INTEGRATED SCIENCE

Investigating the Lithosphere II

Soil Profiling:
LESSON

8.3.1 TEXTURE, STRUCTURE,

& min HORIZONS
Day 1 of 2: Target to Ignite
Day 2 of 2: Navigate to Knot
Part I: Day 1 of 2

Time Allotted: 1 min Actual Time: _______

At the end of this module, you should be able to:
● characterize soil according to texture, structure, NPK content, pH; and ●
characterize soil at different horizons.

Time Allotted: 1 min Actual Time: _______

“We know more about the movement of celestial bodies than about the soil underfoot.” -
Leonardo Da Vinci (1500’s)

Do you agree with Da Vinci? When someone asks you about the soil, what information can you
give to that person? Well, Da Vinci might be correct! We may know more about the stars, the
moon, the sun, and the planets than the soil we are stepping on. Going back to the question, what
do you know about the soil? Write your ideas below:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Time Allotted: 28 min Actual Time: _______

In the previous learning guides, you have learned that rocks are integral components of the earth’s
crust. A particular type of rock could change into another type depending on the process and
conditions it undergoes. However, this is not always the case, some of them break and form
part of the soil.

When rocks are broken down into pieces through a process called weathering, some of its parts are
mixed with the other components such as minerals (which come from weathered rocks), organic
matter, water, and air. This mixture is called soil. About half of the soil’s components consist of
fragmented and decomposed rocks (mineral particles) and humus (the decayed remains of plants
and animals – organic matter). The other half are in the pores within the soil where air and water

4.3.1 page 1 of 10
Learning Guide
flows. As you can see in Figure 1, the organic portion of the soil is much less than the other three
major components. However, this portion,
Figure 1:most especially
Components the Major
of soil. humus, plays a vital
components of therole
soil in
maythe
ecosystem. The humus is an essentialvarysource of plantonnutrients
depending and but
the location, it enhances
the four the water retention
ponents
major
are
comalways
in soil. Having a greater portion of water present.
and air throughImage
the from:
pore spaces is also important. Take
https://images.app.goo.gl/Nw4hyyzJJsPh386U8
note that aside from the nutrients, plants also need air and water to live and grow. The water in the
soil contains dissolved nutrients essential for plant growth and provides the needed moisture for
chemical reactions that sustain life. Lastly, the air that flows through the pore spaces provides
oxygen and carbon dioxide for most of the microorganisms and plants that live in the soil. When
we describe the soil, we always refer to its profile. The soil profile provides information about its
texture, structure, mineral/nutrient content, and its layers.

Soil Texture

When we look at the soil, we generally see small particles and we do not even care to know what
those particles are, may be because for us, it is “just” a soil. But it is important to know the
composition of the soil, most especially if you want to plant crops or other types of plants for
whatever purpose. If we look closely at the ground (soil), we could see that the soil is made up of
particles of different sizes and these particles are not the same with each other. We can describe a
soil sample through its texture. Like the rocks, the texture of the soil refers to the proportions of
the particle size in it. As it was mentioned earlier, it is important to know about the soil’s texture
because it greatly affects the soil’s ability to retain and transmit water and air, which are both
essential for plant growth.

Basically, the soil’s particles are categorized into three types as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Different particle size

of soil. Image from:
https://www.nature.com/scitable
/content/ne0000/ne0000/ne0000
/ne0000/101052458/figure1_v0
02-01_1_2.jpg

Below are the basic characteristics of a soil mostly composed of a specific particle size:
Sandy Soil Clay-rich Soil Silty Soil

4.3.1 page 2 of 10
Learning Guide
 - light, warm and dry tend - heavy soil poor water - light and moisture
- to be acidic and low in - drainage results to retentive soil
nutrients - long-lasting - prone to
- may drain water rapidly puddle can washing away
- can dry out quickly - hold onto - with rain
nutrients can hold limited
nutrients

However, soils rich in a single size of particle are rare, hence, textural categories of soil have
been established. These categories are based on the proportion of sand, silt, and clay. Knowing the
soil texture is important in determining the agricultural potential and engineering characteristics of
a land. Figure 3 shows the soil-texture diagram that is used in categorizing soils.

Figure 3: The Soil

-Texture Diagram. Image from: https://images.app.goo.gl/Msq1kZtT7ZQdwcDv9

So how do we use this diagram? Look at the star on the diagram. If you trace the lines intersecting
with that star, you will see that the soil (represented by the star) is made up of 30% clay (traced
from the left side of the triangle), 35% sand (traced from the bottom side of the triangle), and 55%
silt (traced from the right side of the triangle) with a total of 100%. This means that the soil is
categorized as clay loam soil.

