What You Dont Want to Know About What You Walk On. APES- LCHS Blake, Katie, Tim, Ki Hong, and Jenn Per. 5

Different Types of Soil Soil Peat Perlite

Soil Soil is a complex mixture of inorganic, decaying organic matter, water, air, and living organisms.

Peat Peat is an organic deposit consisting predominantly of partially decayed plant matter.

Perlite Perlite is a glassy volcanic rock of a grayish color and pearly luster.

pH of Soil Soil pH is referred to as the acidity of the soil and is measured by the number of hydrogen atoms present in the soil sample.

pH effects When the soil pH is too acidic or basic nutrients present in the soil become locked up or unavailable. Correcting the pH has the same effect as applying fertilizer since it unlocks plant nutrients already present in the soil.

Geology Igneous Sedimentary Metamorphic

Igneous Igneous Intrusive rocks These types of rocks can be found deep within the earth.

Sedimentary These rocks are formed from mineral and animal deposits cemented and compacted together.

Metamorphic These rocks are formed from tremendous heat and pressure and can be layered with many different types of minerals.

Different Layers of Soil R-Horizon C-Horizon B-Horizon E-Horizon A-Horizon O-Horizon

R-Horizon Lowest layer made primarily of large rocks. This layer is know as the Bedrock.

C-Horizon Parents rocks from the R-Horizon, that are underneath the subsoil.

B-Horizon The subsoil underneath the E-Horizon where minerals and composites have leached down.

A-Horizon The layer below the O-Horizon that consist of topsoil. This consist of partially decomposed organic matter, inorganic minerals, and living organisms.

O-Horizon This is the top most layer of soil composed of surface litter made up of fallen leaves.

Erosion Human erosion Weather erosion

Human Erosion Humans actions can help speed up the erosion and movement of soil.

Weather Erosion Wind and rain slowly wear away at the soil and transport it to different locations.

Soil Conservation Conservation planning Conservation methods for rangeland and forests Conservation methods for farmland No-Till agriculture Crop rotation

Conservation Planning Survey the land to determine the best use of it. Then measure the fertility of the soil through the study of particle size.

Conservation Methods for Rangeland and Forests To conserve this soil animals must not be allowed to destroy the plants that hold the soil in place and enrich it with nutrients.

Conservation Methods for Farmland The farmland must be harvested in a way that does not destroy the soil and allows the land to produce agriculture at its maximum capacity.

No-Till Agriculture This is a technique where farmers leave debris on the fields to allow for the soil to be enriched with its nutrients.

Crop Rotation This is a technique where farmers rotate crops from year to year to help keep certain nutrients in the soil.

Words to Know BedrockSand ClaySilt HorizonsSoil Profile HumusTopsoil Leaching Loam Organic matter Parent material

Bedrock Soil layer of rock laying beneath the earth surface.

Clay Clay is the portion of soil composed of the smallest soil particles.

Horizons Layers of the soil that have built over time and lie parallel to the Earths surface.

Humus Humus is fragrant, spongy, nutrient- rich material resulting from decomposition of organic matter.

Leaching Leaching is downward movement through soil of chemical substances dissolved in water.

Loam Loam is soil that contains a balance of fine clay, medium size silt, and coarse sand and particles.

Organic matter Organic matter remains, residues, or waste products of any living organism.

Parent material Parent materials are loose mineral matter scattered over Earth by wind, water, or glacial ice.

Sand Sand is a granular portion of soil composed of the largest soil particles.

Silt Silt is medium sized soil particles.

Soil profile Soil profile is combined soil horizons or layers.

Top soil Top soil is the uppermost layer of soil that contains high levels of organic matter.

Bibliography gloassary_showterm.ctm?term=Peat gloassary_showterm.ctm?term=Peat /definition.asp?en=botany ormed/f01.htm ormed/f01.htm

Bibliography (contd) Kellert, Stephen R. Macmillan Encyclopedia of the Enviornment. New York: Book Builders Inc.,