What is Soil? Flashcards
What is soil
Soil is a complex, self-renewing, living system. It is a vital natural resource. It is the
resource that most terrestrial life depends on directly or indirectly for survival. It is a
composite of inorganic minerals, organic humus, living organisms, moisture, and air.
Soils are the product of interactions between abiotic and biotic processes and take
thousands of years to form.
The study of soil is called?
Pedology
What Greek roots are in pedology
Pedon- soil
Logos- reason
What are the 5 soil forming factors
- Parent (source) material
- Climate that the soil components are under
- Plant and animal life in the area
- Relief on the land
- Length of time other factors have interacted
What is the parent material
Unconsolidated, chemically
weathered mineral, rock, or organic matter
What are the climatic factors
Precipitation, temperature, humidity, and
wind
What are mature soils
Those with clearly defined layers
What are immature soils
Those without clear layers
What are soil horizons?
The layers in the soil
O horizon
Organic material- plant matter and organic accumulations
A horizon
Where most plant root activity occurs, accumulation of organic matter and minerals
E horizon
Silicate clay, iron, aluminum, causing sand sized particles
B horizon
Subsoil, “zone of accumulation”, rain and irrigation materials move through the soil
C horizon
Substratum, contains less clay or weathered sediments
R horizon
Bedrock