Among the categories, the loam soils are generally believed to be the best when it comes to plant
life support because they have better nutrient storage ability and moisture characteristics than the
other categories of soil such as those rich in clay and sand.

4.3.1 page 3 of 10
Learning Guide
 Soil Structure

Soils usually form clumps called peds. These peds provide the basis for a particular structure to
the soil whether platy, prismatic, blocky, or granular as shown in Figure 4. The soil texture affects
the ease of soil’s agriculture and vulnerability of a soil to erosion while the soil structure
influences the permeability (ability to make water penetrate and flow) and porosity of the soil.
Consequently, it affects the movement of the nutrients to the roots of the plants. Figure 4 shows
the different soil structure.

slow infiltration (the rate at which

water can move through the soil and
its layers) rate
eases the tillage of land moderate water infiltration
good structure for planting and common in subsoil and in
germination
surface soils high in clay
highly altered garden soils with high
organic matter content

moderate water infiltration slow water infiltration

commonly in subsoils root growth is hindered due to
the vertical cracks are due to the compacted structure
the downward movement of
roots and water

Figure 4: The four majo

r types of soil structure. Image from: https://images.app.goo.gl/tUb6dHPhcEkT826X8

Soil’s pH level and NPK content Aside from the

physical
characteristics of the

4.3.1 page 4 of 10
Learning Guide
soil, we also need to know the chemical factors that greatly Soils can be classified
influence the agricultural function of the soil. Suppose you are a according to their pH value:
farmer, and you want to plant potatoes and cabbages. Can you
plant them on the same bed of soil? Yes, you could, but the 6.5 to 7.5 – neutral
harvest of either or both crops might not be that high. Why? It is Over 7.5 – alkaline (base)
because the growth of these plants also depends on the soil’s pH Less than 6.5 – acidic
level. Less than 5.5 – strongly
acidic
The pH level is a measure of how acidic or basic a substance is. It ranges from 0 (most acidic) to 14
(most basic). The acidity or basicity of the soil affects the growth of plants. Most soils have pH
level between 3.5 and 10. In areas with higher rainfall, the pH level commonly ranges from 5 to 7.
Meanwhile, drier areas have a pH level from 6.5 to 9. Having the right pH level is necessary for
healthy plant growth. That is why it is important to know the pH level of the land that you are
going to use in planting crops. Below are some examples of crops with their corresponding soil pH
requirement.

Figure 5: Common crops and their required soil pH level. Image from:
https://images.app.goo.gl/BMHCYpu3qNUWBniJ9

4.3.1 page 5 of 10
Learning Guide
Aside from the pH level of the soil, the nutrients in it are also important for the growth of plants.
For plant crops, the nutrients that are required in largest amount are the nitrogen ( N), phosphorus
(P), and potassium (K) – these nutrients are known as NPK. Often called primary macronutrients,
these three are among the 17 nutrients essential to all plant life. Other elements, such as iron, are
just as critical to plant survival, but plants need them in much smaller quantities. N and P are
constituents of proteins and nucleic acid which are essential components of plant tissues. K is
important in the regulation of processes in plant such as the movement of water in and out
(osmosis) of the plant cells. K is also necessary for the quality of harvested plant products. The
optimal growth of the plants, production, and yield depends not only on the type of soil texture and
structure but also on the sufficient supply of nutrients in the root zone of the crops. Farmers should
know the NPK content of the soil so that they would know how much they should add by applying
organic or mineral fertilizers. The amount of N, P and K in soil should be adequate, but not too
high. Too low amount of NPK will lead to hampered growth and low yields. Too high amount of
any of the three nutrients may disturbed plant growth and adversely affect the quality of the plant
products. Aside from the balanced amount of NPK, the availability of other soil nutrients should be
considered too. Figure 6 shows the other benefits that plants can get from NPK.

Figure 6: Benefits plants can get from NPK.

Image from: https://images.app.goo.gl/cE39s8EtNmK7Nw8GA

These minerals from the soil are processed by plants to become useable nutrients for animals and
humans. Nitrogen composes 3.2% of the human body, as component of proteins, nucleic acid and
other organic compounds. However, humans and animals cannot get nitrogen from the air, or from

4.3.1 page 6 of 10
Learning Guide
the soil. Phosphorus is essential to all living things. It is found in the genetic materials (DNA and
RNA). It is also essential to the metabolism and transfer of energy, as well as bone formation. It is
1.0% of the human body.

Soil Horizons

Soil-forming process happens from the surface downward. At varying depths, the composition,
structure, and color of the soil gradually change. These variations can be observed through the
soil’s layers parallel to the surface. This noticeable layering of the soil is called soil horizons. If
you try to dig a piece of land you would be able to observe the layers. Each zone or horizon has
distinct characteristics, see Table 1 and Figure 8.

