This is a geography question.How does seasonalit present an optimum situation for the accumulation of humus?
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What it is is what it B.
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It is quite true that soil temperatures where the living parts of the plants are during winter are not as cold as the surface temperature. That is the first fact. The second thing that comes into play is that plants produce chemicals that depress the freezing point of water and prevent ice crystals from forming and rupturing cell walls. The next factor is that many plants forms seeds or spores that are biologically inactive when conditions are not suitable for growth. This is sort of a suspended animation. It is also important to recall that plants even as large as trees have only a very small proportion of actual "living material." In a tree in winter, the cambium and rootas are "alive" The cambium goes inactive and reactivates when spring comes and the roots remain fairly dormant through winter until warming weather stimulates the cambium back to life and the roots then beginning sending sap up the tree. The question is complex as plants vary from one celled organisms to trees.
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Humus is typically dark brown to black in color. More likely, the brown comes from organic materials or iron and iron oxides.
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Soils vary widely in composition and structure from place to place. Soils are formed through the weathering of rock and the breakdown of organic matter. Weathering is the action of wind, rain, ice, sunlight and biological processes on rocks, which breaks them down into small particles. The proportions of minerals and organic matter determine the structure and other characteristics of a particular soil.\n\nSoils can be divided into two general layers (strata): topsoil, the topmost layer, where most plant roots, microorganisms, and other animal life are located, and subsoil, which is deeper and often more dense and contains less organic matter.\n\nWater and air are also components of soils. Mineral and organic solids comprise about half of the soil by volume. Water occupies the spaces between soil particles and is held by surface tension on particle surfaces. Air occupies the remaining void space. Both water and air components of soils are important to plant growth and other life in the soil profile of a particular ecosystem.\n\nThe rock and mineral content of soils is categorized according to particle size, from sand (coarsest), to silt and clay (finest). The ratio of these particles to a great degree determines the soil classification and characteristics.\n\nSoils serve as habitats for soil organisms varying in size from microorganisms to small animals. The character of soils is intricately tied to bioturbation and the biochemical functions performed by soil organisms.\n\nFormer soils which become buried below the effects of organisms are called paleosols.\n\nSoils develops naturally over time through the action of plants, animals, and weathering. Soils are also affected by human habitation. People can alter soils to make them more suitable for plant growth through the addition of organic materials and natural or synthetic fertilizer, and by improving their drainage or water-retaining capacity. Human actions also can degrade soils through the depletion of nutrients, pollution, contamination, and compaction, and by increasing the rate of erosion, which is the relocation of soil through the movement of water or wind.
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Holocene Soil Development on Till and Outwash Inferred from Lake-Sediment Geochemistry in Michigan and Wisconsin \nAuthors: Ewing H.A.1; Nater E.A.2\nSource: Quaternary Research, Volume 57, Number 2, March 2002, pp. 234-243(10)\n\nParent material. Few soils weather directly from the underlying rocks. These "residual" soils have the same general chemistry as the original rocks. More commonly, soils form in materials that have moved in from elsewhere. Materials may have moved many miles or only a few feet. Windblown "loess" is common in the Midwest. It buries "glacial till" in many areas. Glacial till is material ground up and moved by a glacier. The material in which soils form is called "parent material." In the lower part of the soils, these materials may be relatively unchanged from when they were deposited by moving water, ice, or wind.\n\nSediments along rivers have different textures, depending on whether the stream moves quickly or slowly. Fast-moving water leaves gravel, rocks, and sand. Slow-moving water and lakes leave fine textured material (clay and silt) when sediments in the water settle out.\n\nClimate. Soils vary, depending on the climate. Temperature and moisture amounts cause different patterns of weathering and leaching. Wind redistributes sand and other particles especially in arid regions. The amount, intensity, timing, and kind of precipitation influence soil formation. Seasonal and daily changes in temperature affect moisture effectiveness, biological activity, rates of chemical reactions, and kinds of vegetation.