Soil and Land Use

Unit 8 Lesson 4
Hunter Holland

What is Soil? Where does it come

from?
Soil- A material that forms the crust
or covering of the Earth.
It comes from the breakdown of
rocks and rotting dead creatures.
Soil is formed very slowly.

4 Major Components

Minerals-45%
Organic Matter-5%
Air and Water-50%
Living Organisms

Minerals
The minerals found are formed from
the breakdown of rock.
Minerals help provide nutrients,
providing a place for roots to grow.

Organic Matter
Organic matter found comes from
the death and decay of any living
creature.
It may also come from animal waste.

Humus
Humus- Organic matter that had
decayed to the point of no
recognition.
Easily found in the woods under
leaves.
Provides carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen to soil.
Helps the soil hold water and
nutrients.

Air and Water

Found in tiny spores within the soil.
Vital for any living organism living in
the soil.
The two are proportional(More
water=less air and More air=less
water)
Plants need water to grow and
photosynthesize and need air to
respire.

Living Organisms
These are bacteria, fungi, single cell
protozoa, nematodes, and
earthworms, prairie dogs, and
ground hogs.
These organisms work together to
build the soil.

Soil Classification
Soil is classified by U.S. department
of Agriculture.
Done by Comprehensive Soil Survey
System.
Composed of Soil texture, structure,
profile, and color.

Soil Texture:

Size of particles in the soil.

Sand-large particles
Silt-Medium-size particles
Clay-Smallest particles
Texture determines ability of soil to
hold water.

Soil Texture Cont.

Loam- The best texture of soil.
Has equal parts sand and silt with a
smaller amount of clay.
Allows passage of air, prevents
compaction, and retains water.

Soil Structure:
Based on the size of particles and
how they are grouped.
Peds- Combination of sand, silt, and
clay. (aka aggregates)
Grade depends on how it stays
together.(structure less, weak,
moderate, or strong)

Soil Profile:
A way of looking at a cross section of
soil.
Horizons- layers that make up soil.
A layer- topsoil
B layer- subsoil
C layer- Bedrock
(underlying solid rock)

Soil Color
Color comes from minerals and organic
matter.
The color indicates the quality of the soil.
Dark Brown or Black- High in organic matter
Red or Yellow- High in iron compounds
Grey- Poor drainage
White- Low nutrient levels.
Mottling- spotting due to variability of
moisture in the soil.

Soil Chemistry

pH and nutrients in soil are vital.

pH- acidity or basicity
Scale 1-14
1 is most acidic, 14 is most basic
7 is neutral
Normal Soils 4-9
Best- acidic soil 6.6(optimum pH)

Soil Chemistry Cont.

Three groups of nutrients: organic
elements, major elements, and minor
elements(needed in small amounts
for plant growth.)
Organic elements- Carbon, hydrogen,
and oxygen.