4.3-4.4 Flashcards
4.3
What is the ideal soil
Loam
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Porosity
the pore space within a soil
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Permeability
how easily water drains through a soil
more Porosity –> more permeability`
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H2O holding Capacity
how well water is retained, or held by a soil
Higher porous & permeable = lower h2o holding capacity
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Leaching
water flows down due to gravity, dissolving and transporting minerals
Max in E horizone layer
Clay Silt Sand
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Translocation
water carrying soil constituents up or down throughout soil *
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Salinization
top water evaporates & lower water moves upward; minerals are dissolved and taken to the surface
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Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)
total # of cations that soil can hold
Higher CEC means it has more of a negative charge which leads to Cations attaching easier
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Physical properties of soil
Size (weight), texture, & porosity (permeability)
4.3
What is the soil chart
A triangle that we use to find what type of soil
- Start with Sand then Silt
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Types of Soil
Sand
Silt/loam
Clay
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Sand soil traits
Large particle size
Large pore spaces (high porosity)
Easy & fast water flow
Great drainage
High mineral content
Low biota
Warms up quickly
Low CEC
Acidic PH
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Traits of Silt/Loam
Medium particle size
Medium pore space (medium porosity)
Moderate water flow
Moderate drainage
Intermediate mineral
High biota
Ideal for agriculture
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Traits of Clay
Small particle size
Small pore spaces (low porosity)
Slow water flow
Poor drainage
High mineral content
Low biota
Warms up slowly
High CEC
Basic PH
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Peat Soil
Soil formed mainly from decomposing plant/animal matter under anaerobic saturated conditions