\n\nTopography. Slope and aspect affect the moisture and temperature of soil. Steep slopes facing the sun are warmer, just like the south-facing side of a house. Steep soils may be eroded and lose their topsoil as they form. Thus, they may be thinner than the more nearly level soils that receive deposits from areas upslope. Deeper, darker colored soils may be expected on the bottom land.\n\nBiological factors. Plants, animals, micro-organisms, and humans affect soil formation. Animals and micro-organisms mix soils and form burrows and pores. Plant roots open channels in the soils. Different types of roots have different effects on soils. Grass roots are "fibrous" near the soil surface and easily decompose, adding organic matter. Taproots open pathways through dense layers. Micro-organisms affect chemical exchanges between roots and soil. Humans can mix the soil so extensively that the soil material is again considered parent material.\n\nThe native vegetation depends on climate, topography, and biological factors plus many soil factors such as soil density, depth, chemistry, temperature, and moisture. Leaves from plants fall to the surface and decompose on the soil. Organisms decompose these leaves and mix them with the upper part of the soil. Trees and shrubs have large roots that may grow to considerable depths.\n\nTime. Time for all these factors to interact with the soil is also a factor. Over time, soils exhibit features that reflect the other forming factors. Soil formation processes are continuous. Recently deposited material, such as the deposition from a flood, exhibits no features from soil development activities. The previous soil surface and underlying horizons become buried. The time clock resets for these soils. Terraces above the active floodplain, while genetically similar to the floodplain, are older land surfaces and exhibit more development features.\n\nThese soil forming factors continue to affect soils even on "stable" landscapes. Materials are deposited on their surface, and materials are blown or washed away from the surface. Additions, removals, and alterations are slow or rapid, depending on climate, landscape position, and biological activity.\n\nWhen mapping soils, a soil scientist looks for areas with similar soil-forming factors to find similar soils. The colors, texture, structure, and other properties are d
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That completely depends on the conditions in the soil- If its fairly dry, you would have a hard, dessicated tissue much like jerky.  In a moist but anoxic soil, the tissue would be well preserved.  In normal moist and oxygenated soil, there would be very little tissue left.
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You'll need to go underground my friend or find a sheltered valley that is significantly cooler than the rest of your country. The other option is to have a thermostat regulate the temp, but the energy costs will make your mushrooms opressively expensive.
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wow.. tdhat is a BIG subject and I have studied soil conservation for many years and to put that answer down into a few words is DIFFICULT... just as difficult as conserving soil.\n\nCaring for our soil resources is becoming increasingly critical as the supply of dependable agricultural land decreases from competition by other uses, such as urban development. Healthy soils are key to producing good harvests of crops, and minimizes expenses such as fertilizer and pest control. If we let agricultural soils become degraded, there will be no new soil to take its place\n\nHere are just a few things to be considered:\n\nMinimize or eliminate summer fallow \nSeed directly into the previous year's stubble without pre-seeding tillage. No-till increases soil organic matter, enhances water infiltration, conserves moisture and reduces runoff and soil erosion due to wind, water and tillage. \nReduce tillage: replace one or more tillage operations with herbicide application to control weeds. Reduced tillage over successive years improves the physical and chemical properties of the soil, and at the same time helps restore organic matter – plant roots, microorganisms, insects and earthworms – which, when left undisturbed, work to stimulate and sustain plant growth. \nExtend crop rotations, particularly with the inclusion of legumes. The benefits include improved fertility, tilth, aggregate stability, moisture storage, and resistance to soil erosion and degradation, as well as reductions in insect, weed and disease problems. All of these factors contribute to increased productivity. \nAdopt permanent conservation practices such as grassed waterways, perennial grass barriers, and strip cropping. \nManage manure not as a waste, but as an important source of organic matter and plant nutrients. Organic matter, and the organisms that eat it, can improve water holding capacity, nutrient availability, and can help protect