Nutrient-rich organic matter made up of dead animals and plants
Humus
- I hold onto water very well
- I am not great for growing most plants
- You can grow roses in me
Clay
Solid rock; also known as bedrock
What is R Horizon?
What do we use soil for?
- Growing food
- Growing plants
"Agricola" in Latin means farmer. What word originates from that Latin word?
Agriculture
The upper layer of soil that is rich in nutrients. This layer is very important for growing plants.
Topsoil
- Water flows right through me
- I am bad for growing plants
Sand
Rich in nutrients and minerals; usually dark in color;known as topsoil
What is Horizon A?
True or False:
Forty-five percent of soil is composed of minerals.
True
What are the two parent materials that make up soil?
Rocks and Organic Matter
Layer of soil below the topsoil. This soil is full of minerals and rocks.
Subsoil
- I am good for growing plants
- I hold some water, but not too much
Silt
Weathered parent material and broken rock
What is Horizon C?
What is this top layer?
- Humus
All rocks are classified into three categories.
Name those three categories.
Igneous
Sedimentary
Metamorphic
The solid rock below the subsoil.
Bedrock
- I am a combination of all of the types of soil
Loam
What is Horizon O?
organic material composed of decomposed plants and animals
Known as "humus"
What causes soil erosion? Name at least three.
- Weathering
- Wind
- Rain
- Farming
What is the area between soil particles called?
pores or pore spaces
No plants can enter this area
Bedrock
True or False:
Having some sand in your loam is good for plants?
True
- While sand may not be great for growing plants individually, it is an important part of loam soil
What is Horizon B?
Leached materials
Lighter in color than the Horizon A and very dense
Known as subsoil
Name the four parts of soil
- Air
- Water
- Rocks and Minerals
- Organic Matter
You might find this kind of organism in your soil ___________?
ecosystem