Soil Resources Flashcards
study of different kinds of soils and their characteristics
Pedology
loose surface material that covers most land. It consists of rock fragments, mineral grains, organic debris, and presence of moisture
Soil
plays a vital role in soil formation
Weathering
An important product of weathering and a mixture of weathered rock fragments, organic materials, grains of minerals, and moisture
Soil
region of loose unconsolidated rock and dust that sits atop a layer of bedrock
Regolith
a biologically active medium and a key component in plant growth
Soil
slow process which is almost 3 cm per hundred of years
Soil formation
Soil formation is a slow process which is almost __ per __ of years
3cm, hundred
Major Layers of Soil
Topsoil
Subsoil
Bedrock
contains small rock particles and decayed matter called humus
Topsoil
small rock particles and decayed matter
humus
beneath the topsoil and made up mostly of pebbles
Subsoil
formed when solid rock breaks up and poorest material in soil
Bedrock
Layers of the Soil
O Horizon - Surface Litter
A Horizon - Topsoil
E Horizon - Zone on leaching
B Horizon - Subsoil
C Horizon - Parent material
Bedrock
topmost layer where leaves and organic matter decompose and forms the humus
O Horizon
where we plant our seeds because it is rich in minerals and humus. It is soft and porous so that plants can stretch their roots with ease
A Horizon - Topsoil
hard and compact so only the roots of big plants can reach this far down
rich in mineral deposits and clay
B Horizon - Subsoil
layer of weathered parent rock and has no organic matter
C Horizon - Regolith
hardest layer and consists of the unweathered parent rock which supports all layers above it
Bedrock
layer of soil bet. A and B Horizon
Eluviation layer - E Horizon
light-colored layer that contains little organic matter
water percolates downward through this horizon so finer particles are carried or washed away
water also dissolves soluble inorganic soil components and carries them to deeper zones called leaching
E Horizon
the deeper zone where water dissolves soluble inorganic soil components
Leaching