Figure 7: An actual example of soil's horizons. Image from:

https://images.app.goo.gl/s3YCgPviAz6Gj2TJ6

4.3.1 page 7 of 10
Learning Guide
Table 1: Characteristic of each soil horizon.

Horizons Characteristics

- consist mostly of organic materials

Topsoil

Solum = True Soil

(plants and animals)

- upper portion is primarily plant litter and
other organic debris that are still
recognizable
- lower portion is made up partially
O
decayed organic matter (humus)
- packed with microscopic life (bacteria,
algae, fungi, and insects; these organisms
contribute oxygen, carbon dioxide, and
organic acids to the evolving soil)

- mostly made up of mineral matter

A - humus is generally present
- high biological activity
Zone of Eluviation
and Leaching

- light-colored layer
- contains little organic matter
E
- eluviation and leaching happen in this
layer

- refer to as zone of accumulation since the

Subsoil; Zone of
Accumulation

materials carried from E horizon because

of eluviation are accumulated in this
layer
B - water retention is enhanced in this layer
because of the deposited fine clay
particles
- in some cases, a hardpan (a compact and
impermeable layer) is formed
- partially altered parent material
- changes are still happening that converts
C the materials into soil but still the
appearance resembles the parent Figure 8: A diagram of soil horizons.
material/bedrock
Bedrock

R - unweathered parent materials

4.3.1 page 8 of 10
Learning Guide
 Terms used in Table 1:

Eluviation – (elu means get away from; via means a way) this happens as water
percolates/permeates through the soil layer, (horizon E) the finer soil particles are carried away.

Leaching – this refers to the depletion of soluble materials in the soil because when water passes
through the soil, it carries the soluble materials downward to the deeper layers.

Solum – the soil-forming processes are active in these horizons (O, A, E, and B). This is also the
zone where the living roots, plants, and animals are mostly found.

Parent material – source of weathered mineral matter from which soils develop

In most cases, the following are the observable differences among the soil horizons with respect to
the depth of the soil.

Color
- the deeper the soil horizon, the lighter the color
- the topsoil is darker than the lower horizons
- some horizons have red shade

Particle size
- the lower the soil horizon, the larger the particles
- the pore size (the space between the soil particles) becomes farther as you go
deeper

Depth
- lower horizons are deeper
- O horizon is the shallowest

Lastly, we also have to take note that the appearance of soil horizons may differ from one location
to another because of some factors like climate and the kind of animals and plants present in that
area. The soil plays an important role in our life. Our primary source of food are the plants, which
are very essential part of the food chain, thrives on soil. A healthy and good soil structure is
essential for optimal plant growth and plant production. It provides habitat to many organisms. The
soil or land serves as the foundation of the structures that we build like our houses. In addition, it
plays a major role in recycling of nutrients and water. Hence, it is important that we know the basic
information about our soil. Remember, it is not only a material that we step on every day, but a gift
from mother nature that also supports life here on Earth

4.3.1 page 9 of 10
Learning Guide
 Time Allotted: 5 min Actual Time: _______

The soil plays a vital role on Earth which provides many resources that we need. The use of soil
depends on the amount of its four main components (minerals, organic matter, water, and air). The
face of the soil or the way it looks if you cut a section of it out of the ground is called soil profile.
Every soil profile is made up of soil horizons. Each horizon has distinct characteristics. The soil
profile and horizon changes as you move across the landscape and go down deeper into the soil in
one location. The size of the soil particles could vary from a coarse grain (sand) to a very fine grain
(clay). The amount of these soil particles (sand, silt, and clay) determines the texture of the soil and
influences the agricultural and engineering potential of a land. Aside from the physical
characteristics of the soil, the chemical composition of the soil is also important. The pH level and
the amount of NPK and other nutrients are essential for plant growth. One should know the pH
level and available
NPK in a land that will be used for agriculture in order to get an optimal plant growth and crop yields.

Queensland Government. (February 1, 2021). Soil Properties. Retrieved from:

https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/management/soil/soil-properties/ph-
levels#:~:text=In%20higher%20rainfall%20areas%20the,over%207.5%E2%80%94alkaline

AgroCares. (February 1, 2021). NPK: What is it and why is it so important? Retrieved from:
https://www.agrocares.com/2020/11/02/npk-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-so-important/

Tarbuck, E.J and Lutgens, F.K (2015). Earth Science. Pearson Education Limited

Prepared by Reviewed by Approved by

MARVICE JOYCE V. ONG YNA CAMILLE A. MONGCAL ALICE C. MANUEL
Special Science Teacher II Special Science Teacher IV Special Science Teacher IV
Main Campus Main Campus Cagayan Valley Campus

10 of 10