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An Introduction to Soils July 13, 2014

An Introduction to Soils July 13, 2014. A nation that destroys its soils, destroys itself. – President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Feb. 26, 1937. Soil Profiles. Sample Soil Profile. A Horizon. B Horizon. C Horizon. Leached Soils. In areas of high precipitation Downward movement of water

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An Introduction to Soils July 13, 2014

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  1. An Introduction to SoilsJuly 13, 2014

  2. A nation that destroys its soils, destroys itself. – President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Feb. 26, 1937.

  3. Soil Profiles

  4. Sample Soil Profile A Horizon B Horizon C Horizon

  5. Leached Soils In areas of high precipitation Downward movement of water Dissolves chemical nutrients and carries them away (down) making them unavailable to plants Results in a poor, often thin topsoil layer

  6. Calcification In dry climate areas Upward movement of water through soil (capillary action) Water evaporates leaving behind the minerals that were dissolved in it Results in a thick topsoil layer rich in mineral deposits that is poisonous to plants

  7. Soil Creation Continued Physical weathering breaks rocks into small mineral particles.

  8. Soil Creation Continued Chemical weathering dissolves and changes minerals at the Earth’s surface.

  9. Soil Creation Continued Decomposing organic material from plants and animals mixes with accumulated soil minerals.

  10. Different soil types develop in different climates. Image: T. Loynachan

  11. Prairie soils have a dark surface layer (horizon), are rich in minerals, and form in grasslands widespread across Earth’s middle latitudes. Images: NRCS Soils-4-2

  12. Forest soils have a light gray upper horizon, a horizon rich in aluminum and/or iron, and form in warm to cool humid regions where coniferous forests grow. Image: Soil Classifiers of Michigan Image: Bruce Molnia Soils-4-3

  13. Tropical soils are reddish and iron-oxide rich, depleted in nutrients, and form in humid and warm regions. Images: National Cooperative Soil Survey, University of Nebraska Soils-4-4

  14. Organic soils are dark colored, rich in decomposed organic matter, and form in poorly drained lowlands such as swamps and wetlands. Images: Bruce Molnia, Soil Classifiers of Michigan Soils-4-5

  15. Desert soils form in arid settings and are commonly rich in calcium carbonate. Images: Martin Miller, NRCS Soils-4-6

  16. Tundra soils form in Arctic environments, have a dark organic-rich upper layer, and a mineral rich layer over frozen ground. Images: Travis Hudson, Alaska/Yukon Society of Professional Soil Scientists Soils-4-7

  17. Different soil types develop in different climates.

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