Terms Flashcards
Soil
Soil is naturally-occurring mineral and organic material occurring at the surface of the earth
Bulk Density
the mass of a unit volume of dry soil. includes pore and solids. W/V
Particle density
the specific gravity of a solid substance
Infiltration
The downward movement of water into the soil
Endopedon
A diagnostic subsurface horizon that includes the lower part of the soil
Soil association
a group of defined and named taxonomic soil units.
Albedo (soil)
refection rate of the sun off various surfaces
Duripan
subsurface that is cememneted by silica
Control Section
class or range of soil features
Osmotic potential
that portion of the total soil water potential due to the presence of solutes in the soil water.
pedon
the smallest volume that can be called a soil
Soil complex
Where two or more defined taxonomic units are so intermixed it’s impractical because of the scale
Diagnostic Horizon
the presence or absence of which help determine the place of soil in the classification system
Illuvation
process of weathered material moving from one horizon to another
Consistence
soil material properties that determine its resistance to crushing and it’s ability to be molded or change shape.
Eluvation
The removal of soil material in suspension from a layer or layers of soil
Soil water potential
the measure of the difference between the free energy state of soil water and that of pure water
Humus
decomposed carbon material
Till
1) to plow and prepare for seedling 2)glacial drift deposited consisting of clay, sand, gravel, and boulders
Matric potential
total soil water potential due to polar forces between water and soil solids
Fragipan
brittle hard subsurface that’s usually made from carbonates
Soil texture
% sand, silt, clay
Alluvium
weathered material deposited or in transit by streams, usually unconsolidated
porosity
part of the soil volume occupied by 35-65% pores 100%-(b/p x100)
catena
a sequence of different soil profiles that occur down a slope.
mottling
spots or blotches of different color or shades interspersed with the dominant color
percolation
movement and filtering of fluids through porous materials.
