Soil

What is soil?
o Dynamic natural system
Inorganic component
Organic component
How does soil form? (Page 534)
o Climate
o Organisms (fungus) (5%)
o Relief (slope of environment)
o Parent Material (bedrock, where things are breaking off)
o Time
Soil Characteristics
o In order to understand a soil we need to create a soil profile
What is a soil profile?
So a soil profile is
o Hexagonal column of soil
This profile is called a pedon
These are usually between 1 to 10 square meters in surface area
Pedons
o Pedons are the most basic unit of soil sampling
o Often will have unique layers within the sample
Polypedons
o Polypedons are just many pedons in one particular area
Define soil regions
These regions can be put into soil maps
Soil Horizon
o A soil horizon is a distinct later within a pedon
o These usually can be distinguished by the naked eye
Soil Horizon Composition
o The uppermost layer of the soil horizon is called the O horizon
It gets its name because it is the organic layer
O Horizon
o This forms what is called humus
o One of the most important layers in terms of life. Why?
Soil Horizon Layer
o The bottommost layer is called the R horizon (R is at Rock bottom)
A Horizon
o In the A horizon humus and clay particles are intermixed
Soil Horizon Composition
o E Horizon (eluviation)
o Process of removing fine particles and minerals by water, leaving behind sand and silt
B Horizon
o B Horizon (illuviation)
o A depositional process
C Horizon
o C Horizon (Weathered bedrock)
o Identified as regolith
Soil Horizon Composition
o Current research
o The A,E, and B horizons are designated as the solum
Nuances to Soil Horizon Composition
o Soil scientists may also apply a subset of classification categories to describe certain
properties within a horizon
Soil Color
o Soil color can tell us a lot about a soil
Soil Texture
o Soil texture refers to the different particles within a soil and the proportion of their sizes
Soil Structure
o Soil structure refers to the physical arrangement of particles within a soil
o We can also describe soil structures in terms of fine, medium, and course
o Generally rounded peds will be best for plant growth
Soil Consistence
o This is simply a description of a soils resistance to breaking and manipulation under
varying moisture conditions
o We can also describe the level of cementation between soil particles
Soil Porosity
o These are what control the movement of water through a soil
Soil Moisture
o Why do we care about soil moisture?
o Control biotic and abiotic properties of soil
Soil Chemistry
o Soil chemistry principally involves air and water
o Why is this important?
Soil Acidity and Alkalinity
o Acidic and basic soils
o Acid rain
o Important for crops because most crops cannot grow below a soil pH of 6.0
Soil Management
o Natural Factors
Climate
Biome
Topography
o Human Factors
Can be both positive and negative
Soil Classification
o Many countries have developed their own classification schemes with regard to soils
Most others are similar but many countries use those developed on the U.S.
standard
Entisols
o These are recent undeveloped soils
Histosols
o These form where there is a very large accumulation of organic matter
Gelisols
o These are soils that are found in per-glacial landscapes
Andisols
o These are the soils that form in areas of high volcanic activity
Inceptisols
o These are weakly developed soils
Aridisols
o These are the largest order of soils
o Highly utilized in agriculture why?
Initially infertile
An Aside about Planning and Aridisols
o How do you deal with an aridisol?
Vertisols
o These are characterized by heavy lay concentrations that expand with water
Alfisols
o These are moderately weathered forest soils
o Special types:
Udalfs
Xeralfs
Mollisols
o These are grassland soils
o Very good for agriculture
o Where are these?
U.S., Russia, Ukraine, plains in China
Spodosols
o These are the soils that make up northern coniferous forests
o Characterized by sandy parent materials, shaded by forests of spruce, fire, and pine
Ultisols
o Ultisols are highly weathered forest soils
Oxisols
o These are the soils that are located in the tropics, or equatorial latitudes
o Oxisols by themselves are generally very poor in terms of fertility
Why does the rainforest grow so well then?
o Oxisols may sometimes also form what is called an ironstone hardpan