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Soil

Soil. What is Soil?. Loose top layer of our planet's crust that supports plant growth A mixture of mineral and organic materials plus air and water. Soil Formation. Soils develop in response to Climate Living organisms Parent Material Topography Time . Climate.

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Soil

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  1. Soil

  2. What is Soil? • Loose top layer of our planet's crust that supports plant growth • A mixture of mineral and organic materials plus air and water

  3. Soil Formation • Soils develop in response to • Climate • Living organisms • Parent Material • Topography • Time

  4. Climate • Temperature and Moisture • Weathering processes • Soil organisms • Plant growth • Decomposition rates • Soil pH • Chemical reactions in the soil

  5. Living Organisms • Intrinsically involved • Add organic material • Nutrient cycling – nitrogen cycle and role of Rhizobium, actionmycetes, etc. • Reduce size of litter • Facilitate decomposition • Aeration

  6. Parent Material • Refers to the rock and minerals from which the soil derives. • Effects the soil texture, chemistry and cycling pathways. • Parent material may be native or transported to area by wind, water or glacier.

  7. Topography • Physical characteristics of location

  8. Soil Properties • Infiltration • Porosity & Permeability • Leaching • Structure • Texture • pH Water Water High permeability Low permeability

  9. Profile • Soil forming process operates from top down • Differences evolve at varying depths.

  10. Soil Horizons O – Organic material: leaf litter & humus Topsoil A – High biological activity, mineral matter, humus present B – Subsoil; zone of accumulation C – Weathered parent material

  11. Texture

  12. Soil Quality Texture Nutrient Infiltration Water-Holding Aeration Tilth Capacity Capacity Clay Good Poor Good Poor Poor Silt Medium MediumMediumMediumMedium Sand Poor Good Poor Good Good Loam Medium MediumMediumMediumMedium

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