Understanding Soil Formation and Characteristics: An Introduction to Soil Horizons, Slides of Earth Sciences

Download Understanding Soil Formation and Characteristics: An Introduction to Soil Horizons and more Slides Earth Sciences in PDF only on Docsity! “Soil Formation and ea - pe ie | Landscape saa - a Why study soils? 14.1 What is soil? 14.2 What distinguishes soil horizons? 14.3 How do soils form? 14.4 What factors determine soil characteristics? 14.5 What are the types of soils? 14.6 How do we know ... that soils include atmospheric additions? 14.7 How do human activities affect soils? Docsity.com Fig 14.1 Why study soils? An eastern soil in a forested area shows a variation in sizes and colors of components. The surface is brown and loose while further down it goes to a reddish tone with clay-rich lumps. Docsity.com Fig 14.1 Why study soils? An arid southwestern soil appears quite different. Color variation is slight with bands of tan and gray, and not so much reddish. Small, hard white nodules are peppered in some layers. An acid drop test reveals it to be calcite. Docsity.com 14.1 What is soil? Soil defined – A layered mixture of loose mineral and organic constituents that have different physical or compositional properties than the original unweathered materials. Layers in soil are called horizons – Contain different particle sizes and compositions. – Are not accumulated like sedimentary matter, but form in place and reveal physical and chemical differences. Biologic activity affects soil. Ants, worms, roots, etc. disrupt and/or churn soil constantly. Docsity.com