake ↑ → NPP ↑).
ESS is assessed through Paper 1 (case study) and Paper 2 (short answer & structured questions). Concepts from this topic may appear in either paper, often combined with data analysis or real-world examples.
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Start studying freeTopic 5.1 Soil systems forms a core part of Unit 5: Land in IB ESS. Mastering these concepts will strengthen your understanding of connected topics across the syllabus and prepare you for exam questions that require analysis, evaluation, and real-world application.
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