Dont SOIL yourself Some Soil Yep thats some

Don’t SOIL yourself…

Some Soil

Yep, that’s some more soil

Soil Creation • Soil is the top layer of the earth’s crust that has been physically and chemically weathered into small particles

Soil-forming processes • Decaying vegetation in humus – Organic matter is broken down to form a dark, sticky, partly decomposed layer at the soil surface. – Soil high in humus are generally very fertile and ideal for agriculture

Soil-forming processes • Leaching – As water infiltrates the soil, it carries dissolved minerals deep into the weathered particles. – In areas with a great deal of rainfall, leaching is excessive and valuable minerals are lost in the soil.

Soil-forming processes • Capillary Action – Occurs in dry desert and grassland areas where the surface is so dry, that water is transferred from deep in the ground to the surface

Soil-forming processes • Translocation – The movement of solid material from one place to another by moving water.

: - Formation of Soil Profiles • physical and chemical weathering from parent material • -broken material and organic matter (vegetation) • -profiles are soil layers developed in different climates • -horizons are the layers that form due to water and vegetation presence

TOPSOIL, upper or A horizon SUBSOIL, middle or B horizon PARENT MATERIAL, lower or C horizon

Horizons: A horizon: is the topsoil layer -darker it is, the more humus -lots of humus is healthy, fertile soil B horizon: it the subsoil -brown or red in colour(Fe) -more clay than A horizon -lose fertility quickly C horizon: partially weathered rock -rocky and fractured Bedrock: parent material

1. Chernozem 2. Podzol 3. Laterite 4. Sierozem 5. Tundra

Chernozem Soils -prairie grasslands -thick-humus filled topsoil -leaching is not a problem -capillary action brings nutrients to surface -small animals burrow to keep warm and mix soil

Podzol

Podzol Soils -formed in coniferous forests -humid continental with cold winters, warm summers -heavily leached and acidic -thin humus layer of evergreen needles -not very fertile

Laterite: -hot, tropical climate, deeply leached, heavy rainfalls, ironoxide concentrations, most infertile soils in the world (nutrients are in the

Sierozem Soils -desert soils (dry) -limited vegetation, low organic content -poorly defined because of lack of water -could be fertile if irrigated because capillary action brings nutrients to surface

Tundra Soil, peeled back to show layer

Tundra Soils: -permafrost below surface -not well defined profile -vegetation cover is limited because of climate -partially decomposed peat layer is slow to develop because of climate

Key Soil Profiles