soil profiles

Question 1

O layer?

Answer 1

O= LFH (litter fermented humus):
Litter- fresh organic structures
Fermented- decomposition
Humus – advanced organic decomp
(not separate structures)

Question 2

A zone

Answer 2

:
Zone of incorporation of organic
matter into mineral soil
‘Topsoil’
High biological activity because rich in
nutrients
Dark color

Question 3

E zone

Answer 3

E:
Zone of Eluviation (leaching)
Soluble minerals and OM move down
Light ‘washed’ color
Precipitation ends up here

Question 4

B zone

Answer 4

B:
Zone of illuviation (deposition)
Accumulation
Clay, humas and iron
Red/brown/grey

Question 5

C zone

Answer 5

C:
Large fragments of unweathered parent material
NO ROOTS ANYMORE
Unconsolidated materia

Question 6

R zone

Answer 6

bedrock

Question 7

describe alberta soil

Answer 7

hick organic matter because of the rate of decomposition
Alberta is mostly comprised of Luvisolic and Chernozemic

Question 8

Chernozemic?

Answer 8

chernozemic: Prairie and grassland, thick and dark A and LFH, dark, buildup of humus
in A because of grasses on top, high root contribution to soil carbon (good agriculturally)

Question 9

Luvisolic

Answer 9

Luvisolic: Forest soils, loamy (sand, clay and silt) tills or lacustrine, eluviation from clay

Question 10

organic?

Answer 10

Organic: Peatlands/bog/fen, accumulation of water saturates thus low in oxygen thus low
rate of decomp, peat is a buildup of OM and below ground component of a plant can be
up to 60-80 percent of the whole plant therefore thick A