Soil No soil, No planet Earth

Soil Terminology Vocabulary: Soil Horizon – layers or zones of soil. Soil profile: different zones or layers starting at the surface and moving vertically down to the bedrock or parent rock Top soil: two distinct layers/zones – O horizon (organic matter) and A horizon; consists of the first 2 inches of soil.

Soil Terminology Organic matter -part of the O and A horizon -Living material -Provides nutrients and chemicals to and from the soil Sub soil -B Horizon -less organic material present Soil particles – soil is made of 3 main particles – SAND, SILT and CLAY.

Soil Terminology Humus – dead or decaying matter. Located in the O and A horizon Parent material – A layer of rock which is the beginning of the soil formation process. Bedrock – a layer of rock which is beneath the soil horizons and a base for the formation of soil. Weathered material –This is rock that has been broken down by weathering over a long period of time.

Soil Formation - Factors Parent Material -Develops from parent material -Undergoes weathering to change the rock into soil Time -Takes time to weathering and change the soil -Longer time – thicker more developed soil Climate -temperature and precipitation -Develops different types of soil Plants & Animals - Contains organic matter - Recycling of nutrients

Soil Composition

Soil Formation ?v=7iyxocIhfu0 ?v=7iyxocIhfu0

Soil Profile  The soil profile is the different zones or layers starting at the surface and moving vertically down to the bedrock or parent rock  Top soil is made up of two distinct layers/zones – O horizon and A horizon.  O horizon: Organic material (plant litter, animals)  A horizon: Mixture of minerals, organic matter and humus

Soil Profile Subsoil contains the following:  B Horizon:  Below Top Soil  Some biological roots – this is the lowest point of tree roots  Little humus or organic matter  Above the C horizon

C horizons: -Contains mostly weathered material from the bedrock/parent rock -Clear difference between the B horizon and C horizon -C horizon does not resemble soil -The layer directly above Bedrock.