Soil formation processes and profiles pt. 2

Question 1

What is the soil profile?

Answer 1

It is a picture of the cross-section of soil.

Question 2

What does soil profile depend on?

Answer 2

It depends primarily on climate and secondarily on parent material, topography, time, etc.

Question 3

How deep should you dig to check the soil profile?

Answer 3

1m

Question 4

What factors result in the different strata in the soil profile?

Answer 4

1. Internal soil forming processes
2. Sedimentation
3. Patterns of deposition.

Question 5

Why is it important to look at least 1m deep when looking at the soil profile?

Answer 5

To know the structure of the soil and how it will affect the roots.

Question 6

What are the four basic processes that drive the formation of soil profiles?

Answer 6

1. Transformation from weathering processes
2. Translocation of fine particles and salts.
3. Addition of organic matter, salts from groundwater, and dust.
4. Losses through leaching, and erosion..