Soil and Land Use Resources and Objectives
On this page, you will find helpful materials for preparing for the soil and land use portion of the Indiana Envirothon Competition.
2026 Soil and Land Use Resources
|
Indiana Soils: Evaluation for Agriculture and Home Sites
|
|
Soil and Land Use Objectives
- Know and understand the 5 soil forming factors, their influence on soil properties, and the soil forming processes.
- Know basic characteristics of the 12 soil taxonomic orders and know what soil orders are in Indiana.
- Be able to recognize and identify features of soil profiles, properties, characteristics, structures, and be able to determine soil texture.
- Understand that soil fertility relates to physical and chemical properties of the soil including quantity of nutrients essential for plants, and why it reflects the physical, chemical, and biological state of the soil.
- Be able to define soil health and identify the 4 key principles and conservation practices that can be used to build soil health.
- Recognize the importance of soil and that biological diversity is important for soil health and the health of those connected to the soil.
- Understand the relationships of soil ecosystems as well as hydrologic, carbon, and nutrient cycles to soil management.
- Understand how different land uses and conservation practices impact soils and erosion, and the importance of soil management to agriculture/rural areas, urban environments, and to clean water, including point and non-point source pollution.
- Understand key terminology relating to soils and land use.
- Identify partnering agencies of the Indiana Conservation Partnership and be aware of the programs that assist land users with soil issues.
Connected Indiana Academic Standards:
| Connected Indiana Academic Standards - Soil |
Visit each of the following topics to access the Reference Material & Learning Objectives:
Aquatic Ecology |
Wildlife |
Forestry |
Current Issue2025 Current Issue:
Roots and Resiliency: Fostering Forest Stewardship in a Canopy of Change |