Soil

Soil is the product of processes during and after the weathering of rocks that covers

most of the Earth’s land surface[ CITATION Bis94 \l 1033 \m Ger03]. Weathering is

an important aspect of the soil forming process, called pedogenesis and several

factors may be involved in weathering, both physical and chemical. Factors such as

(a) stress resulting from the unloading of rocks (b) differential thermal expansion

and (c) rupture of rocks at crystalline boundaries as a result of interstitial water

freezing, which involve the breaking down of rocks into smaller particles are heavily

evoked in the processes mechanical weathering that result to the formation of soil.

On the other hand, oxidation, hydration and hydrolysis of rocks as a result of

complex geological cycles heavily contribute to the chemical breakdown of rocks

[ CITATION Mir04 \l 1033 \m Ger03]. As such, soil is composed of mineral and

organic constituents, having definite chemical, physical, mineralogical and biological

properties. Structurally, partly weathered, unweathered, and transformed products

of rocks and its minerals, along with organic matter make up soil. [ CITATION

Bis94 \l 1033 \m Bre88]

Soil is an integral part of any ecosystem. In fact, most plants will not survive without

it. Among its many functions in the environment are the mechanical strength and

support of land plants, repertoire of water and nutrients necessary for the growth of

plants, habitat for a variety of flora and fauna[ CITATION Bis94 \l 1033 \m Par10].

Land productivity is heavily affected by the inherent properties of soil and soil
dynamics. As such, land use capability or sustainability assessments are often based

on the soil characteristics[ CITATION Lal06 \l 1033 ].

In spite of the many roles of soil in the environment, majority of plant roots,

microbes and soil fauna, along with the biochemical processes that accompany these

species are heavily concentrated in select soil layers, called horizons. The topmost

layer, Horizon A is mostly composed of organic matter, whose uppermost portions

are more commonly known as topsoil. Directly below Horizon A is Horizon E, a layer

characterized by maximal leaching of silicate clays, and Fe and Al oxides. Horizon B

contains deeper-dwelling species as well as partially weathered rock material.

Unconsolidated mineral material above the bedrock (Horizon D), is located in

Horizon C (Coleman, et. al. 2004). Physical and chemical properties distinctly

differentiate one horizon from the other. Of these, soil pH, organic matter content,

mineral assemblages, and metal concentrations are most significant[ CITATION

Mir04 \l 1033 ].

References

Biswas, T., & Mukherjee, S. (1994). Textbook of Soil Science (2nd Edition ed.). New
Delhi, India: Tat MacGrwa-Hill.

Mirsal, I. (2004). Soil Pollution: Origin, Monitoring and Remediation (1st Edition ed.).
Dillenburg, Germany: Spinger-Verlag.

Brewer, R., & Sleeman, J. (1988). Soil Structure and Fabric. Melbourne, Australia: SR
Frankland Pty. Ltd.

Parker, R. (2010). Plant and Soil Science: Fundamentals and Applications. New York
City, New York, USA: Delmar Cengage Learning.
Coleman, D., Crossley, D. J., & Hendriz, P. (2004). Fundamentals of Soil Ecology.
Burlington, Massachusetts, USA: Elsevier, Inc.

Gerrard, J. (2003). Fundamentals of Soils. New York City, New York, USA: Routledge.

Lal, R. (Ed.). (2006). Encyclopedia of Soil Science. New York City, New York, USA:
Taylor and Francis Group.