Soils - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Soils

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Soils Soils Soil is the loose covering of broken rock particles and decaying organic matter Soil is the end result of physical and chemical weathering. – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Soils


1
Soils
2
Soils
  • Soil is the loose covering of broken rock
    particles and decaying organic matter
  • Soil is the end result of physical and chemical
    weathering.
  • Soil forms as rock is broken down be weathering
    and mixes with other material on the surface.
  • The longer a soil has been forming, the thicker
    it is.
  • Climate has a great affect on soil formation.
    Temperature and precipitation play an important
    role.

3
How is soil created?
  • Decaying organic matter is called humus.
  • It is often leaf litter that is broken down by
    decomposers.
  • Ex. Are ants, worms, etc.

4
Soil Formation
  • During its development, soil forms in layers
    vertically.
  • Solid bedrock from which weathered pieces of rock
    first break off is known as the parent rock.
  • The weathered material then rests on top of the
    parent rock.

5
Residual vs. Transported
  • Residual soil is soil that comes from the bedrock
    that it sits upon.
  • A transported soil is soil that has been moved
    from a different location

6
Soil Profile
  • A soil profile is a vertical sequence of soil
    layers.
  • A distinct layer is called a soil horizon
  • The three major layers are A, B, C

7
Soil Horizons
  • A Horizon- Topsoil- Soil rich in humus and
    usually dark colored
  • B Horizon- Subsoil-Rich in clay minerals
  • C Horizon- Weathered bedrock (parent rock).

8
Texture
  • Size of soil particles is soil texture.
  • Particles are classified according to size.
  • In order from largest to smallest they are
  • Gravel
  • Sand is the largest .05- 2 mm
  • Silt is the middle .0002 - .05 mm
  • Clay is smallest gt.002 mm

9
Fertility and Color
  • Soil Fertility is the measure of how well a soil
    can support plant growth.
  • A soilscomposition and climate are main factors
    in determining its color.
  • Red/Yellow Fe oxidation
  • Dark Colored Humus
  • Gray/Blue low O2

10
Loam
  • A loam is a soil that is equal parts of clay,
    sand and silt.
  • It is the best for growing plants!

11
Soil Types
  • Climactic conditions are the main influences on
    soil development.
  • Polar Soil
  • Temperate Soil
  • Desert Soil
  • Tropical Soil
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