brown earth soil profile

Question 1

above soil

Answer 1

• Deciduous trees
• abundance of leaf litter from decaying grasses and leaves

Question 2

Ao horizon

Answer 2

• thick black layer of mildly acidic mull humus
• Long roots allow for the recycling of nutrients

Question 3

A horizon

Answer 3

• enriched with humus giving it a dark brown colour
• high levels of biological activity results in no definition of horizons

Question 4

B horizon

Answer 4

• gets lighter due to having less iron, humus and organic material

Question 5

C/D horizon

Answer 5

parent material is weathered (broken down) limestone or schists which are permeable allowing water to pass through easily.