Soils Flashcards
What is soil? (Pedological concept)
Natural body differentiated into horizon of mineral and organic constituent
What is soil? (Edaphological concept)
natural body, synthesized in profile form from a variable mixture of broken and weathered minerals & decaying organic matter
What is soil? (new defn)
layers of generally loose and/or organic material
What is forest soil?
soil currently undergoing forest vegetation
What are soil’s functions?
1) media for plant growth
2) modify atmosphere through gas amission & absorption
3) habitat
4) absorb, hold, release, & purify most of the water in terrestrial system
5) process recycled nutrients
6) engineering media
7) preserve or destroy artifacts of human endevors
8) filters water
Differentiate Soil Profile and Soil Horizon
Profile - vertical section of the soil
Horizon - Horizontal, parallel to the ground
Differentiate “A Soil” and “The Soil”
A soil = Pedon
The Soil = Polypedon
Enumerate the Master Soil Horizons, in order
O-A-E-B-C-R
Which soil horizon is the top of mineral soil?
Horizon A
Which soil horizon is the top of mineral soil?
Horizon O
Which soil horizon has maximum illuviation?
Horizon B
Which soil horizon has maximum eluviation?
Horizon E
What was E Horizon called in old literature?
A2 Horizon
Which horizons are referred to as solum?
A & B
Which horizons are collectively referred to as regolith?
A, E, B, C