against erosion. However, applying manure in the fall or over-application can lead to water and air pollution. \nManage irrigation effectively, by reducing water losses from spray drift and over-application. \nCarefully manage fertilizer by applying according to the crops needs, during the time that the crop needs it and close to the root system so it can be utilized efficiently. Although fertilizer can increase the amount of organic matter in the soil, mis-management can also pollute air and water. \nManage pesticides carefully, by following label instructions. Try to minimize pesticide use by using an integrated approach, which incorporates other pest control practices such as a varied crop rotation and biological control options. \nMaintain healthy grass cover on pastures to prevent soil erosion, by using practices such as rotational grazing and rest periods. \nKeep crop residues on soil surface as much as possible. Crop residues include roots, chaff, stems and leaves which are left after a crop is harvested. These residues improve several soil properties, such as organic matter replenishment, water infiltration, water storage and particle aggregation. Crop residues also contain nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur and micronutrients. \nSeed forages to increase soil organic matter, reduce erosion and salinity, and recover nutrients that leached below the rooting depth of annual crops. Selection of forage species and management practices can be tailored to specific problems such as drought, excessive soil moisture, salinity, poor soil structure, low pH and other problems. \nProvide adequate wind barriers, such as shelterbelts, to reduce wind erosion. Shelterbelts have the added benefit of increasing crop yields by trapping more snow, particularly of less drought-tolerant crops such as canola and alfalfa. \nPlant cover crops late in summer to protect soil against late fall and early spring erosion. Cover crops store nutrients for the crops that follow them, keep weeds down, host beneficial insects a
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Sandy Soil\nEasy to cultivate and warm up quickly in spring. It drains well so the plants do not stand with their roots in water for too long. However, as it drains quickly, plants need to be regularly watered and fed if they are to thrive.\n\nSilty Soil \nThis soil type is richer in nutrients than sandy soil. It is also heavier because it can retain moisture and has a tendency to become compacted. It does however tend to drain well and much easier to cultivate than clay.\n\nClay Soil\nWeighty to lift and difficult to work. Drainage is usually bad; the soil is acid and clinging to the feet in wet weather. When preparing the beds for vegetables in clay soil, the organic fertilizer should be added at a rate of two bucketfuls to the sq. yd.\n\nLoamy Soil \nContain sand, silt and clay, in such well-balanced proportions that none produces a dominating influence. These are amongst the most fertile soils. Almost any crop can be grown in them. They warm up quickly in spring and rarely dry out in summer.\n\nChalk Soil\nIt fertility depends largely on the depth of soil overlaying the chalk bed formation. If the topsoil is thin the ground will be poor and hungry. It will be bone dry in summer and the plants will need far more watering and feeding than on any other soil. If however, it is fairly deep, good growing conditions are possible.\n\nPeaty Soil \nIt occurs in fen or boggy areas. Peat is composed of excessive quantities of humus and is associated with water-logging. The soil is usually very acid and contains few nutrients. It does have one advantage in that it warms up quickly in spring. It is excellent for plant growth if fertilizer is added.
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I think this is what you're after.\n\nIt is an accident of astronomy that our earth has a tilt of 21.3 degrees.  (That's the current tilt ... it ranges between 21 and 25 degrees every 41,000 years.)  \n\nAs a result, trees far away from the equator see a variable amount of sunlight over the course of one journey around the sun (one year).  Trees (such as palm trees) near the equator (specifically between the tropics) do not see much variability in the sunlight, so the following does apply to them.  \n\nWhen tilted towards the sun, the days are longer, and the sun higher in the sky, and the tree wants as much area dedicated to photosynthesis as possible.  So leaves are good.  \n\nBut when tilted away from the sun, the days are shorter, the sun not as high up, and photosynthesis is more difficult.  The leaves are a premium ... they're consuming more food than they are producing with photosynthesis.  Plus, with temperatures dropping, water in the leaves is in danger of freezing, which burdens the branches with so much extra weight that they can break.  So it is better to shed those leaves for that part of the journey around the sun.  (This is less of a problem with trees, like pine trees, that have needles instead of leaves.)\n\nIs that what your after?  (Great question!)
