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Soil profile

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suzettejohnson6

Soil is composed of minerals, water, air and organic matter. It has distinct horizontal layers called horizons, including the O horizon of partially decomposed organic matter, the A horizon or topsoil containing humus and living creatures, the B horizon or subsoil rich in clay and minerals but also supporting large plant roots, and the C and D horizons of increasingly less weathered parent material and bedrock.

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Soil profile
Soil ? Soil is a combination of minerals, water, air and organic matter. On average there is ? 45% mineral matter ? 25% water ? 25% air ? 5 % organic matter
? Minerals come from rock that have been weathered ? Water and air from the atmosphere ? Organic matter from the biosphere
Soil profile
Soil profile
How is soil profile made
Soil profile
Horizon O Partially decomposed organic matter
Horizon A top soil Contains humus living creatures and mineral matter from rocks
Horizon B subsoil Rich in minerals and clay particles leached down from A. Roots of large plants are found here
Horizon C (partially weathered rock ) Parent material that is being weathered
Horizon D Bedrock Parent material that has not been affected by weathering
Questions ? Which type of weathering leads to the build up of humus. ? ? Write one characteristic of subsoil that would make it good for plant growth. ? Write characteristics of subsoil that makes it inappropriate for plant growth.

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Soil profile

  • 2. Soil ? Soil is a combination of minerals, water, air and organic matter. On average there is ? 45% mineral matter ? 25% water ? 25% air ? 5 % organic matter
  • 3. ? Minerals come from rock that have been weathered ? Water and air from the atmosphere ? Organic matter from the biosphere
  • 6. How is soil profile made
  • 9. Horizon A top soil Contains humus living creatures and mineral matter from rocks
  • 10. Horizon B subsoil Rich in minerals and clay particles leached down from A. Roots of large plants are found here
  • 11. Horizon C (partially weathered rock ) Parent material that is being weathered
  • 12. Horizon D Bedrock Parent material that has not been affected by weathering
  • 13. Questions ? Which type of weathering leads to the build up of humus. ? ? Write one characteristic of subsoil that would make it good for plant growth. ? Write characteristics of subsoil that makes it inappropriate for plant growth.

Editor's Notes

  • #5: Cracks appear water enter cracks and expand when it freezes forcing the rocks apart
  • #7: An example of chemical biological weathering is when certain mosses, lichens, algae, fungi and even the smallest bacteria, will form on a rock, and will produce chemicals which (depending on the rock type) will eat away at the rock, giving the plant nutrients but also weathering at the same time.