Soil Chemistry Flashcards
the study of the chemical characteristics and physical properties of soil
soil chemistry
it is formed from rocks and decaying plants and animals and contains organic matter, minerals, and nutrients
soil
___ are those soil materials that are the same to the parent material from sand and silt
primary minerals
____ are result from the weathering of the primary minerals that forms silicate clay
secondary minerals
it it the second basic component of soil and is important for transporting nutrients
water
it is any material produced originally by living organisms to decomposing
soil organic matter
it is the second basic component of soil
air
they are very small forms of life that can sometimes live as single cells
microorganisms
it is the layer made up of organic materials such as dead leaves and surface organisms; has about 20% organic matter; black or dark brown
O-Horizon (humus + litter layer)
rootzone; it is the top layer soils for agricultural lands; made of sand, silt, and clay; most vulnerable to wind and water erosion
A-Horizon (top-soil + root zone)
this layer is usually lighter in color; below O and A horizons; rich in nutrients leached from O and A; lower clay content
E-Horizon
illuviation zone; similar with E horizon; contains high concentrations of silicate clay, iron, aluminum, and carbonates
B-Horizon (mineral dominated zone)
this layer lacks all the properties of the upper layers; mainly made up of broken bedrock and no organic material
C-Horizon (saprolife layer)
this layer contains materials that are compacted and cemented by the weight of the overlying horizons; bedrock horizon
R-Horizon
a soil texture that has large or coarse particles with diameters ranging from 0.05 to 2.00 mm
sand
