1. SOIL

2. WHAT IS SOIL? SOIL IS A MATERIAL THAT FORMS THE CRUST OF THE EARTH. IT COMES FROM THE WEATHERING OF ROCKS AND DECOMPOSITION OF ORGANISMS. IT IS FORMED VERY SLOWLY.

3. WHAT’S IN SOIL? MINERALS ORGANIC MATTER AIR AND WATER LIVING ORGANISMS

4. SOIL IS FOUND IN LAYERS CALLED HORIZONS

5. SOIL- NOTICE THE LAYERS IN THE SOIL

6. O HORIZON (GREEN) O = ORGANIC THE TOP, ORGANIC LAYER MADE UP MOSTLY OF LEAF LITTER AND HUMUS. HUMUS IS DECOMPOSED ORGANIC MATTER.

7. A HORIZON (DARK BROWN) A = TOPSOIL. DARK COLORED WHERE SEEDS GERMINATE AND ROOTS GROW. THIS IS GENERALLY THE MOST PRODUCTIVE LAYER OF SOIL.

8. B HORIZON (LIGHT BROWN) B = SUBSOIL LIGHTER COLORED CONTAINS CLAY AND MINERAL DEPOSITS (IRON, ALUMINUM, ETC)

9. C HORIZON (TAN) C = PARENT MATERIAL LAYER OF LARGE UNBROKEN ROCKS

10. R HORIZON (BLACK) R = BEDROCK. THE SOLID ROCK THAT IS UNDER THE SOIL

12. AREAS WITH A LOT OF HUMUS AND TOPSOIL ARE GREAT FOR GROWING PLANTS.

13. Weak humus- mineral mixture Mosaic of closely packed pebbles and boulders Dry, brown to reddish-brown, with variable accumulations of clay, calcium carbonate, and soluble salts Desert Soil (hot, dry climate) Grassland Soil (semiarid climate ) Alkaline, dark, and rich in humus Clay, calcium compounds

14. Acidic light- colored humus Iron and aluminum compound s mixed with clay Forest litter leaf mold Humus-mineral mixture Light, grayish- brown, silt loam Dark brown firm clay Acid litter and humus Humus and iron and aluminum compounds Light-colored and acidic Tropical Rain Forest Soil (humid, tropical climate) Deciduous Forest Soil (humid, mild climate) Coniferous Forest Soil (humid, cold climate)

15. SOIL LAB ONLINE TOMORROW YOU WILL MEET IN THE COMPUTER LAB (229) AND COMPLETE A SOIL WEBQUEST. YOU WILL LEARN HOW RAINFALL AFFECTS TOPSOIL DEPTH.

16. REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD ANSWER THE REVIEW QUESTIONS AS A GROUP. USE THIS DIAGRAM TO LABEL THE LAYERS PICTURED IN #4. YOU WILL STILL NEED TO NAME AND DESCRIBE THEM (EXCEPT LAYER E)