SOIL AND SOIL FORMATION

Soil is a mixture of parent rock, decayed organic matter, minerals, water and air. It takes thousands of years to form.

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Factors affecting soil formation

Climate (Temperature and Humidity) Slope of land (topography) Type of parent material (rock type) Type of vegetation growing on the soil Time

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Soil formation
1.

Weathering a) Chemical weathering (Chemical reactions) b) Mechanical weathering (Break into small pieces)

2. Biological Weathering Decomposition of organic matter (plant and animal remains)

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Mechanical Weathering

Weathering breaks the rock into to smaller pieces called sediment. (sand, silt and clay)

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Mechanical Weathering

Mechanical weathering includes: growing plants between rock, ice wedging and burrowing animals. Temperature changes can break rocks apart.

Where is mechanical weathering most important? Why?

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Which biome(s) have the most important mechanical weathering and why?
In temperate climates, winter is cold enough for water to turn into ice. Ice can crack rocks into little pieces In the desert, the temperature changes greatly each day. This cracks the rocks.

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Chemical Weathering

The chemical composition of the rocks changes in chemical weathering because chemical reactions occur. Natural acids, such as carbonic acid in rain and plant acids cause chemical weathering. Oxygen in the air causes oxidation.

Why is chemical weathering is important in warm, humid climates?

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Why is chemical weathering is important in warm, humid climates?

Chemical reactions are faster when the temperature is higher. Chemical reactions are faster in solution, so if the soil is most, the reactions are faster. Chemical weathering is very important in Tropical climates.

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Oxidation reactions of tropical soil cause it to be reddish in color.

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Properties of soil that change quickly

Temperature Moisture content Composition of the air in the soil pores

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Properties of soil that change over months or years

Soil pH Soil color Soil structure Organic content in the soil Fertility of the soil Microorganisms Density

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Properties that change over hundreds or thousands of years

Mineral composition of the soil Particle size in the soil Horizon formation (horizons = layers)

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Biological Weathering: decomposers and detritivores at work!

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Healthy soil is teaming with life!

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Soil Horizons (layers)

O horizon surface litter (fallen leaves and twigs) A horizon topsoil layer (contains humus = organic) E horizon leeched horizon B horizon subsoil (inorganic) C horizon parent material R horizon: A layer of bedrock E horizon forms when the conditions are wet or have enough rain for leaching to occur. They are lighter in color

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Compare the colors

Humus makes the topsoil dark

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Humus: The decomposed organic matter found in healthy topsoil.

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Soil profile
O Horizon = surface Litter A horizon = topsoil contains humus (Humus = decaying organic matter) E horizon is present if there is leaching B horizon = subsoil mostly mineral C horizon= parent material (rocks) R horizon = bedrock

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Identify O, A, B, C and E

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Soil profile from a temperate forest in Jordan look for the horizons

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Soil Profile from Buenos Aires, Argentina

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More about soil profiles

Sometimes, not all of the horizons will be present in some soils. For example, O and E are only in forested areas Agricultural, deserts and grassy areas will start with an A horizon but do not have an E horizon. If the area was eroded, the A horizon may be gone! Shallow soils might not have the B horizon.

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Soils around the world

Grassland soils Forest soils Tropical soils Cold climate soils (tundra) Arid soils Wet soils

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Compare the soil profiles

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Grassland Soils

Common in Midwest of the USA, Argentina and Ukraine Deep and dark Good for crops High organic content Holds water and nutrients

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Soil Profile from Pennsylvania, USA

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Soil Profile from Buenos Aires, Argentina

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Coniferous forest soils

The organic matter comes from leaves and roots of trees. The acids from the rain and leaves form acids which leach materials from the top horizons.

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Tropical Soils

The soil is deep and bright red (iron oxides) The horizons are hard to tell apart Organic matter decomposes very quickly and transforms into inactive material that binds to clay Nutrients are leached from the soils

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Tropical Soil 3 hours from Bangkok, Thailand

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Tropical Soil from Ghana

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Tundra soils

The soil is not very developed and only faint indications of horizons can be seen. Permafrost can be seen at the bottom of the profile Permafrost is frozen all year.

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Arid soil

The A horizon is light brown because there is a lack of organic matter or moisture. The organic matter is not returned to the soil because there are not very many plants When it rains, materials are carried downward into the profile to the B horizon Calcium carbonate accumulates over time and becomes hard

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Wet soil

The A horizon is dark from accumulation of organic matter. The soil is saturated and not enough oxygen is present to decompose the organic matter. The B horizon is grayish.

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Healthy soil provides us food, filters water, keeps forests alive.

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Soil takes 1000s of years to form. Unsustainable soil use leads to desertification.

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