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good soil , remember to water , voila  chilies
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In case there was an environmental change, increasing medium temperature, population of crops and plants would change their optimal areas to different ones, that is, plants that require cold winters would ''go'' north, there would be changes in the types of pathogens that attack the different crops since their ideal conditions would change, there would be changes in the normal amounts of precipitations in the different areas, and therefore the density of different populations of plants, it would change the ability to compete between species, some plants would grow bigger, since they'd develop with more grade units, etc...
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Well, the weather is certainly a determining factor.  It's sort of tough to live in any place where you know if you walk out on the front porch in your bathrobe to retrieve the morning paper, you'll freeze to death before you're able to bend over and pick it up.\n\nThere's another important reason for it, though.  The various countries of the world got together after the Antarctic continent was discovered and agreed that it should belong to no country-- which is much easier to agree upon when the land is a vast sheet of inhospitable ice and not lush and verdant; then it's easier to slaughter the less developed natives and claim God left you this great uninhabited land as your reward for being a peaceful and righteous people-- and that it really shouldn't be settled except to do scientific research.  Some countries claim land in the continent belongs to them, but their claims aren't internationally recognized and those countries do nothing with the land they claim, due to the limitations of the Antarctic Treaty which governs its preservation for scientific study alone.\n\nSo, beyond the weather, it's also off limits to set up permanent settlements there, or develop the continent's resources, in the same way a public park is off limits to someone who wants to build a house.  \n\nYou can go, you can look around, you can take a scenic stroll and explore the place all you want, but at the end of the day, please go home.\n\nAs a result, when you're in Antarctica, it's the McMurdo research station or bust.
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there is a whole science that adresses exactly what you mention\nWATER HARVESTING\n,dig small dams every where to cath the rain water, and you can archieve that all of the rain water is absorbed by the land ,it will seep slowly into the ground to add to subteranean water suplies ,make sure that all the dams are interconnected by slow gradient ditches .just because you dont see water ,does not mean that it is not there .\nNormally a land repels water and with the rains it runs over ground into the rivers and awy.\nthink now that you want to make the land receptive or absorbent of all the water that falls on it.\n\nMULCH\ncut down the weeds before they produce seeds and leave them where they fall,they will cover the ground and put even more organic matter on top,you can use saw dust,leaves green or dry,and when you plant make a little space and plant in the mulch.this is the easiest quickest and by far most benificial way(for the quality of you soul)to prepare the land for planting\n\nto prevent weeds from coming all you have to do it turn out the lights,you can even use cardboard or black plastic(this is good for strawberries because they will rot if they touch humid ground,and the bugs can get to them).\n\nwhat you do is to cover the ground with mulch which is the same principal as compost but it includes the whole garden surface\nthe top part of the soil where the topsoil is being produced houses a world or microbiotic life.\n\nMulch is organic material green or dry that covers the ground,the thicker the better the composting process will turn it in to black topsoil\n\nthe humidity is preserved underneath and promotes the devellopment of worms(their exists no better compost than their excrements)and a variety of micro biotic life which together with the mulch produce more topsoil.\n\nthe mulch also keeps the ground temperature even and guards against the impact of the rain ,which would other wise brings salt to the surfave if on unprotected land\n\nMulch also prevents the soil from drying out because of the sun and, lay it open to wind erosian.\n\nand it turn out the lights for any weeds that want to come up\ndo not use chemicals because the water will wash them into the ground and if enough people did that, you would be guilty of helping to contaminate subteranean water suplies that other people could be pumping up to drink \n\nSUSTAINABLE FARMING\nthe best examples on this Earth of sustainable agriculture,\nare the chinampas of central Mexico ,the surviving ones(that have not been consumed by urban devellopment)have been going for more than 800 years ,that is sustainability.