Soil Profiles Flashcards
What is a soil profile?
It is the study of a vertical section displaying soil horizons.
What are the names of the soil horizons?
O, A, B, C, D
What does the ‘O1’ horizon consist of?
Undecomposed organic matter. eg. recognisable plant debris
What does the ‘O2’ horizon consist of?
Decomposing organic matter.
What does the ‘A’ horizon consist of?
High in organic matter and dark in colour. Leeching activity.
What does the ‘B’ horizon consist of?
Strong colours, increased clay content and poorer drainage. Known as the subsoil.
What does the ‘C1’ horizon consist of?
Parent material
What does the ‘C2’ horizon consist of?
Unweathered bedrock
What does the ‘D’ horizon consist of?
Bedrock
Define the meaning of a natural profile.
When the horizons become finer in texture the deeper it gets.
What is a disturbed profile?
When a fine textures sits on a courser texture. Or big differences between horizons.
What can cause a disturbed profile?
Inverting profiles or burying them, eg, build sites or imported fills.
What does a deep brown soil colour indicate?
High in O.M
What does a light grey colour in soil indicate? (in a subsoil)
Saturated
What does red colour indicate in a soil profile?
Good drainage and aeration
