SOIL REAL

4 main parts of sil

MOMA
Minerals
Organic material and bacteria
Moisture
Air

Minerals

Come from broken up rock (parent material), they provide the nutrients plants need to grow

Organic Material & Bacteria

Bacteria break down plants and animals to form humus, which provides extra nutrients

Moisture

Water dissolves the minerals/break down plants and animals to form humus, which provides extra nutrients

Air

Plants need air around their roots. Air holes are created by worms, insects, and small animals

Perfect soil ratio

45% minerals, 25% water, 25% air, 5% organic matter

Soil Profile

Cross section of soil down to bedrock, divded into horizons: O, A, B, C

O horizon(organic matter)

Top layer, made of dying material leaves and plants

A horizon (topsoil)

rich in organic materials and humus, dark and takes 100+ yr to produce

B horizon (subsoil)

mostly inorganic (broken rock), little organic material

C horizon (parent material)

foundation, broken up pieces of rock, solid bedrock

Moisture movement

The way nutrients move through soil depents on precip in climate

leaching (wet climate)

found where lots of precipitation, gravity pulls water down, water dissolves and washes them away deep into ground

calcfication (dry climate)

found in dry climates, capillary action, water to surface via evaporation and leaves behind thick layer of minerals, in extreme cases could be poisonous

Sandy soil

large particles, drains quickly, no water or nutrients

Silt Soil

medium particles,