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Understanding Soil: Composition, Functions, and Properties

Explore the essential components and functions of soil, including minerals, organic matter, water, and air. Learn about soil texture, structure, permeability, and the role of microorganisms. Discover the importance of nutrients and their sources in soil chemistry. Compare different soil substrates for gardening and agriculture.

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Understanding Soil: Composition, Functions, and Properties

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  1. Soils Dr. Kimberly Moore, PhD University of Florida, IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center 3205 College Ave. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314 klock@ufl.edu

  2. What is soil? • Minerals and rock • Organic matter • Water • Air • Microorganisms

  3. Functions of soil • Support • Air • Water • Nutrients

  4. Balance

  5. Particle size • Gravel • Greater than 2.0 mm diameter • Sand • 2.0 to 0.05 mm diameter • Silt • 0.05 to 0.002 mm diameter • Clay • Less than 0.002 mm diameter

  6. Soil definitions • Soil texture • Soil structure https://goo.gl/images/UvNQ77

  7. Permeability

  8. Organic Matter (Humus) • Peat • Leaf litter/mold • Compost • Manure • Cover crops

  9. Microoganisms (microbes) • Bacteria • Fungi • Mycorrhizae • Protozoans • Nematodes • Insects

  10. Physical Properties Solid Pore = Air and Water

  11. Soil pH https://goo.gl/images/Kbjwri

  12. Criteria of Essentiality • It deficiency prevents the plant from completing its life cycle • It deficiency is specific to the element and can be corrected only by supplying the element • The element has a nutritional role

  13. Macro nutrients • Carbon – C (CO2) • Hydrogen – H (H2O) • Oxygen – O (O2) • Nitrogen – N (NO3 and NH4) • Phosphorus - P (PO4) • Potassium – K (K+) • Calcium – Ca (Ca2+) • Magnesium – Mg (Mg2+) • Sulfur – S (SO4)

  14. Micro nutrients • Iron – Fe • Manganese – Mn • Copper – Cu • Boron – B • Zinc – Zn • Molybdenum – Mo • Chloride - Cl

  15. Source of nutrients • Atmosphere • Inorganic minerals (rocks) • Gypsum, lime, Epsom salts • Organic matter • Manure, compost, bonemeal, bloodmeal • Synthetic fertilizers (inorganic salts) • Controlled-release • Water soluble • Complete • Chelates

  16. Chemistry Review • Elements on the periodic table are called ions • Positive ions are cations • Negative ions are anions Nucleus with protons and neutrons Electrons ATOM

  17. Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) K+ Ca++ Mg++ NO3- PO4-

  18. Where is our soil? Low CEC High Clay type soils Organic matter Sand

  19. Soilless substrate components • Organic • Peat, bark, coir, manure, compost • Inorganic • Sand, perlite, vermiculite, Styrofoam, rock wool, calcined clay

  20. Peat Moss and Peats • Different types • High water-holding capacity • Low pH • CEC: 7 to 13 me/100cc https://goo.gl/images/w1stqA

  21. Bark • Partially composted and screened • Neutral pH • CEC: 12 me/100 cc https://goo.gl/images/5m9EVi

  22. Coir • Coconut fibers • High water holding capacity • pH of 4.9 to 6.8 • CEC: 6.1 me/100 cc • Low decomposition rate

  23. Compost and Manure • High water-holding capacity • High CEC • Varied nutrient content https://goo.gl/images/rn18jX

  24. Sand • Low water-holding capacity • Low to no CEC • Added for aeration and drainage • Heavy https://goo.gl/images/vofP7B

  25. Perlite • Siliceous volcanic rock that is crushed and heated to 1800°F • Neutral pH • Low to no CEC • Aeration • Light https://goo.gl/images/YDgeSY

  26. Vermiculite • Mica like silicate expanded by heating • High water-holding capacity • CEC: 1.9 to 2.7 me/100cc https://goo.gl/images/cmBjzc

  27. Comparison

  28. Rule of Thumb • One to three components • Choice of components vary with availability and cost • Crop being grown

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