soil Flashcards
a mixture of minerals, organic matter, water, and air
soil
the layer of rock fragments produced by weathering
regolith
the study of physical and chemical properties of soils and its formation
pedology
what are the 5 controls of soil formation
- parent material
- time
- climate
- organisms
- topography
zones of soil with varying composition, texture, and structure found at different depths
horizons
a vertical selection of all the soil horizons
soil profile
washing out of fine soil components
eluviation
depletion of soluble materials from upper horizon
leaching
constitutes the o and a horizon
top soil
consists largely of organic material
O Horizon
the zone that is largely mineral matter with biological activity is high and humus generally present at up to 30 percent in some instances
A Horizon
a light covered layer known as the zone of eluviation and leaching that contains little organic material
E Horizon
also known as “subsoil” is the Zone of accumulation where much of the material removed from the E Horizon by eluviation is deposited
B Horizon
also known as “true soil” that constitutes the O, A, E, and B Horizon
solum
the layer of partially altered parent material
C Horizon