\nthe are built from the mud of the lakes and enriched with compost ,in the old days with the toilet contents of the outhouses that were on the bridges going into town,which the indians collected with a canoo.\n\nAnother example are the traced gardens of the Inca which have been going for more than a thousand years,there success is also because of the principle of using compost and their form which id a receptive concave absorb the rain waters and collect the dust from the wind (for hundreds of years and so increase in quality instead of the oposite.\nin the Ukraine are also examples of ancient agriculture due to no till farming and mulching(green organic matter that is added)\n\nin Mexico today are still examples from old Indian agricultural practises of diversity or companion planting.\nwhere by a series of 7 or 8 species of plants are put together or one folows the other.to create biodiversity ,and utilisation of space.\nCorn is planted for example ,wich is followed 4 weeks later by a bean that climbs it.\nand agavi and edible cactus is on the sides to protect these plants from foraging animals and add chemicals to the soil by their secretions.and others are in between to provide groundcover\n\nthere are many forms of sustainable farming in the past,and today those who follow the principles of permaculture,no till farming,organic or sustainable farmin
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Few complex life forms we know of can survive exposure temperatures that low for more than a moment. However, if pockets of milder temperatures could be found (thermal vents, well isulated hybernation dens, etc) some life would likely adapt. Life forms that could mature and reproduce in one warm season (such as a plant that produces spores capable of surviving such a harsh winter) would have a great advantage. Plants such as trees woudn't stand a chance, as is true of many things humans and other complex life depend on for food and shelter. \n\nAnother consideration would be the erosion due to lack of any plants capable of maintaining a root system to stablize soil. Between the turbidity from erosion and likelyhood that all rivers would freeze solid through most of the winter, most life in rivers and lakes would become extinct. Since the upper temperature is not much if any higher than what we have now, the average temperatue is much lower. This would concentrate vast amounts of water in the icecaps, possibly enough to greatly increase the salinity of the oceans, which would also see a major drop in temperature. Most marine life is more sensitive to temperatue changes than terrestrial or freshwater life, so a great number of extinctions there also.\n\nSo no, life would not survive other than perhaps a few simple life forms. Even a drop of a dozen degrees in average temperature would be devastating in the long run for life as we know it.
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Geography homework huh.\n\nBroadly.\n\n1) Improper removal of stubble or fallow cover leading to  erosion.\n\n2) Insufficient fallow time leading to decline in soil fertility.\n\n3) Over removal of tree cover leading to water table elevation and/or salinity.\n\n4) Over production of single crop types crops leading to nutrient depletion.\n\n5) Over-irrigation leading to turbidity and and slainity in irriagtion water sources.\n\n6) Failure to control tree growth within catchment leading to excess infiltration and loss of runoof. Irrigation water fails.\n\n7) Excess tillage of fragile soils leading to erosion.\n\n8) Tillage of soils in anticipation of  planting conditions that fail to transpire. Ground remains loose and without plant cover for extended periods and erodes.\n\n9) Overgrazing leading to desertification which encroaches on arable land.\n\nThat probably covers most of the practices that have caused land loss in the poast 6000 years.
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New England soil is basically glacial till composed of sand, gravel and rounded boulders.  It was very difficult to cultivate.  There were large stone fences surrounding farmland that were built when boulders were removed from the land being cleared.  When the glaciers swept over the land they scrapped away any fertile loom and when they retreated they left behind pulverized rock and stones rounded by the flow of melt water.  Cape Cod, MA represents the remains left by a retreating glacier and was once much thicker in the arm and elbow, but has since eroded away leaving extensive fine sand dunes. \n\nFactories were often built in locations that provided abundant water used to power water wheels.  Also abundant wood was used for fuel.