TEXTURE
what is soil texture
its proportion of the sizes of mineral particles preset in a soil
Water holding capacity
the amount of water the soil can hold at any given time
climate
temperature fluctuations, rainfall, sun and wind exposure lead to breakdown or parent material.
Biological Properties
The living organisms in the soil responsible for any biological activity
Horizon O
Organic- the top layer of only organic matter
what are the texture classes
sandy soils, clayey soils, loamy soils.
Soil Water
the physical properties impact the availability of water to plants
parent material
the weathering of rocks, greatly influences the physical and chemical properties of soil
Decomposition
the process of breaking down dead organic matter into simpler substances
Horizon A
surface-Fertile, upper, outermost layer that is most important for plant growth
clayey
finest particle size, contributes to slow drainage and poor aeration, compacted, ability to hold nutrients.
Gravitational water
free water than moves that moves through the soil by the force of gravity
soil mapping
it helps farmers make decisions about crop selection, fertilization, and irrigation
Nutrient Production
The process of creating nutrients that are essential for the growth of plants and animals
Horizon B
Subsoil-contains much of the original parent material that was weathered
loamy
even mixture of sand, silt, and clay with moderate water-holding capacity and strong ability to store plant nutrients.
Capillary water
held in the soil against gravitational pull, found in micropores
soil formation is
a slow, continuous process that can take hundreds to thousands of years to crate a single inch of topsoil.
Pore Formation
Th creation of empty spaces or gaps between soil particles, forming a network of pores
Horizon C
Substratum-contains original parent material that has NOT been weathered
sandy soil
a type of soil that is made up of large particles of sand and the pore spaces allow for aeration
field capacity
amount of water remaining in the soil a few days after a rain event or irrigation
why is soil derived from rock
the rock has to be broken into small pieces first
Carbon Recycling
When plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
Horizon R
bedrock-the lowest layer of soil and is made up of tightly bound, unbreakable materials