Forest Soils

Forests used to cover the

Eastern half of the United
States, and most of
southern Canada.

Most forests are not too hot, or not too

cold, and have moderate amounts of
precipitation.
 ALFISOL
Moderately Weathered
SPODOSOL
Sandy, Acidic
There are two main types of forests.
Pine forests have ashy white layers (E
horizons) and are called Spodosols.

Deciduous forests
have soils called
alfisols, and are not
as leached. But clay
accumulates in the
SUBSOIL.
There are a lot of
organisms in the woods.

Like salamanders,
chipmunks, squirrels, and
deer.

There are a lot of

TREES, mosses, fungi
and bacteria.
The BIGGEST organism on the Earth is
actually a FUNGUS in a temperate
forest!
Can you think of a place that relief
would be steep?
Forests are Important to the Carbon Cycle
CO2 from CO2 from
Atmosphere Respiration

CO2 from
Respiration

CO2 from
Respiration

Tree Roots Fallen Animal Dead

Leaves Waste Animals
Bacteria Worms

Soil Carbon from Living Sources Soil Carbon from Dead Sources

Temperate forests store carbon in trees and soils,

which keeps it from being released into the air.
CLEAR CUTTING is removing all
trees at once.

Why could this be a problem?

 FORESTS are
FILTERS.
PLANTS and SOILS
work together to remove
germs, extra nutrients,
and other pollutants
from the WATER.
 Vocabulary
• E Horizon (eluviated)
• Subsoils
• Fungus
• Leaching
 Vocabulary
• Spodosols – acidic, sandy forest soils under
conifers
• Alfisols - moderately leached soils often found
in temperate forests
• Respiration – animals breathing in and out
generate carbon dioxide
• Carbon dioxide – a greenhouse gas